2. Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I & Kumaradevi (Lichchavi Princess)
320 CE: Samudragupta is coronated after Chandragupta I nominated him as successor. The Allahabad inscription, which presents comprehensive details about reign of Samudragupta, describes it thus 👇
3. The Allahabad inscription describes first the complete subjugation of kings of the northern India, with his capital at Pataliputra.
In the first phase of Samudragupta's conquests, the territories of current UP, Bihar & some parts of West Bengal were annexed.
4. The frontier kingdoms also acknowledged Gupta supremacy & paid taxes:-
S-E Bengal
Assam
Nepal
Punjab (Kartarpur).
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan too came under Samudragupta's control.
5. After consolidating in northern India, Samudragupta turned his attention to southern India (Dakshinapatha).
Controlling the maritime trade between India & S-E Asia might have been one of his prime motivation.(Trade has been recorded since ~150 CE)
6. Samudragupta subjugated no less than 12 kings along the Eastern Coast of India.
The Gupta territory extended, from the forest regions of Chhattisgarh & Odisha, along the Odisha coast, till Tamil Nadu. The rulers were tributaries of Gupta Empire.
7. Gupta supremacy was even recognised by far-off rulers from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan (Kushanas).
Even the Indo-Scythian Shaka/Saka rulers were made Gupta tributaries!
8. Thus, Gupta Empire came to assume imperial authority over Indian subcontinent, sans Western regions.
Guptas would later forge marriage alliance with the Vakatakas here, in part to expel the Shaka invaders (during Chandragupta II's reign) together, & re-establish #Indic sway.
9. The Allahabad inscription also reveals that Samudragupta was a gifted poet, and a intelligent man of culture as well!
10. Samudragupta permitted Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka to construct a monastery at Bodhgaya.
11. The above inscription also mentions Samudragupta donating 'thousands of cows', as well as conducting Ashvamedha Yagya.
This is attested in coins,on which is written:-"the overlord of kings,who has performed the horse-sacrifice,having protected the earth,conquers the heaven"
12. KM Munshi opines about Samudragupta:-
"After more than 300 yrs of fragmentation & foreign domination, northern India was again united under vigorous rule of a *powerful monarch of versatile talents*...
13. ... A brilliant general, a farsighted statesman, a man of culture & a patron of arts & letters, Samudragupta became the *symbol & architect of a mighty creative urge* among the people which, while drawing vitality from tradition & race memory, took on a new shape & power"
14. According to RC Majumdar, Samudragupta was a 'king of robust build, whose physical strength & prowess was matched by his cultural attainments, heralded a new era in Aryavarta'
15. May such rulers of culture, character & prowess continue to inspire us to be, as well as produce, the new leaders of #Hindutva, and bring glory to #Dharma.
1. This is the second-part of the thread-series on the great Maharana Kumbha.
The first part of the series described the initial half of Maharana Kumbha's reign 👇 This part will describe his encounters with Gujarat Sultan & tackling the united invasions.
2. ~1421: Maharana Kumbha was born to Maharana Mokal Singh & Sobhagya Devi.
1433: Kumbhakarna became Maharana at age of 13, after Mahipal Panwar assassinated young Maharana Mokal. Mahipal fled Mewar & took refuge with Malwa’s Sultan Mahmud Khalji aka Alauddin Mahmud Shah-I.
3. Rao Ranmal Rathore was the regent of Mewar during the initial phase of Kumbha’s rule. He destroyed the internal rebels.
1439: Maharana Kumbha told Sultan Mahmud Khalji to deport Mahipal Panwar to Mewar for exacting the revenge of the murd3r of Maharana’s father.
1508, May 4: Maharana Sanga ascended on Mewar throne.
~1512-13: Maharana Sanga attacked and captured territories of eastern Rajasthan from Sikandar Lodi’s Delhi Sultanate
3. 1515: Maharana Sanga was a proactive strategist. To expand Mewar's influence into Gujarat, he helped its deposed ruler, Rao Raimal, become ruler again.
Muzaffarid Gujarat Sultan, Muzaffar Shah II sent 2 armies to Idar. Both of them were defeated by Idar's army.
2. After Raja Martanda Varma's ascension to the Travancore throne in 1729, he adopted expansionist policies through the 1730s (interestingly enough, simultaneously as Bajirao Peshwa's policy vs Mughals in the north).
3. The expansion of Travancore into central Kerala threatened the monopoly of the Dutch in black pepper trade. Dutch commander Maten sought to warn Raja Martanda.
But, he received a warning in return, not to interfere in politics of Malabar & stay restricted to trade activities.
2. 1503 CE: Prithviraj Kachwaha ascended the throne of Amer. His reign was marked by stability and progress for the Jaipur kingdom.
3. During his reign, he cultivated marital alliances with many neighbouring Rajput states. This contributed to making Amber a major regional political player.
Even the sister of Maharana Sanga was married to Prithviraj Kachwaha, thereby uniting with Mewar under Hindu banner!
1. #Thread on Peshwa Madhavrao - the Glorious Ornament of Maratha Empire
He became Peshwa this day 260 years ago. This thread forms the 1st part of two-part series on Peshwa Madhavrao.
2. 1745, Feb 16: Peshwa Madhavrao was born.
1761, Jul 20: Madhavrao becomes Peshwa at age of 16, with Raghunathrao (paternal uncle) as co-regent with Gopikabai, Madhavrao’s mother
3. Although Nizam had been humbled at Battle of Udgir (1760), the Maratha setback at Panipat (1761) had emboldened Nizam to invade Pune in Dec 1761. Nizam's army was surrounded by Marathas near Pune, and forced to cede territory to Marathas worth 40 lakhs.