Rudrasimha II was either a usurper, or had to step in because the main line of kshatrapas did not have an heir. His coins name Swami Jivadaman as his father, a name that clearly is not royal. He commenced his coinage in the year 226, which was the last year of Visvasena, suggesting that he followed his predecessor, rather than beginning to serve as kshatrapa while Visvasena was still alive. Some authors believe he may have been a distant relative of the royal family. In any event, Rudrasimha II ruled from 226 to 238 and issued coins only as kshatrapa.