Aulikara-Hunnic War of 515

Last updated
Aulikara-Hunnic War of 515
Part of Gupta-Hunnic Wars and First Hunnic War
Aulikara - Hunnic War.jpg
Date515 C.E
Location
Result Aulikara Victory
Territorial
changes
Tormana retreats to Punjab
Belligerents
Aulikaras Alchon Huns
Commanders and leaders
Prakashadharma Toramana

The Aulikara-Hunnic war of 515 (also known as the Battle of Rishtal) was a military conflict between Alchon Huns headed by Toramana and Aulikaras lead by Prakashadharma. [1]

Contents

Background

Tormana had adopted the title of "Great King of Kings" (Mahārājadhirāja ),in his Eran boar inscription.He carried put extensive conquests in India up to Eran . [2] [3]

The Battle

In accordance to the Rishtal inscription Prakashadharma of Dasapura claims victory over the Hun King Toramana for which his viceroy naigama Bhagavaddosa erected the Prakasesvara Temple in sign of their victory. Prakashadharma marched with a few troops for an assault, they ambushed the Huns at Rishtal, large number of war elephants were killed by the artillery attack of the Aulikaras. The attack created a confusion in the ranks of the Hunnic army by seeking advantage, the Aulikaras charged at the Huns and Toramana ordered a retreat . The Hunnic army was routed to Airkina, Prakashadharma made an offensive at Airkina which would demolish the Hunnic Army and their infantry to retreat from tactical positions, Aulikaras took a number of Hun soldiers and civilians as prisoners. [4] This conflict ended the First Hunnic war. [5] [6] [7] Risthal inscription rubbing.jpg

Aftermath

The conflict ended the First Hunnic War with the defeat of Tormana, he died in Benares while his westward retreat caused by his conflicts with Narasimhagupta. The Huns retreated to Punjab. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire on the Indian subcontinent which existed from the early 4th century CE to early 6th century CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period has been considered as the Golden Age of India by historians, although this characterisation has been disputed by some other historians. The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by Gupta and the most notable rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I and Skandagupta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandsaur</span> City in Madhya Pradesh, India

Mandsaur is a city and a municipality in Mandsaur district located on the border of Mewar and Malwa regions of Madhya Pradesh, a state in Central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Mandsaur District. The ancient Pashupatinath Temple is located in Mandsaur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yashodharman</span> Ancient Indian king

Yashodharman was a ruler of Malwa, in Central India, during the early part of the 6th century. He probably belonged to the Second Aulikara dynasty. He conquered much of the Indian subcontinent between c. 530-540 AD according to Mandsaur pillar inscription.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maukhari dynasty</span> Royal dynasty of India

The Maukhari dynasty was a post-Gupta dynasty who controlled the vast plains of Ganga-Yamuna for over six generations from their capital at Kanyakubja. They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas and later of Harsha's Vardhana dynasty. The Maukharis established their independence during the mid 6th century. The dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. Around 606 CE, a large area of their empire was reconquered by the Later Guptas. According to Hieun-Tsang, the territory may have been lost to King Shashanka of the Gauda Kingdom, who declared independence circa 600CE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eran</span> Ancient town and archaeological site in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh

Eran is an ancient town and archaeological site in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It was one of the ancient mints for Indian dynasties as evidenced by the diverse coins excavated here. The site has 5th and 6th-century Gupta era temples and monuments, particularly the colossal stone boar with sages and scholars depicted on the body of the sculpture. The inscription stones found at Eran are important to reconstructing the chronology of Gupta Empire history. Eran or Erakina was the capital of Erakina (Airikina) Pradesha or Airkina Vishaya, an administrative division of the Gupta empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toramana</span> Ruler of the Alchon Huns

Toramana also called Toramana Shahi Jauvla was a king of the Alchon Huns who ruled in northern India in the late 5th and the early 6th century CE. Toramana consolidated the Alchon power in Punjab, and conquered northern and central India including Eran in Madhya Pradesh. Toramana used the title "Great King of Kings", equivalent to "Emperor", in his inscriptions, such as the Eran boar inscription.

