Gupta Empire

Sri Gupta (r.240 -280 CE) was a pre-imperial Gupta king in northern India and the founder of the Gupta dynasty. Northern or central Bengal might have been the home of Guptas at that time, however, little evidence is available.

The Poona copper inscription of Prabhavati Gupta, a daughter of Chandragupta II, describes "Maharaja Sri-Gupta" as the founder of the Gupta dynasty. Sri Gupta is identified with the king Che-li-ki-to mentioned in the writings of the Chinese traveller Yijing, who wrote around 690 CE, and described the king as having ruled 500 years earlier. According to Yijing's account, Sri Gupta ordered the construction of a temple at Mrgasikhavana for the use of Buddhist pilgrims coming from China, endowing it with the revenue from 40 villages.

Chandragupta I was the son of Ghatotkacha and the grandson of Sri Gupta. Unlike his predecessors, who were known as Maharaja (king), he came to be known as Maharajadhiraja (king of kings). He came to power in 320 CE as his father Ghatotkacha died leaving him on the throne. However, it remains unknown how he expanded a "small principality to the status of an important kingdom" by annexing neighbouring kingdoms. He also married a Licchhavi princess, Kumaradevi, indicating that the matrimonial connections between the two led to the "political greatness" of the Gupta dynasty.

Samudragupta was known as Napolean of India.

Samudragupta (r.c.335-c. 380 CE) was the fourth ruler of the Gupta Empire and the son and successor of Chandragupta I. His rule was one of expansion marked first by the conquest of his immediate neighbours and then by campaigns to the east and the south where chiefdoms and kingdoms were subdued and forced to pay tribute to him. Much of the knowledge of Samudragupta's military exploits comes from the Allahabad Pillar of Ashoka which includes a prashasti (a eulogy) extolling the deeds and virtues of the Gupta emperor. Going by the inscription, Samudragupta exerted direct or indirect control over much of the Indian subcontinent stretching from kingdoms in Nepal and the Punjab in the north all the way to the Pallava kingdom at Kanchipuram in the south-east.

Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I and the Lichchhavi princess, Kumaradevi. He is believed to have been his father's chosen successor even though he had several elder brothers. Therefore, some believe that after the death of Chandragupta I, there was a struggle for succession in which Samudragupta prevailed. It is said that Samudragupta became the ruler after subduing his rival, Kacha, an obscure prince of the dynasty.

Chandragupta I was a king of the Gupta Empire around 320 CE. As the ruler of the Gupta Empire, he is known for forging alliances with many powerful families in the Ganges region.

Chandragupta I was the son of Ghatotkacha and the grandson of Sri Gupta. Unlike his predecessors, who were known as Maharaja (king), he came to be known as Maharajadhiraja (king of kings). He came to power in 320 CE as his father Ghatotkacha died leaving him on the throne. However, it remains unknown how he expanded a "small principality to the status of an important kingdom" by annexing neighbouring kingdoms. He also married a Licchhavi princess, Kumaradevi, indicating that the matrimonial connections between the two led to the "political greatness" of the Gupta dynasty.

Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I and the Lichchhavi princess, Kumaradevi. He is believed to have been his father's chosen successor even though he had several elder brothers. Therefore, some believe that after the death of Chandragupta I, there was a struggle for succession in which Samudragupta prevailed. It is said that Samudragupta became the ruler after subduing his rival, Kacha, an obscure prince of the dynasty.

Harisena, also Harishena or Hirisena, was a 4th-century Sanskrit poet, panegyrist, and government minister. He was an important figure in the court of the Gupta emperor, Samudragupta. His most famous poem, written c. 345 CE, describes the bravery of Samudragupta and is inscribed on the Allahabad Pillar. At least one of his known inscriptions was written as a panegyric.

