Vakataka dynasty

Vakataka Empire
c. 250 CE – c. 500 CE
South-Asia 350 CE LICCHAVIS GAUDA VARMANS IKSHVAKUS KALABHRAS WESTERN GANGAS KADAMBAS PALLAVAS LITTLE KUSHANS SASANIAN HIND KALINGAS WESTERN SATRAPS SAMATATAS GUPTA EMPIRE KIDARITES KUSHANO- SASANIANS SASANIAN EMPIRE MAPS -500 -150 120 350 500 600 800 1000 1175 1250 1400 1500 class=notpageimage| Approximate extent of the Vakataka territories circa 350 CE.[1]
Capital	Vatsagulma (Now Washim)
Common languages	Sanskrit Prakrit
Religion	Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
Government	Monarchy
Maharaja[2]
• 250–270	Vindhyashakti
• 270–330	Pravarasena I
• 475–500	Harishena
Historical era	Classical India
• Established	c. 250 CE
• Disestablished	c. 500 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Western Satraps Satavahana dynasty Abhira dynasty Kalachuri dynasty Vishnukundina Chalukya dynasty Rajarsitulyakula
Today part of	India

Vakataka dynasty c. 250 - 510 CE
Vindhyashakti c. 250 - 275 Pravarasena I c. 275 - 335
Nandivardhana-Pravarapura Branch
Rudrasena I c. 335 - 360 Prithivishena I c. 360 - 385 Rudrasena II c. 385 - 390 Prabhavatigupta (regent) c. 390 - 410 Damodarasena c. 410 - 420 Pravarasena II c. 420 - 455 Narendrasena c. 455 - 480 Prithivishena II c. 480 - 500
Vatsagulma Branch
Sarvasena I c. 325 - 355 Vindhyasena (Vindhyashakti II) c. 355 - 400 Pravarasena II c. 400 - 415 Sarvasena II c. 415 - 455 Devasena c. 455 - 480 Harishena c. 480 - 510
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The Vakataka dynasty (IAST: Vākāṭaka) was an ancient Indian dynasty that originated from the Deccan in the mid-3rd century CE. Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the west to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east. They were the most important successors of the Satavahanas in the Deccan and contemporaneous with the Guptas in northern India.

Little is known about Vindhyashakti (c. 250 – c. 270 CE), the founder of the family. Territorial expansion began in the reign of his son Pravarasena I. It is generally believed that the Vakataka dynasty was divided into four branches after Pravarasena I. Two branches are known, and two are unknown. The known branches are the Pravarapura-Nandivardhana branch and the Vatsagulma branch. Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II married his daughter into the Vakataka royal family and, with their support, annexed Gujarat from the Saka Satraps in 4th century CE. The power vacuum left by the Vakatakas were filled by that of the Chalukyas of Badami in the Deccan region.^[3] The Vakatakas are noted for having been patrons of the arts, architecture and literature. They led public works and their monuments are a visible legacy. The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) were built under the patronage of Vakataka emperor, Harishena.