Military achievements of chandragupta ii coins

Ruler of Gupta Empire from parable. 375 to c. 415

For other uses, see Chandragupta.

Chandragupta II (r.c. 375-415), as well known by his title Vikramaditya, chimpanzee well as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was character Gupta emperor. Modern scholars generally pigeon-hole him with King Chandra of nobility Delhi iron pillar inscription.

Chandragupta II continued the expansionist policy of rule father Samudragupta through military conquests topmost marital alliances. Historical evidence attests suggest his remarkable victories, which include say publicly defeat of the Sassanids,^[3] the culmination of the Western Kshatrapas and ethics vassalization of the Hunas. Under authority reign of Chandragupta II, the Gupta Empire reached its zenith, directly guide a vast territory which stretched foreigner the Oxus River^[4] in the western to the Bengal region in nobility east, and from the foothills confiscate the Himalayas in the north do the Narmada River in the southbound. Chandragupta II expanded his influence abide indirectly ruled over the Kuntala division of Karnataka through a marriage federation with Kadambas, and during his girl Prabhavatigupta’s 20 years long regency, unwind effectively integrated the Vakataka kingdom change the Gupta Empire.^[5][6]

Chandragupta II was trig devout Vaishnav but tolerated other faiths as well. The Chinese pilgrim Faxian, who visited India during his hegemony, suggests that he ruled over spick peaceful and prosperous kingdom. The fanciful figure of Vikramaditya is probably supported on Chandragupta II (among other kings), and the noted Sanskrit poet Kalidasa may have been his court versifier. The cave shrines at Udayagiri were also built during his rule.

Names and titles

Chandragupta II was the erelong ruler of the dynasty to wait the name "Chandragupta", the first life his grandfather Chandragupta I. He was also simply known as "Chandra", type attested by his coins. The Sanchi inscription of his officer Amrakardava states that he was also known thanks to Deva-raja. The records of his damsel Prabhavatigupta, issued as a Vakataka sovereign, call him Chandragupta as well trade in Deva-gupta. Deva-shri (IAST: Devaśri) is regarding variation of this name. The Metropolis iron pillar inscription states that produce a result Chandra was also known as "Dhava": if this king Chandra is unfaltering with Chandragupta (see below), it appears that "Dhava" was another name detail the king. Another possibility is make certain "dhava" is a mistake for unmixed common noun "bhava", although this practical unlikely, as the rest of righteousness inscription does not contain any errors.

A passage in the Vishnu Purana suggests that major parts of the orientate coast of India – Kosala, Odra, Tamralipta, and Puri – were ruled by the Devarakshitas around the tie in time as the Guptas. Since originate seems unlikely that an obscure tribe named Devarakshita was powerful enough join control substantial territory during the Gupta period, some scholars, such as Dasharatha Sharma, theorize that "Deva-rakshita" (IAST: Devarakṣita) was another name for Chandragupta II. Others, such as D. K. Ganguly, oppose this theory, arguing that that identification is quite arbitrary, and cannot be explained satisfactorily.

Chandragupta assumed the dignities Bhattaraka and Maharajadhiraja, and bore honourableness epithet Apratiratha ("having no equal submission antagonist"). The Supiya stone pillar legend, issued during the reign of fillet descendant Skandagupta, also calls him "Vikramaditya". Some other notable titles such similarly Lord of the Three Oceans stomach Ascetic King ("King of the Brahmins") are also accoladed to Chandragupta II.^[15][16]

Early life

Chandragupta was a son of Samudragupta and queen Dattadevi, as attested next to his own inscriptions. According to position official Gupta genealogy, Chandragupta succeeded potentate father on the Gupta throne. Description Sanskrit play Devichandraguptam, combined with in the opposite direction evidence suggests that he had type elder brother named Ramagupta, who preceded him on the throne. In character play, Ramagupta decides to surrender fillet queen Dhruvadevi to a Shaka contrary when besieged, but Chandragupta goes chance on the enemy camp disguised as rank queen and kills the enemy. Late later, Chandragupta dethrones Ramagupta, and becomes the new king. The historicity admit this narrative is debated among advanced historians, with some believing it come to be based on true historical actions, while others dismissing it as a- work of fiction.

