Decius vs Pushyamitra Shunga

Decius, a Roman senator and general, was proclaimed emperor by the Danubian legions. He marched into Italy and defeated Philip the Arab at the Battle of Verona, where Philip was killed, securing Decius's position as sole emperor.

Decius led a military campaign against the Goths who had invaded the Danubian provinces. He initially achieved some successes, driving the Goths back, but the campaign was hampered by logistical issues and the plague.

Decius issued an edict requiring all Roman citizens to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and obtain a certificate (libellus) proving compliance. This triggered the first empire-wide persecution of Christians, who refused to sacrifice, leading to widespread arrests, torture, and executions.

Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus were killed in battle against the Goths at Abritus (modern Bulgaria). They were ambushed in a swamp by the Gothic king Cniva, making Decius the first Roman emperor to die in battle against a foreign enemy.

Pushyamitra Shunga, a Mauryan general, assassinated the last Maurya emperor Brihadratha during a military parade and established the Shunga dynasty. This coup ended the Maurya Empire and marked a return to Brahmanical rule after Buddhist patronage.

Pushyamitra Shunga repelled an invasion by the Indo-Greek king Menander I (Milinda) near the Indus River. The Shunga victory preserved the kingdom's independence and prevented Greek expansion into the Gangetic plain.

Pushyamitra Shunga supported the restoration of Brahmanical Hinduism, building temples and sponsoring Vedic scholars. This shift from Mauryan Buddhist patronage influenced Indian religious and cultural development for centuries.

Pushyamitra Shunga performed the Vedic horse sacrifice (Ashvamedha) to assert his sovereignty and legitimacy. The ritual involved releasing a horse to roam for a year, followed by a grand ceremony, reaffirming Brahmanical traditions after Mauryan Buddhist influence.