1. Samudragupta (335 to 375 CE): The most outstanding ruler of the Gupta dynasty was Samudragupta, who was the son and successor of Chandragupta-I. He was an ambitious, ablest and most distinguished ruler and wanted to be an ‘Emperor’ (Chakravarthi).
The Allahabad pillar inscription (Prayag) throws much light on his conquests and personal qualities. The author of this edict was Harisena, the court poet as well as the commander – in – chief of Samudragupta. It is in Sanskrit prose and verse and contains 33 lines. The inscription is in the nature of a prasasti (ponegric). The military conquests mentioned in the inscription may be divided into four distinct campaigns.
1. Northern campaign (Aryavartha): The early years of his reign were spent in subduing the provinces of the Gangetic plain called ‘Aryavartha’. According to the inscription, he defeated nine Kings in his northern campaign and annexed their territories into his Empire. The Rulers who were defeated by Samudragupta were
1. Nandin,
2. Balavarman,
3. Chandravarman,
4. Nagadatta,
5. Nagasena,
6. Ganapathinaga,
7. Achyutanaga,
8. Mathila and
9. Rudradeva. After the conquest, he performed Ashvvamedha Yaga and became the master of Aryavartha.
2. Conquest of the Forest Kingdoms (Central India): Samudragupta conquered the forest Kingdoms of Abhiras, Madrakas, Kakas, Reva, Jabalpur, Nagapurand Bhaghelkhanda in the upper Vindya regions, many of whom surrendered to him voluntarily.
3. Southern Campaign: After consolidating his authority in the north, he turned his attention towards the South and took an expedition. Samudragupta derived his name and fame by his compaigns in South India and he did not extend his direct rule over this region. The inscription refers to the twelve Kings of the south who were defeated and later reinstated to rule under him. They were :
1. Mahendra of Kosala,
2. Vyagraraja of Mahaknathara,
3. Mantaraja of Kowrala,
4. Mahendra of Pistapura.
5. Swamydatta of Kottura,
6. Damana of Yarandapalli,
7. Vishnugopa of Kanchi,
8. Hasthivarman of Vengi,
9. Neelaraja of Avamuktha,
10. Ugrasena of Palakkad,
11. Kubera of Devarashtra and
12. Dhananjaya of Kustalapura.
The southern states were far away from his capital Pataliputra, and so they could not be brought under his direct control. The defeated rulers accepted his sovereignty and paid him tributes. No territory was annexed.
4. Annexation of the frontier Kingdoms: The frontier area also came under the control of Samudragupta. They accepted his authority and paid tributes to him. They were Kamarupa (Assam), Samataka (Bengal), Karthripura (Punjab), Devaka (Nepal) And Rohilkhanda.
5. Extended the Kingdom: Samudragupta’s Empire had extended from Bengal in the east to Punjab in the west, Himalayas in the north and up to the Vindya mountains in the south. The fame of Samudragupta reached far and wide. He maintained friendly relations with Ceylon. He was triumphant everywhere in India.
Hence, Dr. V.A. Smith, the historian has called him as the ‘The Indian Napolean’. After his conquests, he performed ‘ Ashwamcda Yaga’ (horse sacrifice) to commemorate his victories. He also issued gold coins of various denominations. He composed many poems and thereby earned the title ‘Kaviraja’.
