Which Kushan king is traditionally said to have assumed the grand imperial title often translated as “the Lord of the Whole World”?

Introduction / Context:
The Kushan Empire was a powerful Central Asian and Indian empire that flourished in the first centuries CE. Its rulers adopted lofty imperial titles to emphasise their authority over vast territories and diverse peoples. One famous Kushan ruler is associated with a title that can be translated as “the Lord of the Whole World.” Identifying this king helps you connect numismatic evidence and royal titulature with specific rulers in ancient Indian history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The dynasty in focus is the Kushan dynasty.
• The question asks which Kushan king assumed a title meaning “Lord of the Whole World.”
• The options are Kadphises I, Kadphises II, Kanishka and Huvishka.
• We assume the learner is aware that Kushan coins carry royal titles in Greek or Bactrian scripts, indicating their imperial claims.

Concept / Approach:
Among the Kushan rulers, Kanishka stands out as the most famous emperor, known for his military conquests, patronage of Buddhism and grand imperial style. He is associated with titles on his coins and inscriptions that convey universal sovereignty, often interpreted as “king of kings” and similar phrases, including forms that are translated as “Lord of the Whole World.” Kadphises I and Kadphises II were earlier rulers who laid the foundation of the empire and expanded it, but their fame in popular exam literature is not tied to this specific title. Huvishka was a later Kushan ruler with less dramatic reputation compared to Kanishka. Consequently, Kanishka is the best answer to this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the prominent Kushan rulers in approximate order: Kujula Kadphises (Kadphises I), Vima Kadphises (Kadphises II), Kanishka, and Huvishka. Step 2: Recall that Kanishka is widely known as the greatest Kushan king, ruling a large empire from Central Asia into northwestern and northern India. Step 3: Note that imperial titles on Kanishka's coins and inscriptions describe him as a supreme ruler, often translated as “king of kings” and “lord of all the world.” Step 4: Recognise that while Kadphises I and II also used grand titles, exam-oriented history books specifically highlight Kanishka with the “Lord of the Whole World” epithet. Step 5: Understand that Huvishka, although significant, is not the ruler most commonly associated with such a universal title in popular memory. Step 6: Conclude that Kanishka is the Kushan king referred to in the question.

Verification / Alternative check:
Numismatic studies and history textbooks often emphasise Kanishka's adoption of exalted titles and his patronage of Buddhism, including convening a Buddhist council. In many competitive-exam manuals, the question “Which Kushan ruler assumed the title 'Lord of the Whole World'?” is answered straightforwardly as Kanishka. This repetition across exam-preparation sources reinforces Kanishka as the standard answer in the Indian history GK context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Kadphises I: An early Kushan ruler who united tribal groups and expanded territory but is not popularly linked with the “Lord of the Whole World” title in exam literature.
• Kadphises II: Continued expansion and issued gold coins, yet he is not the ruler commonly cited with this universal title.
• Huvishka: A successor of Kanishka whose reign saw some continuation of Kushan power but not the same level of legendary status or titulature in standard GK questions.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the achievements and titles of different Kushan kings because of overlapping names and similar coinage. Another error is to think that the founder, Kadphises I, must automatically have the grandest title. For exam preparation, it is safest to remember Kanishka as the great Kushan emperor associated with major conquests, a Buddhist council and exalted titles like “Lord of the Whole World.”

Final Answer:
The Kushan ruler who assumed the grand imperial title translated as “the Lord of the Whole World” is Kanishka.