| Vonones | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings | |
 Silver
tetradrachm minted under Vonones, with the legend of his name and his commander
Spalahores. Obverse with Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΟΝΩΝΟΥ, "Of the King of Kings the Great Vonones". | |
| King of Sakastan | |
| Reign | 75–57 BCE |
| Predecessor | Unknown |
| Successor | Spalahores |
| Died | 57 BCE |
Vonones, also spelled Vovones ( Greek: ΟΝΩΝΟΥ Onōnou [1]) was an Iranian king, who ruled Sakastan from 75 BCE to 57 BCE. [2] During the latter part of his reign, he extended his rule as far as Taxila in north India, minting coins with the title of King of Kings. [2] Vonones was a rival of the first Indo-Scythian monarch Maues ( r. 98/85–60/57 BC), who also claimed the title of King of Kings. [3] [4] Both of them fought for power over the regions of Arachosia, the Kabul Valley, Ghadhara and Taxila. [5]
Vonones' origins are uncertain. [5] His name (lit. meaning "victor") was of Parthian origin, used by the royal Arsacid family of Iran. [2] [3] Because of this, arguments have been made in favour of a Parthian Surenid origin. [5] According to the Iranologist Khodadad Rezakhani, Vonones belonged to the royal Arsacid family. [6] Others, however, claim that he was an Indo-Scythian, regardless of his Parthian name. [5] The legend of Vonones' coins also had the name of two of his commanders Spalahores and Spalirisos, who are referred to as "brother of the king". [2] Scholars such as R.C. Senior and Rezakhani consider the two figures to indeed be Vonones' brothers, [7] [8] while others such as K.W. Dobbins argue that it was an honorific title given to them, whom he considered to be Saka satraps. [9] [a]
A major argument against the proposal of a blood relationship between Vonones and the two commanders was due to both of them having Saka names, contrary to Vonones' Parthian name. [5] Saghi Gazerani has suggested that after the Arsacid re-conquest of Sakastan (sometime between 124 BCE and 115 BCE), which was given as a fiefdom to the Surenid general that led the expedition, the Surenids (who became independent after 88 BCE) and the Sakas became closely connected, presumably through alliances and intermarriages. [10] Indeed, the Parthians and Sakas are often confused in Indian literature. [4] The mythological Iranian hero Rostam (who was from Sakastan), is mentioned in Iranian traditions as both Parthian and Saka, thus supporting this dual-identity. [4]
Vonones was succeeded by Spalahores. [11] The latter's son and successor, Spalagadames, has been suggested by Rezakhani to be the same figure as the first Indo-Parthian king, Gondophares ( r. 19–46 CE). [12]
Notes
References
- ^ Gardner, Percy, The Coins of the Greek and Scythic Kings of Bactria and India in the British Museum, p. 99
- ^ a b c d Gazerani 2015, p. 15.
- ^ a b Rezakhani 2017, p. 33.
- ^ a b c Gazerani 2015, p. 17.
- ^ a b c d e Gazerani 2015, p. 16.
- ^ a b Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (note 20).
- ^ Gazerani 2015, pp. 15–16.
- ^ Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (see also note 20).
- ^ Gazerani 2015, p. 16 (see also note 18).
- ^ Gazerani 2015, p. 16–17.
- ^ Rezakhani 2017, p. 34.
- ^ Rezakhani 2017, pp. 34, 37.
Sources
- Gazerani, Saghi (2015). The Sistani Cycle of Epics and Iran's National History: On the Margins of Historiography. BRILL. pp. 1–250. ISBN 9789004282964.
- Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). "East Iran in Late Antiquity". ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 1–256. ISBN 9781474400305. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctt1g04zr8. ( registration required)