Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

The founder of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, Diodotus ca. 250 BC

The Greco-Bactrians were a dynasty of Greek kings who controlled Bactria, an area comprising today's northern Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia, the easternmost area of the Hellenistic world, from 250 to 125 B.C.

Table of contents

1 The Euthydemid dynasty

2 The Indo-Greek branch

3 Downfall

4 Main Greco-Bactrian kings

5 See also:

6 References:

The Euthydemid dynasty

The dynasty (known as Euthydemid, after king Euthydemus) was founded by the Bactrian military governor Diodotus around 250 B.C. when he wrestled independance for his territory from the Seleucid Empire.

The Greco-Bactrians were known for they high level of Hellenistic sophistication, and kept regular contact with both the Mediterranean and neighbouring India.

The Indo-Greek branch

Silver coin depicting King Demetrius wearing an elephant skin, symbol of his conquest of India.

One of the Greco-Bactrian Euthydemids,Demetrius, started an invasion of the Mauryan empire in Northwestern India from 180 B.C., and seems to have been as far as the Mauryan capital Pataliputra in eastern India (today Patna). The invasion was completed by 175 B.C. This started what is called the Indo-Greek dynasty, which lasted in India until 1 B.C.

Menander, after Demetrius, ruled from 150 to 135 B.C. He seems to have converted to Buddhism, and is described in Buddhist texts as a great benefactor of the religion. He is famous for his dialogues with the Buddhist monk Nagasena, called the Milinda Panha.

Downfall

From 130 B.C. a nomadic people, the Yuezhi started to invade Bactria from the north. In 125 B.C. the king Heliocles abandonned Bactria and moved his capital to the Kabul valley, from where he ruled his Indian holdings.

The last Indo-Greek king Hermaeus died in 1 B.C.

After this point, the Greek communities of central Asia and northwestern India lived under the control of the Sakas, a Scythian-related people who came to dominate the area. They were followed by the Kushans from the 1st century A.D.

Main Greco-Bactrian kings

Diodotos I (250-230 BC)

Euthydemus I (230-200 BC)

Demetrius I (200-180 BC)

Antimachus I (171-160 BC)

Eucratides (171-145 BC)

Eucratides II (145-140 BC)

Plato (145-140 BC)

Heliocles c.a. 125 BC

References:

"The Shape of Ancient Thought. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies" by Thomas McEvilly (Allworth Press and the School of Visual Arts, 2002)