Huvishka

2023-01-16T09:51:40Z

103.210.202.134:

{{Short description|Kushan emperor from c.150 to c.190}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name =Huvishka
| title =[[Kushan]] emperor
| image= HuvishkaBMCoin.jpg
| caption =Coin of Huvishka. Legend in Kushan language and Greek script (with the Kushan letter Ϸ "sh"): ϷΑΟΝΑΝΟϷΑΟ ΟΟΗϷΚΙ ΚΟϷΑΝΟ ("Shaonanoshao Ooishki Koshano"): "King of kings, Huvishka the Kushan".
| reign =150–180 CE
| coronation =
| full name =
| predecessor =[[Kanishka]]
| successor =[[Vasudeva I]]
| spouse = Bhagyashree
| issue =
| royal house =
| dynasty = Kushan
| father = [[Kanishka]]
| mother = [[Supriyā (Kushan Empress)|Supriyā]] (also known as Premāvati)
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| date of burial =
| place of burial = [[Peshawar]], [[Pakistan]]
|}}
'''Huvishka''' ([[Bactrian script|Kushan]]: ''ΟΟΗϷΚΙ'', "Ooēški", [[Brahmi script|Brahmi]]: [[File:Gupta ashoka hu.jpg|14px]][[File:Gupta allahabad vi.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta ashoka ssk.jpg|16px]] ''{{IAST|Hu-vi-ṣka}}'', ''{{IAST|Huviṣka}}'';<ref>{{cite book |title=Epigraphia Indica Vol 8 |page=182 |url=https://archive.org/details/EpigraphiaIndica}}</ref> [[Kharosthi]]: '''𐨱𐨂𐨬𐨅𐨮𐨿𐨐''' ''{{IAST|Hu-ve-ṣka}}'', ''{{IAST|Huveṣka}}''<ref>[[Sten Konow|Konow, Sten]], ''Kharoshṭhī Inscriptions with the Exception of Those of Aśoka'', Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. II, Part I. Calcutta: Government of India Central Publication Branch, p. 167</ref>) was the emperor of the [[Kushan Empire]] from the death of [[Kanishka]] (assumed on the best evidence available to be in 150 CE) until the succession of [[Vasudeva I]] about thirty years later. Emperor Huvishka was the son of [[Kanishka]] and his wife, [[Supriyā (Kushan Empress)|Supriya]].

His rule was a period of consolidation for the Empire. Huvishka's territory encompassed [[Balkh]] in [[Bactria]] to [[Mathura]] in [[India]], locations where it is known that he minted his coinage. Gold coins and amulets in his effigy were found as far as [[Pataliputra]] and [[Bodh Gaya]], including one such amulet as an offering under the [[Vajrasana, Bodh Gaya|Enlightenment Throne of the Buddha]] in Bodh Gaya, suggesting with other finds of Kushan coins in the area that Kushan rule may have extended this far east.<ref name="BPS52">{{cite book |last1=Sinha |first1=Bindeshwari Prasad |last2=Narain |first2=Lala Aditya |title=Pāṭaliputra Excavation, 1955-56 |year=1970 |publisher=Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Bihar |page=52-53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6RRuAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA52 |language=en}}</ref> His reign seems to have been essentially peaceful, consolidating Kushan power in northern India, and moving the centre of the Kushan Empire to the southern capital city of Mathura.<ref name="KR202"/>

==Religion==
[[File:Gandhara, omaggio di un re kushana al bodhisattva, II-III sec.JPG|thumb|260px|Relief probably showing Huvishka making a donation to the Buddha.<ref name="Une peinture kouchane sur toile">{{cite journal |last1=Marshak |first1=Boris |last2=Grenet |first2=Frantz |title=Une peinture kouchane sur toile |journal=Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres |date=2006 |volume=150 |issue=2 |pages=257 |doi=10.3406/crai.2006.87101 }}</ref>]]
Huvishka was the son of Kanishka. His reign is also known as the golden age of Kushan rule.

