The designation later Guptas is a peculiar one as there is no evidence
to show that this family was in any way connected by blood with the
imperial Guptas. It is also interesting to know that the family never
called it self by the name Gupta and one name of its ruler is
Aditya-Sena and not Gupta.
In all probability, just as the Maukharis, they too were feudatories of
the imperial Guptas. To begin with, and later established an idependent
kingdom which lasted till about the middle of 8th century A.D. the
founder of this dynasty was Krishna-Gupta. He and his two successors,
Harsha-Gupta and Jivita-Gupta I must have ruled Magadha around 550 A.D.
Most of the evidence relating to this dynastry if from a single
inscription issued by the 8th king, Aditya-Sena who ruled in the second
half of the 7th century. It is clearly suggested that no one assumed a
royal title and each of them was simply called Sri. It was Aditya-sena
who assumed fullimperial title.
From the limited evidence that is available is is held that Kumara-Gupta
the 4th of this dynasty is said to have defeated Isana-varman of the
Maukharis. In all probablty the two families were feidndly to begin with
but later because of military ambitions they fought with each other.
More details are known about the 4th King, Kumarda-Gupta. He defeated
the Maukhari king Isana-varman. This great victory over the Maukhari
chief made him to be ranked virtually an independent chief. Thus, we can
say that he was Kurara-Gupta who had laid the foundation of the
greatness of the family some where about 550 A.D.
Gradually, the later Guptas came to possess Malwa, Magadha and north
Bengal. It is presumed that Kumara-Gupta advanced as far as Allahabad.
This struggle was continued in the reign of Damodar-Gupta, son of Kumara-Gupta.
Damodar-Gupta was succeeded by his son, Mahasena-Gupta probably in the
last quarter of the 6th century. In all probability he defeated
Susthita-varman, the father of king Bhaskara-varman of Kamrupa. He
probably advanced as faras Brahmaputra river.
However, Mahasena-Gupta met with misfortune in the later part of his
reign. Both Bhaskara-Varman and the Maukharis attacked Mahasena-Gupta.
The situation was made critical by internal discord. Sasanka the Gauda
ruler, not only founded an independent kindom, but also ruled over
Magadha, the eastern territories of Mahasena-Gupta. Furthermore, in
allikelihood Mahasena-Gupta was defeated by the Tibetan king enabling
Maukhari Avanti-varman to occupy some territories of Mahasena-Gupta.
After Mahasena-Gupta, the power of later Guptas shifted to Malwa.
Kumara-Gupta and his brother are described as the sons of the king of
Malwa. It is also assumed by historians that it was prabhakaravardhana
of Kanauj that stood by the side of the young princes of Malwa. It looks
that Mahasena-Gupta appealed for help to Prabhakaravardhana. Although
he could not save Malwa, he rescured both the sons of Mahasena-Gupta and
made them stay with him. Probably both of them remained as attendants
of rajyavardhana and Harshavardhan till the kingdoms of Magadha and
Malwa were restored to them.