The Shakas, also referred to as Scythians, belonged to the nomadichordes of Central Asia. Another Central Asian tribe, the Yueh-chi forced the Shakas to leave their Bactrian habitat and follow the Greek influx into India. By defeating the Indo-Greek kings, the Shakas extended their rule over North and North-Western India.
There were five main branches of the Shakas in India-one in Afghanistan, another in Punjab with Taxila as their capital, the third ruling from Mathura, the fourth established in western and central India and the fifth occupying _the upper Deccan.
The Shakas of Taxila in India, the first Shaka king was Maues or Moga. He extended the Shaka empire right upto Mathura and curtailed the power of the Indo-Greeks. Coins and inscriptions of this king are available, including a copper plate inscription discovered in Taxila. It details the construction of a Buddhist stupa containing Buddha’s relics. The successor of Maues was Azes who defeated Hippostratos, the last Greek king in northern India.
The Shakas of Mathura Rajwul (Rajool) was the first ruler of this branch. The title of ‘Mahakshatrapa’ is inscribed on the coins of the Shakas. Rajwul was succeeded by his son Shoddas. This branch of the Shakas ruled the area between eastern Punjab and Mathura.
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The Shakas of Maharashtra the Kshaharata clan of the Shakas ruled the entire Maharashtra region and a portion of Saurashtra. Bhumaka was the first Kshaharata ruler. But the most important ruler of this line of the Shakas was Nahapana. He is known for his silver and copper coins and for issuing several inscriptions in both Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts.
The Shakas of Saurashtra the Kardamaka dynasty of the Shakas ruled the Saurashtra region. The Kardamaka dynasty was founded by Chashtana, who was a feudatory of the Kushans.
About ten kings of this dynasty ruled but the most important was Rudradaman I, who assumed the tide Mahakshatrap. He ruled not only over Sindh, but also over a good part of Gujarat, Konkan, the Narmada valley, Malwa and Kathiawar.
Although a foreigner settled in India, he issued the first-ever long inscription in chaste Sanskrit the Junagarh Rock Inscription; all the earlier inscriptions were composed in Prakrit.
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The inscription is a long panegyric recording his martial exploits in the Narmada valley, and against the Satavahanas, besides his success against the Yaudheya tribes in Rajasthan.
It mentions his reconstruction at Girnar (in Saurashtra) of the great artificial lake (Sudarshana Lake), which had been excavated under Chandragupta Maurya and improved in the time of Asoka.
This inscription is among the earliest dated records of ancient India, and proves that Rudradaman was reigning in ad 150.
In her book, A History of India (Vol. I) Romila Thapar refers to the Epigraphia Indica and says “Rudradaman is described thus in the inscription: (He) who by the right raising of his hand has caused the strong attachment of Dharma.
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Who has attained wide fame by studying and remembering, by the knowledge and practice of grammar, music, logic, and other great sciences, who (is proficient in) the management of horses, elephants, and chariots.
The wielding of sword and shield, pugilistic combat, and other who (composes) prose and verse which are clear, agreeable, sweet, charming, beautiful, excelling by the proper use of words, and adorned.
Whose beautiful frame owns the most excellent marks and signs, such as auspicious height and dimension, voice, gait, colour, vigour, and strength, who himself has acquired the name of mahakshatrapa, who has been wreathed with many garlands at the svayamvara of the daughters of kings.”
After Rudradaman’s death, the Shakas continued to rule in this region till the end of the fourth century ad when they were defeated by the Guptas.
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There is also a story that in about 58 BC a king of Ujjain effectively fought against the Shakas and succeeded in driving them out in his time.
He called himself Vikramaditya and an era called the Vikram Sarnvat is reckoned from the event of his victory over the Shakas. Henceforth, Vikramaditya became a coveted title, and consequently there are 14 Vikramadityas in Indian history.