===Mahayana Buddhism===
The reign of Huvishka corresponds with the first known epigraphic evidence of the Buddha [[Amitabha]], on the bottom part of a 2nd-century statue which has been found in Govindo-Nagar, and now at the [[Mathura Museum]]. The statue is dated to "the 28th year of the reign of Huvishka", and dedicated to "Amitabha Buddha" by a family of merchants.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rhie |first1=Marylin M. |title=Early Buddhist Art of China and Central Asia, Volume 3: The Western Ch'in in Kansu in the Sixteen Kingdoms Period and Inter-relationships with the Buddhist Art of Gandh?ra |date=2010 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-18400-8 |page=xxxvii, Fig 6.17a |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivE2mpfbNR0C&pg=PR37 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="GS99">{{cite journal |last1=Schopen |first1=Gregory |title=The Inscription on the Kuṣān Image of Amitābha and the Charakter of the Early Mahāyāna in India |journal=The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies |date=1987 |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=99–138 |url=http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/Articles/The-Inscription-on-the-Kusan-Image-of-Amitabha-and-and-the-Character-of-Early-Mahayana-in-India_Schopen.pdf}}</ref>

There is also some evidence that Huvishka was a follower of [[Mahayana Buddhism|Mahāyāna Buddhism]]. A [[Sanskrit]] manuscript fragment in the [[Schoyen Collection|Schøyen Collection]] describes Huvishka as one who has "set forth in the Mahāyāna."<ref>Neelis, Jason. ''Early Buddhist Transmission and Trade Networks.'' 2010. p. 141</ref>

[[:File:Gandhara, omaggio di un re kushana al bodhisattva, II-III sec.JPG|Some reliefs]] from [[Gandhara]] are also thought to portray Huvishka making donations to the Buddha.<ref name="Une peinture kouchane sur toile">{{cite journal |last1=Marshak |first1=Boris |last2=Grenet |first2=Frantz |title=Une peinture kouchane sur toile |journal=Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres |date=2006 |volume=150 |issue=2 |pages=257 |doi=10.3406/crai.2006.87101 }}</ref>

Huvishka is widely attested to have supported Buddhism, but the Buddha does not appear on his coinage, possibly out of respect to the Buddha.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dani |first1=Ahmad Hasan |last2=Harmatta |first2=János |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia |year=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1408-0 |page=327 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DguGWP0vGY8C&pg=PA327 |language=en}}</ref>

{{clear}}
<gallery widths="200px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
File:Amitabha Buddha inscription in the year 26 of Huvishka.jpg|thumb|Earliest known "[[Mahayana]]" inscription: inscribed pedestal with the first known occurrence of the name of "[[Amitabha Buddha]]" in the "year 26" (153 CE, first year of Huvishka)<ref name="MMR">{{cite book |last1=Rhie |first1=Marylin M. |title=Early Buddhist Art of China and Central Asia, Volume 3: The Western Ch'in in Kansu in the Sixteen Kingdoms Period and Inter-relationships with the Buddhist Art of Gandhara |date=2010 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-18400-8 |page=xxxvii, Fig 6.17a |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivE2mpfbNR0C&pg=PR37 |language=en}}</ref>
File:Amitabha Buddha inscription in the year 26 of Huvishka Inscription Buddhasya Amitabhasya.jpg|First known Mahayana inscription: words [[File:Gupta allahabad bu.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka ddh.jpg|8px]][[File:Gupta ashoka sya.svg|15px]] [[File:Gupta ashoka a.svg|15px]][[File:Gupta ashoka mi.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka t.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta allahabad bh.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka sya.svg|15px]]"''Bu-ddha-sya A-mi-tā-bha-sya''" ("of [[Amitabha Buddha]]") in [[Brahmi script]] in the inscription.<ref name="GS99">{{cite journal |last1=Schopen |first1=Gregory |title=The Inscription on the Kuṣān Image of Amitābha and the Charakter of the Early Mahāyāna in India |journal=The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies |date=1987 |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=99–138 |url=http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/Articles/The-Inscription-on-the-Kusan-Image-of-Amitabha-and-and-the-Character-of-Early-Mahayana-in-India_Schopen.pdf}}</ref>
