CHANDRAGUPTA I :
Early in the 4th century Lichchhavi princes was married to the ruler in
Magadha, who bore the historic name of Chandragupta. This alliance
enhanced his power. Soon he was able tod extend dominion over Oudh as
well as Magadha and along the Ganges as far as Prayag or Allahabad.
Chandragupta I assumed the high-sounding title of Maharajadhiraja (Great
king of Kings.)
Conceding the importance of his wife, Chandragupta issued gold coins in
the joint names of himself, his queent Kumaradevi and the Lichchhavi
nation. Emboldened by his success he establish a new era. The Gupta
which was used in parts of India for several centuries to come.
In all likelihood, the region of Chandragupta I ended about 335 A.D.
Even his son was careful to describe himself as the son of the daughter
of Lichchhavi. There is some dispute regarding his succession since a
few gold coins have been found in the name of Kacha. It is generally
held that his name is Samudragupta.
SAMUDRAGUPTA :
Samudragupta had a long reign of 40 or 45 years. He succeeded in making
himself the paramount ruler of northern India. To begin with, he subdued
the princes of the Gangetic plain who failed to acknowledge his
authority. The Allahabad inscription, composed by the court poet
Harisena in praise of Samundragupta's spectacular victories, lists the
names of kings and countries defeated by the Gupta ruler. Samudragupta
succeeded in conquering nine kings of Aryavarta (in the Ganges Valley)
and twelve kings from Dakshinapatha, that is a reigon of southern India.
In the inscription is also made of two kings of the Nava dynasty,
rulers of Ahichhtra. In the next stage he brought the wild forest tribes
under his control. Finally, he carried a brilliant expedition into
south reaching as far as the Pallava Kingdom. Samudragupta's southern
campaign was successful to began with defeated the king of southern
Koshala, Mahendra and then the rulers of the region now known or Orissa,
in the civinity of the river Godavari, and the Pallava King,
Vishnugopa, whose seat of power was Kanchi. The other areas mentioned in
the inscription have not yet been identified. He did not annex the
territories in the Deccan and South, but he performed An Asvameda
sacrifice which had been long in abeyance in order to claim imperial
rank. Interestingly, gold medals were struck in commoration of his
Vedicsacrifices.
During Samudragupta's reign the Gupta empire became one of the largest
in the East. Its fluence spread and close ties were established with
many other stages. Not without reason did the court poet Harisena writes
his eulogyof the valour and might of his king, who, in the words of the
inscrption, subdued the world. This assessment made by the court poet
of old has considerable influence on many modern scholars whotend to
idealise Samudragupta and described him as did Vincent A. Smith as the
(as the Indian Nepolian) an outstanding individual possessed of
remarkable qualities.
By the close of Samudragupta careers his empire extended in the north to
the base of them mountains. Excluding Kashmir, probably the eastern
limit was the Brahamaputra which the Narmada may be regarded as the
frontior in the south. And in the west, the Jamuna and Chambal rivers
marked the limits of his empire, Nevertheless, various tribal states in
the Punjab and Malwa powers Tributes and homage were paid by the rulers
of five frontier kingdoms - Samatata (delta of the Brahamaputra), Davaka
(Possibly eastern Bengal), Kamarupa (equivalent to Assam), Kartripura
(probably Kumaon and Gharwal) and Nepal.
Apart from the vastness of his kingdom, Samudragupta received homage
from a handful of foreign kings. The Kushans princes of the North-West
ruled in peach beyond. The Indus basin also, friendly relations were
maintained with the King Mahendra of Ceylon who had built a splendid
monestary at Bodh Gaya after obtaining the permission of Samudragupta.
Samudragupta was a man of exceptional abilities and unusual varied
gifts - warrior, statesman, general, poet and
musician, philanthropist, he was all in one. As a patron of arts and
letters, he epitomized the spirit of his age. Coins and inscription of
Gupta period bear testimony to his "versatile talents and '
Indefatigable energy".
