The history of the Indian Subcontinent has had many glorious chapters over 5000 years of recorded history. In this series of articles, we take a look at some of the greatest empires of the Indian Subcontinent.
The fall of the Maurya Empire, the Iron Age Indian superpower in 180 BCE, gave rise to a number of different dynasties across the subcontinent. In our previous blog, we covered the Kushan Empire that dominated the north after the Mauryas. But what about the south?
After the Mauryan decline, the Deccan plateau region, comprising chiefly of modern-day Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, was ruled by several tribes, out of which one would soon come to dominate the entire region. The Andhra jatiyas, originating in the Vindhya mountainous ranges, would come together and expand their influence to become the founders of the first Empire of the Deccan- the Satavahana Empire!
3. The Satavahana Empire (100 BCE-25 BCE; revived 60-225 CE)
Bounded by the Western Ghats (Sahyadris) to the west and the Eastern Ghats to the East, with the Vindhya and Satpura mountains separating it from the north, the Deccan is a rocky region, giving rise to hardy people. In the earlier days, Ashoka the Great had ruled here, connecting this region to the rest of the Maurya Empire. But after its fall, its regional leaders became powerful and independent. At that time in history, the Andhras, if they were so-called, were an ethnicity not belonging to one particular region, but probably spread across the Deccan. Hence, it is difficult to prove exactly where the Satavahanas originated. However, in the first century BCE, the Satavahanas founded their empire in this region, which at its height stretched from the borders of Rajasthan to Karnataka; and from Gujarat in the west to Kalinga (Orissa) in the east.
Rise and First Fall
According to the Puranas, the Satavahanas were originally governors under the Kanva dynasty that ruled Pataliputra after the Mauryas and Shungas. Sometime during the first century BCE, Simuka (Srimukha) defeated the Kanvas to establish his own dynasty in his native Deccan. Under Simuka and his brother Kanha (Krishna), the Satavahanas established their capital in Pratishthan i.e. modern-day Paithan, Maharashtra. Due to their control of the two chief ports of Kalyan and Sopara, the Satavahanas began trading with the rising superpower in the west- the Roman Empire! Controlling the important ports as well as the key land routes, the Satavahanas grew wealthy and prosperous.
Simuka’s son, Satakarni I succeeded his uncle Kanha to the throne. Taking advantage of the turmoil caused by Greek invasions of northern India, Satakarni I conquered western Malwa, Anupa (Narmada valley) and Vidarbha. He also married Naganika, the daughter of a powerful local ruler, and thus consolidated his rule. He then proclaimed his sovereignty and imperial status by performed the Vedic Ashvamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices. Queen Naganika was a powerful influence in the empire. She was the first Queen in the Indian Subcontinent to have coins minted in her own name! His son Satakarni II conquered eastern Malwa, thus bringing most of the Southern Highway under Satavahana control. Succeeded by his son and grandson, the Satvahanas thus became known as the Dakshinapathapati- the Lords of the South/Southern Highway.
At this time, however, trouble began on the northern borders in Gujarat, where ruled the Shakas or Westerns Satraps. These were Indo-Scythian noblemen of Iranian descent who ruled parts of western India. Several invasions occurred, during which the Western Satraps conquered territory upto Nashik and Pune. Losing trade routes greatly diminished the Satavahana Empire’s power during the first half of 1st century CE (AD). The Shaka King Nahapana ruled much of the former Satavahana territory.
Revival and Zenith of the Empire
This changed when a young Gautamiputra Satakarni came to power. Though historians remain divided about his exact reign, the most probable period seems to be 60-85 CE. He began his reign by uniting the scattered forces of the Deccan, and drove back the Shakas. Winning multiple victories, he also engaged northern powers such as the Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians) and the Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) who ruled western and northern India. In 78 CE, Gautamiputra Satakarni dealt a severe blow to a combined coalition of his enemies, decisively reestablishing his supremacy in the Deccan, Malwa, and Gujarat.
To commemorate the occasion, he performed the Ashwamedha and Rajasuya yajnas. At the same time, the Shaka King Nahapana is believed to have passed away, and Chashtana ascended to power. The victory of Gautamiputra Satakarni and his Satavahanas is believed to have started the Shalivahana Shaka era or Shaka calendar of the Hindus, although this is a debated issue. His influence also extended to cover the Eastern Deccan.
His son Vasishtiputra Pulumavi consolidated his hold over the eastern Deccan, so that the Satavahana Empire now extended from west coast to east coast; and from the edge of Rajasthan to southern Karnataka. Conflict with the Shakas flared up again during the reign of Vasishtiputra Satakarni, brother and successor of Pulumavi. To forge an alliance, he married the daughter of Shaka King Rudradaman.
Decline
However, despite the matrimonial relations, Vasishtiputra Satakarni lost two wars to his father-in-law, who only spared him because of their relation. This greatly lowered Satavahana prestige. The Shakas again captured much of the western territories except Nashik and Pune, and Satavahana power now came to be concentrated at Amaravati in modern-day Andhra Pradesh.
His grandson Yajna Satakarni revived the empire around 160 CE, taking back most of the western territories. However, his successors could not keep the central power strong, and the Empire soon fragmented into five different parts, marking the end of the mighty Satavahanas.