File:Mathura sculpture Huvishka year 33.jpg|thumb|Fragment of a Bodhisattva sculpture inscribed "in the year 33" (𑀲𑀁𑁝𑁔) of "the Great King, son of God, Huvishka" (''Mahārājasya Devaputrasya Huviṣka'', [[File:Gupta_ashoka_m.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_h.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_allahabad_raa.jpg|8px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_j.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_sya.svg|15px]] [[File:Gupta_ashoka_d.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_v.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka pu.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka tr.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_sya.svg|15px]] [[File:Gupta ashoka hu.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta allahabad vi.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka ssk.jpg|13px]]), [[Art of Mathura]].<ref>The inscription reads: "In the year 33 of the Maharaja, the Devaputra Huvishka ([[File:Gupta_ashoka_m.svg|12px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_h.svg|12px]][[File:Gupta_allahabad_raa.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_j.svg|12px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_sya.svg|18px]] [[File:Gupta_ashoka_d.svg|12px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_v.svg|12px]][[File:Gupta ashoka pu.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta ashoka tr.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_sya.svg|18px]] [[File:Gupta ashoka hu.jpg|14px]][[File:Gupta allahabad vi.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta ashoka ssk.jpg|16px]] ''Mahārājasya Devaputrasya Huviṣka'') on the 8th day of the 1st summer (month), a Bodhisattva was set up at Madhuravanaka by the nun Dhanavati, the sister's daughter of the nun Buddhamitra, who knows the Tripitaka, a female pupil of the monk Bala, who knows the Tripitaka, together with her mother and father....". in {{cite book |title=Epigraphia Indica Vol 8 |page=182 |url=https://archive.org/details/EpigraphiaIndica}} Another similar inscription mentions "Huvihska in the year 26". in {{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=R.C. |title=The Splendour of Mathura Art and Museum |date=1994 |publisher=D. K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd. |page=142 |url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/splendour-of-mathura-art-and-museum-IDD114/}}</ref>
File:Iscrizione del regno di huvishka dei kushana sul piedistrallo di una statua di buddha, da mathura, uttar pradesh, 123 dc.jpg|Pedestal of a Buddha statue, with inscription in the name of Huvishka "in the year 45" (𑀲𑀁𑁞𑁔). Starts with ''Mahārājasya Huviṣkasya Devaputrasya...'', [[File:Gupta_ashoka_m.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_h.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_allahabad_raa.jpg|8px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_j.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_sya.svg|15px]] [[File:Gupta ashoka hu.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta allahabad vi.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka ssk.jpg|13px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_sya.svg|15px]] [[File:Gupta_ashoka_d.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_v.svg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka pu.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka tr.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta_ashoka_sya.svg|15px]]... [[Uttar Pradesh]]. [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya]] Museum.
</gallery>

