Vonones of Sakastan

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
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' 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][lower-alpha 1]

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]