Indo-Greek Kingdom

The Indo-Greek Kingdom, or Graeco-Indian Kingdom, also known historically as the Yavana Kingdom (Yavanarajya),[4] was a Hellenistic-era Greek kingdom covering various parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northwestern India.[5][6][7][8][9][10] This kingdom was in existence from c. 200 BC to the beginning of the common era.

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Indo-Greek Kingdom
200 BC–AD 10
SATAVAHANAS MAHAMEGHA- VAHANAS AUDUMBARAS YAUDHEYAS PAURAVAS VRISHNIS KUNINDAS MITRAS ARJUNAYANAS MALAVAS SHUNGAS PANDYAS CHOLAS Territory of the Indo-Greeks circa 150 BC.[1]
Capital	Alexandria in the Caucasus (modern Bagram) [2] Sagala Taxila
Common languages	Greek (Greek alphabet) Pali (Kharoshthi script) Sanskrit Prakrit (Brahmi script)
Religion	Buddhism Hellenism Hinduism Zoroastrianism
Government	Monarchy
Basileus
• 200 – 180 BC	Demetrius I (first)
• 25 BC – 10 AD	Strato III (last)
Historical era	Antiquity
• Established	200 BC
• Disestablished	AD 10
Area
150 BC[3]	1,100,000 km2 (420,000 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Maurya Empire Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthians
Today part of	Afghanistan Pakistan India

Indo-Greek Kingdom (200 BCE–10 CE)
200–190 BCE Demetrius I 190–180 BCE Agathocles, Pantaleon 185–170 BCE Antimachus I 180–160 BCE Apollodotus I 175–170 BCE Demetrius II 160–155 BCE Antimachus II 170–145 BCE Eucratides 155–130 BCE Menander I 130–120 BCE Zoilos I, Agathokleia 155–130 BCE Lysias, Strato I 110–100 BCE Antialcidas, Heliokles II 100 BCE Polyxenos, Demetrius III 100–95 BCE Philoxenus 95–90 BCE Diomedes, Amyntas, Epander 90 BCE Theophilos, Peukolaos, Thraso 90–85 BCE Nicias, Menander II, Artemidoros 90–70 BCE Hermaeus, Archebius 75–70 BCE Telephos, Apollodotus II 65–55 BCE Hippostratos, Dionysios 55–35 BCE Zoilos II 35–25 BCE Apollophanes 25 BCE–10 CE Strato II, Strato III
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During its existence the kingdom was ruled over by 30 successive kings. Menander I, being the most well known amongst the Indo-Greek kings, is often referred to simply as "Menander," despite the fact that there was indeed another Indo-Greek King known as Menander II. Menander I's capital was at Sagala in the Punjab (present-day Sialkot).[11]

The kingdom was founded when the Graeco-Bactrian king Demetrius (and later Eucratides) invaded India from Bactria in 200 BC.[12] The Greeks in the Indian Subcontinent were eventually divided from the Graeco-Bactrians centered on Bactria (now the border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan), and the Indo-Greeks in the present-day northern Indian Subcontinent.[13]

The expression "Indo-Greek Kingdom" loosely describes a number of various dynastic polities, traditionally associated with a number of regional capitals like Taxila (modern Punjab),[14] Pushkalavati, and Sagala.[15][16] Other potential centers are only hinted at; for instance, Ptolemy's Geographia and the nomenclature of later kings suggest that a certain Theophila in the south of the Indo-Greek sphere of influence may also have been a satrapal or royal seat at one time.

During the two centuries of their rule, the Indo-Greek kings combined the Greek and Indian languages and symbols, as seen on their coins, and blended Greek and Indian ideas, as seen in the archaeological remains.[17] The diffusion of Indo-Greek culture had consequences which are still felt today, particularly through the influence of Greco-Buddhist art.[18] The ethnicity of the Indo-Greek may also have been hybrid to some degree. Euthydemus I was, according to Polybius,[19] a Magnesian Greek. His son, Demetrius I, founder of the Indo-Greek kingdom, was therefore of Greek ethnicity at least by his father. A marriage treaty was arranged for the same Demetrius with a daughter of the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III. The ethnicity of later Indo-Greek rulers is sometimes less clear.[20] For example, Artemidoros (80 BC) was supposed to have been of Indo-Scythian descent, although he is now seen as a regular Indo-Greek king.[21]

Following the death of Menander, most of his empire splintered and Indo-Greek influence was considerably reduced. Many new kingdoms and republics east of the Ravi River began to mint new coinage depicting military victories.[22] The most prominent entities to form were the Yaudheya Republic, Arjunayanas, and the Audumbaras. The Yaudheyas and Arjunayanas both are said to have won "victory by the sword".[23] The Datta dynasty and Mitra dynasty soon followed in Mathura. The Indo-Greeks ultimately disappeared as a political entity around 10 AD following the invasions of the Indo-Scythians, although pockets of Greek populations probably remained for several centuries longer under the subsequent rule of the Indo-Parthians and Kushans.[lower-alpha 1]