Skandagupta

Skandagupta (reigned about 455-467 ) was the last significant military leader or ruler of the northern Indian Gupta Empire, which controlled from about 320 to 550 AD large parts of northern and eastern India.

Family

According to currently accepted Genealogy Samudragupta was the great-grandfather Skandaguptas; Chandragupta II and his grandfather was, however, his father was Kumaragupta I.. Whether Skandagupta actually belonged to the family line of the Guptas is controversial, some see him as rather a stepson Kumaraguptas or a successful military leader who rose to the ruler after the death Kumaraguptas.

Swell

Except for some coin inscriptions, a pillar inscription ( Bhitari - pillar ) and a rock inscription at Junagadh in Gujarat today, all of which have rather panegyric character, hardly news from Skandagupta have survived.

Biography

Reliable data and facts about his life are not known. He made himself even before he took power after the death Kumaraguptas I. a name as a military leader, but unlike Samudragupta and Chandragupta II the Guptareich was no longer to be expansive active in the situation; Instead, managers were confronted with regional uprisings or independence movements in the interior of the vast empire. On several occasions, moreover, at the external borders of the kingdom of the Huns ( hunas ) are repulsed what Skandagupta - at least temporarily - succeeded. He probably died in the year 467 and in the rule consequence of his ( step-) brother Purugupta (r. 467-473 ) was replaced.

Religion

Like its predecessor was Skandagupta followers of Vaishnavism; his - comparatively few - coinages show him as archers (sometimes with an aura around his head ) next to a Garuda pillar. Compared to the Buddhism he showed himself - like its predecessor - extremely tolerant. By religious foundations, temples or royal sacrificial rituals ( Ashvamedha ) but nothing is known.