Political, Military, and Administrative Aspects
The Satavahanas followed the administrative guidelines of the Shastras, the ancient Vedic treatises and scriptures. As with most post-Maurya kingdoms, they also inherited a general structure of administration. However, the Satavahana government was less bureaucratically top-heavy than the Mauryans. The general administrative organization was:
- Rajan, the hereditary rulers
- Rajas, petty princes who struck coins in their own names
- Maharathis, powerful hereditary lords who could grant villages in their own names and maintained matrimonial relations with the ruling family
- Mahabhojas
- Mahasenapati (civil administrator/governor)
- Mahatalavara
The Kumaras or royal princes, appointed as viceroys of the provinces, gained experience in administration. Aharas were the major subdivisions of the Satavahana Empire, consisting of nagaras (cities), nigama (market towns) and gama (villages).
The Satavahana military consisted of infantry, cavalry, and elephants. The infantry usually formed the vanguard and the horses and elephants flanked them on either side. Spears, swords, and axes were common weapons. The King and the nobility were expected to lead the armies from the front.
The Satavahanas, since their rise to power, had to contend with the north-western Shakas for supremacy. Beyond the Shakas lay the territories of the Pahlavas and the Indo-Greeks with whom also some clashes happened. After Gautamiputra’s victories, peace was established- albeit briefly. Although the Satavahanas had the larger empire and arguably the greater impact upon history, the different dynasties of the Shakas managed to hold on to their territories in western India for almost 2 centuries after the Satavahanas, ultimately being defeated by the Guptas.
To the south, they maintained trade relations with the various tribes, as well as the Three Kingdoms- Chola, Chera, and Pandya- that controlled most of modern-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
However, the Satavahanas are famed for their control over the sea routes through their ports. Called ‘Trisamudrishwara- The Lords of the Three Oceans’, they heavily promoted international trade. To the west, they traded extensively with Rome, while to the east their mariners went to south-east Asia. The resultant increase in prosperity mirrors that of the Kushans in the north, who were their contemporaries.
Social, Cultural, and Economic Aspects
The Satavahanas were probably Brahmins, with Gautamiputra even described as ‘Ekabrahmana’ which can be translated as ‘peerless Brahmin’. However, some sources have also suggested a Kshatriya origin. Though their culture was typically Hindu, their subjects freely practiced various religions. In particular, the Satavahanas supported and gave alms to Hindu as well as Buddhist priests. The Buddhist caves at Naneghat, for example, were excavated during the Satavahana reign. These caves contain the inscription of Naganika, which mentions that her husband Satakarni I performed several Hindu yajnas. The inscription also records large fees paid to Brahmin priests and attendees for these sacrifices. Satakarni II also commissioned the building of the elaborate gates at the famous Buddhist stupa at Sanchi.
The Pandavleni Buddhist Caves at Nashik were also developed under the Satavahana Empire, with donations by local merchants and administrators. The interesting thing here is that, although the area was sometimes under Shaka rule and sometimes under the Satavahanas, both the dynasties contributed to the development of these religious places!
Agriculture, of course, was the backbone of the Satavahana economy; and national and international trade was one of the chief sources of income. After Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar conquered Egypt, he opened up new trade routes to India, where the Satavahanas exported prized commodities like cotton, silk, pearls, and spices. Interestingly, during the excavations at the Roman city of Pompeii, destroyed due to volcanic eruptions, archaeologists discovered a statue of the goddess Lakshmi, dating back to the Satavahana era. Known today as the Pompeii Lakshmi, it gives us an idea of the far-reaching interactions between Rome and Paithan!
In the latter half of the 2nd century, the focus of trade shifted to the eastern coast. Amaravati became the centre of power. The remains of a magnificent Buddhist Stupa in Amaravati indicate the prosperity of the Satavahana Empire.
The Satavahanas also used the Prakrit language more than Sanskrit. During the reign of Emperor Hala, the Gaha Sattasai (Gatha Saptashati), a compilation of poems describing the joy and torment of love was written. His minister Gunadhya is also supposed to be the author of the lost epic, Brihatkatha. Under Satavahana rule, women received higher education. Many queens ruled as regents while their sons were growing up; and as seen by the example of Naganika, often took part in the affairs of state. As each ruler had multiple wives, the princes took their first names from their mother, both to distinguish themselves and honor their parentage.
Legacy
The Satavahanas ruled over the Deccan for more than two centuries. The various caves at Pandavleni, Naneghat and other places, the temples and stupas, the large number of coins found, attest to their historical importance. The Republic of India adopted the Shalivahana Shaka Era calendar as its national calendar. The historic Dakshinapatha- the Southern Highway connecting the Deccan to the North- roughly corresponds with today’s NH7.
Gautamiputra’s victory over the rulers of Scythian, Persian and Greek descent, cemented Satavahana legacy as the ‘sons of the soil’, who defended against foreign invasions. At the same time, their support to all religions, as well as the growth and expansion of trade, shows their benevolence and economic acumen. Indeed, there is much to learn from the First Empire of the Deccan!
– Ashutosh Dixit
Excellent ! Waiting for next one.
Good! Opened up the new & unknown pages of the history. Keep it up.
Grateful for this completely new information!!
Well-articulated. Such a great piece!