Pala Empire
The Pala Empire was a dynasty in control of the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent, mainly the Bihar and Bengal regions, from the 8th to the 12th century. The name Pala (Modern পাল pal) means "protector" and was used as an ending to the names of all Pala monarchs.
Pala Empire | |||||||||
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750–1161 CE | |||||||||
Capital | List
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Recognised regional languages | Sanskrit, Proto Bengali | ||||||||
Religion | Buddhism, Hinduism | ||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
• First Emperor | Gopala | ||||||||
• Last Emperor | Gobindapala | ||||||||
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Today part of | India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afganistan |
History
changeEstablishment
changeAfter the Gauda kingdom fell, Bengal was in a state of anarchy and there was no central authority, and there was constant fighting between minor chieftains. Gopala ascended the throne as the first Pala king during these times.[5]
Expansion
changeGopala's empire was greatly expanded by his son Dharmapala and his grandson Devapala. At first, Dharmapala was defeated by the Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja. Later, the Rashtrakuta Emperor Dhruva defeated both Dharmapala and Vatsaraja. After Dhruva returned to the Deccan, Dharmapala built a powerful empire in northern India.[7] Soon, Dharmapala's expansion was stopped by Vatsaraja's son, Nagabhata II, who took control of Kannauj and defeated Chakrayudha. Nagabhata II then moved towards Munger and defeated Dharmapala in a fierce battle. Dharmapala had to surrender and seek help from the Rashtrakuta emperor Govinda III, who then invaded Northern India and defeated Nagabhata II.[8]
Dharmapala was then succeeded by his son Devapala. During the reign of Devapala, the Pāla Empire reached its greatest extent. Devapala is known for subjugating the Dravidas (Pandyan Empire), the Gurjaras (Gurjara Pratihara Dynasty), the Utkalas of Odisha, the Pragjyotishas of Assam, and the Hunas and Kambojas in the northwest, as recorded in his inscriptions and the inscription that records of his reign.[9][10]
Dharmapala's eldest son, Rajyapala, died before him, so his next son, Mahendrapala, became king. Mahendrapala likely kept control of his father's vast empire and fought against the Utkalas and Hunas.[11] He passed the empire to his younger brother Shurapala I, who ruled over Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, as confirmed by his Mirzapur copperplate.[12] What happened during the rule of Shurapala's son, Gopala II, remains unknown. After Gopala II, Dharmapala's lineage ended, and the throne was taken by the descendants of Dharmapala's younger brother, Vakapala.
List of rulers
changeRC Majumdar (1971)[13] | AM Chowdhury (1967)[14] | BP Sinha (1977)[15] | DC Sircar (1975–76)[16] | D. K. Ganguly (1994)[17] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gopala I | 750–770 | 756–781 | 755–783 | 750–775 | 750–774 |
Dharmapala | 770–810 | 781–821 | 783–820 | 775–812 | 774–806 |
Devapala | 810–c. 850 | 821–861 | 820–860 | 812–850 | 806–845 |
Mahendrapala | NA (Mahendrapala's existence was conclusively established through a copper-plate charter discovered later.) | 845–860 | |||
Shurapala I | 850–853 | 861–866 | 860–865 | 850–858 | 860–872 |
Vigrahapala I | 858–60 | 872–873 | |||
Narayanapala | 854–908 | 866–920 | 865–920 | 860–917 | 873–927 |
Rajyapala | 908–940 | 920–952 | 920–952 | 917–952 | 927–959 |
Gopala II | 940–957 | 952–969 | 952–967 | 952–972 | 959–976 |
Vigrahapala II | 960–c. 986 | 969–995 | 967–980 | 972–977 | 976–977 |
Mahipala I | 988–c. 1036 | 995–1043 | 980–1035 | 977–1027 | 977–1027 |
Nayapala | 1038–1053 | 1043–1058 | 1035–1050 | 1027–1043 | 1027–1043 |
Vigrahapala III | 1054–1072 | 1058–1075 | 1050–1076 | 1043–1070 | 1043–1070 |
Mahipala II | 1072–1075 | 1075–1080 | 1076–1078/9 | 1070–1071 | 1070–1071 |
Shurapala | 1075–1077 | 1080–1082 | 1071–1072 | 1071–1072 | |
Ramapala | 1077–1130 | 1082–1124 | 1078/9–1132 | 1072–1126 | 1072–1126 |
Kumarapala | 1130–1125 | 1124–1129 | 1132–1136 | 1126–1128 | 1126–1128 |
Gopala III | 1140–1144 | 1129–1143 | 1136–1144 | 1128–1143 | 1128–1143 |
Madanapala | 1144–1162 | 1143–1162 | 1144–1161/62 | 1143–1161 | 1143–1161 |
Govindapala | 1155–1159 | NA | 1162–1176 or 1158–1162 | 1161–1165 | 1161–1165 |
Palapala | NA | NA | NA | 1165–1199 | 1165–1200 |
References
change- ↑ Chakrabarti, Dilip K. (1992). Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeologcial sources. Internet Archive. Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-19-562879-1.
