The Gupta Empire & Harsha

The Gupta Empire rose in northern India after the Mauryas and is remembered as one of the most glorious periods in Indian history.

• The capital of the Gupta Empire was Pataliputra (modern Patna).
• The empire is famous for great progress in literature, science, mathematics, art and architecture.
• The Guptas controlled much of North India and extended their influence over the South through military campaigns.

The dynasty began with two early rulers who laid its foundation before the era of the great Gupta kings.

• Sri Gupta is also known as Adipurush.
• Note: Some sources also credit Sri Gupta as the "Real Founder of the Gupta Kingdom" (while Chandragupta I is the real founder of the *dynasty's* greatness).
• He was succeeded by his son Ghatotkacha.

• His full name was Ghatotkacha Gupta.
• He was succeeded by his son Chandragupta I.

Chandragupta I transformed the small Gupta principality into a powerful kingdom and started the famous Gupta Era.

• His reign is called the Golden Era of the Gupta Dynasty; he was the 1st independent ruler and the most powerful monarch of his time.
• He started the Gupta Era in 319–320 AD, the year-count used to date many later inscriptions.
• He assumed the grand title of Maharajadhiraj ("King of Kings").
• He married the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi, and issued the famous "King and Queen" type gold coins bearing both their names.
• During his reign the Gupta Dynasty reached a new peak.

Samudragupta was the greatest conqueror of the dynasty, famous for never losing a battle and for the inscription that records his victories.

• His court poet Harisena composed the Prayag Prashasti / Allahabad Pillar Inscription, which records his conquests.
• His wife was Dattadevi; he called himself "Lichchhavi Dauhitra" (daughter's son of the Lichchhavis).
• He was the 1st Gupta king to invade South India and never lost a single battle in his reign.
• His commander was Veersen (Veerasena).
• He performed the Ashvamedha (horse) sacrifice and took the title "Ashvamedha-Parakrama".
• A great patron of art, he adopted the title "Kaviraja" (King of Poets) and is depicted on his coins playing the Veena.
• His two sons were Ramagupta (375–380 AD, a coward, deemed not eligible to rule) and Chandragupta II.

Chandragupta II is the most celebrated Gupta ruler — under him the empire reached its cultural and territorial zenith.

• His other name was Devraj / Devagupta, mentioned in the Mehrauli Iron Pillar (Delhi).
• He came to the throne after his brother Ramagupta was assassinated (by Chandragupta II).
• He had two wives — Dhruvadevi (mother of Kumaragupta I) and Kubernaga (mother of Prabhavati).
• His daughter Prabhavati was married to the Vakataka crown prince Rudrasena II.
• The conquest of the Sakas was the most significant event of his reign; he killed the Saka chief Rudrasena III (Rudrasimha III) and annexed the kingdom.
• After defeating the Sakas he adopted the title "Vikramaditya" and made Ujjain his second capital.
• He extended the Gupta kingdom to Gujarat in 390 AD.
• He followed the Vaishnava religion (influenced by Madhavacharya) and took the title "Param-Bhagvata".
• The Chinese traveller Fa-Hien visited India during his reign.
• India was known as the "Golden Era of India" during his rule.

His court was adorned by nine brilliant scholars known as the Navratnas.

Apart from the Navratnas, several authors produced classic works during this golden age of Sanskrit literature.

Kumaragupta is best remembered for establishing one of the world's most famous ancient universities.

• He was the son of Vikramaditya / Chandragupta II.
• He was the 2nd Gupta king to perform the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
• Nalanda University was later burnt by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1194 AD (important for SSC).
• During Kumaragupta's reign, the White Hunas (Hephthalites) invaded the empire.

Skandagupta was the last great Gupta ruler, who defended the empire against fierce foreign invaders.

• He fought the Hunas and successfully repelled them, assuming the title Kramaditya.
• He was succeeded by Purugupta (468–473 AD).
• Note: The last king of the Gupta Dynasty was Vishnugupta.

The line of Gupta rulers from founder to the last great king is a high-yield sequence for the exam.

The Gupta era earned the title "Golden Age" because of stellar achievements across three broad fields.

A cluster of quick "one-liner" facts about the empire that examiners love to test.

• The Iron Pillar built in the Gupta era stands in the Qutub complex, Delhi (famous for not rusting).
• Garuda (the mythical eagle) was the symbol of the empire.

Aryabhata was the towering scientist-mathematician of the Gupta age, whose discoveries are world-famous.

• He wrote two books — Aryabhatiya and Surya Siddhanta.
• He invented zero (0) and the concept of the "1–9 place value" system.
• He calculated the value of π (pi) ≈ 22/7.

Several Chinese travellers visited India during this era and left valuable accounts — a favourite matching topic.

After the Guptas declined, the Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) dynasty rose in North India, culminating in the great Harshavardhana.

• Its initial capital was Thaneshwar (Haryana).

• Note: Prabhakarvardhana was the 1st independent ruler of the Vardhana dynasty and is called its "Real Founder".

Harshavardhana was the last great ruler of ancient North India, famous for his patronage of Buddhism, learning and the assemblies he held.

• Family: Father — Prabhakarvardhana; Mother — Yashomati; Elder brother — Rajyavardhana; Sister — Rajyashri.
• His sister Rajyashri was married to the Maukhari king Grahavarman.
• Grahavarman was killed by Devagupta (King of Malwa) and Shashanka (King of Bengal); the widowed Rajyashri was imprisoned.
• After the death of his brother Rajyavardhana, Harsha became king at the age of 16 and avenged the family.
• He transferred the capital from Thaneshwar to Kannauj and later killed Shashanka.
• His court poet was Banabhatta, who wrote Harshacharita and Kadambari.
• He was defeated by Pulakesin II (Chalukya king) on the banks of the Narmada river — the one major check on his power.
• Harsha was a follower of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism and was also known as Sheeladitya.
• He himself wrote three works — Priyadarshika, Nagananda and Ratnavali.
• Harshavardhana died in 647 AD.

• Rajyavarma, Bhaskarvarma, Pulakesin II, Shashanka, Dhruvasena II.

Harsha is especially remembered for the great religious assemblies he convened and for hosting the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang.

• In honour of Hiuen Tsang and to promote Buddhism, Harsha held a grand assembly at Kannauj in 642 AD.
• Harsha used to hold an assembly at Prayag (Prayagraj) every 5 years.
• The 6th such (Prayag) assembly was held in 643 AD and was witnessed by Hiuen Tsang.