---
title: Indo-Greek
author: Antoine Simonin
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Indo-Greek
_Authored by [Antoine Simonin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/Deathfinger/)_
The first Indo-[Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) kingdom appeared circa 190 BCE may when the Greco-Bactrian king or (general for his father) Demetrios was busy in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/), when his Indian possessions were divided between several kings, probably firstly in order to better govern them but then due to civil [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/). The term “Indo-Greek” is generally used because these kingdoms were almost always separated from [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/) and thus differed politically from the [Greco-Bactrian kingdom](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greco-Bactria/).
These kingdoms, in which there were already some Greek settlers called Yonas, took more and more Indian characteristics, becoming truly unique political entities with a mix of Greek and Indian [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/), at least for the ruling elites. Indo-Greek kingdoms timeline is very approximate. Between 190 BCE and circa 165 BCE, Greek possessions in India were divided between several [Euthydemid](https://www.worldhistory.org/euthydemid/) kings which fought among themselves and their Greco-Bactrian neighbors. These kingdoms extended to Western Punjab and had Indians of Sunga dynasty as neighbors.
Circa 165 BCE the Greco-Bactrian rebel Eucratides invaded the Indo-Greek kingdoms and, defeating Antimachos II, succeeded to take control of most of the Indo-Greek possessions. Unluckily for him, Menander, his last Euthydemid enemy, pushed him back to Bactria circa 155 BCE. Thus the Indo-Greek kingdoms were safely under Euthydemid rule for the next 25 years. In this time Menander extended Greek rule as far as Paliputra (today Patna, in northeast India), but fell in a civil war.
However circa 130 BCE, the Euthydemid kings were chased away from Bactria by the Yuezhei and settled down in strength in the Indo-Greek territories. From 130 BCE to 80 BCE, numerous Indo-Greek kings ruled in India, often in little kingdoms, fighting among each other, while Arachosia was lost to the [Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/). Some kings seem to have nearly succeeded to reunite these areas, like Eucratids Philoxenos and [Diomedes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Diomedes/), but finally failed. One Euthydemid queen, Agathokleia, made a strong regency for her son [Strato](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Strato/) in this time too. Yet at the turn of the century the Indo-Greek regions were highly fragmented.
[  Hermaios Silver Tetradrachm CoinArchives.com (GNU FDL) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/298/hermaios-silver-tetradrachm/ "Hermaios Silver Tetradrachm")The disruptive element came circa 80 BCE, when the [Saka](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) king Maues attacked the Indo-Greek kingdoms. He won against several Euthydemid and [Eucratid](https://www.worldhistory.org/eucratid/) kings, taking the Paropamisadae, [Gandhara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gandhara_Civilization/) and Western Punjab. Against this invader, the both dynasties forged an alliance under the rule of Amyntas, whose resistance in eastern Punjab saved Indo-Greek kingdoms, and by circa 65 BCE the Indo-Greek kings regained their kingdoms and their rivalry.
The final moments of Indo-Greek history are written in civil wars once more, with the quick loss of all the Western possessions to the Indo-Saka kings. The last Indo-Greek king Strato II ended his rule circa 10 BCE, vanquished by the Indo-Saka king Rajuvula.
The Indo-Greek kings and kingdoms are absent in the Greek imagination, because of the estrangement from the Greek world and the cut of political links due to Parthian and Sakas presence between India and [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/). However these kingdoms appear to have strongly influenced their Indian subject and Indian or nomad neighbors, as the nature of Indian art from the period, as well as the mention of the Yonas in [Asoka](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ashoka_the_Great/)'s edicts suggest.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## About the Author
Passionate about ancient Central Asia. Maintains the website From Bactria to Taxila. Works in the Europa Barbarorum project.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-simonin/52/685/a9a/e)
## Timeline
- **c. 200 BCE - c. 185 BCE**: Demetrios is general for his father and then becomes king, greatly extending the kingdom in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/).
- **c. 200 BCE - c. 100 BCE**: [Scythians](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) tribes migrate into [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/), [Sogdiana](https://www.worldhistory.org/sogdiana/) and Arachosia.
- **c. 190 BCE**: First appearance of multiple [Euthydemid](https://www.worldhistory.org/euthydemid/) kings at the same time. Beginning of the [Indo-Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/) kingdoms.
- **171 BCE**: In odrer to show the break of dynasty, [Eucratides](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Eucratides/) begin a new Yona (or [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/)) era.
- **c. 165 BCE**: The Greco-Bactrian king [Eucratides](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Eucratides/) invades [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/).
- **c. 155 BCE**: [Euthydemid](https://www.worldhistory.org/euthydemid/) Menander succeeds to push back [Eucratides](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Eucratides/) westward of [Hindu](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/)-[Kush](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kush/).
- **c. 130 BCE**: Eucratids flee from [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/) to [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/). Rivalry between Eucratids and Euthydemids takes place in the [Indo-Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/) kingdoms.
- **c. 110 BCE**: Arachosia lost to the first Indo-[Saka](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) kingdom.
- **80 BCE**: The Indo-[Saka](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) king Maues invades the [Indo-Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/) kingdoms. Resistance organized by both dynasties in the person of Amyntas.
- **c. 80 BCE**: Alliance between Euthydemids and Eucratids against the Indo-[Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/), under the rule of Amyntas.
- **c. 70 BCE**: Fall of Maues kingdom. Indo-Greeks [conquer](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) back their lost possessions.
- **c. 70 BCE - c. 10 BCE**: Last [Indo-Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/) kings, probably [Euthydemid](https://www.worldhistory.org/euthydemid/) ones.
- **c. 55 BCE - c. 50 BCE**: [Gandhara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gandhara_Civilization/) and Western Punjab lost to Indo-[Saka](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) kings.
- **c. 10 BCE**: Fall of the last [Indo-Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/) king, [Strato](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Strato/) II, defeated by the Indo-[Saka](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) king Rajuvula.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Simonin, A. (2011, April 28). Indo-Greek. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Simonin, Antoine. "Indo-Greek." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 28, 2011. .
### MLA
Simonin, Antoine. "Indo-Greek." *World History Encyclopedia*, 28 Apr 2011, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Antoine Simonin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/Deathfinger/ "User Page: Antoine Simonin"), published on 28 April 2011. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.