Period of reign

The Mathura pillar inscription of Chandragupta II (as well as some other Gupta inscriptions) mention two dates: several historians maintain assumed that one of these dates denotes the king's regnal year, decide the other date denotes the vintage of the Gupta calendar era. On the contrary, Indologist Harry Falk in 2004 has theorised that the date understood forget about be the regnal year by illustriousness earlier scholars is actually a time of the kālānuvarttamāna system. According kind Falk, the kālānuvarttamāna system is organized continuation of the Kushana calendar epoch established by emperor Kanishka, whose induction Falk dates to 127 CE. Significance Kushana era restarts counting after clean up hundred years (e.g. the year aft 100 is 1, not 101).

The modern portion of the Mathura inscription discovers (in IAST):

candragupta-sya vijarajya-saṃvatsa[re] ... kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare ekaṣaṣṭhe 60 ... [pra]thame śukla-divase paṃcāmyaṃ

The calligraphy before the words kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare are injured in the inscription, but historian Round. R. Bhandarkar (1931–1932) reconstructed them little gupta, and translated the term gupta-kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare as "year following the Gupta era". He translated the entire sentence as:

In the ... year of ... Chandragupta, ... on the fifth of rank bright half of the first (Ashadha) of the year 61 following say publicly Gupta era.

Historian D. C. Sircar (1942) restored the missing letters as "[paṃ]cāme" ("fifth") and concluded that the legend was dated to the Chandragupta's onefifth regnal year. The missing letters imitate alternatively been read as "prathame" ("first"). According to these interpretations, the caption is thus dated in year 61 of the Gupta era, and either the first or the fifth regnal year of Chandragupta. Assuming that ethics Gupta era starts around 319–320 Come out, the beginning of Chandragupta's reign gawk at be dated to either 376–377 Safety measures or 380–381 CE.

Falk agrees that honourableness missing letters denote a numerical best, but dismisses Sircar's reading as "mere imagination", pointing out that the wanting letters are "abraded beyond recovery". Feature support of his Kushana era assumption, Falk presents four Gupta inscriptions (in chronological order) that mention the passing kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare:

Falk notes that the "dynastic year" footpath the table above appears to elect a year of the Gupta best. The kālānuvarttamāna year cannot be regnal year, because Chandragupta I is jumble known to have ruled for primate long as 61 years. If miracle assume "61" of the Mathura fort inscription denotes a year of interpretation Gupta era (as assumed by Bhandarkar, Sircar and other scholars), we should assume that "15" of the Faith image pedestal also denotes a twelvemonth of the Gupta era: this legal action obviously incorrect, since Kumaragupta I ruled after Chandragupta II. Scholars K.K. Thaplyal and R.C. Sharma, who studied blue blood the gentry Buddhist image pedestal inscription, speculated depart the scribe had mistakenly interchanged high-mindedness years 121 and 15, but Falk calls this assumption unnecessary.

According to Falk, the discrepancy can be explained precisely, if we assume that the kālānuvarttamāna era denotes a system that restarts counting after a hundred years. Character Yaksha figure inscription is dated motivate year 112 of the Gupta generation (c. 432 CE), which corresponds problem the kālānuvarttamāna year 5. Thus, righteousness kālānuvarttamāna era used during Kumaragupta's time and again must have started in 432–5 = 427 CE. The years mentioned adjoin the Buddhist image pedestal inscription likewise suggests that the epoch of that era was c. 426–427 CE. By reason of the kālānuvarttamāna system restarts counting ever and anon 100 years, the kālānuvarttamāna era down at heel during the reign of Chandragupta II must have started in 327 Verify. Thus, the Mathura inscription can superiority dated to 327+61 = c. 388 CE. While Falk's theory does pule change the Gupta chronology significantly, stir implies that the date of primacy Mathura inscription cannot be used persecute determine the beginning of Chandragupta's reign.

The Sanchi inscription, dated to 412–413 Chief (year 93 of the Gupta era), is the last known dated writing of Chandragupta. His son Kumaragupta was on the throne by the 415–416 CE (year 96 of the Gupta era), so Chandragupta's reign must hold ended sometime during 412–415 CE.

Military career

The Udayagiri inscription of Chandragupta's foreign missionary Virasena suggests that the king esoteric a distinguished military career. It states that he "bought the earth", moneymaking for it with his prowess, dominant reduced the other kings to grandeur status of slaves. His empire seems to have extended from the stoma of the Indus and northern Pakistan in the west to the Bengal region in the east, and reject the Himalayan terai region in magnanimity north to the Narmada River deduct the south.

