The Guptas | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

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The Guptas
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The Guptas
The Story Continues
End of Kushanas ? Rise of the Gupta Empire (mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE)
It was at its zenith from approximately 319 to 543 CE.
Page 3


The Guptas
The Story Continues
End of Kushanas ? Rise of the Gupta Empire (mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE)
It was at its zenith from approximately 319 to 543 CE.
The Guptas
The founder of the Gupta dynasty was Shri Gupta. He was succeeded by Ghatotkacha.
These two were called Maharajas. 
Chandragupta I (319 CE – 334 CE): He was the real founder of the Gupta empire. The year of his 
accession in C.E. 319 marks the beginning of the Gupta era. He was the first who took the title of 
Maharajadhiraja (king of kings). 
? This title indicates his extensive conquests. He strengthened his position by a matrimonial alliance with 
the Licchavis.
? This event is recorded in a series of gold coins issued by Chandragupta. 
? This matrimonial alliance gave legitimacy, prestige and strength to the Gupta king
Chandragupta I ruled over Magadha (Bihar), Saket (modern Ayodhya) and Prayaga (modern 
Allahabad) with his capital at Pataliputra (Modern Patna)
Page 4


The Guptas
The Story Continues
End of Kushanas ? Rise of the Gupta Empire (mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE)
It was at its zenith from approximately 319 to 543 CE.
The Guptas
The founder of the Gupta dynasty was Shri Gupta. He was succeeded by Ghatotkacha.
These two were called Maharajas. 
Chandragupta I (319 CE – 334 CE): He was the real founder of the Gupta empire. The year of his 
accession in C.E. 319 marks the beginning of the Gupta era. He was the first who took the title of 
Maharajadhiraja (king of kings). 
? This title indicates his extensive conquests. He strengthened his position by a matrimonial alliance with 
the Licchavis.
? This event is recorded in a series of gold coins issued by Chandragupta. 
? This matrimonial alliance gave legitimacy, prestige and strength to the Gupta king
Chandragupta I ruled over Magadha (Bihar), Saket (modern Ayodhya) and Prayaga (modern 
Allahabad) with his capital at Pataliputra (Modern Patna)
The Guptas
Samudragupta (C.E. 335–375): He succeeded his father Chandragupta I. Samudragupta followed a policy of conquest and 
enormously enlarged his kingdom. 
His achievements are recorded in a long inscription (prashasti), written in pure Sanskrit by his court poet Harisena. 
? The inscription is engraved on a Pillar at Allahabad (Allahabad Pillar Inscription) 
? It enumerates the people and the regions conquered by Samudragupta. 
He celebrated his conquests by performing a horse sacrifice (ashvamedha) and by issuing ashvamedha type of coins (the 
coins portraying the scene of sacrifice) on the occasion. 
The Allahabad Pillar inscription speaks of his magnanimity to his foes, his polished intellect, his poetic skill and his 
proficiency in music. 
It calls him Kaviraja because of his ability in composing verses. 
His image depicting him with Veena is found in the coins issued by him. It is the proof of his proficiency and interest in 
music. 
He was also a patron of many poets and scholars, one of whom was Harisena. He must be credited with a share in the 
promotion of Sanskrit literature and learning, characteristic of his dynasty. 
He was an ardent follower of Vaishnavism but was tolerant of other creeds. 
He evinced keen interest in Buddhism and was the patron of the great Buddhist scholar Vasubandu.
Page 5


The Guptas
The Story Continues
End of Kushanas ? Rise of the Gupta Empire (mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE)
It was at its zenith from approximately 319 to 543 CE.
The Guptas
The founder of the Gupta dynasty was Shri Gupta. He was succeeded by Ghatotkacha.
These two were called Maharajas. 
Chandragupta I (319 CE – 334 CE): He was the real founder of the Gupta empire. The year of his 
accession in C.E. 319 marks the beginning of the Gupta era. He was the first who took the title of 
Maharajadhiraja (king of kings). 
? This title indicates his extensive conquests. He strengthened his position by a matrimonial alliance with 
the Licchavis.
? This event is recorded in a series of gold coins issued by Chandragupta. 
? This matrimonial alliance gave legitimacy, prestige and strength to the Gupta king
Chandragupta I ruled over Magadha (Bihar), Saket (modern Ayodhya) and Prayaga (modern 
Allahabad) with his capital at Pataliputra (Modern Patna)
The Guptas
Samudragupta (C.E. 335–375): He succeeded his father Chandragupta I. Samudragupta followed a policy of conquest and 
enormously enlarged his kingdom. 
His achievements are recorded in a long inscription (prashasti), written in pure Sanskrit by his court poet Harisena. 
? The inscription is engraved on a Pillar at Allahabad (Allahabad Pillar Inscription) 
? It enumerates the people and the regions conquered by Samudragupta. 
He celebrated his conquests by performing a horse sacrifice (ashvamedha) and by issuing ashvamedha type of coins (the 
coins portraying the scene of sacrifice) on the occasion. 
The Allahabad Pillar inscription speaks of his magnanimity to his foes, his polished intellect, his poetic skill and his 
proficiency in music. 
It calls him Kaviraja because of his ability in composing verses. 
His image depicting him with Veena is found in the coins issued by him. It is the proof of his proficiency and interest in 
music. 
He was also a patron of many poets and scholars, one of whom was Harisena. He must be credited with a share in the 
promotion of Sanskrit literature and learning, characteristic of his dynasty. 
He was an ardent follower of Vaishnavism but was tolerant of other creeds. 
He evinced keen interest in Buddhism and was the patron of the great Buddhist scholar Vasubandu.
Samudragupta’s Conquests
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription refers to three stages in his military campaign:
1. Against some rulers of North India – In the Ganga-Yamuna doab, he followed a policy of annexation
? In the first campaign Samudragupta defeated Achyuta and Nagasena. 
? Achyuta was probably a Naga ruler. 
? Nagasena belonged to the Kota family which was ruling over the upper Gangetic valley. 
? They were defeated and their states were annexed
2. His famous Dakshinapatha expedition against South Indian rulers 
? He then proceeded to conquer the forest kingdoms of central India, mentioned as atavirajyas.
? The rulers of these tribal areas were defeated and forced into servitude. 
? This area had a strategic value as it contained a route to south India. 
? It enabled Samudragupta to proceed to South along the eastern coast conquering twelve kings on the way and reached as far as Kanchi near 
Chennai. 
? The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that Samudragupta defeated twelve rulers in his South Indian Expedition. They were Mahendra of 
Kosala, Vyaghraraja of Mahakanthara, Mantaraja of Kaurala, Mahendragiri of Pishtapura, Swamidatta of Kottura, Damana of Erandapalla, 
Vishnugupta of Kanchi, Nilaraja of Avamukta, Hastivarman of Vengi, Ugrasena of Palakka, Kubera of Devarashtra and Dhananjaya of 
Kushtalapura. 
? Samudragupta’s policy in South India was different. He did not destroy and annex those kingdoms. 
? Instead, he defeated the rulers but gave them back their kingdoms. He only insisted on them to acknowledge his suzerainty. 
? This policy of political conciliation for south India was adopted because he knew that it was difficult to keep them under control and 
subservience once he returned to his capital in north. 
? So it was enough for him that these states recognized his suzerainty and paid him tributes and presents.