Harisena was an early writer of Kavya poetry; Arthur Berriedale Keith says of it, "Harisena's poem bears expressly the title Kavya, though it consists both of prose and verse. Its structure is similar to the delineation of kings adopted in the prose romances of Subandhu and Bana". Other works attributed to either this author (or others by the same name) include Apabramsa Dharmapariksa, Karpuraprakara (Suktavall), the medical treatise Jagatsundari-Yogamaladhikara, Yasodharacanta, Astahnikakatha and Brhatkathakosa. He was also the chief minister of Samudragupta's empire. Harishena had a great interest in playing the lute with his friend Samudragupta. Harishena had also played an important role in the coronation of Samudragupta with Kumaradevi.

According to Natya-darpana, Ramgupta was a coward. He married the woman, Dhruvaswamini by force who was engaged with his brother Chandragupta II. He also became the King of the Gupta empire, though his brother was declared as the future King of the Gupta empire after Samudragupta's death. According to traditional accounts, Ramagupta decided to expand his kingdom by attacking the Sakas in Gujarat. The campaign soon took a turn for the worse and the Gupta army was trapped. The Saka king, Rudrasimha III, demanded that Ramagupta hand over his wife Dhruvswamini in exchange for peace. The weak king was inclined to accept these terms, to the outrage of his wife and his brother Chandragupta. Using subterfuge, Chandragupta went to the Saka camp, killed the Saka king and won the victory and also the esteem of the people and the queen. A short while later, Ramagupta was deposed and killed by his brother, who became Chandragupta II. Chandragupta II also married his erstwhile sister-in-law, Dhruvswamini.

Fa-Hien (c.337-c.422) was the first of the three notable Buddhist pilgrims from China who visited India from the fifth to the seventh centuries CE in search of knowledge, manuscripts, and relics. Fa-Hien arrived during the reign of Chandragupta II. While he did not mention Chandragupta Vikramaditya by name in his travelogue, he provided a general description of North India at that time. Among other things, he reported about the absence of capital punishment, the lack of a poll-tax and land tax. Most citizens did not consume onions, garlic, meat, and wine.

Faxian wrote, "The people were rich and prosperous and seemed to emulate each other in the practice of virtue. Charitable institutions were numerous and rest houses for travelers were provided on the highway. The capital possessed an excellent hospital."

Kumaragupta I, also known as Shakraditya and Mahendraditya, was an emperor of the Gupta Empire in 415-455 CE. He was the son of his predecessor, Chandragupta II, and Dhruvadevi (also known as Dhruvasvamini). He was an able ruler and retained, intact, the vast empire, which extended from Bengal to Kathiawar and from the Himalayas to the Narmada. He ruled efficiently for nearly forty years. However, the last days of his reign were not good. The Gupta Empire was threatened by the rebellion of Pushyamitras of central India and invasion of the White Huns (probably the Kidarites). But, Kumaragupta was successful in defeating both threats and performed the Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) to celebrate his victory. He issued new coins with images of his namesake, Lord Kumara.

Nalanda's datable history begins under the Gupta Empire and a seal identifies a monarch named Shakraditya as its founder. Both Xuanzang and a Korean pilgrim named Prajnyavarman attribute the foundation of a sangharama (monastery) at the site to him. Shakraditya is identified with the 5th-century CE Gupta emperor, Kumaragupta I (r.c. 415 - c. 455 CE), whose coin has been discovered at Nalanda. His successors, Buddhagupta, Tathagatagupta, Baladitya, and Vajra, later extended and expanded the institution by building additional monasteries and temples.

The Guptas were traditionally a Brahmanical dynasty. Narasimhagupta (Baladitya) however, was brought up under the influence of the Mahayanist philosopher, Vasubandhu. He built a sangharama at Nalanda and also a 300 ft (91 m) high vihara with a Buddha statue within which, according to Xuanzang, resembled the "great Vihara built under the Bodhi tree". The Chinese monk also noted that Baladitya's son, Vajra, who commissioned a sangharama as well, "possessed a heart firm in faith".

Vishnugupta Candraditya was one of the lesser known kings of the Gupta Dynasty. He is generally considered to be the last recognized king of the Gupta Empire. His reign lasted 10 years, from 540 to 550 CE. From the fragment of his clay sealing discovered at Nalanda during the excavations of 1927-28, it is revealed that he was the son of Kumaragupta III and the grandson of Narasimhagupta.

