Component-I (A) – Personal details: 1 Component-I (B) – Description of module Subject Name Indian Culture Paper Name Outlines of Indian History Module Name/Title Major dynasties of north India( 647-1200 ce) Module Id I C/ OIH/ 18 Pre-requisites Knowledge in the political history of early medieval India Objectives To know the history of north india from the death of Harshavardhana upto the establishment of Delhi sultanate- Rajput kingdoms Keywords Rajputs/ Pratiharas/ Gahawars/Chandellas/ Chauhans/Paramaras/ Palas/Senas/ Kanauj E-text (Quadrant-I) 1. Introduction The political unity of Northern India achieved under Harsha was broken after his death. Thereafter, a number of lineages vied for control over Kanauj. Taking advantage of this political confusion, the Rajputs established their kingdoms on the ruins of Harsha’s empire. They became so prominent that the period (647-1192 CE) from the death of Harsha till the Muslim conquest of Northern India in the 12th century is called the Rajput period of Indian history. Even after that many Rajput states continued to survive for a long time. In the period of Muslim aggression, the Rajputs were the main defenders of Hindu religion and Culture. This is very important period in the history of North India, for it witnessed substantial changes in the political, social, economic and religious sectors. We may divide this age, for the sake of convenience into two phases. The first phase starts from 8th century and terminates at 10th century whereas the second phase starts from the 11th century up to the beginning of 13th century CE. The first phase is dominated by the “Age of the three kingdoms”, i.e. the Rashtrakutas of western Deccan, the Pratiharas of Malwa and Gujarat and the Palas of Bengal. Thus Kanauj, Gujarat and Malwa became a bone of contention between the above major powers. This geo-political conflict inaugurated the famous triangular conflict between these dynasties of North India and Deccan. 2. The Rajput Kingdoms Origin There were divergent views among the historians regarding the origin of the Rajputs. The use of the term Rajaputra for specific clans or as a collective term for various clans emerged by the 12th century. The theory of ‘Agnikula’ origin of Rajputs is given in Prithviraj Raso of Chand Bardai. The Agnikula Rajputs included the Pratiharas, Chalukyas, Paramaras and Chauhans. They were also considered as the descendents of the foreign invaders and the Indian Kshatriyas. The foreign invaders were Indianised and absorbed into Indian society. Many legends of Rajputs support this theory. V.A. Smith the famous historian viewed that the Rajputs were a mixed race. The Pratiharas, Paramaras, Chauhans and Chalukyas were decidedly descendants of foreign tribes but the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan, the Rathors of Rajputana, the Solankis and the Chandellas of Bundlekhand were descendants of Kshatriya families of the Aryan Origin. Therefore it can be said that diverse elements constitute in shaping of the Rajput clan. 2.1 The Pratiharas of Kanauj (The Gurjara Pratiharas) The Gurjara Pratiharas were the earliest of the Rajput rulers. The dynasty was founded by a brahmana named Harichandra, in the area around Jodhpur in Rajputana. According to their epigraphical records, the Pratiharas claim descent from the Kshatriya Lakshmana (brother of 2 Rama) of the solar race famed in the Ramayana. The prevailing view among modern scholars is that they are a branch of the Gurjara tribe of foreigners closely allied to the Huns. They entered India in the early years of the 6th century CE, founded an extensive kingdom in Southern Rajputana with its capital at Bhilmal. They remained independent rulers during Harsha’s reign. After the death of Harsha, they captured Kanauj in the beginning of the 8th century CE. The first great ruler of this dynasty was Nagabhatta I who ruled from 725 to 740 CE. He carried on a successful war against the Arabs of Sindh. This king’s line soon became most powerful Pratihara family, eclipsing the Jodhpur branch. Nagabhata’s control extended over parts of Malwa, Rajputana and Gujarat. His capital was Ujjain. Nagabhatta’s successors Devaraja, Vatsaraja and Nagabhatta II, greatly extended their kingdom. Nagabhatta II may be regarded as the founder of the dynasty. His power was recognized by the rulers of Sindh, Deccan, Vidarbha and Kalinga. He also defeated the king of Bengal Dharmapala. The expansion of the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom involved constant conflicts with other contemporary powers such as the Palas and Rashtrakutas. But his power in the north was short lived as he suffered defeat at the hands of Govinda III, the king of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. The defeat of the Nagabhatta gave an opportunity to re-establish the supremacy of Palas and there was a decline in the power of the