Skandagupta (455 AD – 467 AD) - Gupta Rulers - Ancient India History Notes

Skandagupta (r. 455–467) was an Indian Gupta Emperor. According to the inscription on his Bhitari pillar, he restored Gupta supremacy across the subcontinent by defeating his enemies, who could have been rebels or foreign invaders. He repelled an invasion by the Indo-Hephthalites (known as Hunas in India), who were most likely the Kidarites. He appears to have kept control of his inherited territory and is widely regarded as the last of the great Gupta Emperors. The Gupta genealogy after him is unclear, but he was most likely succeeded by Purugupta, his younger half-brother. In this article, we will discuss Skandagupta (455 AD - 467 AD) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Skandagupta - Features

• Skandagupta was a Gupta Emperor from northern India. Skandagupta was the son of Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I.
• He ascended to the throne in 455 AD and reigned until 467 AD.
• Skandagupta demonstrated his ability to rule by defeating Pushyamitras during his early years in power, earning the title of Vikramaditya.
• During his 12 year reign, he not only defended India's great culture, but also defeated the Huns, who had invaded India from the north west.
• He is widely regarded as the final of the great Gupta Emperors.

Skandagupta - Background

• Skandagupta was the son of Kumaragupta I, the Gupta emperor. His mother could have been a junior queen of Kumaragupta's concubine.
• This theory is based on the fact that Skandagputa's inscriptions mention his father's name but not his mother's.
• Skandagupta's Bhitari pillar inscription, for example, names the chief queens (mahadevis) of his ancestors Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II but not his father Kumaragupta.
• Some scholars believe that Devaki was his mother's name based on the inscription.

Skandagupta - Ascension to the Throne

• Skandagupta ascended to the throne in the year 136 of the Gupta era. According to the Bhitari pillar inscription, he restored "his family's fallen fortunes."
• He prepared for this, according to the inscription, by sleeping on the ground for a night and then defeating his enemies, who had grown wealthy and powerful.
• After defeating his opponents, he went to see his widowed mother, who was crying "tears of joy."
• His mother was most likely Kumaragupta's junior wife, not the chief queen, and thus his claim to the throne was illegitimate.
• According to the Junagadh inscription, the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, chose Skandagupta as her husband after rejecting all other "sons of kings."
• Skandagupta's coins depict a woman presenting him with an unidentified object, most likely a garland or ring.
• Following Kumaragupta's death, it is said that several people in the Gupta empire assumed sovereign status. Kumaragupta's brother, Govindagupta, is among them.

Skandagupta - Conflict with the Huns

• The Indo-Hephthalites (also known as the White Huns or Hunas) invaded India from the northwest during Skandagupta's reign, advancing as far as the Indus River.
• Skandagupta defeated the Huns, according to the inscription on the Bhitari pillar.
• The date of the Hun invasion is unknown. It is mentioned in the Bhitari inscription after describing the conflict with the Pushyamitras (or the Yudhyamitras), implying that it occurred later during Skandagupta's reign.
• However, a possible reference to this conflict in the Junagadh inscription suggests that it occurred at the start of Skandagupta's reign or during his father Kumaragupta's reign.
• The Junagadh inscription, dated to the Gupta era's year 138 (c. 457- 458 CE), mentions Skandagupta's victory over the mlechchhas (foreigners).
• The victory over the mlechchhas occurred in or around the year 136 of the Gupta era (c. 455 - 456 CE), when Skandagupta ascended to the throne and appointed Parnadatta as governor of the Saurashtra region, which included Junagadh.
• Because Skandagupta is not known to have fought any other foreigners, these mlechchhas were most likely Hunas.
• If this identification is correct, it is possible that Skandagupta was sent as a prince to check the Huna invasion at the border, and Kumaragupta died in the capital while this conflict was going on; Skandagupta returned to the capital and defeated rebels or rival claimants to ascend the throne.

Bhitari Pillar Inscription of Skandagupta

• Skandagupta's Bhitari pillar inscription was discovered in Bhitari, Saidpur, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, during the reign of Gupta Empire ruler Skandagupta (c. 455 - c. 467 CE).
• The inscription is extremely important in understanding the chronology of the various Gupta rulers, among other things. It also mentions Skandagupta's conflict with the Pushyamitras and the Hunas.
• The inscription is written in 19 lines, beginning with a genealogy of Skandagupta's ancestors, followed by a presentation of Skandagupta himself, and finally a presentation of his achievements.

