Chandragupta II

Samudragupta was succeeded by his son Chandragupta II (AD 375 - 414) also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, he not only extended his father’s empire but also consolidated his position through matrimonial alliances with other royal dynasties of the period.

He married Kuvernaga, the Naga princess and had a daughter Prabhavati from her. Prabhavati was given in marriage to Rudrasena II of the Vakataka dynasty ruling in Deccan. After the death of her husband, Prabhavati ruled the territory as regent to her minor son with the help of her father.

The control of Vakataka territory proved very beneficial to Chandragupta II, as he was now able to target his other enemies better. His greatest military achievement was his victory over the Shaka kings who were ruling in western India for the last three hundred years. This conquest made Gupta empire reach up to the western coast.

An iron pillar inscription at Mehrauli in Delhi indicates that his empire included even north-western India and Bengal. He took the title of Vikramaditya i.e. the one who is as powerful as the sun.

Chandragupta II is remembered for his patronage of art and literature. He is credited with maintaining nine luminaries (navaratna) in his court. The great Sanskrit poet and playwright Kalidasa was the most notable of them all. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa Hien (AD 404 - 411) visited India during his reign. He has left an account of the life of people in India in the fifth century AD.