More about Gupta Dynasty
The Gupta empire that existed from 320 to 550 AD was known as the Golden age of India. This empire conquered almost every Indian subcontinent to expand its dynasty. Since the caste system existed in that period, the Gupta empire was of Vaish caste. Sri Gupta started this dynasty and ruled from 240 to 280 CE. The next successor of this empire was his son Ghatoksha. He ruled the dynasty from 280 to 319 CE. Chandragupta (I) was Ghatoksha’s son who ruled from 319 to 335 CE. The Emperors were summoned as Maharajas in that period. Ghatoksha and Chandragupta (I), his son, were maharajas of the golden age.
The Mahadi Raja title had a great impact on the Gupta Empire and over his ruling period. Chandragupta(i), Samudragupta, Chandragupta(II), Kumaragupta(I), Skandagupta, Purugupta, Kumaragupta(II), Budhagupta, Narasimha Gupta, Kumaragupta(III), and Vishnugupta are some Gupta dynasty’s important rulers.
Chandragupta (I)
He reigned from 320 AD and strengthened his post and power through marriage alliances. As a dowry, he got the kingdoms and security. First, he married Licchavi and then Kumaradevi, which helped to increase his prestige. His conquests were well explained in the Mehrauli inscription. Chandragupta(I) was the son of Ghatoksha. He expanded his dynasty from Magadha to Pragya and Saketa by 321 CE. Allahabad is the modern name of Pragya. Chandragupta(I) was able to provide his empire with a solid base and foundation.
Samudragupta
The successor of Chandragupta(I) was Samudragupta, who ruled from 330 to 380 AD. The most powerful and great lord of the Gupta Dynasty was him. Through the Allahabad pillar inscription, his conquest was explained. This inscription believes that he was a wise king and strict administrator who compassionately helped the poor and the helpless. Due to his military achievements, he got the name of Indian Napoleon. By defeating Achyuta, Nagasena, and capturing the upper Gangetic valley, he moved to the south and captured the territories of 12 kings.
Famous and powerful kings of the south like Swami Datta, Mahendra, Damana were defeated by Samudragupta. He left the empire to the respective kings after defeating them. In this manner, he used to express his power to other empires. Kings from the Naga empire in the North like Rudradeva, Nagadutta, Chandravarman, like nine kings were also defeated, and the Gupta empire's territory was expanded. At the end of his journey, he participated in Ashwamedha Yagya to extend his dynasty and power. He also brought the concept of silver and gold coins to show the successors.
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Chandragupta (II)
He reigned in the golden era from 380 to 415 AD and was called Vikramaditya. His war against the Saka satraps of western India was one of his greatest achievements. A crucial place in the Deccan was occupied by Vakatakas. When Chandragupta overtook the empire of Sakas, this marriage gave useful alliances.
He occupied all areas of Malwa and the Kathiawar Peninsula after defeating the last empire of Sakas. The name of his horse is named Sakari, after the king of Sakas. After this victory, Chandragupta (II) got his name Vikramaditya. Kumargupta was the son of Chandragupta(II), who was the founder of Nalanda University. The reign is remembered for its very influential style of Hindu art, literature, culture and science, especially during the reign of Chandragupta(II), despite the creation of the empire through war. The fact that it was graced by the Navaratna, the court of Chandragupta was made even more illustrious.
The Gupta empire was attacked by the Huns at the time of Skandagupta. He was a successor of Kumaragupta and the last hope of the Gupta Empire but was defeated. Other Gupta dynasty important rulers like Purugupta (467-473 AD), Kumaragupta (II) (473-479 AD), Budhagupta (476-495 AD), Narasimha Gupta, Kumar Gupta (III), and Vishnugupta (540-550 AD) were unable to save the empire from Huns attack. With the Huns' attack, the empire slowly disintegrated.
The Gifts from Gupta Empire
The great cultural developments that took place during the reigns of Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, and Kumaragupta(I) are the high points of this period. Mahabharata and Ramayana were written in that age and were crucial literary sources. Many scholars like Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, and Vatsyayana, who made big achievements in academics, were born during this period. New advancements arrived in the fields of science and politics.
