or Bactriana, now Chorassan or Khorassan, an ancient kingdom of Asia, bounded on the west by Margiana, on the north by the river Oxus, on the south by Mount Paropamisus, and on the east by the Asiatic Scythia and the country of the Massagetae. It was a large, fruitful, and well-peopled country, containing according to Ammianus Marcellinus 1000 cities, though of these only a few are particularly mentioned by historians, of which that formerly called Maracanda, now Samarcand, is the most considerable.

Of the history of this country we know but little. Authors agree that it was subdued first by the Assyrians, afterwards by Cyrus, and then by Alexander the Great. Afterwards it remained subject to Seleucus Nicator and his successors till the time of Antiochus Theos; when Theodorus, from governor of that province, became king, and strengthened himself so effectually in his kingdom, while Antiochus was engaged in a war with Ptolemy Philadelphus king of Egypt, that he could never afterwards dispossess him of his acquisitions. His posterity continued to enjoy the kingdom dom for some time, till they were driven out by the Scythians, who reigned in Bactria at the time of Adrian, Antoninus Pius, &c. The Scythians were in their turn driven out by the Huns or Turks, and these often conquered by the Saracens and Tartars; nevertheless they continued in possession of this country in the time of Ladislaus IV. king of Hungary.

In early times the Bactrians differed little in their manners from the Nomades; and being near neighbours of the Scythians, who were a very warlike people, the Bactrian soldiers were reckoned the best in the world. Their appearance was very savage; being of an enormous stature, having a terrible aspect, rough beards, and long hair hanging down their shoulders. Some authors assert that they kept dogs on purpose to devour such as arrived at extreme old age, or who were exhausted by long sickness. They add, that for all their fierceness, the Bactrian husbands were such dupes to their wives, that they durst not complain of them even for conjugal infidelity, to which it seems the latter were very much addicted.