The Entire History of Sogdiana in 1000 BC–AD 1000

In the Deccan during the Shyati century, when the Vakatakas, Chalukyas, and Pallavas ruled. In the north, following the fall of the Gupta Empire, several new dynasties emerged. The ones who were the Northern Guptas, Maukhari, Gauda, and Pushyabhuti, that is, the Vardhana dynasty. Out of all these dynasties, Pushyabhuti Danishti established a powerful kingdom and protected India from Huna invasions. It is believed that Raj Pushyabhuti laid the foundation of this dynasty, but Pushyabhuti was actually Danishti. Prabhakar Vardhan was the first Notebuk King. Perhaps for this reason, this dynasty is also known as the Vardhana dynasty. Thaneswar emerged as a very powerful empire in the Karauli region under Prabhakar Vardhan. It is believed that they defended Punjab against the Huns in the Battle of Punjab, thereby securing their kingdom. At that time, the Maukhari dynasty was advancing toward its downfall. Nevertheless, Prabhakar Varadan maintained the Kodiyal relations and arranged the marriage of his daughter Rajashri to Maukhari Rajah Grah Verman. Then Prabhakar Vardhan defeated the enemy king Rajadev Gubda of Maukhari and incorporated Malwa into the Pushyabhuti dynasty. King Prabhakar sent his two sons, Crown Prince Rajavardhana and Harshavardhana, to fight against the Huns. As soon as Rajvardhan received the news of Prabhakar Vartham's illness, he returned home. Unfortunately, Prabhakar Varadan passed away before Rajvardhan arrived, and thus all responsibilities fell upon Rajvardhan. During this period, the Gaur Samraj emerged as a remarkably powerful ruler under the reign of King Shashanka of the Bengal region. Driven by his desire to capture Kannauj, the capital of Maukhari, Shashanka allied with Devagupta, an enemy of the Pushyabhuti dynasty, and launched an attack on Kannauj. Devagupta killed the king of Maukhari, Krivarma, and captured Rajashri, the sister of Rajavardhana. Furious upon hearing this, Rajavardhana entrusted the responsibility of the empire to his younger brother Harshavardhana and, taking with him his vast army, She set out toward Nauj. In this battle, they killed Devagupta, but even there they did not find Rajshri, so they turned their direction toward King Shashank. Shashank surrendered and made peace with Rajvardhan. After losing his brother, Harshavardhana resolved to take revenge on King Shashanka. They formed an alliance with King Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa-Kamrupa and launched an attack on the Gaur kingdom. Shashank had no idea of the power of these two kings, and instead of fighting, he fled into the dense forests of Odisha. Meanwhile, Harshavardhana discovered his sister Rajashri and prevented her from performing sati. Harshavardhana brought the royal crown back to Kannauj and entrusted him with the responsibility of the royal treasury. After the death of Rajshree, he ruled like an ideal king by incorporating Maukhari Raj in his empire. They greatly promoted art and education within their realm and supported the scholars and intellectuals of Nalanda University. The Chinese traveler Xuanzang and the Indian poet Banabhatta were contemporaries, and descriptions of Harshavardhana's administration can be found in the works written by these two. After Shashan's death, they incorporated the Gau state into the Pushyabhuti empire. Even after avenging their brother's death and the mistreatment of their sister, they still performed their royal consecration. Harshavardhana extended his empire up to the banks of the Narmada River, and subsequently launched an attack on Valabhi. The king of Valabhi, Dhruvasena II, sought assistance from Pulakeshin II, the powerful ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. In 620 A.D., Pulakeshin defeated Harshavardhana in a battle on the banks of the Narmada and halted his advance toward the south. However, Harshavardhana later forged an alliance with King Dhruvasena and arranged the marriage of his daughter to Dhruvasena. Thus, despite losing the battle, Harshavardhana won the victory in Bhallabhi. Harshavardhana had no successor. For this reason, the Pushyabhuti dynasty also came to an end with Harsha's death. The reign of the Pushyabhuti dynasty lasted for barely one century. Yet, the name of the Pushyabhuti dynasty and Harsha Vardhana remains immortal in history even today. But who was King Pulakeshin II, the one who halted the powerful Harshavardhana from advancing southward? To find out, keep watching the royal dynasty.