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2021-01-10T08:15:30Z

References

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{{Infobox royalty
|name = Shurapala I
|image = Indian Kanauj triangle map.svg
|caption = Pala empire with neighbours
|succession = [[Pala Empire|Pala Emperor]]
|predecessor = [[Mahendrapala]]
|successor = [[Vigrahapala I]]
|dynasty = [[Pala Empire|Pala]]
|father = [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]]
|mother = Mahata Devi
|reign = c. mid-9th century
}}
'''Shurapala I''' (also spelt '''Surapala''') was a 9th-century ruler of the [[Pala Empire]], in the [[Bengal]] region of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. He was the fifth [[Pala Empire|Pala emperor]].

== Ancestry ==

Previously, the historians believed that Shurapala and [[Vigrahapala I|Vigrahapala]] were the two names of the same person. However, the discovery of a copper plate in 1970 in the [[Mirzapur district]] conclusively established that these two were cousins. They either ruled simultaneously (perhaps over different territories) or in rapid succession.<ref name="Susan1984">{{cite book | author=Susan L. Huntington | title=The "Påala-Sena" Schools of Sculpture | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xLA3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA32 | date=1 January 1984 | publisher=Brill Archive | isbn=90-04-06856-2 }}</ref>{{rp|32–37}} If they ruled in succession, it seems more likely that Shurapala preceded Vigrahapala, since Vigrahapala I and his descendants ruled in unbroken succession. Vigrahapala either dethroned Shurapala, or replaced him peacefully in absence of any direct heir to the throne.<ref name="Dilip1994">{{cite book | author=Dilip Kumar Ganguly | title=Ancient India, History and Archaeology | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N2tlKzxwhY8C&pg=PA27 | date=1 January 1994 | publisher=Abhinav Publications | isbn=978-81-7017-304-5 | pages=29 }}</ref>

Earlier, it was believed that Shurapala and Vigrahapala succeeded Devapala. However, the discovery of a copper plate charter at [[Jagjivanpur]] indicates that Shurapala was preceded by [[Mahendrapala]]. Both were sons of Devapala and his queen Mahata.<ref name="SKTiwari2001">{{cite book | title=Dimensions of Human Cultures in Central India: Professor S.K. Tiwari Felicitation Volume | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUwFL3IipK0C&pg=PA239 | year= 2001 | publisher=Sarup & Sons | isbn=978-81-7625-186-0 | page=239 }}</ref> According to the Jagjivanpur inscription Shurapala I was Mahendrapala's younger brother and royal envoy.<ref name="NiharBraja2000">{{cite book | author1=Niharranjan Ray | author2=Brajadulal Chattopadhyaya | title=A Sourcebook of Indian Civilization | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zcyho16xzWEC&pg=PA623 | date=1 January 2000 | publisher=Orient Blackswan | isbn=978-81-250-1871-1 | pages=621–623}}</ref>

== Reign ==

Based on the different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, the different historians estimate Shurapala's reign as follows:<ref name="Susan1984"/>{{rp|32–37}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Historian
! Estimate of reign
|-
| [[Ramesh Chandra Majumdar|RC Majumdar]] (1971)
| 850-853 (along with Vigrahapala I)
|-
| AM Chowdhury (1967)
| 861-866 (along with Vigrahapala I)
|-
| BP Sinha (1977)
| 860-865 (along with Vigrahapala I)
|-
| [[Dineshchandra Sircar|DC Sircar]] (1975–76)
| 850-858
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
|title = [[Pala Empire|Pala Emperor]]
|year = [[c. mid-9th century]]
|before = [[Mahendrapala]]
|after = [[Vigrahapala I (Pala dynasty)|Virgrahapala]]
}}
{{s-end}}

[[Category:Pala kings]]
[[Category:Rulers of Bengal]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]

Shurapala I - Revision history

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