Northern Satraps

Great Satraps

Mahakṣatrapa
60 BCE–2nd century CE
The Northern Satraps ruled the area from Eastern Punjab to Mathura.[1] Approximate location and neighbouring polities, early 1st century CE.
CapitalMathura
Taxila
Religion
Buddhism
Hinduism
Jainism
GovernmentMonarchy
Historical eraAntiquity
• Established
60 BCE
• Disestablished
2nd century CE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Indo-Greeks
Indo-Scythians
Mitra dynasty
Indo-Parthians
Kushan Empire
Today part of

The Northern Satraps (Brahmi: , Kṣatrapa, "Satraps" or , Mahakṣatrapa, "Great Satraps"), or sometimes Satraps of Mathura,[2] or Northern Sakas,[1] are a dynasty of Indo-Scythian ("Saka") rulers who held sway over the area of Punjab and Mathura after the decline of the Indo-Greeks, from the end of the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE. They are called "Northern Satraps" in modern historiography to differentiate them from the "Western Satraps", who ruled in Sindh, Gujarat and Malwa at roughly the same time and until the 4th century CE. They are thought to have replaced the last of the Indo-Greek kings in the Punjab region, as well as the Mitra dynasty and the Datta dynasty of local Indian rulers in Mathura.

The Northern Satraps were probably displaced by, or became vassals of, the Kushans from the time of Vima Kadphises, who is known to have ruled in Mathura in 90–100 CE, and they are known to have acted as Satraps and Great Satraps in the Mathura region for his successor Kanishka (127–150 CE).

  1. ^ a b Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (e). ISBN 0226742210.
  2. ^ Naskar, Satyendra Nath (1996). Foreign Impact on Indian Life and Culture (c. 326 B.C. to C. 300 A.D.). Abhinav Publications. p. 11. ISBN 9788170172987.