Draft:Second Huna invasion of India

Skandagupta, ruler of the Gupta Empire, faced the threat of invasion from the Indo-Hephthalites, also known as the Huns or White Huns or Hunas, who advanced into India from the northwest towards the latter part of the fifth century, reaching as far as the Indus River. Skandagupta engaged them in battle along the Indus, successfully halting their advance, though the exact timing of the conflict remains uncertain. The Bhitari inscription suggests it occurred later in Skandagupta's reign, while the Junagadh inscription highlights his victory over the invaders during his early years on the throne. According to Karl J. Schmidt's chronology, the Huns attacked the Gupta Empire's northwestern frontiers between 450s and 460s CE. Bakker's chronology places the second Hunnic invasion between 453 and 459 CE. Skandagupta's accession to power likely coincided with his confrontation with the Hunas, as evidenced by his appointment of regional governors. Sanskrit texts, inscriptions and folklore from later centuries also attribute victories over the invaders to Skandagupta, suggesting his pivotal role in repelling the Huna incursion.

These narratives indicates that Skandagupta, possibly with the support from his father Kumaragupta I, effectively defended the Gupta Empire's northwestern frontiers and territory against the multiple foreign powers, including the Hunas, Sasanians, and Kidarites (Kushanas), thereby preserving the empire's territorial integrity at present day India and Pakistan.

Prelude
The Kushans defeated the Sasanian monarch Shapur II. Later, during the years of 388 to 450, the Sasanian-Kidarite Wars have come about. After Yazdegerd II quelled a rebellion. He marched against the Hepthalites, which resulted to his defeat. From their base at Herat in Afghanistan, the Hunas (Hepthalites) had already invaded Persia and started moving southwards to the northwestern frontiers as they intrude upon the Gupta Empire's territory.

Skandagupta's wars against the invaders
During Skandagupta's period, the Indo-Hephthalites (known as the White Huns or Hunas) invaded India from the northwest, advancing as far as the Indus River.



Battle of the Indus river (458 A.D.)
During the Hun invasion, a battle along the Indus river took place which resulted in Skandagupta checking the advances of the Hunas, along with heavy losses for the Hunas.

The Bhitari pillar inscription states that Skandagupta defeated the Hunas:

"(Skandagupta), "by whose two arms the earth was shaken, when he, the creator (of a 	disturbance like that) of a terrible whirlpool, joined in close conflict with the Hûnas;. . . . . . among enemies. . . . . . arrows. . . . . . . . . . . . proclaimed. . . . . . . . . . . . just as if it were the roaring of (the river) Ganga, making itself noticed in (their) ears.""

- Bhitari pillar inscription of Skandagupta Line 15

Victory against the invaders
The date of the Huna invasion is not certain. The Bhitari inscription mentions it after describing the conflict with the Pushyamitras (or the Yudhyamitras), which suggests that it happened later during Skandagupta's reign. However, a possible reference to this conflict in the Junagadh inscription suggests that it may have happened at the beginning of the Skandagupta's reign or during the reign of his father Kumaragupta. The Junagadh inscription, dated to the year 138 of the Gupta era (c. 457–458 CE) mentions Skandagupta's success against the invaders:

"...whose [Skandagupta's] fame, moreover, even [his] enemies, in the countries of the mlechchhas... having their pride broken down to the very root, announce with the words "verily the victory has been achieved by him.""

- Junagadh inscription

The victory against the invaders happened in or before the year 136 of the Gupta era (c. 455-456 CE), when Skandagupta ascended the throne and when he appointed Parnadatta as the governor of the Saurashtra region, in which Junagadh is located. Since Skandagupta is not known to have fought against any other foreigners, these invaders were probably the Hunas. If this identification is correct, it is possible that as a prince, Skandagupta was sent to check the Huna invasion at the frontier, and Kumaragupta died in the capital while this conflict was happening; Skandagupta returned to the capital and overcame rebels or rival claimants to ascend the throne.

A sentence in the Sanskrit text Chandra-Vyakarana (c. 7th century) states Ajayad-Gupto Hunan, literally, "The Gupta conquered the Hunas". This may be a reference to Skandagupta's victory over the Hunas, although an alternative reading by scholar K. P. Jayaswal has "Jato" instead of "Gupto". A story in the Kathasaritsagara (11th century) states that the legendary king Vikramaditya ascended the throne after his father Mahendraditya abdicated it, and inflicted a crushing defeat on the invaders. Since Mahendraditya was a title of Kumaragupta, and Vikramaditya that of Skandagupta, this may be a reference to Skandagupta's victory over the Hunas. Mahendraditya was the title of Kumaragupta, in fact it seems that he sent his army under Skandagupta to check the progress of the invaders (which included the hoardes of the Hunas/Hepthalites, Persians/Sasanians and Kidarites/Kushanas) who invaded the northwestern frontiers and territory of the Gupta Empire, eventually, the wars and invasion were repelled by Skandagupta.