Western Satraps

Great Satraps

Mahakṣatrapa
35–415 CE
Approximate territory of the Western Satraps (35–415) circa 350 CE.[1]
CapitalUjjain
Barygaza
Minnagara
Common languagesPali (Kharoshthi script)
Sanskrit, Prakrit (Brahmi script)
Religion
Hinduism
Buddhism
GovernmentMonarchy
Satrap 
• c. 35
Abhiraka
• 388–415
Rudrasimha III
Historical eraAntiquity
• Established
35
• Disestablished
415 CE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Indo-Scythians
Malavas
Satavahana dynasty
Gupta Empire
Vakataka dynasty
Kalachuris of Mahishmati
Traikutaka dynasty
Kingdom of Valabhi
Today part ofIndia
Pakistan

The Western Satraps, or Western Kshatrapas (Brahmi:, Mahakṣatrapa, "Great Satraps") were Indo-Scythian (Saka) rulers of the western and central parts of India (extending from Saurashtra in the south and Malwa in the east, covering modern-day Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states), between 35 and 415 CE. The Western Satraps were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, and were possibly vassals of the Kushans. They were also contemporaneous with the Satavahana who ruled in Central India. They are called "Western Satraps" in modern historiography in order to differentiate them from the "Northern Satraps", who ruled in Punjab and Mathura until the 2nd century CE.

The power of the Western Satraps started to decline in the 2nd century CE after the Saka rulers were defeated by the Emperor Gautamiputra Satakarni of the Satavahana dynasty.[2] After this, the Saka kingdom revived, but was ultimately defeated by Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire in the 4th century CE.[3]

  1. ^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (h). ISBN 0226742210.
  2. ^ World history from early times to A D 2000 by B .V. Rao: p.97
  3. ^ Ancient India by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar p. 234