Maukhari dynasty

The Maukhari dynasty was a post-Gupta royal Indian dynasty that controlled vast areas of Northern India for over six generations. They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas and later by Harsha's Vardhan dynasty. The Maukharis established their independence at Kannauj, during the 6th century. The dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. Around 606 CE, a large area of their empire was reconquered by the Later Guptas.[2] According to Huien Tssng, the territory may have been lost to King Shashanka of Gauda, who declared independence circa 600 AD.[3][4]

Maukhari Empire

c.550 CEc.606 CE
Maukharis and their contemporaries in India
CapitalKannauj
Common languagesSanskrit
Religion
Hinduism
Buddhism
GovernmentMonarchy
Maharajadhirajas 
Historical eraClassical India
 Established
c.550 CE
 Disestablished
c.606 CE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Gupta Empire
Later Guptas
Vardhana dynasty
The Maukharis at their height along with their contemporaries in ancient India
Coin of King Iśanavarman of the Maukhari of Kannauj, successors of the Guptas in the Gangetic region. Circa 535-553 CE. The ruler faces to the left, whereas in Gupta coinage the ruler faces to the right. This is possibly a symbol of antagonism and rivalry, as also seen on some similar coins of Toramana.[1]

Rulers

The known Maukhari rulers of madhya-desha include:[5]

  • Hari-varman[6]
  • Aditya-varman
  • Ishvara-varman (Iśvaravarman)
  • Ishana-varman (Iśanavarman), r. c. 550-560 CE
  • Sharva-varman (Śarvavarman), r. c. 560-575 CE
  • Avanti-varman, r. c. 575-600 CE
  • Graha-varman, r. c. 600-605 CE

The Barabar Caves inscriptions attest the existence of another Maukhari branch. This branch ruled as feudatories, probably that of the Later Guptas. The known rulers of this branch include:[7]

  • Nrpa Shri Yajna-varman
  • Nrpa Samantachudamani Shri Shardula-varman
  • Ananta-varman

Inscriptions

See also

References

  1. Tripathi, Rama S. (1989). History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 45 Note 1. ISBN 9788120804043.
  2. "Maukhari dynasty (Indian dynasty) - Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  3. Reza, Mohammad Habib; Bandyopadhyay, S.; Mowla, Azizul. "Traces of Buddhist architecture in Gupta and post-Gupta Bengal: evidence from inscriptions and literature". Journal of Eurasian Studies. S2CID 163998400. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Dasgupta, Biplab (2005). European Trade and Colonial Conquest, Volume 1. ISBN 9781843310280. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  5. Ronald M. Davidson 2012, p. 34-35.
  6. Documented by the Shankarpur copper-plate inscription: see SIDDHAM: the asia inscriptions database: https://siddham.network/inscription/in00067/
  7. Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha, Cir. 450-1200 A.D. Abhinav. pp. 109–110. OCLC 464639312.

Bibliography

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