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The exact relationship of Rudrasimha III to his predecessors is unknown. He declares himself the son of mahakshatrapa swami Satyasimha, but no such king is
known from any other source. It is possible Satyasimha ruled briefly in the period 307-310, for which we have no dated coins of earlier rulers. We have coins of
Rudrasimha III as late as S. 337 (= 415 CE), but the series is spotty, with many gaps. The economic situation must not have been good and it is possible that Rudrasimha
faced a lot of difficulty politically. By the end of his reign, we know the Guptas were becoming powerful and he was defeated by Chandragupta II. The latter took control
of Malwa and started issuing coins in the Kshatrapa style. This marked the end of the Western Kshatrapa kingdom, which had lasted for close to 400 years.
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Rudrasimha III as mahakshatrapa |
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Rudrasimha III as mahakshatrapa, silver drachm
S. 310-337 (=388-415 CE)
Head of king right, date behind head /
Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around
rajno mahakshatrapasa swami satyasihaputrasa
rajno mahakshatrapasa swami rudrasihasa
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Rudrasimha III as mahakshatrapa, silver drachm
S. 310-337 (=388-415 CE)
Head of king right, date behind head /
Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around
rajno mahakshatrapasa swami satyasihaputrasa
rajno mahakshatrapasa swami rudrasihasa |
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Rudrasimha III as mahakshatrapa, silver drachm
S. 310-337 (=388-415 CE)
Head of king right, date behind head /
Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around
rajno mahakshatrapasa swami satyasihaputrasa
rajno mahakshatrapasa swami rudrasihasa |
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