A Chronology of Central Asian History 320BC to 400AD

Chronology of Kushan History

If you like lists of dates, this page is for you. Dates in Kushan history are very ambiguos, so I guarantee nothing.

The Kings and Princes

Major Events

c.209BCMao-tun kills his father and gains control of the Hsiung-nu

c.320 BC, Alexander conquers the Persian empire but dies shortly afterwards leaving his empire to his generals (the Diadochi).
304 BC, Seleucos signs a peace treaty with Chandrgaupta Maurya.
281 BC, The Greeks cede the Punjab and Afghanistan after the death of Seleucos I Nikator.
c.250 BC, Bactria secedes from the Seleucid empire and the Parthians invade Persia. ¹

c.200 BC, Mao-tun defeats the Yu-Chi, possibly bringing them into alliance with the Hsiung-nu.
176 BC, The king of the Yu-Chi is killed by the yu-hsien-wang, sent by Mao-tun, who reports that "All the people who draw bows have been united into one family".
c.140 BC, The Yu-chi are attacked and defeated by the Hsiung-nu again.
c.130 BC, The Yu-Chi overrun Bactria and settle as five tribes. ²

c.120 BC, Menander, the most famous of the Indo-Greek kings is engaged in wars against opponents in the Kabul valley.
c.75 BC, Maeus begins a dynasty of Indo-Parthian Kings.
58 BC, Azes the first begins an era at the date of his ascension.

c.30BC, 'Heraios' or Sanab becomes Kushan Yabgu (Prince)
c.10AD, Kajula Kadphises becomes Kushan Yabgu

c.20 BC, The last Greek king Hermaues dies, and his tiny kingdom becomes the last of Alexanders successor states to come under foreign domination. ³
c.30 AD, Kajula Kadphises unite all the tribes of the Yu-Chi and become the first of the Kushan emperors.

c.60 AD, Wima Taktu becomes the second Kushan emperor.
c.80 AD, Wima Kadphises becomes the third Kushan emperor.
c.115 AD, Kanishka the fourth Kushan emperor ascends the throne. (For a taste of the debate on this date see the section The date of Kanishka.
c.60 AD, Vima Takto the son of Kajula becomes the second Kushan emperor.

1st Century ADThe artistic schools of Mathura and Gandhara develop the first images of the Buddha
c.68 AD, Wima Taktu using the name Soter Megas (Great Saviour) conquers northern India.
c.80 AD, Wima Kadphises the son of Vima Takto ascends the throne.
c.80 AD, Marriage alliance between Kushans and the royal family of Sogdia
84AD, An envoy from the Kushans asking for marriage to a Han princess is refused.
c.90 AD, Kushan emperors begin to encroach on the Han sphere of influence in the Western Regions.
c.115 AD, Kanishka becomes Kushan emperor.
c.116 AD, Kushans put a puppet king on the throne of Ch'en-p'an.
c.120AD, The first image of the Buddha on a coin appears on the coins of Kanishka.

c.139 AD, Vasishka becomes emperor, and rules for only a few years.
c.143 AD, Huvishka becomes Kushan emperor.
c.155 AD, Kanishka II joint ruler? usurper?
c.180 AD, Vasudeva becomes the first Kushan to take an Indian name and the last of the great Kushan emperors.
2nd Century AD, Asvagosha writes a number of important Buddhist works and fourth great Buddhist council is held.

224 AD, Ardashir the first becomes the first king of the Sasanid empire.
240 AD, Shapur the first becomes Sasanian emperor.
c.213, Kanishka II (Kanishka III?) becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura.
c.232, Vasishka II becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura.
c.246, Vasudeva II becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura.
c.256, Kanishka III (Kanishka IV?) becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura

c.213 AD, Vasudeva dies and the Kushan empire is divided into a western and eastern half.
c.224-240 AD, The Sasanians invade Bactria and Northern India.
c.270, Kushan control of the Gangetic plain is lost.
277-286 AD, Hormizd I Kushanshah launches a rebellion against Bahram II of Iran.

307-379 AD Shapur II, Sasanid Emperor.

359 AD, A Kidarite Kushan fights alongside Shapur, against Rome, at Amida.
c.360 AD, The last Kushanshah Varahran II is overwhelmed by the Kidarites.

