Hindu kingdom of Kashmir

Hindu kingdom of Kashmir

Kshema Gupta (950-958 AD)

Parva Gupta was succeeded by his son Kshema Gupta in A.D. 950. He was a prince of low habits, and lost a portion of his dominions by foreign invasion. He married Didda, the daughter of Sinha Raja of Lahor, and died after a reign of eight years and a half. His coin was a joint issue with his wife queen Didda.

Abhimanyugupta (958 – 972 AD)

He was the infant son of King Kshema Gupta. His father's death made him the king at a very early age with his mother Didda as the regent. He was king for fourteen years under Didda but then was killed by Didda. He was not the only king killed by Didda and might not be the first one also!
Obverse: Goddess Lakshmi seated facing, with Nagari legend “A” at right “Bhima(nyu)” at left.
Reverse: King standing sacrificing at altar, with Nagari legend “Gupta” at right

NandiGupta (972-973 AD)

Nandi Gupta was a grandson of Queen Didda. This infant was put in throne after untimely demise of the son of Didda, Abhimanyu. At the end of twelve months, when Didda had deceived the people by her sorrow, and bribed the priests by building religious edifices, she put her grandson, Nandi Gupta, to death. Nandi was in throne for the period 972-973 AD.
Obverse. Nandi Gu
Reverse pta. 

Didda Rani (979-1003 AD) 

Didda was ruler of Kashmir from 958 AD to 1003 AD, first as a Regent for her son and various grandsons, and thereafter as sole ruler in her own right from 979 AD. Kalhana says: “The Lame Queen whom no one had thought capable of stepping over a cow’s footprint got over the host of her enemies just as Hanuman got over the ocean.” Didda ruled for the next 22 years in absolute power until she died in 1003 at the age of 79, quashing rebellions periodically by using her standard combination of bribes, appeasement and ferocious reprisal

Sangrama Deva (1003-1028 AD)

Didda Rani left the kingdom to her nephew Sangrama, the son of her brother Udaya Raja of Lahar. He was an indolent and careless ruler, and highly offended his nobles, by giving his daughter in marriage to a Brahman. The only event worthy of record during his long reign of nearly twenty-five years, is the invasion of a neighbouring state subject to Sri Trilochan Pal, by the Turks under Hamir.  Sangrama sent a force to the aid of his brother Raja; but his troops were defeated, and the Kashmirian general fled from the field of battle : for which act, at the instigation of his brother, Vigraha Raja of Lahor, he put the cowardly general to death.
Kalhana Pandit concludes the reign of Sangrama Deva, by stating, that though he amassed great wealth (another proof that Mahmud had not plundered Kashmir), yet he erected no edifices either for private use, or for public convenience.

Obverse. Sangrama Ra-. 
Reverse. ja Deva.

Ananta Deva (1028-1063 AD)

Sangrama was succeeded by his eldest son, Hari Raja, who died after a reign of only twenty-two days ; but even in this short time he is said to have collected good ministers about himself. His infant brother, Ananta, then ascended the throne, and was attacked by his uncle Vigraha Raja of Lahor, who was defeated and killed. Ananta afterwards invaded Champa (the present hill state of Chamba on the Ravi), and having slain Raja Sal, he put another prince upon the throne about A.D. 1070.
At the intercession of his queen, Surajmati, he associated his son, Kalasa, in the government ; and this act embittered the remaining years of his reign. Kalasa having attempted to carry off the wife of one of his nobles, Ananta sent for him, abused him, and even struck him. After this, Kalasa openly rebelled; and his father retired with all his treasures, amongst which one packet of jewels alone is said to have been worth seventy lakhs of rupees
The Queen Surajmati frequently made peace between the father and son, which was as often broken by interested persons. The king being at length hard pushed, was ordered by his son to leave the temple in which he had taken refuge.  The Queen Surajmati advised him to comply. Ananta, became furious, overcome with rage, despair, and the wickedness of his wife, slew himself with his own sword, after a long reign of fifty-two years, four months, and seven days.
Obverse . Auanta Ra- 
Reverse. -ja Deva.

