The Heyday of Political Feudalism
Indian Feudalism
Chapter – 5
- Northern India did not experience complete political disintegration after the fall of the Maurya empire or the Gupta empire, but faced such disintegration after the Gurjara-Pratīhāra empire collapsed in the 10th century.
- The fragmentation of political power became most pronounced before the Turkish conquest.
- Around 1075, during the Kaivartta rebellion, Bengal and Bihar were divided into about ten principalities with nominal allegiance to the Pala overlord.
- The Palas were succeeded by the Senas, whose paramountcy was challenged by the Karṇāṭas of Mithila and possibly the dynasty of Iśvaraghoṣa in south-east Bengal.
- Feudal dynasts continued to challenge the Senas during the Kaivartta rebellion.
- In Bihar, two new princes emerged: the Senas of Pithi and the Guptas of Jayanagar in South Monghyr.
- The Khayarvalas ruled at Japla and were feudatories of the Gahadavalas.
- The Gahadavalas ruled a significant part of modern Uttar Pradesh, but shared power with the Kalacuris in Gorakhpur.
- Eastern Central India was divided between the Kalacuris of Dahala region (capital Tripuri) and the Candellas of Jejākabhukti.
- The Kalacuris divided into three branches: Tripurī (west), Ratnapura (east), and Gorakhpur (north).
- Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Malwa were similarly fragmented into various units.