Sri Pravarasena

For the Vakataka king, see Pravarasena I.

Sri Pravarasena
Ruler of the Alchon Huns
Coinage of Pravarasena, supposed founder of Srinagar. Obverse: Standing king with two figured seated below. Name "Pravarasena". Reverse: goddess seated on a lion. Legend "Kidāra". c. 6th-early 7th century CE.[1]
Sri Pravarasena is located in South Asia
Sri Pravarasena
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Approximate location of Sri Pravarasena's territory
Reign530–590
PredecessorMihirakula
SuccessorGokarna
ReligionShaivism
Alchon Huns
(400–670 CE)
c. 400–440 (Anonymous kings)
c. 430–490 Khingila
c. 490 Javukha
c. 461–493Mehama
c. 490 Lakhana Udayaditya
Aduman
c. 490–515Toramana
c.515–540Mihirakula
c.530–570Toramana II
Kashmir descendants:
6-7th c. Pravarasena
6-7th c. Megavahana
6-7th c.Tujina
6-7th c.Toramana of Kashmir

Sri Pravarasena (reigned c. 530-590 CE), also sometimes Pravarasena II based on the regnal lists of the Rajatarangini,[2] was a 6th-century Huna king of the Alchon Huns in the area of Gandhara and Kashmir in northwestern India.[3] His reign probably lasted about 60 years from about the year 530 CE.[3][4]

According to Kalhana's 12th century text Rajatarangini, a king named Pravarasena II established a new capital named Pravarapura (also known as Pravarasena-pura). Based on topographical details, Pravarapura appears to be same as the modern city of Srinagar. Aurel Stein dates the king to 6th century.[5][3] He also built a temple named "Pravaresha".[3][4]

Sri Pravarasena is thought as the most likely ruler to have succeeded the Alchon Huns ruler Mihirakula in the area of Kashmir Gandhara, and he would have been the son of Toramana.[3]

Pravarasena was probably succeeded by a king named Gokarna, a follower of Shiva, and then by his son king Narendraditya Khinkhila.[4][3] The son of Narendraditya was Yudhishthira, last known ruler of the Alchon Huns.[3]

  1. ^ Cribb, Joe (2016). "Early Medieval Kashmir Coinage – A New Hoard and An Anomaly". Numismatic Digest. 40.
  2. ^ Friedberg, Arthur L.; Friedberg, Ira S. (2009). Gold Coins of the World: From Ancient Times to the Present : an Illustrated Standard Catalogue with Valuations. Coin & Currency Institute. p. 463. ISBN 9780871843081.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Dani, Ahmad Hasan; Litvinsky, B. A. (1996). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: The crossroads of civilizations, A.D. 250 to 750. UNESCO. p. 169. ISBN 9789231032110.
  4. ^ a b c Kim, Hyun Jin (2015). The Huns. Routledge. p. 58. ISBN 9781317340911.
  5. ^ M. A. Stein (1989). Kalhana's Rajatarangini: a chronicle of the kings of Kasmir. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 439–441. ISBN 978-81-208-0370-1.