Skandagupta

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Skandagupta (ruled approx. 455-467) was the last significant military leader or ruler of the northern Indian Gupta empire , which controlled large parts of the north and east of India from about 320 to 550 AD.

family

According to currently recognized genealogy, Samudragupta was the great grandfather of Skandagupta; his grandfather was Chandragupta II and his father was Kumaragupta I. Whether Skandagupta actually belonged to the Guptas family line is controversial, some see him as a stepson of Kumaragupta or a successful military leader who rose to ruler after Kumaragupta's death.

swell

Apart from a few coin inscriptions, a pillar inscription ( Bhitari-pillar ) and a rock inscription near Junagadh in today's Gujarat , all of which have a rather panegyric character, hardly any news of Skandagupta has survived.

Life

Reliable data and facts about his life are not known. Even before he came to power after the death of Kumaragupta I, he made a name for himself as a military leader, but in contrast to Samudragupta and Chandragupta II, the Gupta empire was no longer able to expand; on the contrary, one saw oneself confronted with regional uprisings and aspirations for independence in the interior of the huge empire.

Like his predecessors, Skandagupta was a follower of Vishnuism ; his - comparatively few - coinage show him as an archer (sometimes with an aura around his head) next to a Garuda column. Compared to the Buddhism he showed himself - like his predecessors - very tolerant. However, nothing is known of religious foundations, temple buildings or royal sacrificial rituals ( ashvamedha ).

Several times he had to repel the Huns ( Hunas ) on the outer borders of the empire , which Skandagupta succeeded - at least temporarily. "Huns" are not to be understood here as the Huns advancing into Eastern Europe around 375 , but rather parts of the so-called Iranian Huns ; this term goes back to the numismatic research of Robert Göbl . Specifically, it may well have been the so-called Alchon group, which aggressively expanded into north-west India in the early 6th century.

Skandagupta probably died in the year 467 and was replaced in the line of rule by his (step-) brother Purugupta (ruled 467-473).

literature

  • Hermann Kulke , Dietmar Rothermund : History of India. From the Indus culture to today. 2nd, updated edition of the special edition. CH Beck, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-406-60414-0 .
  • Fred Virkus: Political structures in the Gupta empire . (300–550 AD) (= Asia and Africa Studies at the Humboldt University in Berlin. 18) Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2004, ISBN 3-447-05080-2 .

Web links

Remarks

  1. ^ Robert Göbl: Documents on the history of the Iranian Huns in Bactria and India. 4 volumes. Wiesbaden 1967.
predecessor Office successor
Kumaragupta I. King of the Gupta
455-467 		Purugupta
personal data
SURNAME Skandagupta
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Ruler of the north Indian empire of the Gupta (455–467)
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century
DATE OF DEATH at 467