Hunas or Huna was the name given by the ancient Indians to a group of Central Asian tribes who, via the Khyber Pass, entered the Indian subcontinent at the end of the 5th or early 6th century. The Hunas occupied areas as far south as Eran and Kausambi, greatly weakening the Gupta Empire. The Hunas were ultimately defeated by a coalition of Indian princes that included an Indian king Yasodharman and the Gupta emperor, Narasimhagupta. They defeated a Huna army and their ruler Mihirakula in 528 CE and drove them out of India. The Guptas are thought to have played only a minor role in this campaign.

The Hindu Shahis also referred to as the Uḍi Śāhis were a dynasty established between 843 CE and 1026 CE. They endured multiple waves of conquests for nearly two centuries and its core territory was described as having contained the regions of Eastern Afghanistan and Gandhara, encompassing the area up to the Sutlej river in modern day Punjab, expanding into the Kangra Valley. The empire was founded by Kallar in c. 843 CE after overthrowing Lagaturman, the last Turk Shahi king.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhanugupta</span> Gupta Ruler

Bhanugupta was one of the lesser known kings of the Gupta dynasty. He is only known from an inscription in Eran, and a mention in the Manjushri-mula-kalpa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alchon Huns</span> 370–670 CE nomadic people who invaded India

The Alchon Huns, also known as the Alkhan, Alchono, Alxon, Alkhon, Alakhana, and Walxon, were a nomadic people who established states in Central Asia and South Asia during the 4th and 6th centuries CE. They were first mentioned as being located in Paropamisus, and later expanded south-east, into the Punjab and Central India, as far as Eran and Kausambi. The Alchon invasion of the Indian subcontinent eradicated the Kidarite Huns who had preceded them by about a century, and contributed to the fall of the Gupta Empire, in a sense bringing an end to Classical India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talagan copper scroll</span>

The Talagan copper scroll, also known as Schøyen Copper Scroll, was discovered and published in 2006 by Gudrun Melzer and Lore Sander. The scroll, dated to 492/3, mentions the four Alchon Huns kings Khingila, Toramana, Javukha, and Mehama as donors to a Buddhist reliquary stupa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eran boar inscription of Toramana</span>

The Eran boar inscription of Toramana, is a stone inscription found in Eran in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is 8 lines of Sanskrit, the first three of which are in meter and the rest in prose, written in a North Indian script. It is carved on the neck of a freestanding 11 feet (3.4 m) high red sandstone Varaha statue, a zoomorphic iconography of Vishnu avatar, and dated to the 6th century. The inscription names king Toramana, ruler of the Alchon Huns, as ruling over Malwa and records that a Dhanyavishnu is dedicating a stone temple to Narayana (Vishnu).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawik dynasty</span> Historical dynasty based in Ghazni and Gardez

The Lawīk dynasty was the last native dynasty which ruled Ghazni prior to the Ghaznavid conquest in the present-day Afghanistan. Lawiks were originally Hindus, but later became Muslims. They were closely related to the Hindu Shahis, and after 877, ruled under the Hindu Shahi suzerainty.

The Second Aulikara dynasty was a royal dynasty that ruled over the Malwa plateau, and at its peak under Yashodharman Vishnuvardhana controlled a vast area, consisting of almost all of Northern India and parts of Deccan plateau. It was the second royal house of the Aulikara clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Sondani</span>

The Battle of Sondani was a large military encounter fought in 528 CE, between the Alchon Hun emperor Mihirakula and a confederation of Indian rulers led by king Yashodharman of Malwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of Laghman</span> Tenth century battle between Ghaznavids and Hindu Shahis

The Second Battle of Laghman was fought between the Ghaznavid forces under Sabuktigin and the Hindu Shahi under Jayapala near Laghman in 991 AD. It took place near Laghman, present day Afghanistan.

