Demetrius II of India

An Indo-Greek king who ruled briefly during the 2nd century BC, with uncertain historical documentation.

Origins and Uncertain Lineage

Demetrius II was an Indo-Greek king whose life and reign are shrouded in historical ambiguity. While earlier scholars suggested he was a son or sub-king of Demetrius I, this view has since been discarded by modern historians.

Proposed Reign and Geographical Scope

The dating of his rule remains a subject of scholarly debate. Osmund Bopearachchi proposed that he governed in Bactria and Arachosia around 175–170 BC. However, R. C. Senior favors a much broader period, suggesting a reign between 175–140 BC, a theory supported by numismatic evidence.

Historical Context and Numismatic Clues

Scholarly consensus, particularly from L M Wilson, links Demetrius II to a relative of Eucratides the Great. This assumption is bolstered by the absence of his coins in the ruins of Ai Khanoum, a site presumed to have been destroyed during the reign of Eucratides I.

Source: Wikipedia