Major Dynasties In Medieval India (750–1200 Ad)

In north India, the era 750–1200 CE can be divided into two stages. Phase I (about 750–1000 CE): During this time, three significant empires rose in north India: the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan, the Palas in the east, and the Gurjara Pratiharas in the north. Phase II, often known as the Age of Conflict, lasted from roughly 1000 to 1200 CE. Smaller kingdoms were formed out of the three powers. The Rajput dynasty of the Chahamanas (Chauhans), the Paramaras of Malwa, the Chandellas, and other Rajput families dominated the many Rajput republics that emerged from the Gurjara Pratihara Empire in north India. The Pratiharas (8th to 10th Century) are one of the major dynasties (750-1200) of Early Mediaeval India that will be covered in this article.

 

•    Western and northern India were under the control of the Pratiharas, also known as the Gurjara-Pratiharas (8th century CE–10th century CE).

 

•    Under Nagabhata-I (730–760 CE), who successfully repelled Arab invaders, the fortunes of this dynasty improved. This dynasty's most well-known ruler was Bhoja or Mihira Bhoja (about 836-885 CE).

 

•    The Pratiharas were best renowned for their support of architecture, sculpture, and temple building as well as their constant conflicts with other dynasties at the time, like the Rashtrakuta Dynasty in southern India and the Palas in eastern India.

 

•    The Gurjaras' origins, especially those of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, are still a mystery.

 

•    The Gurjaras are variably seen as a tribe, locals who belonged to the Gurjara country (Gurjaradesha or Gurjaratra), or foreigners who were progressively absorbed into Indian society.

 

•    The Gurjaras are considered to be a tribe or clan, and the Pratiharas, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word pratihara (which means "doorkeeper"), are one such group.

 

•    Prince Lakshmana served as the doorkeeper for his older brother King Rama in the epic Ramayana.

 

•    Lakshmana was regarded as their ancestor, therefore the Pratiharas chose this name.

 

•    Other Gurjara families started out as local officials before establishing minor principalities south and east of Jodhpur in the present-day state of Rajasthan.

 

•    The Pratiharas gained fame in the late eighth century CE after successfully fending off Arab invaders.

 

•    In addition to inscriptions, the sculpture and monuments built during their reign offer significant proof of their times and power.

 

•    The Pala Empire was founded in the year 750 CE and governed for 400 years, from the eighth to the twelfth.

 

•    This dynasty was known as the Pala dynasty because its rulers had the word "Pala" in their names, which means "protector."

 

•    This empire was one of the most significant Buddhist imperial powers on the Indian subcontinent.

 

•    The Palas were best renowned for their support of the arts, including sculpture, painting, and university construction, as well as their constant conflicts with other dynasties of the time, including the Rashtrakuta Dynasty in southern India and the Pratiharas in western India.

 

•    In the eighth century, Gopala founded the Pala Empire.

•    In the seventh century, numerous kingdoms ascended to power in Northern and Eastern India following the death of Harshvardhana.

 

•    The Gauda Kingdom's ruler, i.e. Shashanka ruled the Bengal region between 590 and 625 CE. He was a contemporary of King Harshavardhana.

 

•    Lawlessness broke out in the northern and eastern regions of the nation shortly after Gauda King Shashanka's passing, allowing the Palas to gain power and form the Pala Empire.

 

•    Due to the kingdoms numerous collapses and revivals, the limits of the Pala dynasty's controlled provinces repeatedly shifted after the Pala Empire first established its dominance in the states of Bihar and Bengal.

 

•    Gopala became the first emperor because the Bengal region was in a state of uprising following the fall of the Shashanka's empire and there was no centralized authority to govern the state.

 

•    The Palas dynasty ruled over Bihar, Bengal, and portions of Orissa and Assam for about four centuries, with many ups and downs.

 

•    The Palas (8th to 11th Century) *Check out this website for in-depth details on this subject.

 

•    Bengal was controlled by the Sena Dynasty from roughly 1097 to 1225 CE. Most of the northeastern Indian subcontinent was governed by the Sena dynasty. Previously, both Bihar and Bengal were under the control of the Pala dynasty.

