What was tripartite struggle?

Question

Answer

The Tripartite Struggle for control of northern India took place in the ninth century. The struggle was between the Pratihara Empire, the Pala Empire and the Rashtrakuta Empire. Epigraphist Dineschandra Sircar, however, added a different perspective to this struggle.

Answer

After the death of Harshvardhan in 648 CE,his capital, the city of Kannauj, remained the symbol of imperial power and was coveted by three powerful dynasties- the gurjara Pratiharas of Western India, The Rashtrakutas of Deccan, and the Palas of Bengal. Kannauj was of great strategic importance, as whoever controlled it also controlled the rich and fertile Ganga plains.The city was so battered by two centuries of conflict that it never rose again and this state of constant warfare also weakened the three dynasties.
Later,, the historians, called this as tripartite struggle.

Answer

The Tripartite Struggle:

The Tripartite Struggle, also known as the Tripartite War, was a series of conflicts that took place in medieval India between the 8th and 10th centuries. It involved three major powers of that time, namely the Pratihara Empire, the Rashtrakuta Empire, and the Pala Empire. This struggle was primarily a struggle for dominance and control over the northern and central regions of India.

Background:

During this period, the Indian subcontinent was divided into several regional powers, and the three major powers mentioned above emerged as the strongest contenders for supremacy. The Pratiharas were based in present-day Rajasthan, the Rashtrakutas ruled over parts of present-day Maharashtra and Karnataka, and the Palas were centered in present-day Bengal and Bihar.

The Struggle Begins:

The Tripartite Struggle began in the 8th century when the Pratiharas, led by Nagabhata I, challenged the Rashtrakutas' control over northern India. Nagabhata I successfully defeated the Rashtrakutas and established the Pratihara Empire as a significant power in the region.

Rashtrakutas Strike Back:

However, the Rashtrakutas were not willing to accept defeat. Under their new ruler, Dhruva, they launched a counter-attack against the Pratiharas. Dhruva's military campaigns were highly successful, and the Rashtrakutas managed to regain their lost territories. They expanded their empire beyond the Deccan region and posed a significant threat to the Pratiharas.

The Rise of the Palas:

In the meantime, the Palas, who were initially a minor power, gradually grew in strength under the leadership of Dharmapala. They extended their influence over the eastern parts of India and challenged both the Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas.

The Final Phase:

The Tripartite Struggle entered its final phase in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Pratiharas, under their ruler Mihira Bhoja, managed to regain their strength and launched a series of successful campaigns against the Rashtrakutas. They pushed them back to the Deccan region and reestablished their control over northern and central India.

Conclusion:

The Tripartite Struggle ended with the decline of the Rashtrakuta Empire and the rise of the Pratihara Empire as the dominant power in northern India. Although the Palas also played a significant role during this period, their influence gradually declined. This struggle had a profound impact on the political landscape of medieval India and contributed to the fragmentation and reorganization of regional powers.

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