Samudragupta

Samudragupta, son of Chandragupta I and Lichhavi princess Kumaradevi, reigned from 335 C.E. to 375 C.E. Due to his expansionist policies and military conquests in India, Vincent A. Smith referred to him as the 'Napoleon of India.' He also assumed the titles of 'Vikramanka' and 'Kaviraja'.

Military Campaign

• North India (Aryavrata): He undertook two campaigns in North India (Aryavrata), defeating three and nine kings in his first and second campaigns, respectively.
• South India (Dakshinpatha): Samudragupta mar-ched through Kosala in present day Chhattisgarh, and defeated twelve kings in South India. Virasen was his commander-in-chief during his military campaign in South India.
• Forest and Frontier Areas: In addition, he carried out military expedition in forest tracts and extended his sway in present day Jabalpur (Atavikarajya) and Deccan. Frontier areas such as Kamarupa, Davaka, and Samata also paid tribute to him.

Cultural Contribution

• He was the great patron of art, literature, and learning.
• He was himself an accomplished poet and musician. He is referred as 'Kaviraja' and depicted as playing Veena in Vinavadan coins.
• He issued six types of gold coins - Garur, Dhanurdhar, Ashvamedha, Vinavadan, Parshuram, and Vyaghranihanta.
• His Ashvamedha coins refer to him performing Ashvamedha Yajna.
• Bhitari inscription and Pune inscriptions of Prabhavati Gupta also refer to Samudragupta performing Ashvamedha Yajna.
• He was a follower of Hinduism, but was tolerant towards other religions too.
• He permitted the Buddhist King of Ceylon, Meghavarman, to build a Buddhist Monastery in Bodh Gaya.
• Vasubandhu, a famous Buddhist scholar and the author of 'Abhidharmakosakarika', was minister in Samudragupta's court.