New Empires

The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire that ruled from the early fourth to the late sixth centuries CE. It spanned most of the Indian subcontinent during its peak, from around 319 to 467 CE. Historians refer to the Gupta age as India's Golden Age. The empire's reigning dynasty was created by King Sri Gupta, and the dynasty's most prominent kings were Chandragupta(i), Samudragupta, and Chandragupta(ii) alias Vikramaditya. The fifth century (CE) was a pivotal period in the history of the world. According to Sanskrit poet Kalidasa, the Guptas conquered about twenty-one countries, both within and outside of India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, Hunas, Kambojas, tribes in the west and east Kiratas, Oxus valleys, Kinnaras, and others.

The major cultural advances that occurred largely under the reigns of Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, and Kumaragupta I are the high points of this time. During this time, many literary works were canonised, including the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, and Vatsyayana contributed greatly to numerous academic disciplines throughout the Gupta empire.

Rulers of Gupta Empire

During this time, emperors were referred to as Maharajas. Both Ghatoksha and his son Chandragupta were referred to as " Maharajas." The Mahadhiraja title reflected his influence on the Gupta Empire and his rule at the time. The Gupta dynasty included Chandragupta(i), Samudragupta, Chandragupta(ii), Kumargupta(i), Skandgupta, Purugupta, Kumargupta(ii), Budhagupta, Narshimhagupta, Kumargupta(ii), and Vishnugupta. The main heroes of the rulers of Gupta empire were Chandragupta (i), Samudragupta, Chandragupta (ii).

• Chandragupta (I)

Beginning in A.D. 320, he used marriage alliances to increase his position and authority. He had a dowry with Licchavi and later with Kumardevi, a kingdom princess, for which he received the kingdoms and protection for his empire. It had also improved his ego. His conquering of him was depicted in the Mehrauli inscription. Ghatotkhsha was his father. He extended his dynasty from Magadha through Prayaga to Saketa by 321 CE. From the Ganga River to Prayaga, he expanded his territory. Prayaga is also known as Allahabad in contemporary times. As a result, Chandragupta (1) established a strong basis for his empire.

• Samudragupta

Samudragupta (330-380 AD) was Chandragupta's successor (I). He was the Gupta dynasty's powerful and great lord. The inscription on the Allahabad pillar confirmed his victory. Because of his military prowess, Samudragupta was dubbed "Indian Napoleon." He conquered the Achyuta and Nagasena and took the upper Gangetic valley before moving to South India and capturing the domains of 12 kings, including Swamidutta, Mahendra, and Damana. He had just gained the empire and returned it to them to create an impression of his might. He extended his dynasty to other empires in north India, including Rudradeva, Nagadutta, and Chandravarman, as well as nine monarchs, the majority of them, who were from the Naga Empire. Finally, to extend his dynasty and authority, he conducted an Ashwamedha Yagya and minted silver and gold coins to demonstrate his legend.

• Chandragupta (II)

Chandragupta (II) (380-415 AD), also known as Vikramaditya, was the son of Samudragupta. Chandragupta II's greatest achievement was his battle against the Saka satraps in western India. In the Deccan, the Vakatakas had a significant position. When Chandragupta conquered the Saka realm, this marriage provided important allies.

He destroyed Rudrasimha's final Saka empire, capturing all of Malwa and the Kathalawar Peninsula. After that triumph, he was given the name Vikramaditya, and his Ashwamedha horse, Sakari, was given the name Sakari, which means "King of Sakas." Then came Kumargupta, Chandragupta's son (ii) Nalanda University, which was built entirely by him. The Huns attacked the Gupta Empire during the reign of Skandagupta, Kumargupta's successor and the empire's final notable monarch, but were vanquished. Following his death, none of his successors, Purugupta, Kumargupta(ii), Budhagupta, Narshimhagupta, Kumargupta III, and Vishnugupta, were able to preserve the Gupta Kingdom from Hun assault, and the empire gradually collapsed.

