Maukhari Dynasty - Wikipedia
Maukhari Dynasty - Wikipedia
Maukhari Dynasty - Wikipedia
The Maukhari dynasty (Gupta script: , Mau-kha-ri) was a post-Gupta dynasty who controlled the vast
plains of Ganga-Yamuna for over six generations from their capital at Kanyakubja. Maukharis were Kshatriyas
who belonged to the Chandravamsha or the Lunar race.[3] They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas and later
of Harsha's Vardhana dynasty. The Maukharis established their independence during the mid 6th century. The
dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. Around 606 CE, a large area of their empire was
reconquered by the Later Guptas.[4] According to Hieun-Tsang, the territory may have been lost to King
Shashanka of the Gauda Kingdom, who declared independence circa 600CE.[5][6]
Religion
The Maukharis were staunch Hindus. They tried to enforce and maintain the traditional social order among the
people. Hinduism received state support, but Buddhism also managed to remain as a prominent religion.[7]
Army
The Maukhari army consisted of elephants, cavalry and infantry. Ishanavarman in all probability would have
taken much pains to reorganize the army and make it strong and worthy. The Maukhari strategy mainly
focused on deploying elephant corps to crush the enemy armies. They were used against the Alchon Huns and
the Later Gupta armies.[7] The Maukharis fought against the remnants of the Alchon Huns in the areas of the
Gangetic Doab and Magadha, as documented in the Aphsad inscription, while the Aulikaras repelled them in
the Malwa region.[8] The Aphsad inscription of Ādityasena mentions the military successes of kings of the Later
Gupta dynasty against the Maukharis, themselves past victors of the Alchon Huns:[8]
"The son of that king (Kumaragupta) was the illustrious Dâmôdaragupta, by whom (his) enemies
were slain, just like the demons by (the god) Dâmôdara. Breaking up the proudly stepping array of
mighty elephants, belonging to the Maukhari, which had thrown aloft in battle the troops of the
Hûnas (in order to trample them to death), he became unconscious (and expired in the fight)."
The Maukharis, rather than the Guptas, were therefore the key actors in repelling the Hunas.[10]
Administration Kingdom of Kanyakubja
c. 510 CE–c. 606 CE
Kanyakubja, the Maukhari capital, grew in prosperity and
importance as a great cosmopolitan city. After the demise of
the Maukharis, it even became the capital of Emperor
Harsha. Hence, Kanyakubja was largely contested by
imperial powers.[11]: 20 [7][12]
Coin of King Iśanavarman of the Maukhari of
The first three Maukhari kings are mentioned in the Kanyakubja, successors of the Guptas in the
inscriptions as Maharaja, but their successors assumed Gangetic region. Circa 535-553 CE. The ruler
faces to the left, whereas in Gupta coinage the
grander titles showing an increase in power and prestige. ruler faces to the right. This is possibly a symbol
Ishanavarman was the first Maukhari ruler to adopt the title of antagonism and rivalry, as also seen on some
similar coins of Toramana.[1]
Maharajadhiraja (lit., King of Great Kings).[7]
TOCHARIANS
South-Asia
HEPHTHALITES
550-600 CE
Cultural and international exchanges NEZAKS
GONANDAS
ALCHONS
SASANIAN TAANK
EMPIRE PUSHYA-
BHUTIS
PRATIHARAS
RAIS VARMANS
MORIS
GAUDAS
AULIKARAS
LATER
SAMATATAS
MAITRAKAS NALAS GUPTAS
KALACHURIS
KALINGAS
CHALUKYAS
PALLAVAS
CHOLAS
CHERAS
PANDYAS
◁▷
Capital Kanyakubja
Asirgarh seal inscription of
Common languages Sanskrit
Sharvavarman, Maukhari dynasty, 6th
century .[13][14] Religion Hinduism
Buddhism
The Maukhari kings were patrons of poets and writers and
Government Monarchy
many literary works were composed during their reign.[7]
Maharajadhiraja
Various seals and inscriptions are known, such as the
Historical era Classical India
Asirgarh seal inscription of Sharvavarman,[15] or the Haraha
• Established c. 510 CE
inscription of Isanavarman, discovered near the village of
• Disestablished c. 606 CE
Harara in the Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh and dated to
Vikrama Samvat 610 (ie 554 CE), which record the genealogy
of the Maukharis.[16]
Contacts with the Sasanian Empire Preceded by Succeeded by
Later Later Guptas
Guptas Pushyabhuti
Alchon dynasty
Huns Gauda Kingdom
With the end of Hunnic power, new contacts were established between India and the Sasanian Persia.
Intellectual games such as chess and backgammon demonstrated and celebrated the diplomatic relationship
between Khosrow I and a "great king of India." The vizier of the Indian king invented chess as a cheerful,
playful challenge to emperor Khosrow. It seems that the Indian ruler who sent the game of chess to Khosrow
was the Maukhari monarch Śarvavarman of Kannauj, between the beginning of Śarvavarman's reign in 560/565
and the end of Khosrow's reign in 579.[17][19] When the game was sent to Iran it came with a letter which read:
"As your name is the King of Kings, all your emperorship over us connotes that your wise men should be wiser
than ours. Either you send us an explanation of this game of chess or send revenue and tribute us."[20]
Khosrow's grand vizier successfully solved the riddle and figured out how to play chess. In response the wise
vizier created the game backgammon and sent it to the Indian court with the same message. The Indian king
was not able to solve the riddle and was forced to pay tribute.[20]
Succession
The Vardhana dynasty (also called "Pushyabhuti dynasty") ultimately succeeded the Maukhari dynasty, but it
had originally only been a small polity around their capital Sthaneshvara (Thanesar). According to Hans T.
Bakker, their ruler Aditya-Vardhana (or Aditya-Sena) was probably a feudatory to the Maukhari ruler
Sharvavarman. His successor Prabhakaravardhana may have also been a feudatory to the Maukhari king
Avantivarman in his early days. Prabhakara's daughter Rajyashri married Avantivarman's son Grahavarman. As a
result of this marriage, Prabhakara's political status increased significantly, and he assumed the imperial title
Parama-bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja ("the one to whom the other kings bow because of his valour and
affection").[21]
Rulers
Harivarman[23]
Adityavarman
Ishvaravarman (Iśvaravarman)
Avantivarman
Grahavarman, r. c. 600–605 CE
After the fall of Maukhari dynasty his descendants moved to Kuntalpur and later one of his descendant Kripal
Dev moved to Kirtigadh in 661, where he defeated Baloch ruler of Kirtigadh and Makwanas ruled from (661 AD
to 1089 AD). Last king was Kesar Dev Makwana, who died in battle against Hamir Soomra, ruler of Amarkot.[24]
24. Kesardev, Twenty-Fourth Makwana Lord of Karenti (1049-28 MAY 1082). Died: killed in battle 28 May
1082 by Hamir Sumro, Jam of Sindh
Anantavarman
See also
Megasthenes
Jhala dynasty
References
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External links