Khingila I

Khingila I
Ruler of the Alchon Huns
File:HunCoinDerivedFromSassanianDesign5thCE.JPG Portrait of king Khingila c. 440 – 490 CE on one of his silver drachms. Bactrian script legend: File:Xiggilo Alxono (Bactrian script).jpg χιγγιλο αλχοννο "Khiggilo Alchono", with Alchon tamgha symbol File:Alchon Tamga.png Khingila I is located in West and Central Asia Khingila I class=notpageimage| Approximate location of Khingila's territory
Reign	430-490
Successor	Mehama
Born	c. 430 Central Asia
Died	c. 490(490-00-00) (aged 59–60)

Khingila I (Bactrian: File:Xiggilo (Bactrian script).jpg χιγγιλο Khingilo, Brahmi script:^{File:Khi-nngi-la Name of Alchon ruler Khingila in the Brahmi script 430-490 CE.jpg} 𑀔𑀺𑀗𑁆𑀕𑀺𑀮 Khi-ṇgi-la, Middle Chinese: 金吉剌 Kim kjit lat, Persian: شنگل Shengel; c.430-490) was the founding king of the Hunnic Alkhan dynasty (Bactrian: αλχανο, Middle Chinese: 嚈噠, Iep dat). He was a contemporary of Khushnavaz (fl. 484).

Rule

In response to the migration of the Wusun (who were hard-pressed by the Rouran) from Zhetysu to the Pamir region, Khingila united the Uars and the Xionites in 460AD, establishing the Hepthalite dynasty.

According to the Syrian compilation of Church Historian Zacharias Rhetor (c. 465, Gaza – after 536), bishop of Mytilene, the need for new grazing land to replace that lost to the Wusun led Khingila's "Uar-Chionites" to displace the Sabirs to the west, who in turn displaced the Saragur, Ugor and Onogur, who then asked for an alliance and land from Byzantium.

In his coin in the Brahmi script, Khingila uses the legend "God-King Khingila" (File:Gupta ashoka de.svgFile:Gupta ashoka v.svgFile:Gupta ashoka ss.svg^{File:Gupta ashoka hi.jpgFile:Khi-nngi-la Name of Alchon ruler Khingila in the Brahmi script 430-490 CE.jpg}, 𑀤𑁂𑀯𑀰𑀸𑀳𑀺 𑀔𑀺𑀗𑁆𑀕𑀺𑀮, De-va-śā-hi Khi-ṇgi-la).

A "Seal of Khingila" is known, with legend in the Bactrian language, but it is uncertain if it belonged to Khingila, or another ruler of the same name.

Khingila is also known from a Brahmi inscription, the Talagan copper scroll.

Artifacts

• Coin of younger Khingila, circa 440-490 CE.[5]
  Coin of younger Khingila, circa 440-490 CE.
• Khingila with the word "Alchono" in Bactrian script (αλχονο) and the Tamgha symbol on his coins.[6][7]
  Khingila with the word "Alchono" in Bactrian script (αλχονο) and the Tamgha symbol on his coins.
• Later coinage, with name "Khingila" in the Brahmi script.
  Later coinage, with name "Khingila" in the Brahmi script.
• A coin of Khingila with the title Devaśāhi Khiṇgila (File:Gupta ashoka de.svgFile:Gupta ashoka v.svgFile:Gupta ashoka ss.svgFile:Gupta ashoka hi.jpgFile:Khi-nngi-la Name of Alchon ruler Khingila in the Brahmi script 430-490 CE.jpg "God-King Khingila"), 440-490 CE.[3]
  A coin of Khingila with the title Devaśāhi Khiṇgila (File:Gupta ashoka de.svgFile:Gupta ashoka v.svgFile:Gupta ashoka ss.svg^{File:Gupta ashoka hi.jpgFile:Khi-nngi-la Name of Alchon ruler Khingila in the Brahmi script 430-490 CE.jpg} "God-King Khingila"), 440-490 CE.
• The word "Alchonno" (αλχοννο) in the Greco-Bactrian cursive script, on a coin of Khingila.[8]
  The word "Alchonno" (αλχοννο) in the Greco-Bactrian cursive script, on a coin of Khingila.
• Alchon horseman, possibly Khingila, on the Hephthalite silver bowl.[9]
  Alchon horseman, possibly Khingila, on the Hephthalite silver bowl.
• "Khingila" in Brahmi script on his later coinage
  "Khingila" in Brahmi script on his later coinage

See also

• Kidarites

External links

• Khingila coinage
• Online catalogue of Khingila coins