Kalasa Deva  (1081-1089AD)

After Ananta's death, the Rani gave a donation to the troops, and declared Harsha (the son of Kalasa), Raja. Surajmati burned herself with the body of her husband.
Ananta's treasures having fallen to Kalasa, Harsha wished to conciliate him ; and though they once met and became reconciled, yet their friendship was soon broken, and differences continued between them until Harsha was imprisoned. The Raja afterwards fell sick, and wished to leave the throne to Harsha; but the nobles who had formerly opposed his son interfered, and the sick Raja willed that the kingdom should be given between his sons, Utkarsha and Harsha.
The coin was called Paddka during this reign.
Obverse. Kalasa Ra
Reverse. -ja Deva.

Harsha Deva (1089 -1101 AD)

After Kalasa, The nobles placed Utkarsha on the throne, but Harsha, having been released from prison by his half-brother, Vijaya Malla, prevailed against Utkarsha, who opened a vein in his arm, and died after reigning only twenty-two days.
Harsha was a prince of some learning ; and to him is attributed the drama called Ratnavali. In the early part of his reign, gold and silver are said to have been very plentiful ; but the extravagant pleasures of the prince at last compelled him to strip the temples of their gold and silver ornaments, and even to carry off the figures of the gods themselves. Afterwards, his generals, Uchchala and Sussala, two brothers, descendants of Sahi Raja of Lahor, and fourth cousins of Harsha, being suspected, rebelled. At first they were unsuccessful ; but Harsha, having put their father Malla to death, they redoubled their exertions, and the Raja, being defeated, hid himself in a Fakir's hut, from whence, after two days of starvation, he was dragged out and killed.
During this reign the gold coin was called Utkosh.
Obverse.Harsha Raja.
Reverse. Deva.

King Jagadeva of the Vuppadevas in Kashmir 1199-1213. AV Stater (18mm, 10.38 g, 12h). Stylized figure of Toramana standing facing; ja in Btahmi to left; ga in Brahmi to right / Stylized figure of goddess standing facing; de[va] in Brahmi to right.

Toramana II was the son of Hunnic king Mihirakula who had been defeated by the alliance of Indian kings in Malwa and had escaped to Kashmir where he deposed the local king who had offered him refuge.

Toramana II was also the grandson of Toramana I, the Hun who had invaded India at the end of the 5th century and inflicted losses on the Gupta empire.

Kashmir kingdom

Toramana II (c. 530-570)

AE stater (19 mm, 6.80 g)

Obverse: King standing, sacrificing at fire altar, with traces of Brahmi legend Sri Toramana at left along circular margin

Reverse: Goddess Lakshmi seated facing, holding a long-stemmed lotus, with Brahmi legend Jaya at right

Kidarite Huns India, Kannauj Yashosvarman of Kannauj (AD 728-745) EL Dinar 22 mm x 7.56 grams Obverse: Formalized Kushan-style king sacrificing left; below arm, Kidara; in left field,Ka. Reverse: Semi-realistic goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland and cornucopiae; in right field, Sri Yasova; in left field, Rma. Ref: Smith (1906), Indian Museum Calcutta, Vol. I, Part III, p. 268, 1ff and pl. XXVII, 6; MACW 3649 ("Kidarites", 5th C.). Good Very Fine. Rare

Kushan Empire - Kidarite Huns Bactrian Region Gadahara-Peroz (AD 360-380) AV Dinar 19.5 mm x 7.79 grams Obverse: Formalized Kushan-style king sacrificing left; below arm, Brahmi legendGadahara at right, Piroz under arm; in left field, Kushana Reverse: Realistic goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland (diadem) and cornucopiae; in right field, Brahmi letter Sha; in left field, Tamgha.