IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D - Post-Gupts Kingdom in North India

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D

Post-Gupts Kingdom in North India

Structure

34.0 Objectives
34.1 Introduction
34.2 The Regional Powers
34.2.1 Yasodhaman
34.2.2 The Maukhar~s
34.2.3 The Later Guptds
34.5 The Pushyabhuties of Thaneshwar and Kanauj
34.6 Harshavardhana
34.7 Political condition of North India in Post-Harsha Period
34.8 Let Us Sum Up
34.9 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

34.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this Unit you would be able to:

learn about the political changes that took place after the disintc .i.ition of the Gupta empire,
know about the emergence of various political powers which were gradually gaining importance,
discuss the origin and growth of the power of the Pushyabhutis of Thaneshwar and Kanauj,
know about some of the events during the reign of King Harsha,
learn about the administrative system of Harsha, and
know about the political condition of north India after Harsha's death.

34.1 INTRODUCTION

In the sixth century A.D. the disintegration of the Gupta empire gradually paved way for the
I' growth of many smaller kingdoms. In certain regions new kingdoms emerged and in other
areas the dynasties which had earlier accepted Gupta suzerainty now declared their
independence. For example, kings like Yasodharma and political powers like the Maukharis,
the Hunas and the later Magadhan Guptas were the new powers. Besides these the
Pushyabhutis, the Gaudas, the Varmans and the Maitrakas also grew in importance. This
Unit attempts to give a brief sketch of the political history of these kingdoms. It also takes
into account certain other aspects like the nature of the administrative system under
Harshavardhana of the Pushyabhuti family, political patronage to Buddhism, etc.

34.2 THE REGIONAL POWERS

In the absence of a strong power there emerged quite a number of regional powers in
different regions. These powers, representing different dynasties, established their kingdoms
and were often at war with each other. Here we briefly mention some of these powers:

34.2.1 Yasodharman

During the reign of Kumaragupta-I his feudatory Bandhuvarman ruled over Mandasor as it
i was a major Centre of western Malwa. He belonged to the Aulikara family which perhaps
ruled there up to the beginning of the sixth century A.D. Two stone pillar inscriptions from
I Mandasor in Madhya Pradesh, one of which is dated in 532 A.D., refer to a powerful king
Yasodharman. One of these inscriptions reports the victories of Yasodharman. The
I inscription describes him as the victor of all those lands which had not been subdued even