===Graeco-Roman deities===
[[File:Huvishka with seated god Serapis ("Sarapo").jpg|thumb|Huvishka with seated [[Roman Egypt|Roman-Egyptian]] god [[Serapis]] (ϹΑΡΑΠΟ, ''"Sarapo"'') wearing the [[Modius (headdress)|modius]].<ref name="AHH326">{{cite book |last1=Dani |first1=Ahmad Hasan |last2=Harmatta |first2=János |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia |year=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1408-0 |page=326 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DguGWP0vGY8C&pg=PA326 |language=en}}</ref>]]
{{see also|Indo-Roman trade relations}}
Huvishka also incorporates in his coins for the first and only time in Kushan coinage the Hellenistic-Egyptian [[Serapis]] (under the name ''ϹΑΡΑΠΟ'', "Sarapo").<ref name="AHH326"/><ref>[http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=134885&AucID=160&Lot=1146 Serapis coin]</ref> Since Serapis was the supreme deity of the pantheon of [[Alexandria]] in [[Egypt]], this coin suggests that Huvishka had as strong orientation towards Roman Egypt, which may have been an important market for the products coming from the Kushan Empire.<ref name="AHH326"/>

[[:File:CoinOfHuvishkaWithRishtiAsRoma.JPG|Another coin]] possibly depicts the Goddess [[Roma (mythology)|Roma]] ("Roma aeterna"), under the name "[[Rishti]]" (Greek: ΡΙϷΤ),<ref>{{cite web |title=Huvishka Rishti coin British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1894-0506-75 |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref> or "Riom" (Greek: ΡΙΟΜ).<ref>Mario Bussagli, "L'Art du Gandhara", 225</ref><ref>[[:File:CoinOfHuvishkaWithRishtiAsRoma.JPG|This coin]]. The reading of the name of the deity on this last coin is very much uncertain and disputed (Riom, Riddhi, Rishthi, Rise....) in {{cite journal |last1=Fleet |first1=J.F. |title=The Introduction of the Greek Uncial and Cursive Characters into India |journal=The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |year=1908 |volume=1908 |page=179, note 1 |jstor=25210545 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25210545 |language=en}}</ref><ref>"The name Riom as read by Gardner, was read by Cunningham as Ride, who equated it with Riddhi, the Indian goddess of fortune. F.W. Thomas has read the name as Rhea" in {{cite book |last1=Shrava |first1=Satya |title=The Kushāṇa Numismatics |year=1985 |publisher=Pranava Prakashan |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_1EaAAAAYAAJ |language=en}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
File:Huvishka with god Serapis ("Sarapo").jpg|Another coin of Huvishka holding a scepter, with, on the reverse, deity [[Serapis]] (''ϹΑΡΑΠΟ'', "Sarapo")
File:Dinar, Kushan Empire, Depiction of Hercules, 152-192 AD.jpg|Coin of Huvishka. ''Obverse'': ϷΑΟΝΑΝΟϷΑΟ ΟΟΗϷΚΙ ΚΟϷΑΝΟ (''Shaonanoshao Ooishki Koshano'', "King of kings, Huvishka the Kushan"). ''Reverse'': [[Herakles]] with legend ΗΡΑΚΙΛΟ (''Erakilo'').
File:CoinOfHuvishkaWithRishtiAsRoma.JPG|Possible depiction of "Roma Aeterna". The legend has been variously read ''Riom'' (Greek: ΡΙΟΜ), or more recently ''[[Rishti]]'' (Greek: ΡΙϷΤ).
</gallery>

===Iranian deities===
Huvishka is also known to have included Iranian deities in his [[Pantheon (religion)|pantheon]]. Between 164 and 174, he established a temple to ''[[Pharro]]'' ("Royal splendour")-''[[Ardoxsho]]'' in the stronghold of Ayrtam, near [[Termez]], according to the ''Ayrtam inscription''.<ref name="AHH326"/> He also issued numerous coins in the name of these deities. Many more Iranian deities are also known from his coinage, such as ''[[Miiro]]'' ([[Mitra]]), ''[[Mao]]'' (the Lunar deity [[Mah]]), ''[[Nana (Bactrian goddess)|Nana]]'' ([[Anahita]]), ''[[Atsho]]'' ([[Atar]], "The Royal fire").<ref name="AHH327">{{cite book |last1=Dani |first1=Ahmad Hasan |last2=Harmatta |first2=János |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia |year=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1408-0 |pages=327–328 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DguGWP0vGY8C&pg=PA327 |language=en}}</ref> Another [[Zoroastrian]] deity, the supreme god ''Ooromozdo'' ([[Ahura Mazda]]), and ''Mazdo oana'' ("[[Mazda]] the victorious") also appears.<ref name="AHH327"/> Other Zoroastrian deities include ''[[Rishti]]'' ("Uprightness", [[Arshtat]]), ''[[Ashaeixsho]]'' ("Best righteousness", [[Asha Vahishta]]), the Lunar deity [[Mah]] (''Mao''), ''[[Shaoreoro]]'' ("Best royal power", [[Khshathra Vairya]]).<ref name="AHH327"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Boyce |first1=Mary |title=Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices |year=2001 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-415-23902-8 |page=83 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&pg=PA83 |language=en}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
File:Huvishka. Circa CE 152-192 diademed.jpg|thumb|Coin of Kushan ruler Huvishka diademed, with deity [[Pharro]] ("ΦΑΡΡΟ"). Circa CE 152-192
File:Kushan king Huvishka coin.jpg|Coin of Kushan ruler Huvishka diademed, with deity [[Ardoxsho]]. Circa CE 152-192
File:Huvishka with Athsho.jpg|thumb|Huvishka with ''[[Atosho]]'' (ΑΘΟϷΟ "The Royal fire").<ref name="AHH327"/>
File:Huvihska with Ahuramazda.jpg|thumb|Huvihska with [[Ahuramazda]] (ωΡΟΜ, ''Orom[zdo]'').<ref name="AHH327"/>
File:Huvishka with Rishti.jpg|thumb|Huvishka with ''[[Rishti]]''.<ref name="AHH327"/>
File:Huvishka with Ashaiexsho.jpg|thumb|Huvishka with "[[Asha Vahishta]]" (ΑϷΑΕΙΧϷΟ, ''Ashaiexsho'').<ref name="AHH327"/>
File:Huvishka with Mao.jpg|thumb|Huvishka with the Lunar deity [[Mah]] (''Mao''). The lunar crescent appears behind the shoulders.<ref name="AHH327"/>
File:Huvishka and Shaoreoro.jpg|thumb|Huvishka with ''[[Shaoreoro]]'' (ϷΑΟΡΗΟΡΟ, "Best royal power", [[Khshathra Vairya]]).<ref name="AHH327"/>
</gallery>

