Gauda–Gupta War

Gauda–Gupta War
Part of List of wars involving Guptas
The Later Gupta kingdom at its zenith around c. 590 CE, and its neighbours
Date 550–560 AD Location Gauḍa (region) Result Maukhari-Gupta alliance victory Territorial changes Gaudas forced to fall back upon the Deltaic region to the east of the Bhagirathi.
Belligerents
Gupta Empire Later Guptas Maukhari dynasty	Gauda Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Kumaragupta III Jivitgupta I Ishanavarman	Gopachandra Dharmaditya Samacharadeva

The Gauda–Gupta War was a conflict between Gopachandra on one side with Ishanavarman and Jivitagupta I on the other side. The war resulted in the defeat of the Gauda Kingdom.

Background

(Line 1.)-Just as the full-moon, destitute of spots, the destroyer of the darkness, was produced from the ocean, so from him there was born a son, the majestic one, named the illustrious Harshagupta, who,--raining down a terrible flight of arrows from (his) firm bow that was bent with ease at the befitting proper time, (and) being gazed upon with copious tears by (his enemies) who, averse to the abode of the goddess of fortune being with (him, her) own lord, were stupified (at being unable to prevent it),-was (always) displaying a glorious triumph, the written record as it were of terrible contests, in the guise of the rows of the knots of hard callous places, caused by wounds from many weapons, on (his) chest.
(L. 3.)-His son was the illustrious Jîvitagupta, the best among kings, who was a very-cold-rayed (moon) to (wither) the waterlilies that were the countenances of the women of (his) proud enemies. The very terrible scorching fever (of fear) left not (his) haughty foes, even though they stood on seaside shores that were cool with the flowing and ebbing currents of water, (and) were covered with the branches of plantain-trees severed by the trunks of elephants roaming through the lofty groves of palmyra-palms; (or) even though they stood on (that) mountain (Himâlaya) which is cold with the water of the rushing and waving torrents full of snow. Even still his superhuman deeds are regarded with astonishment by all mankind, like the leap of (the monkey Hanumat) the son of the Wind from the side of (the mountain) Kôshavardhana.

Aphsad inscription of Ādityasena (rubbing).

According to the Aphsad inscription of Ādityasena (seventh century) Kumaragupta (fourth King of the dynasty) was contemporary to the Maukhari King Ishanavarman. It is probable the first three Later Gupta Kings were contemporary to the first three Maukhari Kings. It is further proven that the second King (Adityavarman) married Harshaguptā, the sister of the second Later Gupta King (Harshagupta).

The War

Bhitari copper-silver seal of Kumaragupta III.

Ishanavarman may have been the contemporary of Jivitagupta I, who is known to have won against his enemies whether they stood on the Himalayas or on seashore (including the Gauda Kingdom). Ishanavarman also was victorious against the Gaudas. It likely possible that both of them defeated the same foes, the Gaudas. Ishanavarman is stated to have forced them to stay at their proper realm:

'He caused the Gauḍas, living on the sea-shore, in future to remain within their proper realm.'

— translation of Hiranandi Sastri

Gopachandra was most likely the contemporary ruler of the Gaudas who ruled over a portion of West Bengal and fought against Ishanavarman and Jivitagupta I. Eventually, Gopachandra was driven back to the Deltaic region to the east of Bhāgīrathī. Jivitagupta probably fought against the independent Vanga Kingdom as well.