Vāsudeva I (Kushano Bactrian: Βαζοδηο Bazodeo; Middle Brahmi: 𑀯𑀸𑀲𑀼𑀤𑁂𑀯; ', Chinese: 波調 Bodiao; fl. 200 CE) was a Kushan emperor, last of the "Great Kushans." His name reinforces the notion that his center of power was in Mathura.

Sassanid invasion in the northwest

Vasudeva I was the last great Kushan emperor, and the end of his rule coincides with the invasion of the Sassanians as far as northwestern India, and the establishment of the Indo-Sassanians or Kushanshahs from around 240 CE. Vasudeva I may have lost the territory of Bactria with its capital in Balkh to Ardashir I Kushanshah. Thereafter, Kushan rule would be restricted to their eastern territories, in western and central Punjab.

<gallery class="center" widths="280px" heights="120px" perrow="2">

File:Ardashir I Kushanshah in the name of Vasudeva circa 230-245 CE.jpg|An imitation of a coin of Vasudeva I, by the Kushano-Sasanian ruler Ardashir I Kushanshah, CE.

Image:Peroz I Kushanshah.jpg|Gold coin of Peroz I Kushanshah (246-275 CE), imitating the design of Vasudeva I, minted at Balkh.

</gallery>

Statuary

thumb|300px|[[Buddha statue of Vasudeva I, pedestal inscription: "In the 93rd year" (𑀲𑀁𑁣𑁔) of "Great King, son of God, Vasudeva" (12px12px10px12px<sub>18px</sub> 12px12px<sub>12px12px18px</sub> 11px14px12px12px Mahārājasya Devaputrasya Vāsudeva, from the start of the first line). Mathura Museum. Photograph of the pedestal.]]

The relatively peaceful reign of Vasudeva is marked by an important artistic production, in particular in the area of statuary. A partially preserved Sakyamuni statue, also from Mathura, has the date "Year 94", although without mentioning Vasudeva specifically.

Dedications in the name of Vasudeva, with dates, also appear on Jain statuary discovered in Mathura.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 auto;" align="center" colspan="2" cellpadding="3" style="font-size: 80%; width: 100%;"

|align=center colspan=2 style="background:#C0C0C0; font-size: 100%;"| Statuary dated to the reign of Vasudeva I

|-

|

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">

Hashtnagar Buddha Year 384 original body only.jpg|Hashtnagar Buddha, inscribed with "year 384" (probably of the Yavana era), hence 209 CE.

Hashtnagar Buddha piedestal Year 384.jpg|Pedestal of the Hashtnagar Buddha statue, now in the British Museum, inscribed with "year 384" (probably of the Yavana era), hence 209 CE. The pedestal was sawed off from the body of the statue by L. White King in 1883 and brought to the British Museum. British Museum

Mamane Dheri sculpture Year 89.jpg|Mamane Dheri Buddha, inscribed with "Year 89" (probably of the Kanishka era), hence 216 CE.

</gallery>

|}

References

Bibliography

  • Falk, Harry (2001). "The yuga of Sphujiddhvaja and the era of the Kuṣâṇas." Silk Road Art and Archaeology VII, pp.&nbsp;121–136.
  • Falk, Harry (2004). "The Kaniṣka era in Gupta records." Harry Falk. Silk Road Art and Archaeology X, pp.&nbsp;167–176.
  • Sims-Williams, Nicholas (1998). "Further notes on the Bactrian inscription of Rabatak, with an Appendix on the names of Kujula Kadphises and Vima Taktu in Chinese." Proceedings of the Third European Conference of Iranian Studies Part 1: Old and Middle Iranian Studies. Edited by Nicholas Sims-Williams. Wiesbaden. pp. 79–93.
  • Coins of Vasudeva
  • Coins of late Kushan emperors
  • Vasudeva coin
  • Online catalogue of coins of Vasudeva