The emergence of the Great Kushans in Bactria and Northwestern India during the first century CE reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the region, impacting trade routes, international politics, and regional power dynamics. Economically, the Kushans served as intermediaries in trade, controlling crucial sections of the Silk Road and redirecting trade between China, India, and the eastern countries away from Parthian territory. This posed a significant economic challenge to the Parthians and positioned the Kushans as major players in international trade. Politically, the rise of the Kushans had profound implications for Iran, as it found itself sandwiched between the Roman Empire and the Kushans. The Romans recognized the strategic importance of the Kushan Empire and sought direct relations with its rulers to safeguard trade routes between Rome, China, and India. This geopolitical scenario led the early Sasanians to prioritize the conquest of the Kushan empire in their Eastern policy, eventually achieving remarkable success under Emperor Ardashir I. Following the decline of the Great Kushans, remnants known as the "Little Kushans" persisted in the Punjab region, eventually being subjugated by the Gupta Empire under Samudragupta. His inscription on the Allahabad pillar illustrates Gupta dominance over the last Kushan rulers, who were forced to accept Gupta suzerainty. Samudragupta's strategic alliances and military campaigns against the Sassanians and other regional powers solidified Gupta control over large parts of the Indian subcontinent. However, the Gupta Empire faced various challenges, including incursions by the Hunas, who posed a considerable threat to neighboring civilizations. Skandagupta's leadership and military strategy were crucial in resisting Huna advances, although the extent of damage caused by their invasions remains debated among scholars. Despite facing external pressures, internal succession issues within the Gupta dynasty, such as the question of rightful heirs, also contributed to the complexities of governance during that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepthalite–Kidarite Wars</span>

The Hepthalite - Kidarite Wars refers to multiple military confrontations between the Kidarites and the Hepthalites which ultimately resulted in the decline of the Kidarite power in Central Asia.

The Hunnic invasion of the Gupta Empire was a pivotal event in ancient Indian history, facilitated by the administrative structure of the Gupta Empire, notably its feudal system. This structure allowed the Huna king to garner support from local chiefs, aiding in their invasion. The inscriptions discovered in Eran shed light on this dynamic.

The Second Hunnic War commenced with Mihirakula's ascension to power in West Punjab around 515 AD, succeeding his father, Toramana. Initially, Mihirakula's authority seemed lesser compared to his father's, as indicated by numismatic evidence. In 520, Song Yun encountered the "King of the Huns" along the Jhelum River, where the Northern Wei envoy depicted him as having a violent demeanor and being responsible for massacres, resulting in an unpleasant meeting.

References

  1. Bakker, Hans (2015-06-29). The World of the Skandapurāṇa. BRILL. ISBN   978-90-04-27714-4.
  2. Nijjar, Bakhshish Singh (2008). Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India: 900 B.C.-1947 A.D. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN   978-81-269-0908-7.
  3. Sinha, Bindeshwari Prasad (1977). Dynastic History Of Magadha. Abhinav Publications. ISBN   978-81-7017-059-4.
  4. Rangan, Venkatesh (2022-11-12). Age of Pi and Prose: The Incredible three Indian decades that taught "The World to Count" And "Asia to rule". Notion Press. ISBN   979-8-88815-630-8.
  5. https://zenodo.org/record/377032/files/Bakker%202016.pdf
  6. Roy, N. K. S. R. Nantu; Roy, Mr Salween (2023-10-20). The Capital Come Under Bourgeois Rule And Present Scenario of Political Business. Blue Rose Publishers.
  7. Jan, Changez (2022-07-18). Forgotten Kings: The Story of the Hindu Sahi Dynasty. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-93-92099-01-4.
  8. Jan, Changez (2022-07-18). Forgotten Kings: The Story of the Hindu Sahi Dynasty. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-93-92099-01-4.
  9. Banerjee, Kanchan (2022-07-13). The Crash of A Civilization: Bestseller Book by Kanchan Banerjee: The Crash of A Civilization (in Arabic). Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN   978-93-5521-240-5.