Apraca

Apraca, or Avaca, was an ancient Indo-Scythian kingdom or satrapy in the area of Bajaur in modern Pakistan from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. Its rulers formed a small dynasty, called the Apracarajas. The territory was the stronghold of the warlike Aspasioi of Arrian, a western branch of the Ashvakas (q.v) of the Sanskrit texts, who had earlier offered stubborn resistance to the Macedonian invader, Alexander the Great in 326 BCE.

A recently discovered inscription in Kharoshthi on a Buddhist reliquary gives a relationship between several eras of the period and mention several Apraca rulers:

"In the twenty-seventh year in the reign of Lord Vijayamitra, the King of the Apraca; in the seventy-third year which is called of Azes, in the two hundred and first - 201 - year of the Yonas (Greeks), on the eighth day of the month of Sravana; on this day was established stupa by Rukhana, the wife of the King of Apraca, by Vijayamitra, the king of Apraca, by Indravarma (Indravasu), the commander (stratega), with their wives and sons."

This inscription would date to c. 15 CE, according to the new dating for the Azes era which places its inception c. 47 BCE. The rulers seem to have been related to Kharaostes, which if true, would also certainly connect Apraca with Kamuia (q.v) or Kambojika (Kamboja) lineage. Kamuia (q.v) is dialectical variation of Kambojika (q.v) which is same as Kamboja of Sanskrit or Pali texts.

Dr. Prashant Srivastava of the University of Lucknow, has recently written a research monograph which aims to highlight the significant role played by the family of the Apraca kings in ancient Indian history, and has connected this family of the Apraca kings with the Ashvaka clan. But, the Ashvaka clan was none else than a sub-branch of the greater Kamboja tribe spread on either side of the Hindu Kush.

The Apraca kings are also mentioned in the Bajaur casket.