 

•    Unlike the Palas, who were Buddhists, the Sena monarchs were devoted Hindus. According to the Deopara inscription, they are from the Karnataka region of southern India.

 

•    The inscription names Samantha Sen, one of the southern founders, whose successor was Hemanta Sena. Hemanta Sena was the first member of his line to receive royal titles in the family records and took the throne from the Palas somewhere around 1095 CE.

 

•    Vijaya Sena, his successor, played a key role in establishing the dynasty.

 

•    Madanapala, the final monarch of the Pala dynasty, was overthrown by Vijayasena, who thereafter established the Sena dynasty. The Sena kingdom's actual founder, he was.

 

•    Ballala Sena (1160–1178), his son, introduced the Kulinism social reforms in Bengal.

 

•    Ballal Sena was succeeded by Lakhamanasena. Lakshmana Sena was the most notable king of this dynasty.

 

•    Near the conclusion of his reign, he began to deteriorate. There were hints of breakdown within his realm.

 

•    The Sena kingdom received its fatal blow from Muhammad Bhaktiyar Khalji in 1204 AD.

 

•    Rajput dominance started in the 7th century after Harsha's defeat and lasted until the 12th.

 

•    Their courage, loyalty, and royal status were admired, and the term Rajaputas was formed from the word "Rajputra," which means "ruler's son." They were the seasoned warriors in charge of running the government.

 

•    They claimed to be decedents of the governing military nobility of North India and belonged to a patrilineal clan from western, central, and northern India.

 

•    The origins of the Rajputs are the subject of numerous theories. They were believed to be the progeny of Indian Kshatriyas and foreign invaders.

 

•    The invaders were integrated into Indian culture and became Indianized. Many Rajput legends lend credence to this idea.

 

•    As a result, it is feasible to claim that a number of factors played a role in the development of the Rajput clan.

 

•    The 36 clans that make up the Rajput people each belong to one of the three main lineages (vanshas). Suryavansh, Chandravanshi, and Agnivanshi are these.

 

•    The Hindu Sun God Surya is tied to the Suryavanshi Rajput lineage. In English, it is referred to as the Solar Dynasty.

 

•    Chandra (the moon) is said to be an ancestor of the Chandravanshi Rajput clan. The Chandravanshi dynasty is sometimes referred to as the Lunar Dynasty in English.

 

•    Rajputs who identify as Agnivanshi claim to be the offspring of Agni, the Hindu god of fire.

 

•    Each of these lineages, or Vanshas, is divided into a number of clans or kula, each of which asserts patrilineal descent from a distant but common male ancestor who supposedly belonged to that Vansha.

 

•    The South Indian subcontinent served as the home of the Pallava Dynasty. Pallavas ruled for nine years, from 275 to 897 CE.

 

•    They were the most powerful kings in South India and made significant contributions to philosophy, art, currency, and architecture.

 

•    During the reigns of Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I, the Pallavas were at their most powerful.

 

•    They fought frequently with the Tamil kingdom of the Cholas and Pandyas in the south and the Chalukyas of Badami in the north throughout their rule in Tondaimandalam.

 

•    They are well known for the architecture of their seaside temples.

 

•    The history of the Pallavas is obscure. Numerous theories have been put forth by historians.

 

•    They are a branch of the Parthian people, an Iranian tribe that migrated gradually to South India, claim some historians.

 

•    Some people assert that they are an indigenous dynasty that originated in the South and was a fusion of different tribes.

 

•    According to some researchers, they originated from the Tondaimandalam district near Madras and initially resided there.

 

•    They are said to be the children of a Chola prince and a Naga princess from Manipallavam (Sri Lanka), according to another theory.

 

•    Some people think that the Satavahanas had a feud with the Pallavas.

 

•    In the early fourth century AD, the first Pallava kings governed.

 

•    The Chalukyas of Badami, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the Pallavas of Kanchipuram fought it out for control of southern India by the seventh century AD.

 

•    Dramatic changes started to happen in the Deccan and southern Vindhyas with the demise of the Gupta dynasty.

 

•    Smaller kingdoms gave way to vast empires in South India's political landscape with the development of the Chalukyas.

 

•    In the western Deccan, the Vakatakas were succeeded by the Chalukyas of Badami. In the Bijapur district of Karnataka, they established Vatapi, modern-day Badami, as their capital.

