Gupta Age

The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire that existed between the early fourth and late sixth centuries CE. It covered much of the Indian subcontinent at its peak, from around 319 to 467 CE. Historians refer to this period as India’s Golden Age. The empire’s ruling dynasty was founded by King Sri Gupta, and its most notable rulers were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya. According to the 5th-century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa, the Guptas conquered about twenty-one kingdoms both inside and outside India, including the kingdoms of the Parasikas, Hunas, Kambojas, tribes in the west and east Oxus valleys, Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others.

Extent of Gupta Empire

Features

• The Gupta Empire ruled India from the early fourth to late sixth centuries CE. It ruled much of the Indian subcontinent from around 319 to 467 CE. Historians call this period “India’s Golden Age.”
• King Sri Gupta established the empire’s ruling dynasty, and its most notable rulers were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya.
• Strong trade ties also aided in the region’s establishment as a cultural hub and a base for influencing neighbouring kingdoms and regions in India and Southeast Asia.
• Due to factors such as significant territorial and imperial authority losses caused by former feudatories, as well as the Huna peoples’ (Kidarites and Alcon Huns) invasion of Central Asia, the empire eventually fell apart.
• Following the fall of the Gupta Empire in the sixth century, India was ruled by a slew of regional kingdoms.

Origin

• The decline of the Mauryan empire resulted in the rise of two major political powers, the Kushanas in the north and the Satavahanas in the south.
• Both of these empires brought political and economic unity to their respective regions.
• The Kushan reign in north India ended around c.230 CE, and the Murundas took over a large portion of central India (possible kinsmen of the Kushanas).
• The Murundas only ruled for 25 to 30 years. The Gupta dynasty rose to power in the last decade of the third century CE (around 275 CE).
• The Gupta empire established control over a large portion of the former Kushana and Satavahana dominions.
• For over a century (335 CE- 455 CE), the Guptas (possibly Vaishyas) kept northern India politically united. The Guptas are thought to have been feudators of the Kushanas.
• The Guptas’ original kingdom included Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with their capital in Prayag (U.P).
• The Guptas established their rule over the fertile plains of Madhyadesha, also known as Anuganga (the middle Gangetic basin), Saketa (U.P Ayodhya), Prayag (U.P), and Magadha (mostly Bihar).

Gupta Rulers

Sri Gupta (240-280 AD)

• According to some inscriptions, Sri Gupta was the likely founder of the Gupta dynasty.
• Between 240 and 280 A.D., he reigned. Sri Gupta is described as Adhiraja of Gupta dynasty in the Poona copper inscription of Prabhavati Gupta (Daughter of Chandra Gupta II).
• Other early Guptas, however, were mentioned in many inscriptions, including Shiva Gupta in the Nasik inscription and Puru Gupta in the Karle inscription.
• The majority of the evidence, however, pointed to Sri Gupta as the founder of the Gupta dynasty.

Ghatotkacha

• Ghatotkacha was the second ruler of Gupta Dynasty. He was the successor of his father Sri Gupta. He ruled between 280 AD to 319 AD.
• Pre-imperial Gupta Kings included Ghatotkacha and his father, Sri Gupta. His son Chandragupta I became his successor.
• Ghatotkacha was the son of Gupta, the Gupta dynasty’s founder.
• Ghatotkacha, like his father, is not documented by his own inscriptions.
• His grandson Samudragupta’s Allahabad Pillar inscription contains the earliest description of him, which is repeated verbatim in several later records of the dynasty.
• Previously, a gold coin and a clay seal were attributed to him, but these are now unanimously assigned to Ghatotkacha-gupta, who was a son or younger brother of the 5th century Gupta ruler Kumaragupta I.