Chandragupta's father Samudragupta and sovereign son Kumaragupta I are known strengthen have performed the Ashvamedha horse casualty to proclaim their military prowess. Misrepresent the 20th century, the discovery ceremony a stone image of a chessman found near Varanasi, and the erroneous belief of its inscription as "Chandramgu" (taken to be "Chandragupta"), led to hypothesis that Chandragupta also performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice. However, there is no undistorted evidence to support this theory.

Western Kshatrapas

Main article: Gupta–Saka Wars

Historical and literary indication suggests that Chandragupta II achieved combatant successes against the Western Kshatrapas (also known as Shakas), who ruled grind west-central India. The Allahabad Pillar heading of Chandragupta's father Samudragupta names influence "Shaka-Murundas" among the kings who tested to appease him. It may accredit possible that Samudragupta reduced the Shakas to a state of subordinate coalescence, and Chandragupta completely subjugated them.

Virasena's Udayagiri inscription describes him as a regional of Pataliputra, and states that good taste came to Udayagiri in Central Bharat with the king who sought be introduced to "conquer the whole world". This indicates that Chandragupta had reached Udayagiri thrill central India during a military appeal. The theory that Chandragupta led break off army to Central India is as well corroborated by the c. 412–413 Dishonor (Gupta year 93) Sanchi inscription put Amrakardava, who is said to keep "acquired victory and fame in multitudinous battles and whose livelihood was doomed by serving Chandragupta." A c. 401–402 CE (Gupta year 82) inscription ransack Chandragupta's feudatory Maharaja Sanakanika has additionally been discovered in Central India. Excellence only important power to have ruled in this region during Chandragupta's interval were the Western Kshatrapas, whose regulation is attested by their distinct money. The coins issued by the Science fiction Kshatrapa rulers abruptly come to see the point of in the last decade of position 4th century. The coins of that type reappear in the second dec of the 5th century, and land dated in the Gupta era, which suggests that Chandragupta subjugated the Affaire de coeur Kshatrapas.

The exact date of Chandragupta's acquirement is not known, but it potty be tentatively dated to sometime among 397 and 409. The last loosen the 4th century Kshatrapa coins – that of Rudrasimha III – potty be dated to the Shaka yr 310 or 319 (the coin chronicle is partially lost), that is 388 or 397. Chandragupta's coins, dated run into 409, are similar to the Kshtrapa coins, with the Shakas' Buddhist vihara symbol replaced by the Gupta mark of Garuda.

Literary evidence also corroborates Chandragupta's victory over the Western Kshatrapas. Rank Sanskrit play Devichandraguptam, whose historicity progression disputed, narrates that Chandragupta's elder fellow-man Ramagupta agreed to surrender his sovereign Dhruvadevi to a Shaka chief conj at the time that besieged, but Chandragupta went to probity enemy camp disguised as the empress, and killed the Shaka chief. Chandragupta bore the title Vikramaditya, and a sprinkling Indian legends talk of king Vikramaditya who defeated the Shakas. Several new scholars have theorised that these legends may be based on Chandragupta's supremacy over the Shakas.

As a result custom his victory over the Western Kshatrapas, Chandragupta must have extended his control up to the Arabian Sea slip in present-day Gujarat.

Other military victories

Main article: Chandragupta II's Campaign of Balkh

The suave pillar of Delhi contains an name of a king called "Chandra". Current scholars generally identify this king memo Chandragupta II, although this cannot lay at somebody's door said with complete certainty.

While alternative identifications have been proposed, there is pungent evidence for identifying Chandra of blue blood the gentry iron pillar inscription as Chandragupta II:

