Varman dynasty of Kannauj | |||||||||||||||||
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mid 7th century–c. 770 CE | |||||||||||||||||
Possible coinage of Yashovarman. [1] Obverse: abstract Kushan-style king standing, Kidara monogram to inner right. Reverse: Abstract Ardoxsho seated facing, Brahmi script legend “Sri Yasova” to right, “rma” to left. | |||||||||||||||||
Capital | Kannauj | ||||||||||||||||
Common languages | Sanskrit | ||||||||||||||||
Religion | Hinduism Jainism | ||||||||||||||||
Government | monarchy | ||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||
• Established | mid 7th century | ||||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | c. 770 CE | ||||||||||||||||
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Today part of | India |
The Varman dynasty of Kannauj was a dynasty that ruled Kannauj and the surrounding areas from the mid 7th century to the late 8th century. [3] It was founded by Yashovarman, who filled the power vacuum created after emperor Harshavardhana's death.
The city of Kannauj had previously been ruled by emperor Harshavardhana, who died without an heir and thus created a power vacuum. This lasted for around a century before Yashovarman emerged as its ruler. [4] Alexander Cunningham, an archaeologist of the British Raj period, speculated on possible rulers of Kannauj during the period between Harsha and Yashovarman but there is little evidence to support his claims. [5] Much of information on him is derived from the Gaudavaho (Slaying of the king of Gauda), [6] a Prakrit-language poem written by his court poet Vakpati. According to the Jain chronicles, Yashovarman had a son named Āma, who succeeded him as the king of Kannauj during 749-753 CE. [7] [8]
The dynasty reached its greatest extent and zenith of prosperity only under its founder, Yashovarman. The Gaudavaho depicts Yashovarman as conquering large swathes of northern India — including Bihar, Bengal, the western Deccan, Indus Valley and Kashmir — before returning in triumph to Kannauj. However, Kalhana, a Kashmiri court chronicler who lived around the 12th century CE, gives a very different story in his Rajatarangini , depicting Yashovarman as a ruler who was among those defeated by Lalitaditya Muktapida, a very powerful Karkota ruler of Kashmir. [9]
Although R. C. Majumdar is among those who are wary of the ancient accounts of conquests, he believes that Yashovarman was "unquestionably the most powerful king [in the region] about this time."
Yashovarman's successors did not expand the kingdom and were all weak kings, who did not pay much attention to administration. They are considered as unsuccessful rulers. [10] Āma, Dunduka, and Bhoja are considered as insignificant rulers, who achieved nothing of importance and reigned for 15–20 years. [11] The last king, Bhoja was probably defeated by the Ayudhas, who established a new dynasty. [11]
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Kannauj is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is an evolved form of the classical name Kanyakubja. It was also known as Mahodaya during the time of Mihira Bhoja. It is situated 104 kilometres west of the state capital, Lucknow.
The Gurjara-Pratihara was a dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the mid-8th to the 11th century. They ruled first at Ujjain and later at Kannauj.
Lalitaditya alias Muktapida was a monarch belonging to the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir region in the Indian subcontinent.
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The Gauḍa Kingdom or Shashankas, was a classic kingdom during the Classical period on the Indian subcontinent, which originated in the Gauda region of Bengal in 4th century CE or possibly earlier.
Yashovarman was a medieval Indian ruler of Kannauj who founded the Varman dynasty of Kannauj. There are few sources that provide information of his life, although he was indubitably a powerful man.
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Āma was a medieval Indian king who ruled Kannauj and surrounding areas during the 8th and the 9th centuries. According to the Jain chronicles, he was the son and successor of Yashovarman.
Dunduka was a king of the state of Kannauj in North India during the early 8th century CE.
Bhoja was a medieval Indian king who ruled Kannauj in the late 8th century CE.
The Ayudha dynasty was the short-lived, second dynasty of the Kannauj State from the late 8th to the early 9th century CE.