Sophagasenus

Sophagasenos also spelt Sophagasenus or Sophagasenas[1] was a local ruler of Kabul and Kapisa valley (Paropamisade of the classical writings) during the last decade of 3rd century BCE. Sophagasenus finds reference only in "The Histories" of Polybius.

Sophagasenus
Reign3rd century BC

Names and identity

Sophagasenus is probably derived from the name Shubhagasena.[2]

According to Wilhem Von Pochhammer, Antiochus III, 6th successor of Seleucus, was resisted not by Mauryas but by a local ruler named Subhagasena.[3]

According to the Cambridge History of India, Indian history knows no ruler of corresponding name, and it has therefore been conjectured that Sophagasenus was some local ruler who had taken advantage of the decay of the Maurya empire to establish his own in the country west of Indus.[4] Historian John Ma calls Sophagasenos a local dynast, otherwise unknown from any of Indian sources. [5]

Historian Dr Romila Thapar is strongly against the view that Subhagasena was a Maurya king.

Polybius on Sophagasenus

Polybius (c. 204 – c. 122 BCE), the Greek historian, makes reference to Sophagasenus in context with Antiochus III’s expedition across the Caucasus Indicus (Hindu Kush) in around 206 BCE. Having crossed the Caucasus Mountains, Antiochus moved up to Kabul and met Sophagasenus the king with whom he renewed league and friendship he had made previously.[6] and received more elephants until he had one hundred and fifty of them all together. He then returned home via Arachosia, Drangiana and Karmania.[7][Note 1] No other source except Polybius makes any reference to Sophagasenus.



See also

Notes
  1. Read actual Trans of Polybius 11.34: "He (Antiochus) crossed the Caucasus Indicus (Paropamisus) and descended into India; renewed his friendship with Sophagasenus the king of the Indians; received more elephants, until he had a hundred and fifty all together; and having once more provisioned his troops, set out again personally with his army: leaving Androsthenes of Cyzicus the duty of taking home the treasure which this king had agreed to hand over to him.[8] Having traversed Arachosia and crossed the river Enymanthus, he came through Drangene to Carmania; and as it was now winter, he put his men into winter quarters there."[9]

References
  1. Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu world, Volume 2. Concept Publishing Company. p. 510. ISBN 9788170223757.
  2. Kosmin 2014, p. 36.
  3. A political History of the Subcontinent, 1993, p 156, Wilhelm Von Pochhammer
  4. Cambridge History of India, 1962, p 397, Editor E. J. Rapson
  5. Antiochos III and the Cities of Western Asia Minor. 2002, pp 6, 64, John Ma
  6. Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 322, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee
  7. Ref: Polybius, XI.34.11-12
  8. Kosmin 2014, pp. 35–36.
  9. The Histories of Polybius, Book 11, 1889, p 78, by Friedrich Otto Hultsch, Evelyn Shirley Shuckburgh

Sources
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