 

•    They ruled over a sizable portion of the Deccan from 543 to 753 CE and unified the entire south of India.

 

•    When Pulakeshin I founded the Chalukya dynasty in 543 AD, it ruled from the sixth to the twelfth century.

 

•    The entire region between the Kaveri and Narmada rivers was conquered and unified under the rule of a South Indian kingdom for the first time in history.

 

•    Later, they broke up into several other governing families, although Vatapi's main branch remained in charge.

 

•    Because of what they contributed to Indian culture, their era was also important.

 

•    The Chalukya dynasty ruled over substantial portions of central and southern India between the sixth and the twelfth century.

 

•    Beginning in the middle of the sixth century, the Chalukyas governed from Vatapi (modern-day Badami).

 

•    Under Pulakeshin II's rule, they made a point of claiming their independence and becoming well-known.

 

•    The Chalukyas dynasty's first king was Jayasimha.

 

•    Pulakesin I, who reigned from 543 to 566 CE, was the true founder of the Chalukyan dynasty.

 

•    Pulakeshin II, the most well-known king of the Badami dynasty after him, ruled over the whole Deccan.

 

•    Internal conflicts caused the Badami Chalukya dynasty to briefly fall after Pulakeshin II's passing.

 

•    When Vikramaditya I was emperor, he was successful in driving the Pallavas out of Badami and bringing order to the empire.

 

•    Vikramaditya II (733–744 AD) was the kingdom's greatest emperor and during his tenure, it attained its zenith.

 

•    The Pandyas, Cholas, and Cheras, the three historic kingdoms of Tamil country, were subjugated by Vikramaditya II.

 

•    In South India, the Rashtrakuta Dynasty governed from the seventh to the tenth centuries CE.

 

•    The whole contemporary state of Karnataka, as well as portions of the present-day Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, were all included in their kingdom at its height.

 

•    Malkhed, which was close to Sholapur, served as their capital. The Rashtrakuta Dynasty engaged in alliances and conflicts with both their northern and southern neighboring kingdoms as a result of their geographic location.

 

•    According to historical records, the Rashtrakuta Dynasty's early monarchs were Hindus, but its later emperors were Jains.

 

•    The link between the Manyakheta Rashtrakutas, who ruled between the eighth and tenth centuries, and the mediaeval Rashtrakutas, who governed in the sixth century, has also been called into question.

 

•    To explain how they came to be, several theories have been put forth. They do assert that they are related to the Yadava family of the Epic era. Some academics assert that they belong to the Kshatriya race, which is responsible for Maharashtra's name.

 

•    The provinces of Rashtrakutas were allegedly administered by this clan of ancestral officials. Consequently, it became popular as a surname.

 

•    But it is obvious that they built their empire on top of the Chalukyas' ruins.

 

•    One of the longest-reigning dynasties in history, the Tamil Chola dynasty governed in southern India.

 

•    It is mentioned for the first time in Ashoka inscriptions from the third century BC, which may be dated. Up to the 13th century AD, the dynasty held power over a range of sized regions.

 

•    The Cholas had a base in the Kaveri River's rich valley, but they had control over a considerably wider region when they were at their most powerful between the late ninth and the early thirteenth centuries.

 

•    Tamil literature and the magnificent, still-standing Chola Temples are among the Cholas' legacies.

 

•    They pioneered a centralized system of governance and developed a well-organized bureaucracy.

 

•    Southeast Asia was affected by the Chola School of art, which also influenced art and architecture.

 

•    The Cholas continued to live in the Kaveri region as the Pallavas' underlings, according to records that were made following the Sangam Age.

 

•    Vijayalaya's conquest of the Kaveri delta from Muttaraiyar (850–871 CE) marked the start of the Cholas' comeback.

 

•    He established the Chola monarchy and the city of Thanjavur in 850. They are referred to by historians as the Later Cholas or Imperial Cholas as a result.

 

•    According to copper plate records of his successors, the Karikala, the most well-known of the Cholas of the Sangam era, is the ancestor of the Cholas.

 

•    According to their ancestry, an eponymous king named "Chola" is the origin of their bloodline.