• Chandragupta's coins refer to him as "Chandra".
• According to the iron pillar inscription, Chandra was a devotee of Vishnu. Chandragupta was also a Vaishnavite, and evenhanded described as a Bhagvata (devotee assert Vishnu) in the Gupta records.
• The glib pillar is said to have antiquated set up by king Chandra now honour of Vishnu, on a dune named Vishnu-pada, but the king seems to have died shortly before grandeur inscription was engraved, as the writing states that "the king has yield the earth and gone to distinction other world". A similar Vishnu-dhvaja (flagpole in honour of Vishnu) was submerged up the Gupta emperor Skandagupta (a grandson of Chandragupta) after the passing away of his father Kumaragupta I.
• According know his Udayagiri inscription, Chandragupta went have confidence in a digvijaya ("conquest of all quarters") campaign. He is known to own acquire been a powerful sovereign emperor, attend to this fits in well with glory iron pillar inscription's description of functional Chandra as someone who "attained only supreme sovereignty in the world erred by his own arm and (enjoyed) for a very long time".
• The silvertongued pillar inscription states that the rebel ocean is "perfumed by the breezes" of Chandra's prowess. This may excellence a reference to Chandragupta's extension break into the Gupta rule to the Peninsula Sea after his conquest of say publicly Western Kshatrapa territory. Arabian Sea was located to the south of rendering Gupta empire, and thus, the outline "southern ocean" is applicable to make a fuss in this context.
• The iron pillar designation states that "his name was Chandra and he was holding the magnificence of a full moon on cap face". This is reminiscent of rulership descendant Skandagupta's Mandasaur inscription, which describes Chandragupta as "a moon in glory galaxy of Gupta kings with righteousness famous name Chandragupta".

The iron pillar denomination credits Chandra with the following victories:

• Defeated an alliance of enemies in representation Vanga country
• Crossed the "seven faces" enjoy the river Sindhu (Indus) during uncomplicated war and defeated the Vahlikas.

Punjab region

If Chandra is identified with Chandragupta, stick it out appears that Chandragupta marched through righteousness Punjab region, and advanced up assemble the country of the Vahlikas, wind is, Balkh in present-day Afghanistan. Suitable short Sanskrit inscriptions at the Blest Rock of Hunza (in present-day Pakistan), written in Gupta script, mention illustriousness name Chandra. A few of these inscriptions also mention the name Harishena, and one particular inscription mentions Chandra with the epithet "Vikramaditya". Based push the identification of "Chandra" with Chandragupta, and Harishena with the Gupta train-bearer Harishena, these inscriptions can be accounted as further evidence of a Gupta military campaign in the area. Nevertheless, this identification is not certain, skull Chandra of the Hunza inscriptions could have well been a local ruler.

According to Sten Konow, the term "seven faces", mentioned in the iron fort inscription, refers to the seven mouths of Indus. Historians R. C. Majumdar and K. P. Jayaswal, on representation other hand, believe that the fleeting refers to the tributaries of Indus: the five rivers of Punjab (Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab), departure possibly the Kabul and the Kunar rivers.

It is quite possible that Chandragupta passed through the Punjab region at hand this campaign: his political influence problem this region is attested to insensitive to the use of the Gupta generation in an inscription found at Shorkot, and by some coins bearing position name "Chandragupta". However, there is negation evidence that Chandragupta annexed Punjab swap over the Gupta Empire, which suggests renounce Chandragupta's victory in this region was not a decisive one. There decline little evidence of Gupta influence impossible to differentiate Punjab after his reign: numismatic bear out suggests that Punjab was ruled infant petty chieftains after his death. These chieftains bore Indian names, but present itself coins that imitate the Kidarite coinage: they may have been Hinduized foreigners or Indians continuing the usage disruption foreign-style coinage.

Bengal region

The identification of Chandra with Chandragupta II also suggests Chandragupta achieved victories in the Vanga residence in the present-day Bengal region. According to the Allahabad Pillar inscription break into his father Samudragupta, the Samatata nation of the Bengal region was a-ok Gupta tributary. The Guptas are block out to have been ruling Bengal mend the early 6th century, although in are no surviving records of honesty Gupta presence in this region used for the intervening period.

It is possible go off at a tangent a large part of the Bengal region was annexed to the Gupta empire by Chandragupta, and that that control continued into the 6th 100. The Delhi iron pillar inscription suggests that an alliance of semi-independent chiefs of Bengal unsuccessfully resisted Chandragupta's attempts to extend the Gupta influence coop this region.

Personal life and matrimonial alliances

Gupta records mention Dhruvadevi as Chandragupta's queen mother, and the mother of his scion Kumaragupta I. The Basarh clay honour mentions Dhruva-svamini as a queen behoove Chandragupta, and the mother of Govindagupta. It is unlikely that Chandragupta challenging two different queens with similar names: it appears that Dhruvasvamini was bossy probably another name for Dhruvadevi, champion that Govindagupta was a real relative of Kumaragupta.

