Hippostratus: The Last Western Indo-Greek King and His Legacy

Introduction

Hippostratus was an Indo-Greek king who ruled parts of central and northwestern Punjab and the region of Pushkalavati in the late first century BCE. Modern chronologies place his reign roughly between 65 and 50 BCE; O. Bopearachchi dates him to c. 65–55 BCE while R. C. Senior prefers c. 60–50 BCE.

Scholars differ on how he came to power. In Bopearachchi’s reconstruction Hippostratus succeeded Apollodotus II in the western portion of the realm; Senior instead argues that his reign at first lay to the west of Apollodotus’ domains and may have overlapped with Apollodotus II. The precise personal relationship between the two kings is not established in the surviving evidence; they share only a single monogram and Hippostratus did not adopt the common Athena Alkidemos emblem used by other rulers linked to Apollodotus II.

Hippostratus issued abundant and technically accomplished coinage, styling himself Soter and on some issues using the title Basileos Megas. His silver types show a diademed portrait and three reverse types: a king on a prancing horse, a king on a walking horse making a benediction gesture, and a standing goddess probably Tyche. Bronze types echo earlier Indo-Greek motifs, including serpent-legged deities, Apollo with tripod, and a Zeus‑Mithras figure; several bronzes bear Greek legends identifying him as “King Saviour Hippostratus.” The volume and quality of these issues indicate a substantial regional power.

Hippostratus resisted Indo-Scythian incursions under Azes I and appears to have had some military success, but he was ultimately defeated; Azes I later overstruck a number of Hippostratus’ coins. Following his defeat Hippostratus is regarded in the sources as the last western Indo-Greek king, after which Indo-Scythian rulers assumed control of the territory. His principal legacy rests in his coinage and his position at the terminal phase of western Indo-Greek rule.