Karkota dynasty
The Karkota dynasty ruled Kashmir between approx. 625 and 855. In its time, Kashmir was characterized by state formation and far-reaching political and cultural influence.
The founder of the dynasty was King Durlabhavardhana around 625. He and his successors Chandrapida and Tarapida extended the national territory over the western Himalayas, the Panjab and Afghanistan. At that time Afghanistan was still dominated by India, but had to be defended against Arab incursions since around 670. King Chandrapida also sent an embassy to China in 713 for this purpose . Another rival was Tibet , which rose under King Songtsen Gampo (r. Approx. 617-49) , which primarily fought for the strategically important control of Gilgit .
Terracing, irrigation and drainage projects pushed the economic development of Kashmir, several temples were built and were financed through tributes from the connected provinces. According to Xuanzang (pilgrim monk, traveled to the country in 631), Buddhism was influential. The cultural influence of Kashmir affected Tibet and the Tarim Basin in the 7th to 9th centuries ; a number of important Indian writers also came from Kashmir. The kings of Kashmir at that time also had foreign experts on duty, so Chinese military advisers trained the army and in the temple building of Lalitadityas (Martand, Parihasapura, Malot), Syrian-late Roman influence can be seen, which mixed with the Gupta style.
The power-political climax of the dynasty was reached under King Lalitaditya (ruled approx. 725-756), who brought all of northern India (including Yasovarman in Kanauj and Jivitagupta II in Magadha ) and Afghanistan (the Turki-Shahi) under his short-lived suzerainty and there ruthlessly shifted the population (including fire ceremony of the Rajputs in 747). But around 747 Lalitaditya had to return to Kashmir because the Tibetans had invaded. He was killed on some costly campaign north. His deeds as well as large parts of the history of Kashmir are only described in the Rajatarangini of Kalhana (from 1148), but are indirectly confirmed by other sources (Alberuni, Haider Malik Chadurah etc.). Kalhana also wrote campaigns in legendary countries to increase Lalitaditya's fame.
The king tried to keep the power of the land nobles ( damaras ) under control. Kalhana put the following words in Lalitaditya's mouth: “ Whoever wishes to exercise power in this country must always be on guard against internal discord. Those who live there in the inaccessible mountains should be punished, even if they are not guilty of any offense. Because they are difficult to defeat in their fortresses once they have acquired wealth. "
Lalitaditya's grandson Jayapida (ruled approx. 779 / 82-813) led new campaigns via Kanauj (King Vajrudh) to Bengal, where he installed a king named Jayanta. However, he was abandoned by his vassals (including his brother-in-law Jajja around 779/82) and overwhelmed by Tibetans who imprisoned him in Nepal. Liberated by the heroic death of a henchman, he was still able to hold Kashmir, the Panjab and Afghanistan. But after him the Karkota dynasty perished in mismanagement and debauchery.
Under the last, weak kings, the Utpala ministerial family took power; their representative ascended the throne in 855 as King Avantivarman (r. 855-83).
Kings
- Durlabhavardhana (r. Approx. 625–661)
- Pratapaditya (ruled approx. 661–711)
- Chandrapida (ruled approx. 711-719)
- Tarapida (ruled approx. 719–723)
- Lalitaditya Muktapida (reg. Approx. 723-760)
- Kuvalayapida (ruled approx. 760/61)
- Vajraditya (ruled approx. 761–768)
- Prithivyapida (reg. Approx. 768–772)
- Sangramapida I. (ruled approx. 772-779)
- Jayapida (ruled approx. 779 / 82–813)
- Lalitapida (ruled approx. 813–825)
- Sangramapida II. (R. Approx. 825-832)
- several insignificant kings
literature
- H. Goetz, History of India
- Propylaea world history