Early Medieval Period in North India

Early Medieval Period in North India

Rajputa Period

After Harshavardhana, the Rajptas emerged as a powerful force in Northern India and domainated the Indian political scene for nearly 500 years from the 7th Tripartite Struggle.

Tripartitle Struggle

» Towards the close of the 8th century AD, there were three great power in India the Palace in the East, the Gurjar-Patihara in the North and the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan.
» The tripartitle struggle for the supremacy among the Palas and the Rashtrakutas was the important event of these centuries.
» The main case for this struggle was the desired to posses the city of Kannauj (Kannauj Distt. in UP) which was then a symbol of sovereinity.

The Pals ( 750 - 1150 )

» Gopala founded the Pala empire in 750 AD.
» His son Dharmpala (770-810) success him. Dharmpala Nalanda University.
» He founded the Vikramshila University.
» The Pala dynasty was succeeded By Sena dynasty of Bangal. Jaydeva was the great court poet of Luxman De.

The Pratiharas ( 730 - 1036 )

» The Pratiharas are also called Gurjara-Pratiharas probably because they originated from Gujarat or South-West Rajasthan.
» Bhoja/Mihir Bhoja (836-882) was the greatest ruler of this dynasty.
» He was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted the title of Adivarah.

The Rashtrakutas ( 752 - 973 )

» Dantidurg (752-756), who fixed his capital at Malkhand / Malkhed (Gulbarga distt., Karnataka), founded the Kingdom.
» The greatest Rashtrakuta rulers were Govinda III (793-814) and Amogh varsha (814-878). Amoghvarsha ruled for 64 years but by temperament he preferred pursuit of religion and literature to war. He was himself an author and wrote Kavirajamarga, the earliest Kannada book on Poetics.
» The famous rock-cut temple of Kailash (Shiva) at Ellora was built by one of the Rashtrakuta kings Krishna I.

Other Important Rulers

Prithviraj Chauhan (1178-92)

He ruled over Delhi and Agra and fought two important battles, viz. First Battle of Tarain was fought in 1191 between the forces of Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori in which the latter was defeated. Second Battle of Tarain was fought in 1192 when Mohammad Ghori again invaded India in which Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated and captured and later on slain. The Kingdom of Delhi fell to Mohammad Ghori.
The Battle of Tarain had great significance in the political scene as it led to the establishment of Muslim rule over North India and, subsequently, in the South for several centuries.

Jai Chand Gadhawal / Rathor (1169-94)

He was the last Rajputa King who was also defeated and killed by Mohammad Ghori in the Battle ofChandawar (1194).

Rana Kumbha, the Sisodiya ruler of Mewar (1433-68)

Rana Kumbha was the famous ruler of Mewar. He defeated Mohammad Khilji and erected the Tower of victory (VijayStambha) in Chittor,. His successors Rana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) and Rana Pratap were also great kings of Mewar state.

Causes of the Decline of Rajputas

Lack of unity and foresightedness, caste the system, and defective military organization were some of the causes for the downfall of the Rajputas.