Famous Ruling Dynasties of Ancient Period in Uttar Pradesh: Maurya dynasty, Shunga dynasty, Shaka dynasty, Kushana dynasty, Gupta dynasty, Kanva dynasty, Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty and Chandela and Gahadavala dynasty were some famous ruling dynasties of ancient period of Uttar Pradesh.
These are discussed below:
Shunga Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● This dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BC. The capital of Shunga dynasty was Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh). The great Buddhist stupa at Bharhut (Madhya Pradesh) was built during his reign.
● It is known from the rock documents found at Ayodhya that Shunga dynasty was a Brahman caste.
● Pushyamitra made ‘Ashvamedh Yajna’ at Jagatgram near Dehradun (Uttarakhand).
● Patanjali was the priest of two Asvamedha yajnas performed by Pushyamitra Shunga. He was born at Gonarda in Central India and wrote Mahabhasya. He was the expounder of Yoga Philosophy.
● In Patanjali’s ‘Mahavashy’, it is mentioned that Saaket (Ayodhya) was surrounded by Yawan’s (Yunanis). The Yawan attackers, led by Menander, captured Kathiawar, Sakal or Sialkot and Mathura.
● They were challenged and defeated by Vasumitra, the grandson of Pushyamitra.
● Famous monuments built during Shunga period were Bharhut Stupa, Sanchi Stupa, Amravati Stupa, Nasik Chaitya, etc.
● Pushyamitra was succeeded by his son Agnimitra, the hero of Kalidasa’s drama Malavikagnimitra.
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Kanva Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● The Kanva dynasty (75-30 BCE) was a Brahmin dynasty which replaced the Shunga dynasty. The first king of this dynasty was king Vasudeva.
● This dynasty continued to rule for 45 years and it was brought to an end in 28 B.C. by Simuk. He was the founder of Satavahana dynasty.
Kushana Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● The Kushana dynasty was founded by Kujula Kadphises also known as Kadphises I.
● The second king of Kushana dynasty was Vima Kadphises also known as Kadphises II who issued gold coins. These coins are found from Mathura. These coins have images of Shiva, Trishul and Nandi carved on them.
● The greatest ruler Kanishka was the son of Verma Kadphises of Kushana dynasty. The capitals of second Kushan dynasty were at Peshawar (Purushapura) and Mathura.
● Kanishka started an era in 78 AD which is now known as the Shaka era.
● In Kanishka reign, 4th Buddhist council was held in Kundalavana, Kashmir. The Kushanas were the first ruler in India to issue gold coins on a wide scale. These coins are found from Mathura. Mathura was the centre of trade and culture during Kushana period.
● During Kushana period, two art forms were developed i.e. Gandhar and Mathura art forms. Parshva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, Charaka and Mathura were scholars and were patronaged by Kanishka.
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Shaka Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● They replaced the Indo Greeks in India also known as Seythians. The most famous ruler in India was Rudradaman (130AD – 150 AD).
● The first king of Shaka dynasty was ‘Maueus’ or ‘Moga’. He established Kshatrapa dynasty in Mathura around 60 BC and died around 38 BC.
● The territories of Mathura Kshatrapa were extended from Mathura to Punjab.
● In about 58 BC, a king of Ujjain, Vikramaditya is supposed to have fought effectively against the Shakas.
Indo Greek Invasion in Uttar Pradesh
Indo Greek were the first among the foreign invaders in India, who invaded India. Menander (165-145 BC) was the most famous among all the Indo Greek invaders His kingdom expanded from river Jhelum to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.
Gupta Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● It was founded by Srigupta. He used the title of Maharaja. Srigupta was succeeded by his son Ghatotkacha. Ghatotkacha also inherited the title of Maharaja.
● Chandragupta I was the first ruler to use the title of Maharajadhiraja. He solidified his state after he had married the daughter of Lichchhiwi dynasty. The powerful Lichchhiwi had control over Bihar and Nepal. He started Gupta era in 319-20 AD. Chandragupta I was able to establish his authority over Allahabad, Awadh and South Bihar.
● Chandragupta I was succeeded by his son Samudragupta. He was called the Nepolean of India due to his military campaigns by VA Smith.
● The most authentic record of his reign is described in the Prayag Prashasti / (Allahabad) pillar inscription, composed by his court poet Harisena.
● Samudragupta was succeeded by his son Chandragupta II. He was also known as Vikramaditya. This period is referred to as the classical age or golden age of ancient India.
● It was the time of Chandragupta II that the Chinese Pilgrim Fa-hien visited India. He married Kubernaga of Naga dynasty. During Gupta period, splendid Buddhist states were constructed in Sarnath and Mathura.
● Temple art was developed during the Gupta period. The temple of Kanpur, Jhansi, Bhitargaon, Ghazipur and Bhitari are examples of temple art of Gupta period.
Vardhana Dynasty or Pushyabhuti Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● Capital of this dynasty was Thaneswar. The first important ruler of this dynasty was Prabhakaravardhana. The Prabhakaravardhana was succeeded by his eldest son Rajyavardhana.
● Harshavardhana defeated Dhruvasena II, who was the Maitraka ruler of Vallabhi.
The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited India at the time of Harshavardhana.
● His kingdom was expanded from Thaneshwar to river Narmada in the South, Ganjam in the East and Vallabhi in the West. He is also known as Mahodaya Shri because of the development of Kannauj. He organised two religious conferences in Prayag and Kannauj in 643 AD.
Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● After Vardhana dynasty, Yashovasman was the ruler of Kannauj for short period.
For 200 years, the triangular struggle between the three kingdoms of Rashtrakuta, Pala and Pratiharas continued on Kannauj.
● Inscription which was found from Gwalior, proved that Pratihara’s king Nagabhatta II defeated Chakrayudha the ruler of Kannauj and made Kannauj his kingdom’s capital.
● Mihirbhoja, Mahipala and Mahendrapala, etc were the major rulers of this dynasty.
● In the reign of king Bhoj, Sulaiman came to India. In 1018-19, Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India and defeated Pratiharas.
Chandela and Gahadavala Dynasty in Uttar Pradesh
● After the fall of the Gujara-Pratiharas, two new dynasties of Chandela and Gahadavala dynasty emerged in the state.
● Mahoba’s Chandela ruled nearly for 400 years. Their evidences are still available in Khajuraho.
● Gahadavala dynasty was founded by Chandradeva in Kannauj.
● Govindachandra and Jay chandra were the famous kings of this dynasty.
● In the Battle of Chandawar (Firozabad) in 1194, Muhammad Ghori defeated Jayachandra, the last ruler of the Gahadavala dynasty and killed him.