Historical Event of Chandragupta I
General Knowledge of Ancient History: Chandragupta I was the third and illustrious king of the Gupta dynasty who started the 'Gupta Sawant' (319-320 AD). His father's name was Ghatotkacha. After becoming the emperor, he made a family connection with the Licchavi kingdom and gave himself the title of 'Maharajadhiraja', usually used for a high ruler.
His coronation took place in 319-320 AD. After becoming king, Chandragupta married Kumara Devi, a princess of the Licchavi clan. After this marriage, the name of the Gupta dynasty became famous. His son Samudragupt issued gold coins in the memory of mother Kumar Devi and father Chandragupta I, on which the image of both of them is made.
Reign of Chandragupta I
Soon after his coronation in 319-320 AD, Chandragupta I started the Gupta Sawant (319-320 AD). But this fact is just imagination which does not confirm the actual truth. Chandragupta I probably ruled North India for a long time. He did not take major steps to increase the extent of the Gupta Empire, but contributed significantly in maintaining the fame of the Gupta dynasty.
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In the records of Allahabad, it has been told that Chandragupta I made his son Samudragupta sit on the throne in his old age. Which clearly means that he ruled for a long time.
Marriage of Chandragupta I
Chandragupta I married Kumara Devi, a princess of the Licchavi clan. Vaishali (present-day Bihar) was ruled by the Lichchavi dynasty, who ruled there for about 36 generations. The people of the Gupta dynasty saw this marriage as an important link as the Gupta dynasty had recently emerged which had made connections with a strong dynasty.
After marriage, he was blessed with a son who was named Kacha. Kacha changed his name to 'Samudragupta' after extending the coastline to the boundaries of his kingdom. Which shows that Kacha was Samudragupt but no concrete evidence has been found for this fact.
According to some historians, Chandragupta attacked and defeated the Licchavi dynasty. To make peace back, he made a treaty according to which the king of Licchavi dynasty married the princess Kumara Devi to Chandragupta. But even such a fact is not quoted on the pages of history which proves its veracity.
This marriage gave Chandragupta political and military power, after which he gave himself the title of Maharajadhiraja. His coins are said to have been inscribed with the name Licchavi, which indicates that he was aided by the Licchavi dynasty. After the marriage, he (Chandragupta I) annexed the Licchavi kingdom to his kingdom.
Expansion Of Government
Very little is known about the extent of Chandragupta's rule. The Allahabad inscription made by his son Samudragupta gives little information about Chandragupta I. He has been told that Samudragupta had defeated many kings.
The states that Samudragupta conquered, meant that those states were not part of the earlier Gupta dynasty. That is, Chandragupta I did not have authority over him. So scholars have made a rough estimate that the rule of Chandragupta I was in the middle of these regions, Prayagraj in the west, Central India in the south, Nepal in the north, Bengal in the east. Therefore, it can be said that the rule of Chandragupta I was limited to Bengal and its surrounding areas.
Gold coins of Chandragupta I
Gold coins have been found from areas like Mathura, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Sitapur, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Bayana, Hajipur etc. On which the image of Chandragupta and his wife Kumar Devi is made. The name Chandra is written on these coins in Gupta script.
Apart from this, such coins have also been received from some places, on which the image of the queen sitting on the lion is made and the name Lichchavi is written in the Gupta script.
According to some historians, these coins were issued by Chandragupta's son Samudragupta. At the same time, some historians are of the opinion that these coins were issued by Chandragupta himself.
In these coins, Chandragupta and Kumar Devi are standing separately, so some historians have proposed that both Chandragupta and Kumar Devi used to run the state together but handled different areas of governance. Whereas in the second coin, where there is an image of a queen, it is Maa Durga.
Death of Chandragupta I
According to history books, Chandragupta I died in Pataliputra in 335 AD. But, there is no concrete evidence about his death.
He was an old man at the time of his death and had ruled for a longer period of time and successfully than any of the previous kings of the Gupta Empire.
Chandragupta's Successor – Samudragupta
It is mentioned on the Allahabad inscription that Chandragupta I made his son Samudragupta the emperor in his old age. Samudragupta overturned the fate of the Gupta dynasty. He hoisted the flag of the Gupta dynasty all over India.
Gold coins obtained from some places have revealed that after the death of Chandragupta I, a person named Kacha became the emperor of the Gupta Empire. Kacha was probably the elder brother of Samudragupta.
But according to some sources, Kacha was another name of Samudragupta. In this way, after Chandragupta, Samudragupta took over the throne of the Gupta dynasty and by conquering almost all the states of India, he united the country in the thread of unity. VA Smith has also called Samudragupta the Napoleon of India.
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01. Who was Chandragupta I?
Answer- The third king of the Gupta dynasty was Chandragupta I, who brought the name of the Gupta dynasty into the limelight in India. He was a majestic ruler who started the Gupta Era.
His coronation took place in 319-320 AD. After becoming king, Chandragupta married Kumara Devi, a princess of the Licchavi clan. After this marriage, the name of the Gupta dynasty became famous. His son Samudragupt issued gold coins in the memory of mother Kumar Devi and father Chandragupta I, on which the image of both of them is made.
02. Were Chandragupta I and Chandragupta Maurya the same person?
Answer- Both Chandragupta I and Chandragupta Maurya were different emperors. Chandragupta Maurya was the founder and first king of the Gupta dynasty who was born in 340 BCE. Whereas Chandragupta I was the third king of the Gupta dynasty who was born in the fourth century AD. Hence there is a gap of about 650 years in the history of both.
03. Who and when started the Gupta Samvat?
Answer – In 319-320 AD, Chandragupta became the emperor of the first Gupta dynasty and in the same year he started the Gupta Samvat.
04. What was the name of Samudragupta's father?
Answer – Chandragupta I.
05. What was the name of Chandragupta I's wife?
Answer – Kumar Devi.
06. What was the childhood name of Samudragupta?
Answer: Kacha (This fact is unproven)
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Ancient History