Post Gupta Age

                                    Post Gupta Age 

Harshavardhana

Harsha was the second son of Prabhakara Vardhana, the first important king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty with its capital at Thaneswar. Pushyabhuti dynasty with its capital at Thaneshvar. Pushyabhuti were the feudataries of the Guptas but had assumed independence after the Huna invasions.

Harsha was favored by his elder brother, Rajyavardhana, by both his father and the nobles, But Harsha expressed his reluctance to supersede his brother. Rajyavardhana who became the ruler had to face problems from the Makuhari ruler of Kannauj and husband of Rajyasri (daughter of Prabhakar), was murdered by Deva Gupta (the ruler of Malwa), who in alliance with Sasanka (ruler of Gauda or Bengal) now occupies Kanauj and imprisoned Rajyasri. Rajyavardhana, therefore, undertook a campaign against Deva Gupta and killed him but he was deceived and killed by Sasanka. 

Harsha now succeeded his brother at brother-in-law and was quite successful in both. He drove out Sasanka and Gupta from Kanauj. Between 606 and 612 he brought most of northern India (Punjab, Kanauj, parts of Gauda, Orissa, and Mithila) under his control and assumed the title of 'Siladitya'.

 

Harsha's Military Conquest

Occupation of Kanauj-In his first expedition, Harsha drove away Sasanka from Kanauj who had occupied it after murdering Harsha's brother. After this, he not only unified Kanauj with Thaneshvar but also made it his new capital, which made him the most powerful king of north India.

Conquest of Valabhi-His early relations with the rulers of Valabhi was cordial because he was engaged in consolidating his position against the Gutaguda axis in the east. But soon Malwa became the bone of contention between the two and so he had to turn his attention to western India. Nausasi Copper Plate Inscription gives information about his expedition against Valabhi.

War with Pulkesin-II- The above success, however, proved to be the immediate cause of conflict between Harsha and Pulakesin-II. Further, the question of overlordship over the Latas, Malwa, and Gujarat seems to have been the long-standing cause of conflict between the two. Hiuen Tsang gives the impression that Harsha was the aggressor but did not succeed fully in the war. Chalukyan records of Pulakesin's victory. But Ravikirti (the court poet of Pulakesin-II and the author of the Aihole inscription) also hints vaguely at Pulakesin's successors cannot be taken as impartial as none of the contemporary records refer to Pulakesin's victory over Harsha's attack was not a complete success, and it resulted in the conclusion of an honorable treaty.

His Other Conquest- According to some scholars Harsha defeated the Pallava ruler, Mahendravarman-I, and also some other southern rulers. But in the absence of any direct evidence, we cannot say anything conclusively. But Orissa or the kingdom of Kaling seems to have been subjugated by Harsha. Thus, Harsha established his hold practically over the whole of north India. Rajasthan, Punjab, UP, Bihar, and Orissa were under his direct control but his sphere of influence spread over a much wider area since peripheral states such as Kashmir, Sind, Valabhi, and Kamarupa acknowledged his sovereignty.

Harsha's Government

Harsha governed his empire on the same lines as the Guptas did. except that his administration had become more feudal and decentralized. It is stated that Harsha had a standing army numbering over one lakh and 60,000 cavalry and 9,000 elephants. Harsha could mobilize the support of all his feudatories at the time of war. Evidently, every feudatory contributed his quota of foot soldiers and horses and thus made the army vast in numbers. 

Land grants continued to be made to priests for special services rendered to the state. In addition, Harsha is credited with the grant of land to the officers by charters. These grants allowed more concessions to priests and officers than those by the Carlier grants. Thus the feudal practice of rewarding and paying officers with grants of land on a large scale seems to have begun under Harsha.

see also....

Gupta period

post-Mauryan period