===Indian deities===
[[File:Huvishka Oesho coin.jpg|thumb|Coin of Huvishka with deity ''[[Oesho]]'' ("ΟΗϷΟ", [[Shiva]]).<ref name="AHH326"/>]]
Huvishka is known to have restored a temple in [[Mathura]], where provisions were made for hospitality towards the [[Brahmans]].<ref name="AHH326"/> Some of the coins of Huvishka also featured [[Maaseno]] on his coins, the Kushan incarnation of the Hindu god [[Karttikeya]], or [[Kartikeya|Skanda]], whose epithet was "Mahasena".<ref name="MA"/> This god being particularly important to the [[Yaudheya]]s, it may have been incorporated into Kushan coinage when the Kushans expanded into Yaudheya territory in order to establish control of the [[Mathura]] area. It may also have been adopted as a way to appease the warlike Yaudheyas. In effect, the [[Kushans]] became the suzerains of the Yaudheyas in the area.<ref>[https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=231327 Classical Numismatics Group]</ref><ref name="Pal">Indian Sculpture: Circa 500 B.C.-A.D. 700, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pratapaditya Pal, University of California Press, 1986, p.78 [https://books.google.com/books?id=clUmKaWRFTkC&pg=PA78]</ref>

In a departure from his predecessor Kanishka, Huvishka also added ''[[Oesho]]'' ("ΟΗϷΟ", [[Shiva]]) on some of his coinage. In replacement of the Iranian god of war [[Ořlagno]], he also added several Indian war gods, such as Skando (Old Indian [[Kartikeya|Skanda]]), Komaro (Old Indian [[Kartikeya|Kumara]]), Maaseno (Old Indian [[Mahāsena]]), Bizago (Old Indian [[Viśākha]]), and even Ommo (Old Indian [[Umā]]), the consort of Siva. This could suggest an evolution toward Indian deities among the Kushans, possibly motivated by the enlisting of Indian warriors.<ref name="MA">"Also omitted is the ancient Iranian war god Orlagno, whose place and function are occupied by a group of Indian war gods, Skando (Old Indian Skanda), Komaro (Old Indian Kumara), Maaseno (Old Indian Mahāsena), Bizago (Old Indian Viśākha), and even Ommo (Old Indian [[Umā]]), the consort of Shiva. Their use as reverse types of Huvishka I is clear evidence for the new trends in religious policy of the Kushan king, which was possibly influenced by enlisting Indian warriors into the Kushan army during the campaign against Pataliputra." in {{cite book |last1=Dani |first1=Ahmad Hasan |last2=Harmatta |first2=János |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia |year=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1408-0 |page=326 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DguGWP0vGY8C&pg=PA326 |language=en}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
File:Huvishka with Ommo and Oesho.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Coin of Huvishka with the divine couple ''Ommo'' ("ΟΜΜΟ", [[Umā]]) holding a flower, and ''[[Oesho]]'' ("ΟΗϷΟ", [[Shiva]]) with four arms holding attributes. Circa 150-180 CE.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dani |first1=Ahmad Hasan |last2=Harmatta |first2=János |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia |year=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1408-0 |page=326 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DguGWP0vGY8C&pg=PA326 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ommo-Oesho coin of Huvishka British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1888-1208-557 |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref>
File:Huvishka Maaseno.jpg|Coin of Huvishka with Indian deity ''Maaseno'' (Old Indian [[Mahāsena]]).
File:Huvishka with Skando-Komaro and Bizago.jpg|Coin of Huvishka with Indian deities ''Skando-Komaro'' (Old Indian [[Kartikeya|Skanda]]-[[Kartikeya|Kumara]]) and ''Bizago'' (Old Indian [[Viśākha]])
File:Huvishka with Maasena and attendants.jpg|thumb|Huvishka with ''Maaseno'' (Old Indian [[Mahāsena]]) and attendants
</gallery>

