Great Empires of India

India Had Ruled by Many Empires. Some of whom came from outside who distroye our Culture, Religion & Civilization. So some of whom are from India & they made India a great country and protect India’s dignity, culture & Traditions. Today we know about Delhi Sultanate, Mughal and British Empire but But the Empire who belonged to India, who empowered India in the world, whose praises are also found in the history books of different countries of the world, We only few people about them. These empires ruled not only India but a large part of the world. So today in this blog we will read about some Great Empires of India, who originally belonged to India.

1. The Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire (322 BCE – 185 BCE) supplanted the earlier Magadha Kingdom to assume power over large tracts of eastern and northern India. At its height, the empire stretched over parts of modern Iran and almost the entire Indian subcontinent, barring only the southern peninsular tip. Mauryan Empire was the first such empire in the country which ruled a very large part. There were many great and majestic rulers in this empire, Like – Chandragupt Maurya,Bindusara & The Great Ashoka. This empire is not only for the noble rulers but also for the great scholars, Like – Chanakya, Bhadra Bahu, etc. Whose explanation is found not only in India but also in many countries of the world. Some Great Rulers of Mauryan Empire:

* Chandragupt Maurya

Chandragupt Maurya is one of the Great King of Indian History. He was the founder of Mauryan Dynasty & First King of Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta Maurya is known in Greek as Andro Kattus and Sandrokottus. Which is mentioned in the book Indica of Magasthenes, which is a book written in Greek language. In 323 BC, Chandragupta Maurya with the help of Chanakya killed Dhananand and sat on the throne. Alexander’s emphasis was more at the time when Chandragupta became the king. But still he defeated Alexander’s general Sallucus Nicator twice in battle and kept him captive for several months & after that he marry with Sallucus Nicator’s daughter Helena. With the help of Chanakya Chandragupt Maurya spread Mauryan Empire in a larg area & Rule on them. In 298 BC he start following Jainism & handed his throne to his son Bindusara, & Died by santara system of Jainism. It is difficult to believe that a king who has a big empire was left his empire & died by santara system. Chandragupta Maurya was followed by his son Bindusara who is called the son of a great king and father of a great king.

* The Great Ashoka

Ashoka was the third ruler of the illustrious Maurya dynasty and was one of the most powerful kings of the Indian subcontinent in ancient times. His reign between 273 BC and 232 B.C. was one of the most prosperous periods in the history of India. Ashoka’s empire consisted most of India, South Asia and beyond, stretching from present day Afghanistan and parts of Persia in the west, to Bengal and Assam in the east, and Mysore in the south. Buddhist literature document Ashoka as a cruel and ruthless monarch who underwent a change of heart after experiencing a particularly gruesome war, the Battle of Kalinga. After the war, he embraced Buddhism and dedicated his life towards dissemination of the tenets of the religion. He became a benevolent king, driving his administration to make a just and bountiful environment for his subjects. Owing to his benevolent nature as a ruler, he was given the title ‘Devanampriya Priyadarshi’. Ashoka and his glorious rule is associated with one of the most prosperous time in the history of India and as a tribute to his non-partisan philosophies, the Dharma Chakra adorning the Ashok stambh has been made a part of the Indian National Flag. The emblem of the Republic of India has been adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka. Ashoka Rule on a big part of the world. He was one of the Great Rulers of the world. He was died in 232 BC.

After The Great Ashoka there were many Great Rulers in Mauryan Dynasty like – Baidhrath who was the last king of Mauryan Empire. Maurya. Empire was the biggest & Greatest Empires of India.

2. Gupta Empire

The Gupta dynasty ruled the kingdom of Magadha in north-eastern India from the middle of the third century to AD 543. Historians believe that the Gupta period was the classical age of India and it was in this era that Indian literature, art, architecture and philosophical norms were established. The 5th-century Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits the Guptas with conquering about 21 kingdoms outside and inside India, including the Parasikas, Hunas, Kambojas and others. The Gupta dynasty is also credited with restoring the political unity that was destroyed after the fall of the Maurya dynasty. There were many Great Kings in Gupta Empire like – Sri Gupta, Chandra Gupta, Samudra Gupta, Chandra Gupta 2 ( King Vikramaditya), Skanda Gupta, etc.