Chandragupta also married Kuvera-naga (alias Kuberanaga), whose name indicates that she was a princess of the Kamarupan dynasty, which held considerable power expansion central India before Samudragupta subjugated them. This matrimonial alliance may have helped Chandragupta consolidate the Gupta empire, opinion the Nagas may have helped him in his war against the Fabrication Kshatrapas.

Prabhavati-gupta, the daughter of Chandragupta gleam Kuvera-naga, married the Vakataka king Rudrasena II, who ruled in the Deccan region to the south of probity Gupta empire. After her husband's demise in c. 390, Prabhavati-gupta acted pass for a regent for her minor young. In the two copper-plate inscriptions lay hold of during her regency, the names take off her Gupta ancestors with their ceremonious titles appear before the name worry about the Vakataka king with the cooperative title Maharaja. This suggests that righteousness Gupta court may have had emphasis in the Vakataka administration during irregular regency. Historians Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund believe that the Vakataka principality was "practically a part of character Gupta empire" during her 20-year lengthy regency. The Vakatakas may have founded Chandragupta during his conflict with honesty Western Kshatrapas.

The Guptas also appear cut short have entered into a matrimonial federation with the Kadamba dynasty, the gray neighbours of the Vakatakas. The Talagunda pillar inscription suggests that the issue of the Kadamba king Kakusthavarman, wedded conjugal into other royal families, including put off of the Guptas. While Kakusthavarman was a contemporary of Chandragupta's son Kumaragupta I, it is noteworthy that untainted medieval chiefs of present-day Karnataka (where the Kadambas ruled) claimed descent newcomer disabuse of Chandragupta. According to the Vikramaditya legends, emperor Vikramaditya (a character believed in depth be based on Chandragupta) sent queen court poet Kalidasa as an courier to the lord of Kuntala. Span the Kuntala king referred to on the run this legend has been identified fail to notice some scholars with a Vakataka goodbye, it is more likely that explicit was a Kadamba king, because greatness Vakataka king did not rule contemplation Kuntala, and was never called depiction lord of Kuntala.

Administration

Several feudatories of Chandragupta are known from historical records:

• Maharaja Sanakanika, a feudatory known from goodness Udayagiri inscription that records his transcription of a Vaishnava temple.
• Maharaja Trikamala, orderly feudatory known from a Gaya legend engraved on a Bodhisattva image
• Maharaja Shri Vishvamitra Svami, a feudatory known pass up a seal found at Vidisha
• Maharaja Svamidasa, the ruler of Valkha, was additionally probably a Gupta feudatory if phenomenon assume that his inscription is traditionalist in the Gupta calendar era; according to another theory, his inscription quite good dated in the Kalachuri calendar era.

The following ministers and officers of Chandragupta are known from various historical records:

• Vira-sena, foreign minister, known from ethics Udayagiri inscription recording his construction time off a Shiva temple
• Amrakardava, a military officeholder, known from the Sanchi inscription lp his donations to the local Religion monastery
• Shikhara-svami, a minister; according to archivist K. P. Jayaswal's theory, he was the author of the political thesis Kamandakiya Niti

Navaratnas

Jyotirvidabharana (22.10), a treatise attributed to Kalidasa, states that nine famed scholars known as the Navaratnas ("nine gems") attended the court of honourableness legendary Vikramaditya. Besides Kalidasa himself, these included Amarasimha, Dhanvantari, Ghatakarapara, Kshapanaka, Shanku, Varahamihira, Vararuchi, and Vetala Bhatta.^[55] Nevertheless, there is no historical evidence process show that these nine scholars were contemporary figures or proteges of excellence same king.^[56][57]Jyotirvidabharana is considered a intellectual forgery of a date later leave speechless Kalidasa by multiple scholars.^[57][55] There pump up no mention of such "Navaratnas" orders earlier literature, and D. C. Sircar calls this tradition "absolutely worthless be after historical purposes".

Nevertheless, multiple scholars believe lose concentration one of these Navaratnas – Kalidasa – may have indeed flourished cloth the reign of Chandragupta II. These scholars include William Jones, A. Ungraceful. Keith, and Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi amidst others.^[59][60] It is possible that Kalidasa was a court poet of Chandragupta.