==Coinage and statuary==
The coinage of Huvishka is characterized by a great variety of designs and the large quantity of gold coins that were minted: more gold coins from Huvishka are known than from all other Kushan rulers combined.<ref name="KR202"/> The locations of his mints were mainly in [[Balkh]] and [[Peshawar]], with smaller mints in [[Kashmir]] and [[Mathura]].<ref name="KR202">{{cite book |last1=Rezakhani |first1=Khodadad |title=From the Kushans to the Western Turks |date=2017 |page=202 |url=https://www.academia.edu/32671225 |language=en}}</ref>

One of the great remaining puzzles of Huvishka's reign is the devaluation of his coinage. Early in his reign the copper coinage plunged in weight from a standard of 16g to about 10-11g. The quality and weight then continued to decline throughout the reign until at the start of the reign of Vasudeva the standard coin (a tetradrachm) weighed only 9g. The devaluation led to a massive production of imitations, and an economic demand for the older, pre-devaluation coins in the Gangetic valley. However, the motivation (and even some of the details) of this devaluation are still unknown.
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<gallery>
File:Kushan king or prince.jpg|Kushan king or prince, said to be Huvishka, [[Gandhara art]].<ref name="Une peinture kouchane sur toile"/>
File:Kushan ruler and attendants, Bactria 74-258 CE.jpg|Painting of a Kushan ruler (probably Huvishka, seated) and attendants, Bactria.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marshak |first1=Boris |last2=Grenet |first2=Frantz |title=Une peinture kouchane sur toile |journal=Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres |volume=150 |issue=2 |pages=947–963 |url=https://www.academia.edu/24546293 |language=en |issn=0065-0536|doi=10.3406/crai.2006.87101 |year=2006 }}</ref>
File:Coin of Kushan king Huvishka 126 163 with Kushan goddess Rishti depicted as Roma copied from a Roman coin.jpg|Coin of Huvishka 126–163, with Kushan goddess ''Rishti'', possibly depicted as ''Roma'' copied from a Roman coin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Huvishka Rishti coin British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1894-0506-75 |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref><ref>The reading of the name of the deity on this coin is very much uncertain and disputed (Riom, Riddhi, Rishthi, Rise....) in {{cite journal |last1=Fleet |first1=J.F. |title=The Introduction of the Greek Uncial and Cursive Characters into India |journal=The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |year=1908 |volume=1908 |page=179, note 1 |jstor=25210545 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25210545 |language=en}}</ref><ref>"The name Riom as read by Gardner, was read by Cunningham as Ride, who equated it with Riddhi, the Indian goddess of fortune. F.W. Thomas has read the name as Rhea" in {{cite book |last1=Shrava |first1=Satya |title=The Kushāṇa Numismatics |year=1985 |publisher=Pranava Prakashan |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_1EaAAAAYAAJ |language=en}}</ref>
Bodhisattva - Kushana - Circa 1st Century AD - Sravasti - Uttar Pradesh - Indian Museum - Kolkata 2012-11-16 1957.JPG|Bodhisatva of [[Sravasti]], inscribed "reign of Huvishka" (or possibly Kanishka).<ref>{{cite book |title=Epigraphia Indica Vol 8 |page=180 |url=https://archive.org/details/EpigraphiaIndica/page/n235}}</ref>
File:Naga statue with inscription from the reign of Huvishka. Mathura Museum.jpg|Naga statue with inscription of "the 40th year of the reign of Huvishka". [[Mathura Museum]].
File:Kankali Tila elephant Huvishka year 39.jpg|[[Kankali Tila]] elephant capital with inscription of "Huvishka in the year 39". Detail of the name [[File:Gupta ashoka hu.jpg|14px]][[File:Gupta allahabad vi.jpg|12px]][[File:Gupta ashoka ssk.jpg|16px]] ''Hu-vi-ṣka''
</gallery>
|}

==References==
{{Kushan rulers}}
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite encyclopedia | title = HUVIŠKA | last = Bivar | first = A. D. H. | authorlink = | url = https://iranicaonline.org/articles/huviska | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link = | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. XII, Fasc. 6 | pages = 583–585 | location = | publisher = | year = 2004 | isbn = }}

{{Commons category|Huvishka}}

==External links==
*[http://coinindia.com/galleries-huvishka.html Online Catalogue of Huvishka's Coinage]
*[http://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?results=100&search=Huvishka Coins of Huvishka]
*[http://www.kushan.org/essays/huvishka/huvishka.htm] Was Huvishka sole king of the Kushan Empire
*[http://www.kushan.org/coins/huvishka/devaluation.htm] The Devaluation of the Coinage of Kanishka

