Frontier states of the Gupta Empire

Last updated October 30, 2025

The Frontier states of the Gupta Empire or the Border Kings refers to the various kingdoms and tribal republics that accepted suzerainty of the Gupta Empire.^[1]

List of the frontier states

Frontier kingdoms

Sources^[2]

Samatata: Located in modern-day eastern and southern Bangladesh.
Davaka: Located in modern-day Assam.
Kamarupa: Located in modern-day Assam.
Licchavis of Nepal: Present-day Nepal.
Kartipura: Located in present-day Kashmir or possibly a region in the Himalayas.

Tribal republics

Malavas
Arjunayanas
Yaudheyas
Madrakas
Abhiras
Prarjunas
Sanakanikas
Kakas
Kharaparikas

Relationship between the Frontier states and the Gupta Empire

The frontier states obeyed the orders of the Gupta Empire along with paying tributes and attending the imperial darbars (court) to pay homage to the emperor.^[3]

According to historian Upinder Singh, the relationship between the frontier states the Gupta Empire had "certain elements of a feudatory relationship".^[4]

Annexation by Chandragupta II

After Samudragupta died, Chandragupta II ascended the throne. He annexed most of the frontier states.^[5]

Other possible states

Anuradhapura Kingdom (Sri Lanka)

The Gupta inscriptions also mention a king of Simhala as one of the kings being submissive to Samudragupta. But this is likely an exaggeration because Chinese sources state that the king of Simhala only sent presents for his permission to build a Buddhist monastery and not as an act of submission.^[6]

References

↑ Sharma, Tej Ram (1989). A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-251-4.
↑ Agrawal, Ashvini (1 January 1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.
↑ Mookerji, Radhakumud (1 January 1989). The Gupta Empire. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. p. 23. ISBN 978-81-208-0089-2.
↑ Singh, Upinder (25 September 2017). Political Violence in Ancient India. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-98128-7.
↑ Dikshitar, V. R. Ramachandra (1 January 1993). The Gupta Polity. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. p. 86. ISBN 978-81-208-1024-2.
↑ Sharma, Tej Ram (1989). A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta. Concept Publishing Company. p. 90. ISBN 978-81-7022-251-4.

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[1] Sharma, Tej Ram (1989). A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-251-4.

[2] Agrawal, Ashvini (1 January 1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.

[3] Mookerji, Radhakumud (1 January 1989). The Gupta Empire. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. p. 23. ISBN 978-81-208-0089-2.

[4] Singh, Upinder (25 September 2017). Political Violence in Ancient India. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-98128-7.

[5] Dikshitar, V. R. Ramachandra (1 January 1993). The Gupta Polity. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. p. 86. ISBN 978-81-208-1024-2.

[6] Sharma, Tej Ram (1989). A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta. Concept Publishing Company. p. 90. ISBN 978-81-7022-251-4.

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