According to the information given, the Gupta military had five arms which included infantry, cavalry, chariot, elephants and ships.

The Gupta dynasty, which ruled over much of northern India from the 4th to the 6th centuries CE, was named after its founder, Sri Gupta. However, little is known about Sri Gupta's reign, and much of what is known about the early Gupta dynasty comes from his grandson, Chandragupta I.

Samudragupta, the fourth ruler of the Gupta Empire, is known as "the Napoleon of India" due to his military conquests and expansion of the empire.

Chandragupta II, also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was the ruler of the Gupta Empire during its golden age. He is known for his military conquests and patronage of the arts and literature.

Ujjain was the capital city of the Gupta Empire, which was located in central India.

The Gupta period produced scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, and Vatsyayana who made great advancements in many academic fields.

The 5th-century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits the Guptas with having conquered about twenty-one kingdoms.

Hinduism was followed by the rulers of the Gupta Empire.

The Gupta Empire was invaded by the Huna peoples (Kidarites and Alchon Huns) from Central Asia.

The empire eventually died out because of factors such as loss of territory and imperial authority caused by their own erstwhile feudatories

The Gupta Empire existed from the early 4th century CE to late 6th century CE.

The ruling dynasty of the Gupta Empire was founded by the king Sri Gupta.

The 5th-century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits the Guptas with having conquered about twenty-one kingdoms, both in and outside India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, the Hunas, the Kambojas, tribes located in the west and east Oxus valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others.

The period of the Gupta Empire is considered as the Golden Age of India by historians.

Panini was an ancient Sanskrit grammarian who lived in the 4th century BCE, several centuries before the Gupta period. He is known for his influential work on Sanskrit grammar, which is still studied today

The Puranas are a collection of ancient Hindu texts that contain a wide range of stories and teachings, including myths, legends, histories, and genealogies. They were likely composed between the 3rd and 10th centuries CE, and are considered to be one of the primary sources of Hindu mythology and culture.

The Gupta Empire began to decline in the 5th century CE due to various factors, including the loss of territory and imperial authority caused by their own erstwhile feudatories, as well as the invasion by the Huna peoples (Kidarites and Alchon Huns) from Central Asia.

According to one theory, the Guptas originated in the present-day lower-Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, where most of the inscriptions and coin hoards of the early Gupta kings have been discovered. This theory is also supported by the Puranas, which mention the territory of the early Gupta kings as Prayaga, Saketa, and Magadha areas in the Ganges basin.

Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya, ruled during the 4th century CE and was known for his military campaigns, patronage of the arts, and diplomatic relations with foreign powers. He is considered to be the greatest of the Gupta emperors and is credited with expanding the empire's territory and fostering a period of great cultural development.

The 5th-century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits the Guptas with having conquered about twenty-one kingdoms, both in and outside India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, the Hunas, the Kambojas, tribes located in the west and east Oxus valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others.

Both Mahabharata and Ramayana were canonized during the Gupta period, which is considered a golden age of Indian culture and literature.

The Yijing account provides evidence of a temple built by the Guptas for Chinese pilgrims and suggests that the Guptas may have originated in the present-day Bengal region in the Ganges basin.

Economic collapse due to over taxation is not a factor that contributed to the decline of the Gupta Empire, although oppressive taxation may have played a role in the rise of the Gupta dynasty.

Aryabhata is credited with making great advancements in astronomy during the Gupta period, including the concept of a heliocentric solar system.

The Abhira dynasty is linked to the Gupta dynasty by the presence of the Gupta suffix in their names, according to Nepali scholar D.R. Regmi.

Philosophy is not listed as a field in which the Guptas made great advancements, although Hinduism was followed by the rulers and the Brahmins flourished in the Gupta empire.

The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that rulers of several frontier kingdoms and tribal oligarchies paid Samudragupta tributes, obeyed his orders, and performed obeisance before him. The frontier kingdoms included Samatata, Davaka, Kamarupa, Nepala, and Karttripura

Samudragupta appears to have been Vaishnavite, as attested by his Eran inscription.