Administration and Military System of Gupta Empire

• Gupta Administration

According to the Gupta empire's epigraphical documents, there existed a system of administrative divisions from top to bottom. Rajya, Rashtra, Desha, Mandala, Prithvi, and Avani were some of the titles given to the empire. It was split into 26 provinces, known as Bhukti, Pradesha, and Bhoga respectively. Provinces were also split into Vishayas and placed under the Vishayapatis' authority. 

A Vishayapati governed the Vishaya with the aid of the Adhikarana, which consisted of four representatives: Sarthavaha, Nagarasreshesthi, Prathamakulika, and Prathama Kayastha.  Vithi was the name given to a section of the Vishaya. The Sassanid and Byzantine Empires were also commercial partners of the Guptas. During the Gupta period, the four-fold varna system was observed, although the caste structure remained flexible. Non-Brahmanical professions were also practised by Brahmins. Trade and commerce were important to the Khastriyas. The civilization mostly coexisted with itself.

• The Military System of Gupta Empire

Unlike the Mauryan Empire, the Guptas introduced numerous military improvements to Indian combat. The usage of Siege engines, heavy cavalry archers, and heavy sword cavalry was among the most important of these. The Gupta army was led by heavy cavalry and supported by elephants and light infantry, which were traditional Indian army elements. The use of horse archers during the Gupta dynasty may be seen in the coinage of Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I, and Prakasaditya (perhaps Purugupta), which depicts the emperors as horse archers. 

Unfortunately, few contemporary documents detail the Imperial Gupta Army's tactical operations. The Sanskrit mahakavya (an epic poem) Raghuvaa, composed by the Classical Sanskrit writer and playwright Kalidasa, has the most reliable information. Many modern historians believe Kalidasa lived between the reigns of Chandragupta II and Skandagupta, and that the wars of Raghu, his protagonist in the Raghuvaa, mirror those of Chandragupta II. Kalidasa describes the king's armies clashing with the strong, cavalry-centric Persians and subsequently the Yavanas (possibly Huns) in the North-West in Canto IV of the Raghuvamsa.

He specifically mentions the use of horse-archers in the king's army, as well as the reality that the horses required a lot of rest after the bloody battles. Infantry, cavalry, chariot, elephants, and ships were among the Gupta military's five weapons. Vainya Gupta's Gunaighar copper plate inscription mentions ships but not chariots. In the sixth century AD, ships had become an important element of the Indian military.

The Religion of the Gupta Empire

The Guptas were a Hindu dynasty in the past. They were devout Hindus who permitted Buddhists and Jainists to practise their faiths freely. Sanchi remains a significant Buddhist centre. Nalanda is supposed to have been established by Kumaragupta I (c. 414 – c. 455 CE). South Asian caste groupings stopped intermarrying during the Gupta period, according to modern DNA studies. Later kings, on the other hand, appear to have supported Buddhism in particular. Narasimhagupta Baladitya was nurtured under the influence of Mahayanist philosopher Vasubandhu, according to contemporary writer Paramartha. 

He erected a sangharama and a 300-foot-high vihara at Nalanda, complete with a Buddha statue that, according to Xuanzang, resembled the "huge Vihara built under the Bodhi tree”. According to the Manjushrimulakalpa (about 800 CE), Narasimhsagupta became a Buddhist monk and left the world via meditation (Dhyana). Vajra, Narasimhagupta Baladitya's son, who also commissioned a sangharama, "had a heart solid in the faith," according to Chinese monk Xuanzang.

Conclusion

Thus, in this article, we have learned basic and important information about the Gupta empire which is considered as the golden period in the ancient history of India. The Gupta Empire, which lasted from 319 until 467 CE, was an ancient Indian empire. Within and outside of India, the Guptas conquered about twenty-one nations. Many literary masterpieces, including the Mahabharata and Ramayana, were canonised during this period. The fight against the Saka satraps in western India was Chandragupta II's crowning triumph. Chandragupta conquered Malwa and the Kathiawar Peninsula, destroying Rudrasimha's final Saka kingdom. During Skandagupta's reign, the Huns attacked the Gupta Empire.