Samudragupta

Samudragupta
Mahārājādhirāja Sarvarāja-ochheta Conqueror of the Four Seas Devarāja Kavirāja Paramabhāgavata Paramabhaṭṭāraka Puruṣa
Coin of Samudragupta, with Garuda pillar, emblem of Gupta Empire. The name Sa-mu-dra in an early version of the Gupta Brahmi script, appears vertically under the left arm of the emperor.[1]
Emperor of the Gupta dynasty
Reign	c.335–375 CE (40 years)
Coronation	c. 335 CE
Predecessor	Chandragupta I, possibly Kacha
Successor	Chandragupta II, or possibly Ramagupta
Born	c. 318 CE Gupta Empire
Died	c. 375 CE (aged 57) Gupta Empire
Spouse	Dattadevi
Issue	Chandragupta II, and possibly Ramagupta
House	Gupta Dynasty
Father	Chandragupta I
Mother	Kumaradevi
Religion	Hinduism
Military career
Allegiance	Gupta Empire
Service / branch	Gupta Army
Rank	Supreme commander
Battles / wars	See list Wars of Samudragupta Northern Campaigns Conquest of Aryavarta Defeat of Naga rulers Defeat of Arjunayanas Defeat of Vanga Western and Central Campaigns Gupta–Saka Wars (Defeat of Western Kshatrapas) War with the Abhiras Gupta–Vakataka Conflicts Conquest of Forest Kingdoms Southern Campaigns Siege of Kanchi (Defeat of Pallavas) Subjugation of Kadambas Subjugation of Kalinga Eastern Campaigns Subjugation of Kamarupa, Devaka, and Nepala Northwestern Campaigns Subjugation of Gandhara Subjugation of Kushano-Sassanians

Gupta Empire 320 CE–550 CE
Gupta (c. late 3rd century) Ghatotkacha (c. late 3rd century - 319) Chandragupta I (c. 319 – 335/350) Kacha (early 4th century?) Samudragupta (c. 335/350 – 375) (Ramagupta) (late 4th century?) Chandragupta II (380 – 413/415) Kumaragupta I (415 – 455) Skandagupta (455 - 467) Purugupta (467 – 473) Kumaragupta II (473 - 476) Budhagupta (476 – 495) Narasimhagupta (495 – ?) (Bhanugupta) (c. 510) Vainyagupta (c. 507) Kumaragupta III (c. 530) Vishnugupta (540 – 550)
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Samudragupta (Gupta script: Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta, (c. 335–375 CE) was the second emperor of the Gupta Empire of ancient India. A military genius and a patron of arts, he is regarded among the greatest rulers in Indian history. As a son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, he inherited a kingdom and transformed it into a vast empire through his military campaigns. His reign was marked by political expansion, administrative efficiency, and cultural patronage, particularly of Sanskrit literature and Hindu rituals. Samudragupta’s legacy as a warrior, administrator, and benefactor of scholars contributed to the golden age of the Gupta Empire.

The Allahabad Pillar inscription, a prashasti (eulogy) composed by his courtier Harisena, credits him with extensive military conquests. It suggests that he defeated several kings of northern India, and annexed their territories into his empire. He also marched along the south-eastern coast of India, advancing as far south as Kanchipuram in the Pallava kingdom. In addition, he subjugated several frontier kingdoms and tribal oligarchies. At the height of his power, his empire under his direct control extended from Ravi River in the west (present-day Punjab) to the Brahmaputra River in the east (present-day Assam), and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to central India in the south-west; several rulers along the south-eastern coast were also his tributaries. The inscription also states that many neighbouring rulers tried to please him, which probably refers to his friendly relations with them.

He performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to prove his imperial sovereignty and remained undefeated in battle. His gold coins and inscriptions suggest that he was an accomplished poet, and also played musical instruments such as the veena. His expansionist policy was continued by his son and successor Chandragupta II.