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
Reign75–57 BCE
PredecessorUnknown
SuccessorSpalahores
Died57 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][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]

Notes

  1. ↑ Rezakhani has additionally suggested that Spalahores may simply have been a military title used by Vonones.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Gardner, Percy, The Coins of the Greek and Scythic Kings of Bactria and India in the British Museum, p. 99
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gazerani 2015, p. 15.
  3. 1 2 Rezakhani 2017, p. 33.
  4. 1 2 3 Gazerani 2015, p. 17.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Gazerani 2015, p. 16.
  6. 1 2 Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (note 20).
  7. ↑ Gazerani 2015, pp. 15–16.
  8. ↑ Rezakhani 2017, p. 34 (see also note 20).
  9. ↑ Gazerani 2015, p. 16 (see also note 18).
  10. ↑ Gazerani 2015, p. 16–17.
  11. ↑ Rezakhani 2017, p. 34.
  12. ↑ 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)
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