Qurestion re: II/36 Graeco-Indian

[Fireymonkeyboy]

Hi,

Just wondered if someone could give me a historical reference point for this army. I assume it is an Alexandrian successor, but who / what does it represent?

FMB

[miros]

A brief history:
When Alexander left India he left behind several satraps in the region. After the dust settled Central Asia was under Seleucid control, though India had been conquered by the Maurya dynasty.

Diodotus I was the Seleucid satrap of Bactria and became independent. The Euthydemid dynasty which ruled after Diodotus I and II conquered most of Central Asia, eastern Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and part of India. The Bactrian kingdom is represented by list II/36a.

Around 160 BC Eucratides I took the Bactrian throne. Several Euthydemid kings continued to rule in India. They are represented by list II/36b.

The 130 BC end date for the A list is when the Yueh-Chi nomads invaded and conquered Bactria. They are later known as the Kushans, list II/46. The Indian kingdoms gradually disappear and the last known Greek ruler in India falls around 30 BC.

There is some dispute about dates and lineages; you can find different theories on the rise and fall of the Greeks in Bactria and India in various books on the subject. The main books are Tarn's "The Greeks in Bactria and India", Narain's "The Indo-Greeks" (which are both older). Also worthwhile are Frank Lee Holt's "Thundering Zeus" and "Alexander in Bactria". You can often find brief references to Bactria in general histories of the period.

Jason

[Fireymonkeyboy]

Hi,

Thanks for the informative reply. I'm looking for possible expansions to my Classical Indian force, and the list caught my eye. I will try and track dwon some of the references you list.

FMB

[miros]

Originally Posted by Fireymonkeyboy

Hi,

Thanks for the informative reply. I'm looking for possible expansions to my Classical Indian force, and the list caught my eye. I will try and track dwon some of the references you list.

FMB

Well, you can use the Classical Indians for the Bw, Bd and El elements of the Graeco-Indians. Essex, Museum and Old Glory all have Bactrian Greeks for the rest of the army.

This has been one of my favorite armies since I painted them for WRG 7th edition 15 years ago.

Jason

[Gary Pomeroyq]

Neither the Tarn nor Narain books look to be in print in the U.S. They are available from Bagchee.com. (FWIW, this is my favorite source for books on South & Central Asia).

Tarn's The Greeks in Bactria & India can be found here:
http://bagchee.com/BookDisplay.aspx?Bkid=B20901

Narain's The Indo-Greeks can be found here:
http://bagchee.com/BookDisplay.aspx?Bkid=B22355