Satakarni

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Satakarni (Sātakarnī I) was the third of the Satavahana kings. He ruled around 180 BCE in Central India.

It is thought that Satakarni was a son of Kunala. He only ruled for two years, but he achieved the conquest of the Western Malwa region from the Sungas.

Satakarni is mentionned in the Hathigumpha inscription of Kalinga, as a rival to king Kharavela:

"And in the second year (he), disregarding Satakamini, dispatches to the western regions an army strong in cavalry, elephants, infantry (nara) and chariots (ratha) and by that army having reached the Kanha-bemna, he throws the city of the Musikas into consternation." Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX

Satakarni organize two horse sacrifices (Aswamedhas), to proclaim his sovereignty.

His queen was Naganika, a member of the Maharathi familly. She wrote the Naneghat inscription, in which she describes Satakarni as "Lord of Dakshinapatha, wielder of the unchecked wheel of Sovereignty".

Satakarni may have been killed in battle. He was succeeded by his two young sons Vedistri and Satisisri, under the regency of their mother Nayanika.