|
|
Article: The founding of a dynasty.
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- November 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
After a century of turmoil that saw several small kingdoms in north India fighting one another, the Gupta rulers took control and built a mighty empire that would last 200 years. Dreaming of greatness, the ruler known to history as Chandra Gupta took the throne around A.D. 319. Although previous rulers had taken the name maharaja ("great king"), he chose the more important title of maharajadhiraja-paramabhattaraka ("great king over kings, the supreme lord").
Gupta rulers revered the kings of the Mauryan Dynasty (about 323 to 185 B.C.), especially Ashoka. They chose Pataliputra (modern Patna), which had served as the Mauryan capital, as their capital. The founder ...