CSIP: PRELIMS BOOSTER SERIES -473 ANCIENT INDIA
MINOR POST GUPTA EMPIRES
(Only prominent kingdoms that existed between Gupta and Harsha rule are included.)
WHY IN NEWS?
The Hindu: Expo of rare gupta coins held in mysore
MAUKHARIS
Earlier vassals of Guptas, later established their independence around middle of 6th century (550 AD) and ruled over present day Ganga Yamuna doab with capital at Kanyakbhuja.
LATER GUPTAS
They succeeded the imperial Guptas and ruled over a small territory comprising eastern Bihar between 550- 675 AD.
Later ruled as vassals of Harsha
MAITRAKAS OF VALLABHI
Was initially under the imperial Guptas, but asserted their independence in Gujarat after their decline with capital at Vallabhi (475-775 AD)
Maitrakas set up a Vallabhi University . They came under the rule of Harṣa of Vardhana dynasty in the mid-seventh century, but retained local autonomy, and regained their independence after Harṣa’s death.
PUSHYABUTIS OF THANESWAR
Also known as Vardhana dynasty, founded in the 6th cy(500 AD) with their capital at Thaneswar, the
Dynasty reached its zenith under Harsha ( 606 -647) who covered much of north and north-western India, extending till Kamarupa in the east and Narmada River in the south.
PRATIHARAS/ GURJARAS OF RAJPUTANA AND GUJARAT / MANDOR
(Not the same as Gurjara Pratiharas who ruled between between mid 750 to 11th cy)
They ruled parts of Rajputana between 550 -800s
Their 1st capital was at Mandore (Rajasthan)
AULIKARAS
A short lived dynasty that ruled parts of Malwa. Was established after Yashodavarman defeated the Huna king Mihirakula in 528.
Under its peak it ruled over Northern India and parts of Deccan during the reign of Yashodavarman, but the kingdom disintegrated after his death.
EASTERN INDIA
VARMAN DYNASTY OF KAMARUPA (350-650)
1st historical kingdom of Assam. Established in 350 AD by Pushyavarman a contemporary of Samudragupta.
Capital: Pragyajyotishpura
Famous ruler Bhaskaravarman formed alliance with Harsha against the neighbouring Gauda kingdom in Bengal
GAUDA/ SHASHANKA OF BENGAL
Comprised northern and north western Bengal. (4th cy -7th cy)
Most famous ruler was Shashanka who was the arch rival of Harsha.
After Shashanka’s death, the kingdom was divided between Harsha and Kamarupa.
SOUTH INDIA
EARLY KALACHURIS OF MAHISMATI
Between 550-675
They succeeded the Vakataka dynasty during gupta times and were later succeeded by Chalukyas of Badami (defeated by Pulikeshin II)
Capital: Mahismati on the banks of Narmada.
CHALUKYAS OF BADAMI
Established in 543 by Pulikeshin 1. Was succceded by Rashtrakutas in 753.
Pulikeshin II captured the Kadamba, Early Kalachuri and Vishnukundin Kingdoms (appointed his brother Vishnivardhana as the head, which gave rise to the Chalukyas of Vengi/ Eastern Chalukyas)
PALLAVAS
Prominent period 574-900 began with Simhavishnu who overthrew Kalabhras from south India and established Palllava kindom with capital at Kanchi.
Prominent Kings
Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE) and Narasimhavarman I (630–668 CE),
Finally defeated by Aditya Chola 1 in 897 AD
MEDEIVAL PANDYAS (6TH -9TH CE)
The Pandyan king overthrew the Kalabhras revolt in south India in 590s and dominated regions of southern Tamil Nadu between 6th -9th CE.
Their emprire was destablished by Chola king Parantaka 1 (873-955) who captured Madurai from them.
(Focus on kingdoms, their regions and their contemporaries)