In his own inscriptions and in the inscriptions referring to his reign, Devapala is credited with the subjugation of the Gurjaras, Utkalas, Hunas, Dravidas, Kambojas and Pragjyotisas. He is also supposed to have invaded the Vindhyan region.
- ↑ Rahman, Shah Sufi Mostafizur (2000). Archaeological Investigation in Bogra District: From Early Historic to Early Mediaeval Period. International Centre for Study of Bengal Art. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-984-8140-01-7.
- ↑ Michael C. Howard (2012). Transnationalism in Ancient and Medieval Societies: The Role of Cross-Border Trade and Travel. McFarland. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7864-9033-2.
- ↑ Huntington 1984, p. 56.
- ↑ Sengupta, Nitish K. (2011). Land of two rivers: a history of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. New Delhi: Penguin Books. pp. 39–49. ISBN 978-0-14-341678-4.
- ↑ Keay, John (2000). India: A History. Grove Publication. p. 198. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0.
- ↑ Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. pp. 175–176. ISBN 978-81-7017-059-4.
- ↑ Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 179. ISBN 978-81-7017-059-4.
Nāgabhaṭa-II defeated Cakrāyudha and occupied Kanauj ... battle between the king of Vaṅga and Nāgabhaṭa in which the latter emerged victorious ... may have been fought at Mudgagiri (Monghyr in Bihar). If so, it shows the utter humiliation of Dharmapāla and strengthens the suspicion that as a revenge he might have surrendered to and welcomed Govinda III when he invaded North India.
- ↑ Chakrabarti, Dilip K. (1992). Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeologcial sources. Internet Archive. Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-0-19-562879-1.
- ↑ Rahman, Shah Sufi Mostafizur (2000). Archaeological Investigation in Bogra District: From Early Historic to Early Mediaeval Period. International Centre for Study of Bengal Art. pp. 50–52. ISBN 978-984-8140-01-7.
- ↑ Bhattacharya, Suresh Chandra, Pāla Kings in the Badal Praśasti — A Stock-Taking, Journal of Ancient Indian History, University of Calcutta, Vol. XXIV, 2007-08, pp. 73-82.
- ↑ Sanyal, Rajat (1 January 2014). "The Pala-Sena and Others". History of Ancient India Vol 5 Political History and Administration (C. Ad 750-1300) (Regional Powers and Their Interactions). 5.
- ↑ R. C. Majumdar (1971). History of Ancient Bengal. G. Bharadwaj. p. 161–162.
- ↑ Abdul Momin Chowdhury (1967). Dynastic history of Bengal, c. 750-1200 CE. Asiatic Society of Pakistan. pp. 272–273.
- ↑ Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha, Cir. 450–1200 A.D. Abhinav Publications. pp. 253–. ISBN 978-81-7017-059-4.
- ↑ Dineshchandra Sircar (1975–76). "Indological Notes - R.C. Majumdar's Chronology of the Pala Kings". Journal of Indian History. IX: 209–10.
- ↑ Dilip Kumar Ganguly (1994). Ancient India, History and Archaeology. Abhinav. pp. 33–41. ISBN 978-81-7017-304-5.
- ↑ Susan L. Huntington (1984). The "Påala-Sena" Schools of Sculpture. Brill Archive. pp. 32–39. ISBN 90-04-06856-2.