When did Menander I rule and what territory did he control?
Menander I ruled from approximately 155 BC to 130 BC. His empire stretched from the Kabul River in the west to the Ravi River in the east and extended from the Swat River valley down to Arachosia.
What happened during Menander I's military campaigns against Indian kings?
Ancient sources state that Menander I launched expeditions southward into Rajputana and central India while his forces reached as far east as Pataliputra on the Ganges River Valley. The sage Patanjali described a failed campaign of Menander as far as Mathura around 150 BC which was later reported in Kalidasa's drama Mālavikāgnimitram.
How did Menander I convert to Buddhism according to historical texts?
Buddhist tradition relates that following his discussions with Nāgasena recorded in the Milinda Panha Menander adopted the Buddhist faith. He is described as constantly accompanied by an elite guard of 500 Greek soldiers before handing over his kingdom to his son and retiring from the world.
Where have coins of Menander I been discovered across the subcontinent?
Large numbers of Menander I's silver and bronze coins have been unearthed including the Siranwali hoard near Sialkot and the Sonipat hoard from present-day Haryana. Discoveries include the Pachkhura hoard found near the Yamuna River in Hamirpur district and Bajaur remains the only place where inscriptions of Menander have been found.
Who succeeded Menander I after his death around 130 BC?
The traditional view supported by W.W. Tarn and Bopearachchi suggests Menander I was succeeded by his queen Agathoclea acting as regent to their infant son Strato I until he became an adult. Some numismatists suggest Strato I ruled several decades after Menander while other accounts indicate Menander was briefly succeeded by his son Thrason of whom a single coin is known.