THE GREAT ANCIENT EMPIRESAlexander’s example. They are referred to as ‘Indo-Greeks’ and there were
about forty such kings and rulers who controlled large areas of
northwestern India and Afghanistan. Their history, especially during the
first century BC, is not very well recorded. Of some of these kings we
know the names only, from coins. There are only two inscriptions in India
to give us some information about these Indo-Greeks. They appear as
Yavanas in stray references in Indian literature, and there are few but
important references in European sources. In these distant outposts, the
representatives of the Hellenic policy survived the defeat of their Western
compatriots at the hands of the Parthians for more than a century.
In India the history of the Indo-Greeks is particularly associated with
the name of their most prominent king, Menander, who conquered a large
part of North India. This Indian campaign was started by King Demetrios
and his brother Apollodoros with the help of their general, Menander, who
subsequently became a king in his own right. There is a debate among
historians about whether these three military leaders conquered almost the
whole of North India jointly within a few years after 180 BC, or whether
this was achieved in two stages, the second stage following the first by
about three decades and exclusively managed by Menander. Menander also
annexed most of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and perhaps even reached
Pataliputra. Some 150 years later Strabo reported in his Geography:
The Greeks who occasioned its revolt (Bactria’s) became so
powerful by means of its fertility and the advantages of the
country that they became the masters of Ariana and India. Their
chiefs, particularly Menander if he really crossed the Hypasis to
the East and reached Isamus [i.e. Yamuna] conquered more
nations than Alexander. The conquests were achieved partly by
Menander, partly by Demetrius, son of Euthydemus, king of the
Bactrians.^1According to the findings of the British historian W.W.Tarn, Demetrios
crossed the Hindukush mountains about 183 BC only shortly after
Pushyamitra Shunga had seized power at Pataliputra. Demetrios conquered
Gandhara and Taxila and established his new capital at Sirkap near Taxila.
He continued his campaign down the river Indus and captured the old
port, Patala, which he renamed Demetrias. His brother Apollodoros then
marched further east in order to capture the ports of Gujarat, especially
Bharukacha which was later known as Barygaza to the Romans who had a
great deal of trade with this port.
The unknown seafarer who left us the famous account, Periplus of the
Erythraean Sea in the first century AD reported that he had seen coins of
Apollodoros and Menander at Barygaza. It is presumed that this port was
in the hands of the Greeks for some time. Apollodoros proceeded east and