History

Lecture -16

By – Prathmesh Sir
 CHAPTER NAME

Gupta Empire Part 2

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TOPICS to be
1 covered
2

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➢ The Guptas were possibly feudatories of the Kushans in
UP

➢ Centre of power in Prayaga

➢ from AD 335 to 455

➢ Golden Era (Silk trade )

It is likely that the Guptas learnt the use of the saddle, reins,
buttoned coats, trousers, and boots from the Kushans. All these
gave them mobility and made them excellent horsemen
IMPORTANT RULERS OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE

➢ The Gupta dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta (240–280 AD)

➢ who was succeeded by Ghatotkacha (280–319 AD)

Chandragupta I (319-335 AD)

➢ the first to be called Maharajadhiraja

(the great king of kings)

➢ Being a vaishya, he married the Kshatriya Princess

of Licchavi from Nepal, Kumaradevi

➢ he started the Gupta era in AD 319–20, which

marked the date of his accession.

➢ Allahabad piler inscription

➢ he issued coin with the name of her queen

Samudragupta(AD 335–80)

➢ He followed the policy of conquest

➢ Nine Republics in Rajasthan, including the Malavas and

Yaudheyas

➢ Meghavarman (ruler of Sri Lanka) sent a missionary to

Samudragupta for permission to build a Buddhist temple at
Gaya.

➢ He is called ‘Napoleon of India’ by V.A. Smith

➢ ardent follower of Vaishnavism, he was tolerant of other sects

too
Samudragupta(AD 335–80)

➢ he was given the title ‘Kaviraja’

➢ He performed the Asvamedha

➢ Licchavi Dauhitra
 Samudragupta(AD 335–80)
1. Group one: includes the princes of the Ganga– Yamuna doab uprooted nine naga rulers

2. Group two: includes the rulers of the eastern Himalayan states and of some frontier states
such as Nepal, Assam, and Bengal, which were made to feel the weight of Samudragupta’s
arms. It also covers some republics of Punjab. The republics, which flickered on the ruins
of the Maurya empire, were finally crushed by Samudragupta.

3. Group three: includes the forest kingdoms situated in the Vindhya region and known as
Atavika rajyas which Samudragupta brought under his control.

4. Group four: includes twelve rulers of the eastern Deccan and south India who were
conquered and liberated. Samudragupta’s arms reached as far as Kanchi in Tamil Nadu,
where the Pallavas were compelled to recognize his suzerainty.

5. Group five: includes the names of the Shakas and Kushans, some of them ruling in
Afghanistan.
 Samudragupta(AD 335–80)

Allahabad pillar inscription Prayag prashati (same

inscription on which Ashoka’s policy is engraved), composed
by Harisena in Sanskrit, refers to his military campaigns
Legends on his coins include epithets such
as Apratirathah (invincible), Vyaghra-
Parakramah (brave as a tiger), Parakramah
(brave)
Chandragupta II (AD 380–412)
➢ came to power after a succession struggle with his
brother Ramagupta ( Dhruvadevi )

➢ Devichandraguptam

➢ high watermark of the Gupta empire

➢ He adopted the title Vikramaditya

➢ Vikrama, Devagupta, Devaraja and Simhavikrama.

➢ He was the first Gupta ruler to issue silver coins

Chandragupta II (AD 380–412)

➢ marriage alliances

➢ He married Kuberanaga, a Naga princess

of Central India

➢ Chandragupta married his daughter

Prabhavati to a Vakataka prince of the
brahmana Rudrasena II
➢ He defeated and killed the last ruler of Saka
satrap and assumed the title ‘Sakari’
Nine Luminaries or ‘Navaratnas’
Nine Luminaries or ‘Navaratnas’
Fa Hein’s Visit (399-414 AD)

➢He was a Chinese Pilgrim

➢He described the people of Mathura as numerous and

happy and the people of Pataliputra as rich and
prosperous

➢main purpose of his visit was to see the land of the

Buddha and to collect Buddhist manuscripts

➢His primary interest was religion, and was not

interested in political affairs
Kumaragupta I (415-455 AD)

➢ He was also called Sakraditya

➢ He laid the foundation for the Nalanda university

➢ Peace

➢During his reign, a branch of Huns from Central Asia

made attempts to cross the Hindukush mountains
and invade India
Skandagupta (455-467 AD)

➢last great king of the Gupta dynasty

➢repulse an attack by the Huns

➢Bhitari monolithic pillar inscription gives an

account of Skandagupta’s reign

➢Repair Sudarshan lack (Junagarh inscription)

➢Vikramaditya
1.Skandagupta issued five types of gold
coins: Archer type, King and queen type, Chhatra
type, Lion-slayer type and Horseman type.
2.His silver coins are of four types: Garuda type, Bull
type, Altar type and Madhyadesha type.

It is mentioned in the Bhitari inscription after describing

the conflict with the Pushyamitras (or the Yudhyamitras),
implying that it occurred later during Skandagupta's
reign.
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