Contents page and Index
Chronology of Kushan History
Military History of the Kushans
Contacting the Author

All these pages (except where the contrary is clearly stated) are the copyright of Robert Bracey. Permission is given to copy or reproduce these pages in hardcopy for personal use or freinds.

The Kings and Princes	Major Events
c.209BCMao-tun kills his father and gains control of the Hsiung-nu	c.320 BC, Alexander conquers the Persian empire but dies shortly afterwards leaving his empire to his generals (the Diadochi). 304 BC, Seleucos signs a peace treaty with Chandrgaupta Maurya. 281 BC, The Greeks cede the Punjab and Afghanistan after the death of Seleucos I Nikator. c.250 BC, Bactria secedes from the Seleucid empire and the Parthians invade Persia. ¹
	c.200 BC, Mao-tun defeats the Yu-Chi, possibly bringing them into alliance with the Hsiung-nu. 176 BC, The king of the Yu-Chi is killed by the yu-hsien-wang, sent by Mao-tun, who reports that "All the people who draw bows have been united into one family". c.140 BC, The Yu-chi are attacked and defeated by the Hsiung-nu again. c.130 BC, The Yu-Chi overrun Bactria and settle as five tribes. ²
	c.120 BC, Menander, the most famous of the Indo-Greek kings is engaged in wars against opponents in the Kabul valley. c.75 BC, Maeus begins a dynasty of Indo-Parthian Kings. 58 BC, Azes the first begins an era at the date of his ascension.
c.30BC, 'Heraios' or Sanab becomes Kushan Yabgu (Prince) c.10AD, Kajula Kadphises becomes Kushan Yabgu	c.20 BC, The last Greek king Hermaues dies, and his tiny kingdom becomes the last of Alexanders successor states to come under foreign domination. ³ c.30 AD, Kajula Kadphises unite all the tribes of the Yu-Chi and become the first of the Kushan emperors.
c.60 AD, Wima Taktu becomes the second Kushan emperor. c.80 AD, Wima Kadphises becomes the third Kushan emperor. c.115 AD, Kanishka the fourth Kushan emperor ascends the throne. (For a taste of the debate on this date see the section The date of Kanishka. c.60 AD, Vima Takto the son of Kajula becomes the second Kushan emperor.	1st Century ADThe artistic schools of Mathura and Gandhara develop the first images of the Buddha c.68 AD, Wima Taktu using the name Soter Megas (Great Saviour) conquers northern India. c.80 AD, Wima Kadphises the son of Vima Takto ascends the throne. c.80 AD, Marriage alliance between Kushans and the royal family of Sogdia 84AD, An envoy from the Kushans asking for marriage to a Han princess is refused. c.90 AD, Kushan emperors begin to encroach on the Han sphere of influence in the Western Regions. c.115 AD, Kanishka becomes Kushan emperor. c.116 AD, Kushans put a puppet king on the throne of Ch'en-p'an. c.120AD, The first image of the Buddha on a coin appears on the coins of Kanishka.
c.139 AD, Vasishka becomes emperor, and rules for only a few years. c.143 AD, Huvishka becomes Kushan emperor. c.155 AD, Kanishka II joint ruler? usurper? c.180 AD, Vasudeva becomes the first Kushan to take an Indian name and the last of the great Kushan emperors.	2nd Century AD, Asvagosha writes a number of important Buddhist works and fourth great Buddhist council is held.
224 AD, Ardashir the first becomes the first king of the Sasanid empire. 240 AD, Shapur the first becomes Sasanian emperor. c.213, Kanishka II (Kanishka III?) becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura. c.232, Vasishka II becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura. c.246, Vasudeva II becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura. c.256, Kanishka III (Kanishka IV?) becomes Kushan emperor at Mathura	c.213 AD, Vasudeva dies and the Kushan empire is divided into a western and eastern half. c.224-240 AD, The Sasanians invade Bactria and Northern India. c.270, Kushan control of the Gangetic plain is lost. 277-286 AD, Hormizd I Kushanshah launches a rebellion against Bahram II of Iran.
307-379 AD Shapur II, Sasanid Emperor.	359 AD, A Kidarite Kushan fights alongside Shapur, against Rome, at Amida. c.360 AD, The last Kushanshah Varahran II is overwhelmed by the Kidarites.