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Kushan Empire|Kushan Ruler]]
| years = 150–183 CE
| before = [[Kanishka]]
| after = [[Vasudeva I]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Kushans}}

[[Category:Kushan Empire]]
[[Category:2nd-century Indian monarchs]]

Kanishka II

2023-01-15T17:43:36Z

103.210.202.134:

{{Short description|Kushan emperor from 230 to 247}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name =Kanishka II
| title =[[Kushan]] emperor
| image= KanishkaIIObverse.JPG
| image_size=270
| caption =Coin with a depiction of Kanishka II.
| reign =200–222 CE
| coronation =
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| predecessor =[[Vasudeva I]]
| successor =[[Vāsishka]]
| spouse = Shantimala
| issue =
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| father =
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{{Kushan rulers}}
'''Kanishka II''' ([[Brahmi script|Brahmi]]: [[File:Gupta ashoka kaa.svg|12px]][[File:Gupta ashoka nni.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta ashoka ssk.jpg|12px]] ''Kā-ṇi-ṣka'') was one of the emperors of the [[Kushan Empire]] from around 225–245 CE. He succeeded [[Vasudeva I]] who is considered to be the last great Kushan emperor.<ref name="KR202"/>

==Rule==
While he upheld Kushan rule in northern India, it is likely that Kanishka II lost the western part of his empire, namely [[Bactria]]/[[Tokharistan]] to the Sasanian [[Shapur I]] (240-272 CE), whose conquests would be consolidated by the [[Kushano-Sassanians]].<ref name="KR202">{{cite book |last1=Rezakhani |first1=Khodadad |title=From the Kushans to the Western Turks |date=2017 |page=202 |url=https://www.academia.edu/32671225 |language=en}}</ref> In his inscriptions at [[Naqsh-e Rostam]] Shapur now claimed that he controlled the realm of the Kushans (Kūšān šahr) "up to Purushapura" ([[Peshawar]]), suggesting that he may have expanding even beyond the [[Hindu-Kush]] at the expense of the Kushans.<ref name="KR202"/> The rock inscription at [[Rag-i-Bibi]] further support this view.<ref name="KR202"/>

Several overstrikes by the [[Kushano-Sasanian]] [[Peroz I Kushanshah]] over coins of Kanishka II are known, and it is from the time of Peroz that the first [[Kushano-Sasanian]] coins were issued south of the [[Hindu-Kush]].{{sfn|Cribb|2018|p=20-21}}

Kanishka II may have retaken control of Gandhara at one point, as well as [[Kapiśa]], and there are suggestions that following these successes he may have created a second Era of Kanishka in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the original one.<ref name="KR202"/>

==Coinage and dated statuary==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
Image:Coin of KanishkaII.jpg|Coin of Kanishka II with [[Oesho]].
Image:KanishkaIIWithArdoksho.JPG|Kanishka II with [[Ardoksho]].
File:Hariti (Gandhara).jpg|Statue of [[Hariti]] from Skarah Dheri, [[Gandhara]], with the inscription "Year 399", probably in the [[Yavana era]], hence 244 CE.<ref name="PC">{{cite book | url=https://www.carc.ox.ac.uk/PublicFiles/media/Final%20e-version%20Problems%20of%20Chronology%20in%20Gandharan%20Art.pdf | title=Problems of Chronology in Gandharan Art | pages=35-51 | year=2017 | editor1-first=Wannaporn | editor1-last=Rienjang | editor2-first=Peter | editor2-last=Stewart | publisher=Archaeopress | isbn=978-1-78491-856-9 | accessdate=27 May 2021 }}</ref>
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last1=Cribb |first1=Joe |title=Problems of Chronology in Gandhāran Art: Proceedings of the First International Workshop of the Gandhāra Connections Project, University of Oxford, 23rd-24th March, 2017 |date=2018 |publisher=University of Oxford The Classical Art Research Centre Archaeopress |url=https://archive.org/details/ProblemsOfChronologyInGandharanArt/page/n27}}

==External links==
* [http://coinindia.com/galleries-kanishka2.html Online catalogue of coins of Kanishka II]

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Kushan Empire|Kushan Ruler]]
| years =
| before = [[Vasudeva I]]
| after = [[Vasishka]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Kushans}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanishka 02}}
[[Category:Kushan Empire]]
[[Category:3rd-century Indian monarchs]]

IndianPedia - User contributions [en]

Huvishka

Kanishka II