imported>Bangaru Yachama Nayudu at 21:29, 18 June 2021

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{{for|the Saka king|Rudrasena I (Saka king)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox royalty
| title = '''Mahārāja'''
| image =
| caption =
| succession =
| reign = c. 335 - 360 CE
| predecessor = [[Pravarasena I]]
| successor = [[Prithivishena I]]
| spouse =
| issue =
| house = [[Vakataka]]
| father = Prince Gautamiputra
| mother = A daughter of the [[Bharashiva]] king Bhavanaga
}}
{{Vakataka Infobox}}

'''Rudrasena I''' ({{reign|{{circa|335}}|360 CE}}<ref>{{cite book |author1=A.S. Altekar |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=R.C. |editor2-last=Altekar |editor2-first=A.S. |title=The Vakataka-Gupta Age |date=2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsi Dass |isbn=9788120800434 |page=94}}</ref>) was a ruler of the Nandivardhana-Pravarapura branch of the [[Vakataka]] dynasty. He was the grandson and one of the successors of [[Pravarasena I]].

Not much is known about Rudrasena's life and reign. His father was Prince Gautamiputra and his mother was probably a daughter of the [[Bharashiva]] king Bhavanaga, as later Vakataka inscriptions describe Rudrasena as a grandson of Bhavanaga.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Upinder |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |date=2016 |publisher=Pearson India Education Services |isbn=9788131716779 |page=482}}</ref> Rudrasena was also described as a devout worshipper of Mahabhairava, a fierce form of [[Shiva]]. It is possible that Rudrasena's Shaivite leanings were influenced by his maternal relatives, who were noted for their devotion to Shiva.<ref>{{cite book |author1=D.C. Sircar |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=R.C. |title=The Classical Age |date=1997 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |page=178 |edition=Fifth}}</ref>

Some scholars in the past have identified Rudrasena with the king named Rudradeva in the [[Allahabad pillar]] inscription, where Rudradeva is described as one of the rulers of [[Aryavarta]] who were exterminated by [[Samudragupta]]. [[Anant Sadashiv Altekar|A.S. Altekar]] points out that this identification is based only on a superficial resemblance of names and is quite unlikely for a number of reasons. First, the region of Aryavarta pertains to northern India, whereas the dominions of the Vakatakas were strictly speaking located in the ''[[Dakshinapatha]]'' or Deccan. Second, there was not much occasion for rivalry between the Guptas and Vakatakas because their spheres of influence were quite distinct from one another. In fact, even during Samudragupta's famous southern expedition, there was no direct conflict between the Guptas and Vakatakas. Finally, if Rudrasena had been killed by Samudragupta, it would be extremely unlikely that his son Prthivishena would accept a Gupta princess ([[Prabhavatigupta]]) as his daughter-in-law.<ref>{{cite book |author1=A.S. Altekar |editor1-last=Yazdani |editor1-first=Ghulam |title=The Early History of the Deccan |date=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=167-168}}</ref>

Unlike his illustrious father Pravarasena, Rudrasena never assumed the imperial title of ''Samrāṭ'' and was instead referred to only as ''Mahārāja''. Due to the division of Pravarasena's empire upon his death, none of his successors could claim the imperial title. However, this does not mean that Rudrasena had lost his independence or was under the suzerainty of some other, more powerful ruler. In the Deccan especially, the title ''Mahārāja'' was used by powerful and independent kings.<ref>Altekar (2007), pp. 97-99</ref>

The capital of Rudrasena's kingdom was Nandivardhana, which is probably identical to Nagardhan near [[Ramtek]], about 13 miles north of [[Nagpur]].<ref>Altekar (2007), p. 105</ref> This city would remain an important political center in the [[Vidarbha]] region for several centuries. Rudrasena is also known to have constructed a Shiva temple at Deotek, about 50 miles southeast of Nagpur.<ref>Altekar (1960), p. 171</ref> The records of the Vakataka dynasty assert that their family's treasury, army, and prestige were "continuously on the increase" for 100 years at the time when Prithvishena I (the son and successor of Rudrasena) ascended the throne, which suggests that the reign of Rudrasena saw the continued maintenance of Vakataka power and influence.<ref>Altekar (1960), pp. 99-100</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Vakataka dynasty]]
[[Category:4th-century Indian monarchs]]

Rudrasena I (Vakataka king) - Revision history

imported>Bangaru Yachama Nayudu at 21:29, 18 June 2021