The Principality of Pataliputra or the Principality of Magadha was the polity that existed between collapse of the First Magadhan Empire and formation of the Restored Magadhan Empire.[1]
Principality of Pataliputra | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 28 BC - c. 319 CE | |||||||||
 The Principality of Patialputra and other neighbouring polities. | |||||||||
| Capital | Pataliputra | ||||||||
| Common languages | Sanskrit Prakrit | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism Buddhism | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Magadhi | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Maharaja | |||||||||
• c. 240-280 | Sri Gupta | ||||||||
• c. 280-319 | Ghatotkacha | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 318 CE | 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi) | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | India
Bangladesh | ||||||||
History
editAfter the defeat of the Kanva dynasty of the Magadhan Empire by the Satavahanas, the once extensive empire shrank to a mere principality centred around the Pataliputra and Magadha.[2]
After the defeat, it seems that Magadha came under the influence of the Mitra dynasty of the Kosambi Kingdom[3] and the Mahameghavahana dynasty of the Kalinga during late 1st century BCE.[4]
Administration
editAccording to the Chinese Buddhist Monk and traveler 'Yijing' who visited India in the 7th century CE, claimed that Sri Gupta had built a Buddhist temple near Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no (Mṛgaśikhāvana) for Chinese Pilgrims, but only it's brick foundation survived during the time of Yijing, the temple was provided with revenue of 24 villages for its maintenance.[5]
Alliance with Licchavis of Nepal
editGhatotkacha may have been responsible for entering into a matrimonial alliance with the Licchavis of Nepal, which resulted in the marriage of the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi to his son Chandragupta I, Historian V. A. Smith dates this event to c. 308 CE.[6]
Religious Policy
editIt is unclear what religion Sri Gupta followed, but historian A.K Narin therorises that he followed Vaishnavism but was also tolerant of Buddhist activities in his principality.[7]
List of rulers
editDue to the scarcity of sources, rulers before the Gupta dynasty are not known about.[8]
| Name | Reign | Title | Dynasty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Gupta | c. 240 CE - 280 CE | Shri | Gupta dynasty |
| Ghatotkacha | c. 280 CE - 319 CE | Shri | Gupta dynasty |
References
edit- ^ Roy, Daya (1986). "SOME ASPECTS OF THE RELATION BETWEEN ANGA AND MAGADHA (600 B.C.—323 B.C.)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 47: 108–112.
- ^ Keny, Liladhar B. (1943). ""The Supposed Identification of Udayana of Kauśāmbi with Udayin of Magadha"". Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. 24 (1/2): 60–66. ISSN 0378-1143.
- ^ Bajpai, K. D. Indian Numismatic Studies. Abhinav Publications. pp. 37–41, 45. ISBN 978-81-7017-035-8.
- ^ "-- Schwartzberg Atlas -- Digital South Asia Library". dsal.uchicago.edu. p. 147. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ Ganguly, Dilip Kumar (1987). The Imperial Guptas and Their Times. Abhinav Publications. p. 7. ISBN 978-81-7017-222-2.
- ^ Agrawal, Ashvini (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 87. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.
- ^ Smith, Bardwell L. (1983). Essays on Gupta Culture. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 17–52. ISBN 978-0-8364-0871-3.
- ^ Samaddar, J. N. (1924). Glories of Magadha. University of Calcutta, Calcutta. p. 36.