Early Rulers
Gupta / Sri Gupta
- Founder → started Gupta dynasty
- Followed by Ghatotkacha (son)
Chandragupta I (319–334 AD)
- Title: Maharajadhiraja → great king
- Marriage: Kumaradevi (Lichchhavi princess) → alliance strengthened power
- Started Gupta Era (320 AD)
- Issued Gold coins (Dinars) → economic prosperity
Samudragupta (335–380 AD)
Achievements
- Greatest ruler → never defeated
- Called “Napoleon of India” (V.A. Smith)
- Performed Ashvamedha Yajna → imperial power
Sources
- Prayag Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar) by Harisena
Titles
- Kaviraja, Param Bhagavata, Sarva-raj-ochchetta
Special
- Coins show playing Veena → patron of arts
Chandragupta II (380–414 AD)
Achievements
- Title: Vikramaditya
- Defeated Sakas → expanded empire
- Largest territorial expansion
- Started Silver coins (after Saka victory)
Alliances
- Married daughter Prabhavati Gupta to Rudrasena II (Vakataka)
Inscriptions
- Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription
Culture
- Court of Navratnas (9 gems)
- Kalidasa → “Shakespeare of India”
- Amarsimha, Dhanvantari, Varahamihira, etc.
Traveller
- Fa-Hien (1st Chinese traveller) → described society
Literature
Works of Kalidasa
- Abhijnana Shakuntalam
- Raghuvamsa, Meghaduta
- Kumarasambhava, Ritusamhara
- Malavikagnimitra
Other Work
- Mrichchhakatika (Shudraka) → love story of Charudatta & Vasantasena
Later Rulers
Kumaragupta I (415–455 AD)
- Faced Huna invasions (Central Asia)
- Founded Nalanda University
Skandagupta (455–461 AD)
- Successfully resisted Hunas
- Title: Vikramaditya
Administration
Structure (Decentralized)
- Bhukti → province (Uparika)
- Vishaya → district (Vishayapati)
- Vithi → sub-division (Nagarpati)
- Village → Gramika
Officers
- Kumaramatya → provincial officer
- Mahadandanayaka → justice/punishment
- Sandhivigrahika → war & peace
Economy / Taxes
- Bhaga → 1/6th produce
- Bhoga → gifts (fruits, flowers)
- Bali → tax
- Uparikara → extra tax
- Vishti → forced labour
- Senabhakti → villagers feed army
Culture
Religion & Art
- Varaha Avatar (Vishnu) → symbol of protection
- Built by Chandragupta II (Udayagiri, MP)
Temples
- Dashavatara Temple (Jhansi)
- Bhitargaon Temple (Kanpur) → oldest brick temple
Source
- Bhitari Pillar inscription
🔥 Memory Tricks
- “CGS-CSK = Chandragupta → Samudragupta → Chandragupta II → Kumaragupta → Skandagupta”
- “Samudragupta = War + Veena”
- “Chandragupta II = Vikramaditya + Navratna”