Tripartite Struggle

Tripartite Struggle
	; The Pratihara dynasty, the Pala Empire, and the Rashtrakuta Empire at their respective peaks during the Tripartite Struggle.
Date	785–816
Location	Kannauj, Malwa and Gauda
Result	Pratihara victory
Belligerents
Commanders and leaders

The Tripartite Struggle (785–816) were a series of wars in northern India fought over the control of the throne of Kannauj, which during that time was equivalent to having imperial status over all of Aryavarta. It involved the three powerful dynasties of the era – the Pratiharas of Gurjaradesa, the Palas of Gauda (Bengal) and the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta.^[4]^: 20 The war ultimately resulted in Nagabhata II, King of the Gurjaras, winning the crown of Kannauj in 816,^[5]^[6]^[7] and proclaiming himself King of Kannauj.

In the eighth century, the two major powers of Aryavarta (northern India) were the Pratiharas who ruled the Gurjara Kingdom and the Palas who ruled the Kingdom of Gauda (Bengal). While the Pratiharas gradually expanded their domain towards the east, the Palas expanded their domains towards the west. In southern India and the Deccan, the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta reigned, who also sought to expand their domains north and control Aryavarta. This led to the formation of the Kannauj triangle, a region which lead to decades of conflict.

^ Keay, John (2000). India: A History. Grove Publication. p. 198. ISBN 0802137970.
^ Benjamin, Craig (2015). The Cambridge World History, Volume IV. Cambridge University Press. p. 511. ISBN 978-1-107-01572-2. Retrieved 21 February 2025. Map 18.2 Tripartite struggle over Kannauj
^ Vanina, Eugenia (2003). Indian history. Allied Publishers. pp. B-7. ISBN 9788184245684.
^ Sen, S.N. (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Delhi: Primus Books. ISBN 9789380607344.
^ Cite error: The named reference 816brit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference 816Raja was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference 816Delh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] Keay, John (2000). India: A History. Grove Publication. p. 198. ISBN 0802137970.

[2] Benjamin, Craig (2015). The Cambridge World History, Volume IV. Cambridge University Press. p. 511. ISBN 978-1-107-01572-2. Retrieved 21 February 2025. Map 18.2 Tripartite struggle over Kannauj

[3] Vanina, Eugenia (2003). Indian history. Allied Publishers. pp. B-7. ISBN 9788184245684.

[Sen-4] Sen, S.N. (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Delhi: Primus Books. ISBN 9789380607344.

[816brit-5] Cite error: The named reference 816brit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[816Raja-6] Cite error: The named reference 816Raja was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[816Delh-7] Cite error: The named reference 816Delh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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Prehistoric Paleolithic Masol c. 2.6 Ma Riwat c. 2.5 Ma Madrasian culture c. 1.5 Ma Soanian c. 500,000 BCE Neolithic, c. 7600 – c. 1000 BCE Bhirrana 7570 – 6200 BCE Jhusi 7106 BCE Lahuradewa 7000 BCE Koldihwa 7000 BCE Mehrgarh 7000 – 2600 BCE South Indian Neolithic 3000 – 1000 BCE
Ancient Indus Valley Civilization, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Post Indus Valley Period (Cemetery H Culture), c. 1700 – c. 1500 BCE Vedic civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Kuru kingdom, c. 1200 – c. 500 BCE Early Vedic period Rise of Śramaṇa movement Later Vedic Period Spread of Jainism – Parshvanatha Spread of Jainism – Mahavira Rise of Buddhism Kingdom of Magadha Brihadratha Dynasty 1700 – 682 BCE Haryanka Dynasty 544 – 413 BCE Shaishunaga Dynasty 413 – 345 BCE Nanda Dynasty, 345 – 322 BCE Mahajanapadas, c. 600 – 345 BCE
Classical Magadhan Empire Maurya Dynasty, 322 – 185 BCE Shunga Dynasty, 185 – 73 BCE Kanva Dynasty, 73 – 28 BCE Sangam period 300 BCE – 400 CE Kushan Dynasty, c. 30 – c. 375 CE Satavahana Dynasty, c. 228 BCE – c. 224 CE Gupta Dynasty, c. 240 – c. 550 CE
Early medieval Pallava dynasty, 275 CE - 897 CE Chalukya Dynasty, 543 – 753 CE Pandya Dynasty, 590 CE - 920 CE Harsha's Dynasty, c. 606 CE – c. 647 CE Karakota Dynasty, c. 724 – c. 760 CE Arab Invasion, c. 738 CE Tripartite Struggle, c. 760 – c. 973 CE Pratihara dynasty Rastrakuta Dynasty Pala Dynasty Chola Dynasty, c. 848 – c. 1251 CE 2nd Chalukya Dynasty, c. 973 – c. 1187 CE
Late medieval Delhi Sultanate, 1206 – 1526 CE Mamluk Dynasty Khalji Dynasty Tugluq Dynasty Sayyid Dynasty Lodhi Dynasty Pandyan Empire, 1251 – 1618 CE Vijayanagara, 1336 – 1646 CE Bengal Sultanate, 1342 – 1576 CE
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Modern The Great Rebellion, 1857 – 1858 CE British Raj, 1858 – 1947 CE Independence Movement Independent India, 1947 CE – present Dominion of India, 1947 – 1950 CE Republic of India, 1950 CE – present
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