Updated December 20, 2022
The Gupta Empire began to disparted during the end of 5th Century A.D. Imperial Guptas, Magadha and its capital Patliputra also lost their importance, along with this breakdown. Therefore, Post Gupta Period was considered to be very turbulent in nature. After the fall of the Guptas five major powers immersed in north India. These powers were as follows: The Maukharis, The Hunas, The Maitrakas, The Pushyabhutis and The Gaudas. This not such a small topic, there is a lot to know about Post-Gupta period (550 AD- 647 AD). So, do follow the below article to know more about Post-Gupta period and keep visiting the site Career101.in to get such more interesting topics.
The Maukharis: The Maukharis held the region of Western Uttar Pradesh around Kanauj and also conquered some part of Magadha. Successively, they overthrew the later Guptas and made them move to Malwa.
The Hunas: The Hunas were a rare race of Central Asia who came to India. They were a tribe close to the Himalayas that, because of limited interaction with Indian kingdoms, were mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. They belonged to the Xinjiang province of China, east of Jammu-Kashmir. However, they were nomadic people who changed their settlements from time to time. During the reign of Kumargupta, Hunas invaded India for the first time. They could not succeed in India under the dynasty of Kumargupta and Skandagupta, though they could penetrate into India. Huns occupied India for a very short period of thirty years. Hunas’ supremacy was established in North India. Toramana was their best ruler and Mihirakula the most powerful and cultured one.
The Maitrakas: Most probably the Maitrakas were Iranian in origin and ruled in Saurashtra region of Gujarat with Valabhi as capital. Valabhi became centre of learning, culture and trade and commerce under the guidance of Bhatarka. It survived the longest Arab attacks.
The Gaudas: They were quite lesser-known of the four kingdoms who ruled over a territory in Bengal. The most powerful and ambitious ruler of Gudas was Sasanka. He invaded Makhauris, killed Grahavarman and detained Rajyasri.
The Pushyabhutis: Thaneswar (north of Delhi) was the capital of Pushyabhutis. The most important ruler of Pushyabhutis dynasty was Pushyabhutis who assumed the title of Parambhattaraka Maharajadhiraja. They had a marriage alliance with the Maukharis. The marriage alliance between these dynasties strengthened the two empires. Harshavardhana belonged to this clan.
Important facts and information about Post-Gupta Period (550 AD- 647 AD). Facts which can be proved Marks Scoring in Competitive Exams
1. The Pushyabhuti or Vardhana dynasty was founded at thanesvar (Karnal district, Haryana) by Pushyabhuti probably towards the beginning of the 6th century. Pushyabhuti were the feudatories of the Guptas, but has assumed independence after the hun invasions.
2. The first important ruler of the dynasty was Prabhakaravardhana (580-605 AD).
3. Prabhakaravardhana was succeded by his eldest son Rajyavardhana (605-606 AD).
4. Rajyavardhana had to face problems from the day of his succession to the throne. Grahavarman, the Maukhari ruler of Kannauj and husband of Rajyashri (sister of Rajyavardhana) was murdered by Deva Gupta (the ruler of malwa) who in alliance with Shashanka (ruler of Gaud or North-western Bengal) now occupied Kannauj and imprisoned Rajyashri.
Harshaavardhana (606-647 AD)
5. After the killing of Rajavardhana, his younger brother, Harshavaradhana also known as Siladitya, ascended the Pushyabhuti throne in 606 AD and from this year started the Harsha Era.
6. After ascending to the throne Harsha first rescued his widowed sister Rajyashri, from the Vindhyan forest, where she was going to throw herself into the fire.
7. Harsha drove out Shashanka from Kannauj who had occupied it after killing of Rayavardhana. He not only unified kannnauj with Thaneswar but also made it his new capital, which made him most powerful king of North India.
8. Harsha their after, proceeded toward the east against Shashanka with a view to average to death of his brother, Rajyavardhana and brother-in-law, Grahavarman. Harsha was not successful in his of his reign, after the death of Shashanka (died in 637 AD), his conquered Magadha and Shashanka empire.
9. Harshavardhana defeated Dhruvasena II, the ruler of Vallabhi. Dhruvasena II accepted the position of a feudatory vassal. Harsha married his daughter to him. It was an important diplomatic achievement of Harsha.
10. Harsha maintained diplomatic relation with China. In 641 A.D. he sent an envoy to Tai-Tsung, the Tang emperor of China. Three Chinese missions subsequently visited his court. Hiuen- Tsang, the celerated Chinese pilgrim, visited india during Harsha’s reign. He spent about 8 years (635-643 AD) in the dominions of Harsha.
11. Harshavardhana was a Shaiva by faith, but he shows equal respect to other sects. Hiuen-Tsang portrays him as a liberal buddhist (Mahayana) who also honoured gods of others sects.