Kidarite–Sasanian war (367)

Kushana–Sasanian conflict or Kidarite–Sasanian conflict took place Kidara was the founder of the Kidarite Huns who became independent in Gandhara between 359 and 369 A.D. The Armenian historian Faustus of Byzantium wrote that the Kushans (later Kidarites) fought the Sasanians in 367–368, and in one battle the Sasanian king Shapur II had to flee. After defeating the Shaka rulers in Punjab, Kidara set up his rule and looked for allies to face the Sasanians.

Kushāna–Sasanian conflicts (367–368)
Part of Kushan–Sasanian conflicts and Kidara I's campaigns
Portrait of Kidarite king Kidara I, circa 350–386 CE. He wears his characteristic crown with ribbon flying upward. The use of the 3/4 portrait is sometimes attributed to the influence of the coinage of Byzantine ruler Arcadius (377–408 CE).
Date 367–368 Location Gandhara, Afghanistan, Central Asia Result Kidarite–Gupta victory Kidara I secured his independence
Belligerents
Kidarites Supported by: Gupta Empire	Sasanian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Kidara I Samudragupta	Shapur II

At the same time, the Gupta emperor Samudragupta was trying to expand his power. His Allahabad pillar inscription mentions many rulers, including the Shaka-Muruṇḍas and Gadahara of Punjab, who accepted Gupta authority. Samudragupta wanted to keep the north-western trade routes safe but did not wish to fight directly in that region. Instead, he made an alliance with Kidara. With Gupta support, Kidara defeated the Sasanians twice in 367–368 A.D.

Background

Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman officer who took part in the wars against Shapur II, reports that between 350 and 358 A.D. Shapur was involved in campaigns against the Chionites, who had entered Bactria, and a group he calls the Iuscni. This name is now generally understood to be a corrupted form of Kushans. By 358, peace had been made with both the peoples, since the following year they joined Shapur in the siege of the Roman fortress at Amida. An inscription from Persepolis, dated to 356 A.D., records that Slock, the High Judge of Kabul, prayed for Shapur’s safe return to the city. The Chionites can be identified with the Jouan-Jouan. It is therefore assumed that the expulsion of the Ta Yüeh-chih from Bactria occurred around 350 A.D. By 356 A.D., Kidara had established himself in Gandhara, although shortly he was forced to accept the overlordship of Shapur II.

Conflict

The Armenian historian Faustus of Byzantium notes that the Kushans defeated the Sasanians twice in 367–368, and on one occasion even forced Shapur II to flee from the battlefield. After these events, Kidara established his independence sometime after 359 A.D. but before 369 A.D.

Involvement of Guptas

The Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta speaks of several rulers and peoples, including the Daivaputras, the Shāhānushāhīs, the Shaka-Muruṇḍas, as well as the rulers of Sri Lanka and other islands, who tried to win his favor. They did this in different ways, namely by showing personal loyalty, by sending daughters to be married, and by requesting charters that allowed them to rule their lands under the symbol of the Garuḍa. Among these groups, the Shaka-Muruṇḍas, recognized with smaller Scythian rulers in Punjab. They ruled the territories of Shiladas, the Gadaharas of central Punjab, and the Shakas of western Punjab. A Gadahara chief issued coins that carried the names of the Gupta emperor and his own tribe. These Scythian rulers were vassals of the Gupta emperor.

Reconstruction of the conflict

After securing control over Gandhara, by defeating the Shaka rulers, Kidara approached Samudragupta sometime after 359 A.D. He asked for support against the Sassanians. Samudragupta, meanwhile, was eager to expand his influence beyond central Punjab, where his allies, the Gadaharas, held power. He was worried about the movements of tribes in the region, which threatened the stability of his empire. Samudragupta was not just a conqueror but also a careful statesman. He understood his limits and had shown good judgment earlier by reinstating defeated princes in the South. He was hesitant to get directly involved in campaigns in the North-West, but still wanted to secure the empire’s borders and keep the western trade routes safe. The best solution was an alliance with Kidara. In this partnership, Samudragupta gave Kidara the stronger backing he needed against Shapur II of Persia. The policy worked well, as Kidara defeated the Sassanians twice in 367–368 A.D.