The Imperial Guptas

Chandragupta I and Kum¹radevî

 Chandragupta I was the first Imperial Gupta ruler to assume the title of mah¹r¹j¹dhir¹ja.
 On the basis of which it is presumed that he was the first sovereign ruler of his family.
 Probably, his marriage alliance with the Lichchhavis might have been helpful in this endeavour.
 Smith : At that time, P¹þaliputra was ruled by the Lichchhavis, and the establishment of Imperial Gupta authority over the
region might have been the result of the marriage between Chandragupta I and Kum¹radevî.

 Chandragupta I would have assumed the sovereign title of mah¹r¹j¹dhir¹ja, after he gained in political power and prestige
as a consequence of this matrimonial alliance.

 But Allan does not agree with this.

 He believes that Imperial Guptas exercised authority over P¹þaliputra, right from the time of Gupta.
 He suggests that Chandragupta I defeated the Lichchhavis, following which, a treaty was finalized between the Imperial
Guptas and the Lichchhavis.
 The marriage of Chandragupta I and Kum¹radevî was one of the terms of this treaty.
 The social prestige of the Imperial Guptas increased as a result of this marriage.
 No wonder, Samudragupta, the son of Chandragupta I and Kum¹radevî is found issuing the Chandragupta I-Kum¹radevî
type of gold coins to commemorate this marriage.
 No wonder, Samudragupta is hailed as Lichchhavidauhitra, ‘daughter’s son of the Lichchhavis’, in Imperial Gupta
genealogy.

 But Altekar : Had Chandragupta I defeated the Lichchhavis, his son would not have proudly proclaimed his relationship
with those vanquished people, who was called vr¹tya kshatriya in Indian literature.

 Altekar himself suggests that the father of Kum¹radevî died without a male heir to the Lichchhavi throne.
 Under such circumstances, the Lichchhavi state passed on to Kum¹radevî.
 The Imperial Gupta and Lichchhavi states were amalgamated.
 Chandragupta I and Kum¹radevî ruled over it conjointly.
 During this joint rule, gold coins were issued, bearing the names and figures of both Chandragupta I and Kum¹radevî on
the obverse, and the name of the Lichchhavis on the reverse.
 The sphere of political influence of Chandragupta I was increased.
 He declared himself an independent ruler.
 He assumed the sovereign title of mah¹r¹j¹dhir¹ja.
 He, perhaps, also founded the Gupta era in 319 AD.

 V¹yupur¹òa and the Vishòupur¹òa : The descendants of Gupta shall enjoy sovereignty over the areas on the banks of the
river Gaóg¹, and all the janapadas of Pray¹ga, S¹keta, and Magadha.
 According to an alternative interpretation of the puranic statement, they shall enjoy sovereignty over Pray¹ga, situated on
the banks of the river Gaóg¹, and all the janapadas of S¹keta and Magadha.
 This extent of the Imperial Gupta authority is too large for the two predecessors of Chandragupta I, who appear to have
been subordinate rulers.
 It is too small for the successors of Chandragupta I, who ruled over an extensive empire till at least the time of
Skandagupta.
 After Skandagupta, the frontiers of the Imperial Gupta dominions started contracting.
 However, the Imperial Guptas continued to enjoy authority over Bengal till almost the end of their rule.
 As the pur¹òas make no mention of Bengal in the above statement, they cannot be taken as describing the extent of
Imperial Gupta dominions after Skandagupta.

 Therefore, most of the scholars feel that the puranic statement above is describing the extent of the Imperial Gupta
dominions during the reign of Chandragupta I.
 They suggest that he ruled over eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

 The first few lines of the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta are partly damaged.
 However, they reveal that Chandragupta I praised Samudragupta in court, and declared him as his successor.
 The ‘spurious’ Eran stone inscription of Samudragupta also states that Chandragupta I was very impressed by the valour,
devotion, and conduct of his son.
 The Allahabad pillar inscription further reveals that when Chandragupta I declared Samudragupta as his successor, the
faces of other claimants to the throne turned pale.
 On this basis, it has been inferred that, despite being selected by his father to as the successor, Samudragupta had to face
stiff resistance.
 He could ascend the throne only after defeating the other claimants to the throne.
 Perhaps, that is why the circular legend on the obverse of the Standard type of his gold coins, the first coin type issued by
him, refers to his victory in a ‘hundred battles’.