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Vima Takto's empire covered northwestern [[India]] and [[Bactria]] towards [[China]], where Kushan presence has been asserted in the [[Tarim Basin]]. Under his reign, embassies were also sent to the Chinese court.
Vima Takto's empire covered northwestern [[India]] and [[Bactria]] towards [[China]], where Kushan presence has been asserted in the [[Tarim Basin]]. Under his reign, embassies were also sent to the Chinese court.


He is mentioned in the Chinese Historical Chronicle of the ''[[Hou Hanshu]]'', in relation to his father Kujula Kadphises:
He is mentioned in the Chinese Historical Chronicle of the ''[[Hou Hanshu]]'', in relation to his father [[Kujula Kadphises]]:


"Qiujiuque (Ch: 丘就卻) [Kujula Kadphises] was more than eighty years old when he died. His son, Yangaozhen (Ch:閻高珍) [probably Vema Tahk(tu) or, possibly, his brother Sadaṣkaṇa], became king in his place. He defeated Tianzhu [North-western India] and installed Generals to supervise and lead it. The Yuezhi then became extremely rich. All the kingdoms call [their king] the Guishuang [Kushan] king, but the Han call them by their original name, Da Yuezhi."<ref>Hill (2009), p. 29; also note 13.16, p. 351, and Appendix O, p. 608.</ref>
"Qiujiuque (Ch: 丘就卻) [Kujula Kadphises] was more than eighty years old when he died. His son, Yangaozhen (Ch:閻高珍) [probably Vema Tahk(tu) or, possibly, his brother Sadaṣkaṇa], became king in his place. He defeated Tianzhu [North-western India] and installed Generals to supervise and lead it. The Yuezhi then became extremely rich. All the kingdoms call [their king] the Guishuang [Kushan] king, but the Han call them by their original name, Da Yuezhi."<ref>Hill (2009), p. 29; also note 13.16, p. 351, and Appendix O, p. 608.</ref>

Revision as of 04:11, 5 December 2010

Vima Takto
Kushan emperor
Bronze coin of Vima Takto, alias "Soter Megas" (r.c. 80-90 BCE).

Obv: Bust of Vima Takto, with Greek royal headband and radiate, holding sceptre; three-pronged tamgha behind.

Rev: Mounted king with Greek royal headband, holding a sceptre. Three-pronged tamgha; corrupted Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΩΝ ΣΩΤΗΡ ΜΕΓΑΣ "Basileu Basileon Sotir Megas": "The King of Kings, Great Saviour".
Reign80-90 CE
SuccessorVima Kadphises
Another bronze coin of Vima Takto.

Vima Takto or Vima Taktu was a Kushan emperor reigned c. 80-90 CE.

Rule

Vima Takto was long known as "The nameless King", since his coins only showed the legend "The King of Kings, Great Saviour", until the discovery of the Rabatak inscription helped connect his name with the title on the coins.

Vima Takto's empire covered northwestern India and Bactria towards China, where Kushan presence has been asserted in the Tarim Basin. Under his reign, embassies were also sent to the Chinese court.

He is mentioned in the Chinese Historical Chronicle of the Hou Hanshu, in relation to his father Kujula Kadphises:

"Qiujiuque (Ch: 丘就卻) [Kujula Kadphises] was more than eighty years old when he died. His son, Yangaozhen (Ch:閻高珍) [probably Vema Tahk(tu) or, possibly, his brother Sadaṣkaṇa], became king in his place. He defeated Tianzhu [North-western India] and installed Generals to supervise and lead it. The Yuezhi then became extremely rich. All the kingdoms call [their king] the Guishuang [Kushan] king, but the Han call them by their original name, Da Yuezhi."[1]

A later inscription found at Vima's sancutary at Mat, also records that he was the grandfather of Huvishka.


Preceded by:
Kujula Kadphises
Kushan Ruler
(80-90 BCE)
Succeeded by:
Vima Kadphises

Footnotes

  1. ^ Hill (2009), p. 29; also note 13.16, p. 351, and Appendix O, p. 608.
  • Falk, Harry 2009. The name of Vema Takhtu. W. Sundermann, A. Hintze & F. de Blois (eds.), Exegisti monumenta - Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims-Williams (Iranica, 17). Wiesbaden : Harrassowitz, pp. 105-116.
  • Hill, John E. (2009) Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. BookSurge, Charleston, South Carolina. ISBN 978-1-4392-2134-1.