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Pala Empire

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pala Empire was a dynasty in control of the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent, mainly the Bihar and Bengal regions, from the 8th to the 12th century. The name Pala (Modern পাল pal) means "protector" and was used as an ending to the names of all Pala monarchs.

Pala Empire
750–1161 CE
Pala Empire under Devapala.[1][2]
Pala Empire under Devapala.[1][2]
Capital
List
Recognised regional languagesSanskrit, Proto Bengali
Religion
Buddhism, Hinduism
GovernmentMonarchy
• First Emperor
Gopala
• Last Emperor
Gobindapala
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Gauda kingdom
Sena Dynasty
Today part ofIndia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afganistan

History

[change | change source]

After the Shashanka's kingdom fell, Bengal was in a state of anarchy and there was no central authority, and there was constant struggle between petty chieftains. Gopala ascended the throne as the first Pala king during these times.[5]

During the reign of Devapala, the Pāla Empire reached its greatest extent. Devapala is known for subjugating the Dravidas (Pandyan Empire), the Gurjaras (Gurjara Pratihara Dynasty), the Utkalas of Odisha, the Pragjyotishas of Assam, and the Hunas and Kambojas in the northwest, as recorded in his inscriptions and the inscription that records of his reign.[6][7]

List of rulers

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RC Majumdar (1971)[8] AM Chowdhury (1967)[9] BP Sinha (1977)[10] DC Sircar (1975–76)[11] D. K. Ganguly (1994)[12]
Gopala I 750–770 756–781 755–783 750–775 750–774
Dharmapala 770–810 781–821 783–820 775–812 774–806
Devapala 810–c. 850 821–861 820–860 812–850 806–845
Mahendrapala NA (Mahendrapala's existence was conclusively established through a copper-plate charter discovered later.) 845–860
Shurapala I 850–853 861–866 860–865 850–858 860–872
Vigrahapala I 858–60 872–873
Narayanapala 854–908 866–920 865–920 860–917 873–927
Rajyapala 908–940 920–952 920–952 917–952 927–959
Gopala II 940–957 952–969 952–967 952–972 959–976
Vigrahapala II 960–c. 986 969–995 967–980 972–977 976–977
Mahipala I 988–c. 1036 995–1043 980–1035 977–1027 977–1027
Nayapala 1038–1053 1043–1058 1035–1050 1027–1043 1027–1043
Vigrahapala III 1054–1072 1058–1075 1050–1076 1043–1070 1043–1070
Mahipala II 1072–1075 1075–1080 1076–1078/9 1070–1071 1070–1071
Shurapala 1075–1077 1080–1082 1071–1072 1071–1072
Ramapala 1077–1130 1082–1124 1078/9–1132 1072–1126 1072–1126
Kumarapala 1130–1125 1124–1129 1132–1136 1126–1128 1126–1128
Gopala III 1140–1144 1129–1143 1136–1144 1128–1143 1128–1143
Madanapala 1144–1162 1143–1162 1144–1161/62 1143–1161 1143–1161
Govindapala 1155–1159 NA 1162–1176 or 1158–1162 1161–1165 1161–1165
Palapala NA NA NA 1165–1199 1165–1200

[13]

References

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ Chakrabarti, Dilip K. (1992). Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeologcial sources. Internet Archive. Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-19-562879-1. In his own inscriptions and in the inscriptions referring to his reign, Devapala is credited with the subjugation of the Gurjaras, Utkalas, Hunas, Dravidas, Kambojas and Pragjyotisas. He is also supposed to have invaded the Vindhyan region.
  2. ↑ Rahman, Shah Sufi Mostafizur (2000). Archaeological Investigation in Bogra District: From Early Historic to Early Mediaeval Period. International Centre for Study of Bengal Art. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-984-8140-01-7.
  3. ↑ Michael C. Howard (2012). Transnationalism in Ancient and Medieval Societies: The Role of Cross-Border Trade and Travel. McFarland. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7864-9033-2.
  4. ↑ Huntington 1984, p. 56.
  5. ↑ Sengupta, Nitish K. (2011). Land of two rivers: a history of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. New Delhi: Penguin Books. pp. 39–49. ISBN 978-0-14-341678-4.
  6. ↑ Chakrabarti, Dilip K. (1992). Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeologcial sources. Internet Archive. Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-0-19-562879-1.
  7. ↑ Rahman, Shah Sufi Mostafizur (2000). Archaeological Investigation in Bogra District: From Early Historic to Early Mediaeval Period. International Centre for Study of Bengal Art. pp. 50–52. ISBN 978-984-8140-01-7.
  8. ↑ R. C. Majumdar (1971). History of Ancient Bengal. G. Bharadwaj. p. 161–162.
  9. ↑ Abdul Momin Chowdhury (1967). Dynastic history of Bengal, c. 750-1200 CE. Asiatic Society of Pakistan. pp. 272–273.
  10. ↑ Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha, Cir. 450–1200 A.D. Abhinav Publications. pp. 253–. ISBN 978-81-7017-059-4.
  11. ↑ Dineshchandra Sircar (1975–76). "Indological Notes - R.C. Majumdar's Chronology of the Pala Kings". Journal of Indian History. IX: 209–10.
  12. ↑ Dilip Kumar Ganguly (1994). Ancient India, History and Archaeology. Abhinav. pp. 33–41. ISBN 978-81-7017-304-5.
  13. ↑ Susan L. Huntington (1984). The "Påala-Sena" Schools of Sculpture. Brill Archive. pp. 32–39. ISBN 90-04-06856-2.



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