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Appendix 6 – Approximate Kushan Chronology

Date Event
B.C.
165 Expulsion of main body of Yueh-chi horde from Kan-suh by the Hiung-nu.
c. 163 Nan-tiu-mi, chief of the Wu-sun, killed by the Yueh-chi.
c. 160 Yueh-chi occupation of the Saka territory; Saka migration.
c. 150-140 Saka invasion of India.
c. 140 Expulsion of Yueh-chi from Saka territory by Koen-muo, the young Wu-sun chief, son of Nan-tiu-mi.
c. 138 Reduction of the Ta-hia, both north and south of the Oxus, to vassalage by the Yueh-chi, who begin to settle down.
c. 135 Despatch by Chinese Emperor Wu-ti of Chang-kien as envoy to the Yueh-chi.
c. 125 Arrival of Chang-kien at Yueh-chi headquarters, north of the Oxus.
c. 122 Return of Chang-kien to China.
c. 114 Death of Chang-kien.
c. 70 Extension of Yueh-chi settlements to the lands south of the Oxus; occupation of Ta-hia capital, Lan-sheu, south of the river, probably = Balkh.
c. 65 Formation of five Yueh-chi principalities, including Kushan and Bamian.
57 Epoch of the Malaya or Vikrama era.
c. 13 Indian embassy to Augustus.
B.C. 2 The Chinese graduate, King-hien, or King-lu, instructed in Buddhist books by a Yueh-chi king.
A.D. 8 Temporary cessation of intercourse between China and the West.
14 Augustus, Roman Emperor, died; Tiberius acc.
c. 24 End of First, or Early Han dynasty of China.
38 Gaius (Caligula), Roman Emperor, acc.
41 Claudius, Roman Emperor, acc.
c. 45 Kadphises I Kushan (Kieu-tsieu-kio, Kozolakadaphes, etc.) acc.
c. 45-60 Consolidation of the five Yueh-chi principalities into Kushan empire under Kadphises I; conquest by him of Kabul (Kao-fu), ? Bactria (Pota), and ? Kashmir (Ki-pin); Hermaios, Greek king in Kabul and Panjab, contemporary.
54 Nero, Roman Emperor, acc.
c. 64 Buddhist books sent for by Chinese Emperor, Ming-ti.
68, 69 Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, Roman Emperors.
70 Vespasian, Roman Emperor (acc. Dec. 22, 69).
77 Publication of Pliny’s Natural History.
78 Epoch of the Saka, or Salivahana era.
79 Titus, Roman Emperor, acc.
81 Domitian, Roman Emperor, acc.
c. 85 Death of Kadphises I, at age of 80; Kadphises II, his son, acc. = Yen-kao-ching, Hima Kadphises, etc.); the “Nameless King,” Soter Meyas, contemporary and subordinate.
90 Kadphises II defeated by Chinese general Pan-ch’ao, and compelled to pay tribute to China.
c. 90-100 Annexation of Northern India, and destruction of Indo-Parthian power in the Panjab by Kadphises II.
96 Nerva, Roman Emperor, acc.
98 Trajan, Roman Emperor, acc.
99 Arrival of Trajan in Rome.
105 Overthrow by the Romans of the Nabataean kingdom of Petra in Arabia; rise of Palmyra; Indian embassy to Trajan about this time.
116 Conquest of Mesopotamia by Trajan.
117 Hadrian, Roman Emperor, acc.; retrocession of Mesopotamia.
123-6 Residence of Hadrian at Athens.
c. 123 Kanishka Kushan acc.
c. 125-30 Conquest by Kanishka of Kashgar, Yarkand, and Khotan; war with King of Pataliputra.
131-6 War of Hadrian with the Jews.
c. 135 Conversion of Kanishka to Buddhism.
138 Antoninus Pius, Roman Emperor, acc.
c. 140 Buddhist Council in (?) Kashmir.
150 Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman, Western satrap.
c. 153 Huvishka (Hushka) Kushan acc.
161 Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Roman Emperor, acc.
162-5 Defeat of Parthian King, Vologeses III, by the Romans.
175 Eastern campaign of Marcus Aurelius.
180 Commodus, Roman Emperor, acc.
c. 185 Vasudeva Kushan acc.
192,193 Pertinax and Julianus, Roman Emperors.
193 Septimius Severna, Roman Emperor, acc.
c. 200 Palmyra created a Roman colony.
211 Caracalla, Roman Emperor, acc.
216 Parthian expedition of Caracalla.
217 Macrinus, Roman Emperor, acc.
218 Elagabalus, Roman Emperor, acc.
222 Alexander Severna, Roman Emperor, acc.
226 Foundation of Sasanian empire of Persia by Ardashir; the death of Vasudeva, the collapse of the Kushan power in India; and the termination of the Andhra dynasty occurred at nearly the same time.
260 Defeat of Valerian, Roman Emperor, by Sapor I.
273 Capture of Palmyra by Aurelian.
360 Successful siege of Amida by Sapor II, with Kushan help.

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