Chandragupta I (319 to 334 AD)

• King Chandragupta I of the Gupta Empire ruled over northern India between the years 319 and 334 CE. He may have been the dynasty’s first emperor, as suggested by his title Maharajadhiraja (“great king of kings”).
• The exact process by which he expanded his small hereditary kingdom into an empire is unknown, but a widely accepted hypothesis among contemporary historians holds that it was made possible by his union with Kumaradevi, a Licchavi princess, who served as a political ally.
• Samudragupta, their son, strengthened the Gupta empire much further.
• Chandragupta was the son of Gupta king Ghatotkacha and the grandson of Gupta, the founder of the dynasty, both of whom are referred to as Maharaja (“great king”) in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.
• Chandragupta assumed the title Maharajadhiraja and issued gold coins, implying that he was the dynasty’s first imperial ruler.

Samudragupta (335/336 – 375 CE)

• Samudragupta (r. 335/336–375 CE) was the second emperor of Ancient India’s Gupta Empire and one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.
• He greatly expanded his dynasty’s political and military power as the son of Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi. His conquests laid the groundwork for the expansion of the Gupta Empire, a period dubbed the “Golden Age of India” by oriental historians.
• The Allahabad Pillar inscription, a prashasti (eulogy) written by his courtier Harishena, credits him with numerous military victories. It implies that he defeated several northern Indian kings and annexed their territories to his empire.

Chandragupta II (380 to 412 AD)

• Chandragupta II (c. 380 – c. 412 CE), also known as Vikramaditya and Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was the third ruler of India’s Gupta Empire and one of the dynasty’s most powerful emperors.
• Chandragupta carried on his father’s expansionist policy, primarily through military conquest.
• He defeated the Western Kshatrapas and expanded the Gupta Empire from the Indus River in the west to the Bengal region in the east, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to the Narmada River in the south, according to historical evidence.
• Prabhavatigupta, his daughter, was queen of the southern Vakataka kingdom, and he may have had influence in the Vakataka territory during her regency.
• During Chandragupta’s reign, the Gupta Empire reached its pinnacle. According to the Chinese pilgrim Faxian(Fa-Hien), who visited India during his reign, he ruled over a peaceful and prosperous kingdom.
• The legendary Vikramaditya is most likely based on Chandragupta II (among other kings), and the noted Sanskrit poet Kalidasa may have served as his court poet.

Kumaragupta I (413 to 455 AD)

• Kumaragupta I was the son of Gupta emperor Chandragupta II and queen Dhruvadevi. From 413 to 455 AD, he was in power.
• He was also known as Shakraditya and Mahendraditya. He established Nalanda University.
• Hunas encroached on India during his rule.
• Although no concrete information about Kumaragupta’s military achievements is available, he performed an Ashvamedha sacrifice, which was typically performed to demonstrate imperial sovereignty.
• The Bhitari pillar inscription states that his successor Skandagupta restored the Gupta family’s fallen fortunes, which has led to speculation that during his final years, Kumaragupta suffered reverses, possibly against the Pushyamitras or the Hunas.

Skandagupta (455 to 467 AD)

• Skandagupta was a Gupta Emperor from northern India. Skandagupta was the son of Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I.
• He ascended to the throne in 455 AD and reigned until 467 AD.
• Skandagupta demonstrated his ability to rule by defeating Pushyamitras during his early years in power, earning the title of Vikramaditya.
• During his 12 year reign, he not only defended India’s great culture, but also defeated the Huns, who had invaded India from the north west.
• He is widely regarded as the final of the great Gupta Emperors.

Vishnu Gupta (540 – 550 AD)

• Vishnugupta was one of the Gupta Dynasty’s lesser-known kings. He is widely regarded as the last recognised king of the Gupta Empire.
• He reigned for ten years from 540 to 550 AD.
• The Gupta dynasty began to wane following Skandgupta’s rule.
• Skandgupta’s successors failed to solidify the empire’s position.
• Skandgupta’s successors were very obscure kings, and Vishnugupta was one of them.
• He also served as the last king of the Gupta Dynasty.
• He was the son of Kumaragupta III and the grandson of Narasimhagupta.