Samudragupta

Samudragupta (reigned 335-375/80 ) of the title Maharajadhiraja ( " King of Kings " ) and Chakravartin (literally: " Radandreher ," mutatis mutandis " universal ruler " ) wore was the second great ruler of the northern Indian Gupta dynasty. The former capital of Gupta empire was Pataliputra, near the present city of Patna in the Indian state of Bihar; another important city was Prayaga, today's Allahabad in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Family

Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I (r. about 320-335 ) and the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi. He was the father of Chandragupta II (reigned ca 375/80-413/5 ) and the grandfather of Kumaragupta I (r. about 415-455 ).

Swell

From his life and character we know little; about his victorious campaigns and military conquests, we are taught a little better by two inscriptions in Allahabad and Eran. There are also various coin inscriptions, which - like the other inscriptions also - bear propaganda trains. He and his family were members of the warrior caste ( Kshatriyas ). The Münzbildnisse show him as a powerfully built warrior, but also as a poet and a musician who loved to play the vina.

Religion

Samudragupta seems to be - after centuries of intellectual supremacy of Buddhism - to have as already facing his father Hinduism. The coin pictures show him as a humble devotee of the Hindu god Vishnu, who is, however, not shown itself, but is represented by the sun eagle Garuda, perched mostly on the top of a tall column. He also revived the already mentioned in the Vedas horse sacrifice ritual ( Ashvamedha ). However, of the temple foundations Samudragupta (see Gupta Temple ) or otherwise operating as a builder of religious or secular buildings is not known.

In all, Buddhism was - as far as we know - discriminated against in any way, but also to be provided with foundations; the traditional religious rights and freedoms were not touched. A Chinese report mentioned that he the king of Sri Lanka, the permission granted Meghavanna, to build a Buddhist monastery in Bodhgaya.

History

Although Samudragupta probably had older brothers, his father Chandragupta I. chose him as his successor; maybe he had to deal with palace coups, from which he emerged victorious, however. During his long reign, he enlarged his father's kingdom by many times, where he refused a policy of total submission of his opponents; Instead, he preferred a system of largely independent but tributary vassal states. Already in his youth, he conquered the kingdom of Panchala located in the immediate vicinity. Later he turned south and probably came up to Kanchipuram. After several campaigns followed in northwestern India and Others against the Sakas and against the Kushan Empire.

Importance

Samudragupta was considered invincible, and really is not a single military defeat known; many call him the " Indian Napoleon ". With his campaigns and with a developed coinage, he created a huge economic space; but also with his penchant for music and poetry, he laid the foundation for the "Golden Age " of India under his two successors.