Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

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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 BC. Their expansion into northern India established the Indo-Greek Kingdom, which was to last until around 1 BC.

Table of contents

1 Greek culture in the East

2 The Euthydemid dynasty

3 Expansion into India

4 Nomad invasions

5 Main Greco-Bactrian kings

6 See also:

7 References:

Greek culture in the East

The Greco-Bactrians were known for their high level of Hellenistic sophistication, and kept regular contact with both the Mediterranean and neighbouring India. They were on friendly terms with India and exchanged ambassadors.

Their cities, such as Ai-Khanoum (probably Alexandria on the Oxus), demonstrate a sophisticated Hellenistic urban culture. "It has all the hallmarks of a Hellenistic city, with a Greek theater, gymnasium and some Greek houses with colonnaded courtyards" (Boardman).

Some of the Greco-Bactrian coins, and those of their successors the Indo-Greeks, are considered the finest examples of Greek numismatic art with "a nice blend of realism and idealization", including the largest coins to be minted in the Hellenistic world: the largest gold coin was minted by Eucratides (reigned 171-145 BCE), the largest silver coin by the Indo-Greek king Amyntas (reigned c. 95-90 BCE). The portraits "show a degree of individuality never matched by the often bland depictions of their royal contemporaries further West" (Roger Ling, "Greece and the Hellenistic World").

The Euthydemid dynasty

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

At about the same time in the West, the Parthian dynasty of the Arsacides was rising, therefore cutting the Greco-Bactrians from direct contacts with the Greek world. Overland trade continued at a reduced rate, while sea trade between Greek Egypt and Bactria developped.

Euthydemus overthrew the son of Diodotus around 230 BCE and started his dynasty. Euthydemus is famous for having repulsed a reconquest effort by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III around 205 BCE. He successfully resisted a two-year siege in the fortified city of Bactra, before Antiochus finally decided to recognize the new ruler, and to offer one of his daughters to Euthydemus's son Demetrius.

Euthydemus extended his control to Sogdiana, and there are indications that he may have led expeditions as far as Kashgar in Chinese Turkestan, leading to the first known contacts between China and the West around 200 BCE. The Greek historian Strabo too writes that "they extended their empire even as far as the Seres and the Phryni" (Strabo XI.II.I).

Expansion into India

Silver coin depicting King Demetrius (reigned c. 200-180 BCE), wearing an elephant scalp, symbol of his conquest of India.

Demetrius, the son of Euthydemus, started an invasion of India from 180 BCE, around the time the Mauryan empire was collapsing. He seems to have been as far as the imperial capital Pataliputra in eastern India (today Patna). The invasion was completed by 175 BCE. This established in northern India what is called the Indo-Greek Kingdom, which lasted for almost two centuries until around 1 BCE.

Back in Bactria, Eucratides managed to overthrow the Euthydemid dynasty and establish his own rule around 170 BCE.

Nomad invasions

From 130 BCE, Indo-European nomads (the Scythians and then the Yuezhi), started to invade Bactria from the north.

In 125 BCE the king Heliocles abandoned Bactria and moved his capital to the Kabul valley, from where he ruled his Indian holdings. He is technically the last Greco-Bactrian king, although the Indo-Greek Kingdom founded by Demetrius continued in northern India until around 1 BCE.

The Yuezhi remained in Bactria, where they were to stay more than a century. They became Hellenized to some degree, as suggested by their adoption of the Greek alphabet and by some remaining coins, minted in the style of the Greco-Bactrian kings, with the text in Greek.

Around 12 BCE the Yuezhi were then to move to northern India where they established the Kushan Empire.

Main Greco-Bactrian kings

Diodotos I (reigned c. 250-230 BCE)

Diodotus II (reigned c. 250-230 BCE) Son of Diodotus I

Euthydemus I (reigned c. 230-200 BCE) Overthrew Diodotus I.

Demetrius I (reigned c. 200-180 BCE) Son of Euthymedus I. Conqueror of India.

Antimachus I (reigned c. 171-160 BCE) Brother of Demetrius I. Lost against rebel Eucratides.

Eucratides (reigned c. 171-145 BCE)

Eucratides II (reigned c. 145-140 BCE)

Plato (reigned c. 145-140 BCE)

Heliocles (reigned c. 125 BCE) Last "Bactrian" king.

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) [ISBN 1581152035]
"The Oxford Illsutrated History of Greece and the Hellenistic World" by John Boardman, Jasper Griffin, Oswyn Murray (Oxford University Press) [ISBN 0192854380]
"The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity" by John Boardman (Princeton University Press, 1994)[ISBN 0691036802]

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