The Allahabad Pillar inscription presents Samudragupta as a wise king and strict administrator, who was also compassionate enough to help the poor and the helpless. It also alludes to the king's talents as a musician and a poet, and calls him the "king of poets". Such claims are corroborated by Samudragupta's gold coins, which depict him playing a veena. The Gupta records credit him with making generous donations of cows and gold. He performed the Ashvamedha ritual (horse sacrifice), which was used by the ancient Indian kings to prove their imperial sovereignty, and issued gold coins to mark this performance.

Samudragupta performed the Ashvamedha ritual (horse sacrifice), which was used by the ancient Indian kings to prove their imperial sovereignty, and issued gold coins to mark this performance.

The tribal oligarchies included Malavas, Arjunayanas, Yaudheyas, Madrakas, and Abhiras, among others.

The inscription mentions that several foreign kings tried to please Samudragupta by personal attendance; offered him their daughters in marriage (or according to another interpretation, gifted him maidens and sought the use of the Garuda-depicting Gupta seal for administering their own territories. This is an exaggeration: for example, the inscription lists the king of Simhala among these kings

According to the Eran inscription, Samudragupta appears to have been a Vaishnavite, which is a sect within Hinduism that worships the god Vishnu as the supreme deity.

Samudragupta performed the Ashvamedha ritual, which was used by ancient Indian kings to prove their imperial sovereignty. The ceremony involved the sacrifice of a horse, and it symbolized the king's control over a large territory.

According to the Allahabad Pillar inscription, several foreign kings offered Samudragupta their daughters in marriage as a gesture of diplomacy. This was a common practice in ancient India, as it helped to cement alliances between different kingdoms

The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that several tribal oligarchies paid tribute to Samudragupta, including the Malavas. The Malavas were a group of people who lived in the northwestern part of present-day India.

The Allahabad Pillar inscription lists the king of Simhala among the foreign kings who tried to please Samudragupta by attending to him personally. However, it is known from Chinese sources that the Simhala king Meghavarna sent rich presents to Samudragupta instead of attending to him personally.

According to the Allahabad Pillar inscription, several foreign kings sought the use of the Garuda-depicting Gupta seal for administering their own territories. This suggests that the seal was seen as a symbol of authority, and foreign kings hoped to legitimize their rule by using it.

According to the Allahabad Pillar inscription, several foreign kings sought the use of the Garuda-depicting Gupta seal for administering their own territories. This suggests that the seal was seen as a symbol of authority, and foreign kings hoped to legitimize their rule by using it.

The given information states that the coinage of Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I, and Prakasaditya depicts the emperors as horse-archers.

According to the given information, the Sanskrit mahakavya Raghuvaṃśa provides the best extant information about the Gupta military tactics.

According to the given information, the Guptas introduced several military innovations to Indian warfare, including the use of siege engines, heavy cavalry archers, and heavy sword cavalry.

As per the given information, heavy cavalry formed the core of the Gupta army.

As per the given information, the protagonist of the Raghuvaṃśa is Raghu, the legendary ancestor of Rama, and his campaigns are believed to reflect those of Chandragupta II.

The given information mentions that the king's forces clashed against the powerful, cavalry-centric forces of the Persians and later the Yavanas (probably Huns) in the North-West.

According to the information provided, Kumaragupta I is said to have founded Nalanda.

As per the given information, many modern scholars believe that Kalidasa lived during the reign of Chandragupta II to the reign of Skandagupta and that the campaigns of Raghu in the Raghuvaṃśa reflect those of Chandragupta II.

According to the given information, modern genetic studies indicate that it was during the Gupta period that Indian caste groups ceased to intermarry and started practicing/enforcing endogamy.

The use of horse archers by the Guptas is evidenced by the depictions of emperors as horse archers on Gupta coinage. The coinage of Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I, and Prakash Aditya all show the emperors as horse archers. While there is a paucity of contemporary sources detailing the tactical operations of the Gupta army, the use of horse archers is also mentioned in the Sanskrit epic poem Raghuvaṃśa by Kalidasa.