Useful notes on imperial Guptas after the death of Skandagupta

The history of the imperial Guptas after the death of Skandagupta is shrouded in mystery. A number of rulers are known, in some cases with dates, but they cannot be arranged in any genealogical and chronological order which is free from difficulties. Four royal seals from Nalanda and one from Bhitari give the following genealogy of Gupta kings.

Kumaragupta -> Purugupta (Chandradevi) -> Buddhagupta and Narasimhagupta -» (Mitradevi) -> Kumaragupta -» Vishnugupta

Now we know for sure that Purugupta ruled after Kumaragupta I. After five years’ confused history Buddhagupta, son of Purugupta, seems to have ascended the throne.

1. The Pushyamitras of the Bhitari record;

2. The hostile kings mentioned in the Junagarh record;

3. The Hunas or the Mlechchhas; and

4. The other sons of the emperor.

The Pushyamitras belonged to the Mekala region on the Narmada. Sometime in the middle of the fifth century AD the ruler of Mekala changed his allegiance from the Guptas to the Vakatakas. This must have happened either towards the close of the region of Kumaragupta I or in the early years of the region of Skandagupta.

The Pushyamitra king of the Bhitari record has been identified with the Pandava ruler of Mekala, the subordinate ally of Narendrasena Vakataka; and his invasion on the Gupta Empire with the help of the Vakataka ruler was a part of the general offensive which Narendrasena had launched against the Guptas.

In the struggle that ensued we learn that while preparing to restore the fallen fortunes of his family Skandagupta was reduced to such straits that he had to spend a whole night sleeping on the bare earth. All these enemies were forced to submit finally.

The next important event that took place during the reign of Skandagupta was the Huna invasion. About the time when Skandagupta ascended the throne, one branch of the Hunas, known as Ephthalites or white Hunas, had poured across the Oxus valley, conquered Gandhara and advanced as far as the Sindhu, inflicting the most barbarous cruelties on the people.

Fortunately Skandagupta proved equal to the formidable task. Where he met the Hunas we cannot say, but there is no doubt that he inflicted such a defeat on them that for nearly half a century, or perhaps even more, they never dared to cross the Sindhu river and penetrate into the interior of India.

In their third invasion, however, which they launched in the first decade of the sixth century, the Hunas were eminently successful, for then they not only occupied the antarvedi, the heart of the empire, but also reduced the Gupta emperor to the status of their vassal.