 

•    The names Killi, Kochenganan, and Karikalan are given as line members on these copper plates.

 

•    The great successors of Vijayalaya, from Parantaka I (907-955) to Kulothunga III (1163-1216), brought the Cholas distinction and fame.

 

•    Parantaka Chola widened the foundation of governance and laid the stage for territorial growth.

 

•    A Dravidian royal dynasty from Tamil Nadu, the Cheras. They were the first in the region to form a mediaeval ruling dynasty, and they controlled sizable portions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in south-eastern and south-western India, respectively.

 

•    This dynasty was divided into two separate periods. The Later Chera (also known as the Kulasekharas) ruled between the 8th and 12th centuries AD, whereas the Early Chera controlled between the 4th and 5th centuries BC.

 

•    One of the most important dynasties of the Sangam period in Tamil Nadu and the modern-day state of Kerala was the Chera dynasty.

 

•    Along with the Cholas of Uraiyur and the Pandyas of Madurai, the early Cheras were considered one of the three primary powers of ancient Tamilakam in the early decades of the Common Era.

 

•    Their kingdom was situated to the north and west of the Pandya kingdom, and they were also known as "Keraputras."

 

•    The Cholas and the Pandyas have been the Cheras' continuous enemies throughout their history.

 

•    According to Tamil scriptures, Uthiyan Cheralathan is regarded as the Chera line's first recorded king. His capital was Kuzhumur in the Keralan district of Kuttanad.

 

•    The Kulasekhara dynasty, which eventually developed into the later Chera kingdom, was founded by Kulasekhara Alwar, the first ruler of that state.

 

•    A Chera king had been extinct for more than five centuries when Kulasekhara Alwar, who claimed to be a Chera ancestor, suddenly arrived.

 

•    He most likely governed from Tiruvanchikkulam in the modern state of Kerala approximately 800 AD, and he did so for a period of more than 20 years.

 

•    The throne was then held by Ramavarma, also known as Kulasekhara Koyiladhikarikal, Kulasekhara Perumal, or Ramar Tiruvati. He served as the Later Chera dynasty's final emperor.

 

•    The Tungabhadra to the Narmada Rivers were the boundaries of the Yadava or Seuna dynasty's realm, which included modern-day Maharashtra, north Karnataka, and portions of Madhya Pradesh.

 

•    Initially serving as Western Chalukya feudatories, they later proclaimed their independence and established an independent state.

 

•    The Yadava kingdom was prosperous up until the Delhi Sultanate captured it in the early 14th century.

 

•    Simhana II was the ruler when the Yadavas reached its pinnacle, contributing significantly to cultural activities and making Marathi the dominant language in the area.

 

•    The Seuna/Yadava dynasty's earliest known monarch dates to the middle of the ninth century, but nothing is known about their early history; court poet Hemadri, who lived in the 12th century, preserves the names of the family's early kings.

 

•    Early Yadava kings ruled across what is now Maharashtra, and numerous academics have asserted that the dynasty was "Maratha" in origin.

 

•    Marathi started to take over as the primary language used in the dynasty's inscriptions during this time. Prior to this, Kannada and Sanskrit were the main languages used in their inscriptions.

 

•    According to Hemadri's ancient genealogy, the Yadavas are descended from Visnu, the Creator, and Yadu was one of his later offspring.

 

•    Dridhaprahara (860-880 AD), who is credited with constructing Chandradityapura (modern Chandor), is the dynasty's first historically documented king. He was a Chalukya feudatory.

•    The Yadava dynasty's first independent king in the Deccan was Bhillama (1175–1191 CE).

 

•    Around 1187, Bhillama forced Ballala to flee, took control of the old Chalukya city Kalyani, and anointed himself as the supreme monarch.

 

•    After that, he established Devagiri, which eventually became the new Yadava capital.

 

Numerous political, social, and cultural events occurred during this time. Politically, the time from 750 to 1200 AD is referred to as the early Middle Ages, during which a number of regional states rose to prominence. There has been considerable cultural development recently. Regional writing and languages began to develop during this time. Temple building styles including Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara emerged at this time. Indian traders who settled in these regions established cultural ties with South East Asia (Java, Sumatra, Malay, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia).