Campaigns of Samudragupta: Difference between revisions

Wars of Samudragupta
	Malavas Utkala Ganjam Vizagapatam Godavari Krishna Nellore Kanchi Kabul Purushpura Taxila Sialkot Srinagar Indraprastha Mathura Ayodhya Prayaga Magadh Vanga Nepala Abhiras Kamarupa N. Sakas W. Sakas Vakatakas class=notpageimage\| Samudragupta's military campaign in the South (Eastern Deccan Region along the Bay of Bengal), North and West with boundaries.
Date	4th c. CE
Location	Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Nepal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Sindh, Afghanistan
Result	Unification of the Ganges Valley
Territorial; changes	Territories extending from Chenab River in the west to Brahmaputra River in the east and from the Foothills of Himalayas to Vindhyas falls to the Gupta Empire under direct rule.; Territories till Kanchipuram annexed into Gupta Empire as Tributaries.; Gupta borders extends from Assam in the east to Afghanistan in the west
Belligerents
Gupta Empire	Aryavarta Kingdoms Kingdoms: Kingdom of Achyuta ; Kingdom of Nagasena ; Kingdom of Kota ; Kingdom of Rudradeva ; Kingdom of Matila ; Naga Kingdom ; Pushkarana Kingdom ; Magha dynasty ; Forest Kingdoms Kingdoms: Parivrajaka dynasty ; Dabhala Kingdom ; Unknown 16 kingdoms ; Frontier States States: Samatata ; Davaka ; Kumarupa ; Nepala ; Katripura ; Tribal Oligarchies Tribal Kingdoms: Malavas ; Arjunayanas ; Yaudheya ; Madra kingdom ; Abhiras ; Sanakanikas ; Kakas ; Prarjunas ; Kharaparikas ; Dakshinpatha Kingdoms Kingdoms: Kingdom of Kosala ; Nalas ; Mahakantara ; Kurala ; Pishtapura ; Kottura ; Erandapalla ; Pallava dynasty ; Avamukta ; Vengi ; Vashishta dynasty ; Chieftains of Kusthalapura ; Foreign Kingdoms Kingdoms: Later Kushanas ; Sakas ; Murundas ; Simhala ;
Commanders and leaders
Samudragupta (WIA)	Achyuta Naga ; Nagasena ; Ganapati Naga ; Kota ruler (POW); Mahendra (POW); Vyagharaja (POW); Mantraja (POW); Mahendragiri (POW); Svamidatta (POW); Damana (POW); Vishnugopa (POW); Nilaraja (POW); Hastivarman (POW); Ugrasena (POW); Kubera (POW); Dhananjaya (POW); Rudradeva †; Matila †; Nagadatta †; Chandravarman †; Balavarman †

Revision as of 11:15, 1 July 2025

The Conquests and Campaigns of Samudragupta, or the Wars of Samudragupta were a number of conflicts fought between the mid 4th c. CE and late 4th c. CE throughout the various parts of the present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal. The campaigns resulted in the unification of the Ganga valley^[7] and the fall of several independent kingdoms, republics and tribes to the Gupta realm.

Samudragupta's Allahabad Prashasti records his campaigns in detail, said to have been written by Harisena. Samudragupta first launched his First Aryavarta Campaign against the local rulers of the Ganga valley and completely uprooted them, the states of Achyuta, Ganapati Naga and Nagasena suffered the cause. The ruler of Kota dynasty was captured by the army of Samudragupta and was forced to accept the Gupta suzerainty.

Samudragupta after consolidating his power in the Ganga valley, moved to suppress the Southern Kings, who were captured, liberated and reinstalled back to their thrones. Samudragupta in the Dakshinpatha campaign, defeated 11 kings of South India, and annexed them into Gupta Empire as tributary states.

After finishing off with his Dakshinpatha campaign, Samudragupta launched his final campaign of Aryavarta, where he defeated 9 kings and annexed them into Gupta Empire under direct administration. Thus, a 'war of extermination' against the Aryavarta kings was started by Samudragupta which was violent and bloody.

By the end of his reign, Samudragupta was able to gain control over almost whole of the Indian subcontinent, extending from modern day Punjab in the west to Assam in the east and from the foothills of Himalayas in the north to the Vindhyas in the south with the allegiance of Southern Kings along the eastern coast of India.

↑ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (j); p.25. ISBN 0226742210. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
↑ Goyel, SR (1967). History of the Imperial Guptas. Central book Depot, pg 128
↑ R. C. Majumdar 1981, p. 23, 27.
↑ Ashvini Agrawal 1989, p. 128.
↑ K. Chakrabarti 1996, p. 185.
↑ V.R. Ramachandra 1993, p. 81-82.
↑ Goyala, Śrīrāma (1967). A History of the Imperial Guptas. Central Book Depot. p. 128.

Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "lower-alpha", but no corresponding <references group="lower-alpha"/> tag was found

[1] Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (j); p.25. ISBN 0226742210. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.

[Goyel,_SR_1967-2] Goyel, SR (1967). History of the Imperial Guptas. Central book Depot, pg 128

[FOOTNOTER._C._Majumdar198123,_27-3] R. C. Majumdar 1981, p. 23, 27.

[FOOTNOTEAshvini_Agrawal1989128-4] Ashvini Agrawal 1989, p. 128.

[FOOTNOTEK._Chakrabarti1996185-5] K. Chakrabarti 1996, p. 185.

[FOOTNOTEV.R._Ramachandra199381-82-6] V.R. Ramachandra 1993, p. 81-82.

[8] Goyala, Śrīrāma (1967). A History of the Imperial Guptas. Central Book Depot. p. 128.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Infobox military conflict
+| conflict    = Wars of Samudragupta
+| width       = 415px
+| partof      =
+| image       = {{Location map+
+|South Asia
+|float = center
+|width = 400
+|border = none
+|caption = Samudragupta's military campaign in the South (Eastern Deccan Region along the Bay of Bengal), North and West with boundaries.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=182 145, map XIV.1 (j)]; [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=062 p.25] |isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=182 |access-date=12 February 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224162023/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=182 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+|nodiv = 1
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+|places =
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=21|N |long=79|E |label=|position= |label_size=0|mark=Gupta border.png|marksize=400 }}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=22.9734|N |long=78.6569|E |label=[[Malwa|Malavas]] |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=20.7984|N |long=85.8310|E |label=Utkala |position=bottom |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=19.3138|N |long=84.9306|E |label=Ganjam |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=17.6869|N |long=83.2185|E |label=Vizagapatam |position=right |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=17.3854|N |long=81.7742|E |label=Godavari |position=left |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=16.5060|N |long=80.7073|E |label=Krishna |position=bottom |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=14.4424|N |long=79.9866|E |label=Nellore |position=left |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=12.8317|N |long=79.7080|E |label=[[Kanchipuram|Kanchi]] |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=34.5553|N |long=69.2075|E |label=[[Kabul]] |position=left |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=34.0151|N |long=71.5249|E |label=[[Peshawar|Purushpura]] |position=right |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=33.7480|N |long=72.8387|E |label=[[Taxila]] |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=32.4926|N |long=74.5313|E |label=[[Sialkot]] |position=left |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=34.0837|N |long=74.7973|E |label=[[Srinagar]] |position=bottom |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=28.6139|N |long=77.2090|E |label=[[Delhi|Indraprastha]] |position=right |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=27.4924|N |long=77.6737|E |label=[[Mathura]] |position=left |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=26.7876|N |long=81.1998|E |label=[[Ayodhya]] |position=bottom |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=25.4358|N |long=81.8463|E |label=Prayaga |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=25.0961|N |long=85.3131|E |label=Magadh |position=right |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=23.6850|N |long=90.3563|E |label=[[Bengal|Vanga]] |position=left |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=27.7172|N |long=85.3240|E |label=[[Nepal|Nepala]] |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=26.0|N |long=68.5|E |label=[[Abhira|Abhiras]] |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=26.2|N |long=92.9|E |label=[[Assam|Kamarupa]] |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=29.4|N |long=71.7|E |label=N. Sakas |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=22.3|N |long=71.7|E |label=W. Sakas |position=top |label_size=80}}
+{{location map~ |South Asia |lat=19.9333|N |long=76.7500|E |label=Vakatakas |position=top |label_size=80}}
+}}
+| image_size  =
+| alt         =
+| caption     =
+| date        = 4th c. CE
+| place       = [[Bihar]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Punjab]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Odisha]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Telangana]], [[Bengal]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Nepal]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Sindh]], [[Afghanistan]]
+| coordinates = <!--Use the {{coord}} template -->
+| map_type    =
+| map_relief  =
+| map_size    =
+| map_marksize =
+| map_caption =
+| map_label   =
+| territory   = Territories extending from [[Chenab River]] in the west to [[Brahmaputra River]] in the east and from the Foothills of [[Himalayas]] to [[Vindhyas]] falls to the [[Gupta Empire]] under direct rule.{{sfn|R. C. Majumdar|1981|p=23, 27}}{{sfn|Ashvini Agrawal|1989|p=128}}<br>Territories till [[Kanchipuram]] annexed into [[Gupta Empire]] as Tributaries.{{sfn|K. Chakrabarti|1996|p=185}}<br>[[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] borders extends from [[Assam]] in the east to [[Afghanistan]] in the west{{sfn|V.R. Ramachandra|1993|p=81-82}}
+| result      = Unification of the [[Ganga|Ganges Valley]]<ref name="Goyel, SR 1967">Goyel, SR (1967). ''History of the Imperial Guptas''. Central book Depot, pg 128</ref>
+| status      =
+| combatants_header =
+| combatant1  = [[Gupta Empire]]
+| combatant2  = [[North India|Aryavarta Kingdoms]]
+{{Collapsible list
+| title = ''{{nobold|Kingdoms:}}''
+| Kingdom of Achyuta
+| Kingdom of Nagasena
+| Kingdom of Kota
+| Kingdom of Rudradeva
+| Kingdom of Matila
+| Naga Kingdom
+| Pushkarana Kingdom
+| Magha dynasty
+}}
+----
+[[Forest|Forest Kingdoms]]
+{{Collapsible list
+| title = ''{{nobold|Kingdoms:}}''
+| Parivrajaka dynasty
+| Dabhala Kingdom
+| Unknown 16 kingdoms
+}}
+----
+[[Frontier|Frontier States]]
+{{Collapsible list
+| title = ''{{nobold|States:}}''
+| Samatata
+| Davaka
+| [[Assam|Kumarupa]]
+| [[Nepal|Nepala]]
+| Katripura
+}}
+----
+[[Oligarchy|Tribal Oligarchies]]
+{{Collapsible list
+| title = ''{{nobold|Tribal Kingdoms:}}''
+| [[Malwa|Malavas]]
+| Arjunayanas
+| Yaudheya
+| Madra kingdom
+| Abhiras
+| Sanakanikas
+| Kakas
+| Prarjunas
+| Kharaparikas
+}}
+----
+[[South India|Dakshinpatha Kingdoms]]
+{{Collapsible list
+| title = ''{{nobold|Kingdoms:}}''
+| Kingdom of Kosala
+| Nalas
+| Mahakantara
+| Kurala
+| Pishtapura
+| Kottura
+| Erandapalla
+| [[Pallava dynasty]]
+| Avamukta
+| Vengi
+| Vashishta dynasty
+| Chieftains of Kusthalapura
+}}
+----
+Foreign Kingdoms
+{{Collapsible list
+| title = ''{{nobold|Kingdoms:}}''
+| [[Kushan Empire|Later Kushanas]]
+| [[Saka|Sakas]]
+| Murundas
+| [[Sri Lanka|Simhala]]
+}}
+| combatant3  =
+| commander1  = [[Samudragupta]]{{WIA}}{{efn|According to Harisena, Samudragupta sustained wounds and scars from the 100 battles he fought.}}
+| commander2  = Achyuta Naga{{Surrendered}}{{executed}}<br>Nagasena{{Surrendered}}{{executed}}<br>Ganapati Naga{{Surrendered}}{{executed}}<br>Kota ruler{{POW}}<br>Mahendra{{POW}}<br>Vyagharaja{{POW}}<br>Mantraja{{POW}}<br>Mahendragiri{{POW}}<br>Svamidatta{{POW}}<br>Damana{{POW}}<br>Vishnugopa{{POW}}<br>Nilaraja{{POW}}<br>Hastivarman{{POW}}<br>Ugrasena{{POW}}<br>Kubera{{POW}}<br>Dhananjaya{{POW}}<br>Rudradeva{{KIA}}<br>Matila{{KIA}}<br>Nagadatta{{KIA}}<br>Chandravarman{{KIA}}<br>Balavarman{{KIA}}
+| commander3  =
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+| units2      =
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+| strength1   =
+| strength2   =
+| strength3   =
+| casualties1 =
+| casualties2 =
+| casualties3 =
+| notes       =
+| campaignbox =
+}}
+The '''Conquests and Campaigns of Samudragupta''', or the '''Wars of Samudragupta''' were a number of conflicts fought between the mid 4th c. CE and late 4th c. CE throughout the various parts of the present day [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Nepal]]. The campaigns resulted in the unification of the [[North Indian Plain|Ganga valley]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzFuAAAAMAAJ|title=A History of the Imperial Guptas|last=Goyala|first=Śrīrāma|date=1967|publisher=Central Book Depot|pages=128|language=en}}</ref> and the fall of several independent [[Kingdom|kingdoms]], [[Republic|republics]] and [[Tribe|tribes]] to the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta realm]].
+[[Samudragupta]]'s Allahabad Prashasti records his campaigns in detail, said to have been written by Harisena. Samudragupta first launched his First [[North Indian Plain|Aryavarta]] Campaign against the local rulers of the Ganga valley and completely ''uprooted'' them, the states of Achyuta, Ganapati Naga and Nagasena suffered the cause. The ruler of ''Kota dynasty'' was captured by the army of Samudragupta and was forced to accept the Gupta suzerainty.
+Samudragupta after consolidating his power in the Ganga valley, moved to suppress the [[South India|Southern Kings]], who were captured, liberated and reinstalled back to their thrones. Samudragupta in the ''Dakshinpatha'' campaign, defeated 11 kings of South India, and annexed them into Gupta Empire as tributary states.
+After finishing off with his ''Dakshinpatha'' campaign, Samudragupta launched his final campaign of ''[[North India|Aryavarta]],'' where he defeated 9 kings and annexed them into [[Gupta Empire]] under direct administration. Thus, a 'war of extermination' against the Aryavarta kings was started by Samudragupta which was violent and bloody.
+By the end of his reign, Samudragupta was able to gain control over almost whole of the [[Indian subcontinent]], extending from modern day [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] in the west to [[Assam]] in the east and from the foothills of [[Himalayas]] in the north to the [[Vindhyas]] in the south with the allegiance of [[South India|Southern]] Kings along the eastern coast of [[India]].