Journal of Eurasian Studies - EPA

More documents

Recommendations

Info

April‐June 2010 JOURNAL OF EURASIAN STUDIES Volume II., Issue 2. _____________________________________________________________________________________ part of Madhya Pradesh (Central Province) for a long time. Arian rulers married Hun princesses even in the 9th century A.D. Some Rajput dynasties, e.g. that of Mewar, claimed to be descended from the Huns. From the second part of Mihiragula’s name (on some of his coins “Mihiragula” is written): Gula – which was most probably a dignitary name, meaning a ruling War Lord – originated the name of the present Gulot (Guhilot, Gehlot) dynasty; this dynasty provides the Maharanas of Udaypur even today. The word “Maharana” means the leader of all Maharajas; the “King of Kings”, similar to the old Indo‐Scythian and Kushan title: “Shahan Shahi”. Indeed the Maharana is the sacred ruler. 44 The Hephtalite rule in Kashmir represented their other Indian continuity. After Mihirakula’s death, his youngest brother (half‐brother), the youngest son of Toramana, Pravarasena I, returned from Bactria. Pravarasena was the son of Toramana’s younger wife and, during Mihirakula’s reign, she went into exile with their son because she had fears regarding the safety of Pravarasena. Mihirakula would not tolerate a possible pretender. Pravarasena was a young man, about 25 years old, when he ascended to the throne in Kashmir. 45 His Kingdom included Kashmir, the northern part of Punjab, the Swat Basin, South Bactria and Gandhara, so it was a fairly big territory. He had a good relationship with some of the Indian princes, e.g. the King of Malwa, Siladitya, asked for Pravarasena’s help to defend his throne against a tribal prince. Pravarasena I was followed by his son, Pravarasena II; the two kings ruled from 537 till 597 A.D. Pravarasena II was followed by his son, Gokharna, then his grandson, Khinkila (Khingala), and Khinkila’s son, Yudhishthira; and finally, Khinkila’s grandson, Lakhana, who was the last Hephtalite king in Kashmir. This is confirmed by the written sources, primarily the Rajatarangini, and by the archaeological finds and coins. 46 Lakhana ruled until 670 A.D.; from that time, another dynasty came into power in Kashmir. The Indian rule of the Hephtalites lasted for 200 years but the influence of their successors can be traced even today. Now let us see what happened to those groups of the Hephtalites, who did not want to assimilate into Indian society or who did not rule in Kashmir. They went farther to the North, toward their original land in the Oxus Valley. A smaller group settled down in the well‐protected Gilgit Valley, founding the Province of Hunza; they practice their ancient Shamanism even today. The part of the Hephtalites, who returned to the Oxus Valley, could not stay for long. Their former enemies, the Sassanians, did not forget Peroz’ defeat by the White Huns. Now they started a war against the Hephtalites and, in 565 A.D., the Sassanian King, Kushrew Anushirwan, defeated them. In the meantime, the former vassals of the Hephtalites, the Türks became strong in Tokharistan and they wanted to take revenge upon their former masters. They won a battle against the Hephtalites and then they wanted to put the White Huns in a vassal status. The kagan, the armed forces and the leaders were naturally forced to flee. They were joined by a part of the Zhuan‐Zhuan tribe and the Uar‐Huns or according to other sources, the Var‐Huns, who were called Avars later on. 47 These tribes were also fleeing from the Turkic army. They established a tribal confederation together under the pressure of necessity. As 44 Aradi, Éva: “A hunok Indiában”, Bp. Hun‐Idea, 2005. pp.71‐82. 45 Aradi, Éva: “A fehér hunok története”, in Magyarságtudományi tanulmányok”, Hun‐Idea, 2008, p.24. 46 Kalhana: Rajatarangini, III. p.383. 47 Aradi, Éva: “A fehér hunok története” in “Magyarságtudományi tanulmányok”, Hun‐Idea, 2008. p.27. _____________________________________________________________________________________ © Copyright Mikes International 2001‐2010 54
April‐June 2010 JOURNAL OF EURASIAN STUDIES Volume II., Issue 2. _____________________________________________________________________________________ had happened many times in the history of Central Asia, in this case too, the strongest tribe took over the leadership. They were the Avars. The Indian sources mention that, in the Caucasus, they were joined by some other Avar and Hun tribes, who had settled down there earlier. 48 They were most probably the descendants of Atilla. According to the ancient document, the Derbendname, Kushrew Anushirwan II settled a part of the Hephtalite‐Avar tribal confederation in two towns on the territory of present Dagestan. These two towns – now in ruins – are called Kichi Majar and Ulu Majar. 49 However, there still remained a part of the tribal confederation, mainly the warriors and the leaders, who did not want to settle in the Caucasus; it was not a safe place for them because of the pursuit of the Turkic army. So they marched toward Byzantium at a great speed. In 568 A.D., the Byzantine sources write about them, mentioning the name of their commander, kagan Bayan. He asked the Byzantine Emperor, Justinianus II, for permission to settle somewhere in the Empire. The history of the Avars is well‐known; they are the direct ancestors of the Hungarians. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Ammianus Marcellinus XVI,9.4. Aradi Éva: A fehér hunok története in Magyarságtudományi tanulmányok, HUN‐idea, Bp., 2008. Aradi Éva: A hunok Indiában – A heftaliták története. HUN‐idea, Bp., 2005. Aradi Éva: Egy szkíta nép: a kusánok – A Hold fiainak története. HUN‐idea, Bp., 2008. Bongard‐Levin, G.M. – Grantovskij, E.A.: Szkítiától Indiáig. Gondolat, Bp., 1981. Bracey, Robert: Kushan History, Wikipedia, 2007. www.kushan.org. Bühler: Epigraphia Indica. Delhi, 2000, reprint. Czeglédy Károly: Heftaliták, hunok, avarok, onogurok in Magyar Nyelv, No.50, Bp.1954. Dani, A.H. – Litvinsky, B.A.: Cities and Urban Life in the Kushan Kingdom, in History of Civilization in Central Asia, Vol. 2., chapter 10. 1994. Unesco Publ. Han‐shu 61.4B. Tr. by John Hill. Heliov, Mübariz – Nyitray Szabolcs: Ősmagyarok Azerbajdzsánban. HUN‐idea, Bp., 2008. Indicopleustes, Cosmas: Christiana Topographia, Collectio Nova patrum et Scriptorum Graecorum, II. tr. by McCrindle, 1897, publ. by the Hakluyt Society. Kalhana: Rajatarangini Vol.II. tr. by Aurel Stein, Oxford, 1900. Khorenei, Mozes: Nagy Örményország története. Ford.: Szongott Kristóf, Szamosújvár, 1892, utánnyomás. Mahajan: Ancient India. Delhi, 2003. 48 Romila Thapar: ibid. p.270. 49 Mübariz Heliov – Nyitray Szabolcs: “Ősmagyarok Azerbajdzsánban”, Hun Idea, 2008. Bp. _____________________________________________________________________________________ © Copyright Mikes International 2001‐2010 55
Page 1 and 2:
JOURNAL OF EURASIAN STUDIES _______
Page 3 and 4: April‐June 2010 JOURNAL OF EURASI
Page 53: April‐June 2010 JOURNAL OF EURASI
Page 105 and 106:
April‐June 2010 JOURNAL OF EURASI
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
show all

Journal of Eurasian Studies - EPA

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?