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Picture: Coin of Shahi Kings of Kabul & Gandhara : Spalapati Deva , circa 750 AD -900 AD. Obv: Recumbent bull facing left, trishula on bulls rump, Devnagari Legends: Sri Spalapati Deva. Rev: Rider bearing lance on caparisoned horse facing right.

 The Shahi (Devanagari शाही), Sahi, also called Shahiya dynasties was one of the Middle kingdoms of India which ruled portions of the Kabul Valley (in eastern Afghanistan) and the old province of Gandhara (northern Pakistan) from the decline of the Kushan Empire in third century to the early ninth century. The kingdom was known as Kabul-shahan or Ratbel-shahan from (565 – 670 CE) when the capitals were located in Kapisa and Kabul, and later Udabhandapura (also known as Hund) for its new capital.

Picture: Coin of Shahi Kings of Kabul & Gandhara : Samanta Deva , circa 850 AD -1000 AD. Obv: Rider bearing lance on caparisoned horse facing right.Devnagari Legends : ‘bhi’ ?. Rev:Recumbent bull facing left, trishula on bulls rump, Devnagari Legends: Sri Samanta Deva.

In ancient time, the title Shahi appears to be a quite popular royal title in Afghanistan and the north-western areas of the Indian sub-continent. It was used by Achaemenids, Sakas, Kushanas, Hunas, Bactrians, by the rulers of Kapisa/Kabul and Gilgit. In Persian form, the title appears as Kshathiya, Kshathiya Kshathiyanam, Shao of the Kushanas and the Ssaha of Mihirakula (Huna chief). The Kushanas are stated to have adopted the title Shah-in-shahi ("Shaonano shao") in imitation of Achaemenid practice.

Ancient Jaina work Kalakacarya-kathanaka says that the rulers of the Sakas who had invaded Ujjaini/Malwa in 62 BCE also wore the titles of Sahi and Sahnusahi. Since the title Shahi was used by the rulers of Kapisa/Kabul or Gandhara also in imitation of Kushana "Shao", it has been speculated by some writers that the Shahi dynasty of Kapisa/Kabul or Gandhara was a foreign dynasty and had descended from the Kushans or Turks (Turushkas). However, the title has been used by several rulers irrespective of any racial connotations and this may refute the above speculation. The Shahis of Kabul/Gandhara are generally split up into two eras—the so-called Buddhist-Shahis and the so-called Hindu-Shahis, with the change-over thought to have occurred sometime around 870 AD.

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