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Maharajadhiraja of the Gupta Empire
Imperial
Last to reign Vishnugupta 540 CE – 550 CE
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Chandragupta I (as the successor to the King of Magadha)
Last monarch	Vishnugupta
Formation	319 CE 1704–1705 years ago
Abolition	550 CE 1473–1474 years ago
Residence	Pataliputra (319–550 CE) Ujjain (3rd century) Ayodhya (3rd century)
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Later Gupta dynasty

The Gupta Empire (c. 319–550 CE) was a classical Indian Hindu empire. The dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta in late 3rd century CE, but Chandragupta I is credited as real founder of empire. The empire was lasted until 550 CE. The factors for the downfall of the empire were Hunnic invasions, dynastic dissensions, taxes, internal rebellions and decentralization.

The Gupta Empire was vast and covered most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Skandagupta were some of its mightiest rulers. It brought about a golden era to the region, resulting in technological advancements and cultural improvements. Gupta emperors generally used the title Maharajadhiraja.

Family tree

List of rulers

Ruler		Reign (CE)	Notes
Sri-Gupta I		c. late 3rd century CE	Founder of the dynasty.
Ghatotkacha		280/290–319 CE	Second king of Gupta Dynasty
Chandra-Gupta I		319–335 CE	His title Maharajadhiraja ("king of great kings") suggests that he was the first emperor of the dynasty. It is not certain how he turned his small ancestral kingdom into an empire, although a widely accepted theory among modern historians is that his marriage to Licchavi princess Kumaradevi helped him extend his political power.
Samudra-Gupta		335–375 CE	Defeated several kings of northern India, and annexed their territories to his empire. He also marched along the south-eastern coast of India, advancing as far as the Pallava kingdom. In addition, he subjugated several frontier kingdoms and tribal oligarchies. His empire extended from Ravi River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to central India in the south-west; several rulers along the south-eastern coast were his tributaries.
Kacha		mid 4th century CE	Rival brother/king, possibly an usurper, there are coins who attest him as ruler; possibly identical with Samudra-Gupta.
Rama-Gupta
Chandra-Gupta II Vikramaditya		375–415 CE	Continued the expansionist policy of his father Samudragupta: historical evidence suggests that he defeated the Western Kshatrapas, and extended the Gupta empire from the Indus River in the west to the Bengal region in the east, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to the Narmada River in the south.
Kumara-Gupta I		415–455 CE	He seems to have maintained control of his inherited territory, which extended from Gujarat in the west to Bengal region in the east.
Skanda-Gupta		455–467 CE	It is stated that he restored the fallen fortunes of the Gupta family, which has led to suggestions that during his predecessor's last years, the Empire may have suffered reverses, possibly against the Pushyamitras or the Hunas. He is generally considered the last of the great Gupta Emperors.
Puru-Gupta		467–473 CE
Kumara-Gupta II Kramaditya		473–476 CE
Buddha-Gupta		476–495 CE	He had close ties with the rulers of Kannauj and together they sought to run the Alchon Huns (Hunas) out of the fertile plains of Northern India.
Narasimha-Gupta Baladitya		495–530 CE
Kumara-Gupta III		530–540 CE
Vishnu-Gupta Candraditya		540–550 CE

See also

• Gupta Empire
• Gupta era
• Later Gupta dynasty
• Middle kingdoms of India
• List of monarchs of Magadha

References

1. Jha, D.N. (2002). Ancient India in Historical Outline. Delhi: Manohar Publishers and Distributors. pp. 149–73. ISBN 978-81-7304-285-0.
2. Raghu Vamsa v 4.60–75
3. N. Jayapalan, History of India, Vol. I, (Atlantic Publishers, 2001), 130.
4. Shastri, Ajay Mitra (1995). Inscriptions of the Śarabhapurīyas, Pāṇḍuvaṁśins, and Somavaṁśins: Introduction. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 107. ISBN 978-81-208-0635-1.

• Gupta emperors
• Lists of Indian monarchs