GUPTA DYNASTY

Indian dynasty ruling from 320 AD to c. 540 AD, a period traditionally regarded as a golden age of classical culture in India. The Gupta regime was based on the old Kingdom of Magadha, and its nucleus was the conquests and marriage alliances of a raja named Chandra Gupta I (reigned 320-c. 330). His son and heir Samudra Gupta subjugated much of northern and central India and conducted extensive campaigns to the south, though his direct rule was confined to the Ganges valley and central India. His son Chandra Gupta II (reigned c. 375-413) expanded the empire to the west and south and consolidated Gupta authority, and his reign saw a flowering of Indian culture.

Kumargupta I was the son of Chandragupta II, known as Vikramaditya a legendary king of India (380-413 AD). Kumargupta was a competent ruler. He proclaimed himself Chakravarti, king of all kings. He performed Ashwanegha Yagna (horse scrifice ceremony) after his military triumphs.He was succeeded by his son Skanda Gupta (c. 455-467).

The Gupta dynasty began to collapse around the end of the 5th century, when Hunnish invaders known as the White Huns invaded from Central Asia. Skanda Gupta, staved them off for a while, but after his death the dynasty gradually petered out in a series of succession disputes as Hunnish forces overran and fragmented its territory. The last Gupta statelets finally yielded northern and central India to complete Hunnish overlordship around the mid-6th century AD.