Pratiharas. Nagabhatta’s II grandson Mihir Bhoja, popularly known as Bhoj-Raja I proved himself to be the greatest of the Pratihara emperors. He ruled for over 50 years from 840 CE. to 890 CE. A new and glorious chapter began in the history of Pratiharas with the accession of king Bhoja. Bhoja was defeated by the Palas, Rastrakutas and Kalachuris in the first part of his reign, but subsequently managed to come back. He established his authority over the Chandellas of Bundelkhand. He won victories against Devapala, the ruler of Bengal and also against the Rashtrakutas. In the words of R.C. Majumdar “Bhoja had the reputation of a strong ruler, able to maintain peace in his kingdom and defend it against external dangers, he stood as a bulwark of the defense against the Muslim aggression and left this task as a sacred legacy to his successors”. Kanauj was made the imperial city of northern India by the Pratiharas. The empire of Bhoja Raja was visited by the Arab merchant Sulaiman who spoke highly of the strength of his cavalry and of the peace that reigned in his kingdom. Bhoja Raja was a worshipper of Siva. Bhoja was succeeded by his son Mahendrapala I(885-910 CE), under him the Pratihara empire reached its glory. He conquered the Magadha and north Bengal. He was a patron of learning. The poet Rajasekhara, who wrote the Karpuramanjari, Balaramayana, Balabharata and Kavyamimamsa, was the ornament of his court. 2.1.1. Decline of the Pratiharas The Pratihara kingdom was declined after the death of Mahendrapala. His successors were not able to keep the vast kingdom intact. The Gurjara-Pratiharas subsequently suffered several defeats. In the early 10th century, during the time of Mahipala the Rashtrakuta king Indra III completely devastated the city of Kanauj. He plundered the land as far as Prayaga. There was another Rashtrakuta invasion led by Krishna III. The Pala rulers took advantage of this and recovered some of their ancestral territories upto the eastern bank of the river Son. The feudatory chiefs and provincial governors of the Gurjara-Pratiharas gradually started asserting independence, the empire disintegrated and was reduced to the area around Kanauj. The decline and authority of Pratiharas saw the division of Pratihara empire into the hands of Chalukyas of Anhilwada, the Chandellas of Bundelkhand, Paramaras of Malwa, Chauhans of Sakambari, Gahawars of southern Rajputana, Chedis of Dahala, The last blow to this kingdom was dealt by Mahmud of Ghazni who invaded Kanauj in 1019 CE and occupied it. The successors of Pratiharas like Trilochanapala, Nisapala continued upto the end of 11th century. In 1090 CE. another Rajput dynasty known as the Rathors or Gahawars conquered Kanauj and with this the great Rajput dynasty of the Pratiharas disappeared from the political scene. 2.2 The Rathors or Gahawars (1090 – 1194 CE) 3 The Rathors or Gahawars ruled over Kanauj for more than a century (1090 -1194 CE.). The founder of this dynasty was Chandradeva. His kingdom included Banaras, Ayodhya and Kanauj. Govindachandra, grandson of Chandradeva, enjoyed long reign (1112 – 1155 CE ) and succeeded in restoring the glory of the Kanauj kingdom. He annexed some parts of Magadha under the Palas. He also conquered Darsana or Malwa. He was succeeded by Vijayachandra. He drove out Amir Kushro from Lahore. The last great ruler of this dynasty was Jaichandra well known in popular legend as Raja Jaichand(1170-1194). He was an enemy of his neighbor, Prithviraj Chauhan, ruler of Delhi and Ajmer. This enmity between the two gave an opportunity to Muhamad of Ghori to defeat both of them and conquer their kingdoms. 2.3 The Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Ajmer and Delhi The Chauhans ruled over eastern Rajasthan. They started their career as feudatories of the Pratiharas and assisted them in holding back the Arab advance. Later they declared their independence. Most of their kings adopted the title of Maharajadhiraja. The Chauhans established their kingdom first in Ajmer. The founder of this dynasty was Vishaladeva, who ruled from 1158 to 1164 CE. In about 1163 CE. He conquered Delhi from a Tomara Chief, Anagapala and then shifted his capital to Delhi. Vishaladeva’s nephew, Rai pithora or Prithiviraj was the most famous ruler of this dynasty. He played an important role in the history of India at the time of its conquest by the Muslims. There was a rivalry between Prithviraj Chuhan and Raja Jaichand of Kanauj. That was due to the fact that Prithviraj Chauhan had forcibly taken away the daughter of Jaichand at the time of Svayamvara.. He was a warrior king who extended the boundaries of the Chauhan kingdom by his military campaigns. He conquered Bundelkhand (Mahoba) from the Chandellas in 1182 CE. The Military conquests of Prithviraj have been described in the long epic poem Prithviraj Raso composed by Chand Bardai. In the 1st battle of Tarain 1191 CE.