Candragupta I

The Gupta dynasty first rises in eminence with the accession of Chandra Gupta I, son of Ghatotkacha to the throne of the ancestral Gupta kingdom. While his two ancestors were given the title of Maharaja(king), Chandra Gupta I is described in his inscriptions as Maharajadhiraj(king of kings) signifying a rise in the family fortunes. A series of gold coins issued by the king also testifies to his rising influence. The well known Gupta era which commenced on February 26, 320 AD ^[1] is generally attributed to Chandra Gupta I. Hence it is surmised that the Gupta era began on the occasion of the coronation of Candra Gupta I. According to the Puranas the Guptas ruled over territories (referred to as Janapadas) such as Prayag (Allahabad), Saket(Oudh) and Magadh(south Bihar). This description of the Gupta dominion precedes the reign of Samudragupta and hence must refer to the territories ruled over by Candragupta I.

Alliance with the Lichchhavis

The coins issued by Candra Gupta commemorate his marital union with the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi. The political importance of this marital union is further underlined by the fact that their son Samudra Gupta the Great is always referred to in the genealogical accounts of the imperial Guptas as 'daughter's son of the Lichchhavis'^[1]. The maternal genealogy is never mentioned in the records of other kings. V.A. Smith^[2] places the Lichchhavi kingdom as the contemporary rulers of Magadh, while R.C. Majumdar believes that the Lichchhavi dynasty was ruling somewhere in North Bihar, between Nepal and Vaisali. A Lichchavi dynasty was also the rulers of Nepal which points to the prominent role the Lichchhavi dynasties were playing in the politics of the age in eastern India. It is probable that the Lichchhavis and the Guptas ruled over adjoining principalities and that the two kingdoms were united under Candra Gupta by his marriage with Kumaradevi. This considerably strengthened the position of the Guptas and may have allowed its subsequent rapid expansion under Samudra Gupta.

Most records indicate that Chandragupta reigned in the period c. 319-335 A.D. The Allahabad inscription on Samudra Gupta by Harishen seems to suggest that he publicly announced Samudra Gupta the Great as the heir apparent and may have abdicated the throne in his son's favour.

Sources

• R. K. Mookerji, The Gupta Empire, 4th edition. Motilal Banarsidass, 1959.
• R. C. Majumdar, Ancient India, 6th revised edition. Motilal Banarsidass, 19

Notes