The culture of India, and outside its border was portrayed through architecture, sculpture, and paintings. It became the centre of crucial culture, and it became the base region that influenced nearby kingdoms and regions from South Asia and Southeast Asia. Texts around this period were thoughts from Puranas. Puranas were long poems on a variety of subjects written in the golden age. Rulers used to follow Hinduism and the Gupta dynasty flourished with brahmins. Although the majority of the population were Brahmins, it also tolerated people of other faiths. In that period, ritualistic sacrifices were reduced.
The empire deteriorated because of many reasons, like substantial loss of territory. The last empire was unable to defeat the Hunas, the people from South Asia. After the collapse of the Gupta Empire, India was ruled by many other kingdoms in the 6th century.
Did you Know?
Some fun facts and crucial unknown facts are written below about the Gupta Empire.
Maharaja Gupta started the empire, but he was unaware that it would continue as an era. He was unaware of the fact that this era will be named the Golden age. This age provided us with advanced scholars, science, facts, inventions, and cultural scripts.
The Gupta Dynasty was so big that its territory was surrounded by 21 kingdoms, both outside and inside the Indian subcontinent.
Some crucial and prominent scholars from that era are Vatsyayana, Vishnu Sharma, Varahamihira, Kalidasa, and Aryabhata.
Aryabhatta became immortal by contributing zero in the mathematical world of numbers. Although the symbol for zero was not used, his place value system considered zero implicitly. He developed the place value system, a counting system that would have been impossible without zero in the calculation. He used the place value system and Zero to calculate square roots and cubic problems.
Ajanta paintings are also one of the finest creations of the Gupta Empire.
FAQs on Gupta Dynasty
1. How did the Gupta Dynasty fall?
The Gupta Dynasty was thriving under the rule of Chandragupta II, but it started to fall under the rule of his son and grandson, Kumaragupta and Skandagupta. The reason behind the fall of the Gupta Dynasty is both internal and external problems. Their successors were weak. Hence the emperors lost control, and the regional heads and ministers overtook and increased self-government.
Many regional leaders revolted and refused to pay taxes to the Gupta Empire. In 500 BC, the Huns under the leadership of Toramana destroyed the Gupta defence and overran some parts of the Gupta Empire, especially the northwest part, and it diminished the power of the Gupta Dynasty. It resulted in the fall of the Gupta Dynasty, and the local rulers rose to power. Though the Huns were defeated by the Gupta Dynasty, they severely damaged their power to rule, trade, and commerce that ended a great Classical era of the Gupta Dynasty.
2. What is the Gupta Dynasty famous for?
The Gupta Period is also known as the Golden Age of India. The Gupta Dynasty is famous for its science, technology, mathematics, art, culture, and philosophy. In this period, they were the creation of iconic stone deities like Buddha figures and two sculptures of the Gupta Dynasty, Gandhara and Mathura. The Gupta Dynasty was also famous for paintings, which can be found in Ajanta and Ellora caves. Chandragupta II used to have in his court the Navaratna meaning the nine jewels, which was actually a group of nine scholars who innovated and got achievements in science and in different academic lines.
One of the scholars was Aryabhatta, who first gave the concept of zero. Trade and commerce were very famous in the Gupta Period. Gold and silver coins of different designs were issued, and trading was done both within and outside the country. The Gupta Dynasty used to trade silk, cotton, precious stones and metals, medicines etc.
3. Who are the important rulers of the Gupta Dynasty?
Chandragupta (I) was the first known ruler of the Gupta Dynasty who ruled in the mid-third century. He was also known as ‘ Maharajadhiraja’, which means king of great kings and extended his empire to Allahabad. He married Kumaradevi, the princess of Lichchhavi and their son Samudragupta was the next successor of the Gupta Dynasty. Samudragupta ruled over the Gupta empire after Chandragupta I. He recorded all his great conquests and personalities on the Ashoka Pillar at Allahabad, composed by his courtier, Harishena.
The inscription tells us about his war intelligence and wins over eight kings in the northern regions. Then Samudragupta was succeeded by his son Ramagupta who faced a very difficult situation and had to surrender his wife, Dhruvadevi, to the Saka king, for which his reputation suffered heavily. Later, Chandragupta II killed Ramagupta and married Dhruvadevi. Chandragupta II was known as Vikramaditya of Ujjayini.