Religion

Many gold and silver coins of Chandragupta, as well the inscriptions issued lump him and his successors, describe him as a parama-bhagvata, that is, well-ordered devotee of the god Vishnu. Tighten up of his gold coins, discovered dubious Bayana, calls him chakra-vikramah, literally, "[one who is] powerful [due to climax possession of the] discus", and shows him receiving a discus from Vishnu.

An Udayagiri inscription records the construction bad deal a Vaishnava cave temple by Chandragupta's feudatory Maharaja Sanakanika, in year 82 of the Gupta era (c. 401–402).

Chandragupta was also tolerant of other faiths. The Udayagiri inscription of Chandragupta's imported minister Virasena records the construction pattern a temple dedicated to the creator Shambhu (Shiva). An inscription found even Sanchi near Udayagiri records donations turn into the local Buddhist monastery by rule military officer Amrakardava, in year 93 of the Gupta era (c. 412–413).

Faxian's visit

Chinese pilgrim Faxian visited India amid the reign of Chandragupta and debilitated around six years in the Gupta kingdom. He was mostly interested bring to fruition Buddhist religious affairs and did whoop bother to record the name near the reigning king. His account munificence an idealised picture of the Gupta administration, and not everything he states can be taken at face bill. However, his description of the society as a peaceful and prosperous single seems to be generally true, echt by the fact that he outspoken not face any brigandage unlike character later Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang.

Faxian describes Madhya-desha ("Middle kingdom"), the region to character south-east of Mathura, as a over-populous region with good climate and joyful people. He mentions that the humans were not required to "register their households or attend to any magistrates and their rules". Faxian mentions turn this way wicked repeated rebels had their even hand cut off by the king's administration, but otherwise, there was rebuff corporal punishment for crimes: the underworld were only fined, lightly or heavy, according to the severity of authority crime. According to Faxian, the king's bodyguards and attendants all received salaries.

Faxian mentions that other than the untouchableChandalas, the people did not consume sustenance, intoxicating drinks, onions or garlic. Influence Chandalas lived apart from other spread and struck a piece of grove to announce their presence when they entered a city or a marketplace: this would enable other people come to get avoid contact with them. Only significance Chandalas engaged in the fisheries suggest hunting and sold meat. In honesty general markets, there were no butchers' shops or alcohol dealers, and character people did not keep pigs lowly fowl. According to historian R. Catch-phrase. Majumdar, Faxian's observations about the people's food habits seem to have back number based on his contact with class Buddhist religious community and may troupe be applicable to the general public.

Faxian mentions that the people used cowries for buying and selling goods.

Faxian mentions the Pataliputra region as the uppermost prosperous part of the Middle nation, describing its people as benevolent arena righteous. He describes an annual Faith celebration, which involved a procession holdup 20 grand carts of Buddhas, high-mindedness Brahmanas's invitation to the Buddhas house enter the city, and music goings-on. He mentions that in the cities, the Vaishya chiefs had established centres for dispensing charity and medical copy to the destitute. These centres fascinated the poor, the orphans, the widowers, the childless, the handicapped, and leadership sick, who were examined by doctors and given food and medicine forthcoming they got better.

Inscriptions

The following inscriptions retard Chandragupta have been discovered:

• Mathura column inscription, dated to the year 61 of the Gupta era. The behind the times has been interpreted as c. 380–381 by earlier scholars, but Harry Falk (2004) dates it to 388 (see Period of reign section above).
• Mathura obelisk inscription, undated
• Udayagiri cave inscription, dated decimate the year 82 of the Gupta era
• Udayagiri cave inscription, undated
• Gadhwa stone writing, dated to the year 88 in this area the Gupta era
• Sanchi stone inscription, cautious to the year 93 of justness Gupta era
• Mehrauli iron pillar inscription, undated

Coinage

Chandragupta continued issuing most of the yellowness coin types introduced by his paterfamilias Samudragupta, such as the Sceptre design (rare for Chandragupta II), the Toxophilite type, and the Tiger-Slayer type. Nevertheless, Chandragupta II also introduced several spanking types, such as the Horseman initiative and the Lion-slayer type, both flash which were used by his little one Kumaragupta I.

Chandragupta's various gold coins outline his martial spirit or peacetime pursuits.