* Sri Gupta

Sri Gupta was the founder of Gupta Empire. After the end of Mauryan Empire in 240 BC. Sri Gupta Unite all the states & form a new Great Empire the Gupta Empire & got the title Maharaja. Shri Gupta could not spread the Gupta Empire to a large extent and died in 280 BC. After the Death of Sri Gupta his Son Chandra Gupta 1 was became the king.

* Chandra Gupta 1

Chandra Gupta 1 is consider as the real founder of Gupta Empire because he start Gupta Era in 319 AD. He Spread Gupta Dynasty in a big part of India & also established a great economic system & start Gold Dinar Coins. He Ruled on a big part of India & Spread Gupta Empire in big area. He was dead in 335 AD.

* Samudra Gupta

Samudra Gupta is one of the Great Rulers of India. He was the First King of India who spread his Empire to south india. He was the First King who performed Ashumadha Sacrifice & adopted the title of Ashumadha Prakaram. Samudra Gupta Never loss any war in his life. He is also consider as the Napoleon of India. After his death his Son Ram Gupta became the king & after his death his Son Chandra Gupta 2 (King Vikramaditya) was becomes king.

* Chandra Gupta 2 (Vikramaditya)

Vikramaditya was the first Chakravarti emperor of India, the empire spread to Arabia, Europe, Rome.
The great king Vikramaditya, whose name is counted among the best kings of India and in his name. Continues the year counting system of India, which we call Vikrami Samvat. In fact, Vikramaditya started the title of Chakravarti Emperor by the kings in India. Vikramaditya’s empire stretched from present-day India to Africa and Rome. Vikramaditya was the first king to hoist victory over the entire Arab world of the present day.

King Vikramaditya made Ujjain his capital. At the age of 20, King Vikramaditya had repulsed the forces not only from the borders of India but also from all over Asia. It may be known that at that time India’s borders extended to present-day Arab Europe and East Asia. After liberating India and Asia, Vikramaditya did not sit on the throne himself but made his elder brother Bhrithari as king, but the deception of his wife made the brother-in-law a monk and after that, the sons of Bhirthari also refused to sit on the throne. Then King Vikramaditya had to sit on the throne. Raja Vikram’s coronation took place on the day of Holy Diwali. He conquered Shakas and founded the world’s first calendar Vikram Samvat. Chandra Gupta 2 (King Vikramaditya) is one of the Great Rulers of India.

After Chandra Gupta 2 there were many more great kings in Gupta Dynasty like – Kumar Gupta, Skand Gupta, Puru Gupta, etc.

3. Vijaynagar Empire

Vijaynagar Empire is one of the Great Empires of India. The Vijayanagara kingdom was founded by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty in 1336. At the instance of their guru Vidyaranya, they established their kingdom with its capital at Vijayanagar.Harihara became the first ruler, and by 1346 the whole of Hoysala kingdom passed into the hands of the Vijayanagara rulers. In late 14 century Vijayanagar was the strongest Empire in India. There were many great rulers in Vijaynagar Empire like – Harihar, Bukka Ray, Krishna Dev Ray, etc.

* King Krishna Dev Ray

Krishna Dev Ray was the strongest king of Tulva Dynasty of Vijaynagar Empire. His Region was in india from 1509-1529. He was the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty and is considered to be its greatest ruler.[citation needed] He possessed the largest empire in India after the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Krishna Dev Ray was the strongest king at Delhi Sultanate decline period. Krishnadev Ray established Asht Diggaj in his court which was copied by Akbar in his court as navratan. The most famous & intelligent scholar of krishna Dev Ray was Pandit Rama Krishna also known as Tenali Rama. The Vijayanagara Empire was so powerful that the Mughals could never capture Vijayanagara.

Vijaynagar Empire was one of the Great Empire of India. It was famous for Art also. Today’s Hampi in Karnataka was the Capital of India.

So these were some of the greatest empires of India. But in India there is only this, but there have been many other such empires which have give examples of bravery, governance policy, great economy system. Like – Chola Empire, Pallava Empire, Pandya Empire , Chandela Empire, Rajput Empire, Maratha Empire, etc. These empires gave India a new identity in the world and spread the greatness of India to the whole world. But this is our misfortune: that a country whose history is not just only thousands but millions of years old,Today it has become the history of some Glorified Terrorists only. But this time to remember our Great Empires & Rulers. In the second part of this blog we will read about more great Empires of India in detail.

• By
• Vishal Thakur
• vishalthakur.art.blog