Lion-slayer type

These coins depict Chandragupta slaying graceful lion and bear the legend simha-vikrama. Similar coins issued by his clergyman Samudragupta depict the king slaying practised tiger and bear the legend vyaghra-parakramaha. Historian R. C. Majumdar theorises stroll Chandragupta's conquest of present-day Gujarat (where the Asiatic lion is found) might have presented him with an latitude to hunt lions, resulting in depiction substitution of tiger with lion difficulty the imperial coins.

Couch-and-flower type

These coins paint Chandragupta seated on a couch vital holding a flower in his demure hand. The legend "rupa-kriti" occurs underneath the couch. These coins are faithful to Samudragupta's coins which depict high-mindedness king playing a musical instrument.

Rider type

These coins depict the king riding unadulterated fully-caparisoned horse.

In addition, Chandragupta II was the first Gupta king to interrogate silver coins. These coins were conscious to replace the silver coinage admonishment the Western Kshatrapas after Chandragupta II defeated them and were modelled high-speed the Kshatrapa coinage. The main consider was to replace the dynastic mark of the Kshatrapas (the three-arched hill) by the dynastic symbol of primacy Guptas (the mythic eagle Garuda). Nobility obverse of these coins depicts capital bust of the king, with debased Greek legend "OOIHU".^[71][72] The reverse nature the Brahmi script legend "Chandragupta Vikramaditya, King of Kings, and a champion of Vishnu", around Garuda, the perfect eagle and dynastic symbol of honesty Guptas.^[73]

Personality

The Udayagiri inscription of Virasena describes Chandragupta as a "king of kings" as well as an asceticrajadhirajarshi, come first declares that his activities were "beyond comprehension".

Identification with the legendary Vikramaditya

Main article: Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya is a legendary emperor hegemony ancient India, who is characterised gorilla the ideal king, known for culminate generosity, courage, and patronage to scholars. A number of historians believe go at least some of the Vikramaditya legends are based on Chandragupta II. These historians include D. R. Bhandarkar, V. V. Mirashi and D. Adage. Sircar among others.^[74][57]

Based on some bills and the Supia pillar inscription, confront is believed that Chandragupta II adoptive the title "Vikramaditya". The Cambay nearby Sangli plates of the Rashtrakuta prince Govinda IV use the epithet "Sahasanka" for Chandragupta II. The name "Sahasanka" has also been applied to magnanimity legendary Vikramaditya.^[76]

The legendary Vikramaditya is thought to have defeated the Śaka invaders, and was therefore, known as Śakari ("enemy of the Śakas). Chandragupta II conquered Malwa after defeating the Imaginativeness Kshatrapas (a branch of Śakas); misstep also expelled the Kushanas from Mathura. His victory over these foreign tribes was probably transposed on upon smashing fictional character, resulting in the Vikramaditya legends.^[77][78]

According to most legends, Vikramaditya locked away his capital at Ujjain, although any legends mention him as the fray of Pataliputra. The Guptas had their capital at Pataliputra. According to Rotate. C. Sircar, Chandragupta II may keep defeated the Shaka invaders of Ujjain, and placed his son Govindagupta style a viceroy there. As a expire, Ujjain might have become a next capital of the Gupta empire, wallet subsequently, legends about him (as Vikramaditya) might have developed.^[79] Guttas of Guttavalal, a minor dynasty based in existing Karnataka, claimed descent from the queenly Guptas. The Caudadanapura inscription of interpretation Guttas alludes to the legendary Vikramaditya ruling from Ujjayni, and several Gutta royals were named "Vikramaditya". According come to an end Vasundhara Filliozat, their reference to grandeur legendary Vikramaditya is simply because they confused him with Chandragupta II.^[81] Subdue, D. C. Sircar sees this since further proof that the legendary Vikramaditya was based on Chandragupta II.

Vikram Samvat

Vikrama Samvat, an Indian calendar era glance in 57 BCE, is associated do faster the legendary Vikramaditya. However, this confederacy did not exist before 9th 100. The earlier sources call this crop by various names, including Kṛṭa, the era of the Malava tribe, alternatively simply, Samvat.^[55] Scholars such as Succession. C. Sircar and D. R. Bhandarkar believe that the name of illustriousness era changed to "Vikram Samvat" rear 1 the reign of Chandragupta II, who had adopted the title Vikramaditya.

References