Skandagupta - Western India

• The inscription on the Junagadh rock, which contains inscriptions of earlier emperors Ashoka and Rudradaman, was engraved on the orders of Skandagupta's governor Parnadatta.
• According to the inscription, Skandagupta appointed governors for all provinces, including Parnadatta as governor of Surashtra.
• It is unclear whether the verse refers to routine appointments made by the king or his actions following a political upheaval caused by a war of succession or invasion.
• The inscription lists several qualifications for the governorship of Surashtra, stating that only Parnadatta possessed these qualifications.
• Again, it's unclear whether these were actual qualifications for being a governor under Skandagupta's rule, or if the verse is simply meant to praise Parnadatta.
• Parnadatta appointed his son Chakrapalita as magistrate of Girinagara (near modern Junagadh-Girnar), presumably the capital of Surashtra.

Skandagupta - Coinage

• Samudragupta issued fewer gold coins than his predecessors, and some of these coins contain a smaller amount of gold. It is possible that the various wars he fought strained the state treasury, but this cannot be proven.
• Skandagupta issued five different types of gold coins: Archer, King and Queen, Chhatra, Lion-slayer, and Horseman type. His silver coins come in four varieties: Garuda, Bull, Altar, and Madhyadesha type.
• The initial gold coinage was based on his father Kumaragupta's old weight standard of approximately 8.4 gm. This initial coinage is extremely rare.
• Skandagupta revalued his currency at some point during his reign, switching from the old dinar standard to a new suvarna standard weighing approximately 9.2 gm.
• These later coins were all of the Archer type, and all subsequent Gupta rulers followed this standard and type.

Conclusion

Skandagupta’s last known date is 467-468 CE (year 148 of the Gupta era), but he most likely ruled for a few more years. Skandagupta was most likely succeeded by Purugupta, who appears to be his half-brother. Purugupta was Kumaragupta I's son from his chief queen and thus his legitimate successor. It is possible that he was a minor at the time of Kumaragupta I's death, which allowed Skandagupta to ascend the throne. Skandagupta appears to have died heirless, or his son may have been dethroned by Purugupta's family.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which inscription is associated with Skandagupta’s reign?

A. Allahabad Pillar Inscription
B. Bhitari Pillar Inscription
C. Nasik Cave Inscription
D. Aihole Inscription

2. Who were the major invaders repelled by Skandagupta?

A. Kushans
B. Sakas
C. Indo-Hephthalites (Huns)
D. Greeks

3. What significant title was conferred upon Skandagupta?

A. Chakravartin
B. Vikramaditya
C. Samrat
D. Maharajadhiraja

4. What was the major administrative action of Skandagupta in western India?

A. Introduction of land reforms
B. Appointment of Parnadatta as governor
C. Construction of new temples
D. Establishment of trade routes

5. Which of the following dynasties did Skandagupta belong to?

A. Maurya
B. Gupta
C. Satavahana
D. Chola

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

1. Discuss the significance of Skandagupta’s military campaigns in protecting the Gupta Empire from external invasions.

Answer: Skandagupta’s military campaigns, especially his successful defense against the Huns, were crucial in preserving the territorial integrity of the Gupta Empire. His leadership prevented the collapse of the northern frontier, securing India from foreign domination. The Bhitari Pillar Inscription vividly documents these victories, emphasizing his role as a protector of the empire. However, the economic toll of these campaigns, reflected in declining coinage quality, showcased the financial strain on the empire during his reign.

2. Analyze the challenges faced by Skandagupta during his reign and how he addressed them.

Answer: Skandagupta's reign was marked by external threats from the Huns and internal challenges like rebellion. He tackled these effectively through military prowess and strategic governance, as seen in his appointment of governors such as Parnadatta. Despite these achievements, prolonged conflicts depleted the empire’s resources, leading to an economic downturn. The decline in the quality of his coinage reflects the financial difficulties faced by the empire under his rule.

3. Evaluate the economic impact of Skandagupta's wars on the Gupta Empire.

Answer: While Skandagupta successfully defended the empire from external threats, the cost of constant warfare strained the empire's economy. This is evident in the reduced quality of gold coins minted during his reign. Skandagupta’s efforts to maintain stability, though militarily successful, could not offset the long-term economic impact of these conflicts, leading to the eventual decline of the Gupta Empire after his rule.

Previous Year Questions on Skandagupta

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021

Question: Skandagupta is credited with repelling the invasion of which foreign group?
A. Kushans
B. Greeks
C. Huns
D. Sakas

Answer: C

Explanation: Skandagupta repelled the Huns (Indo-Hephthalites), preserving the Gupta Empire’s dominance in northern India.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2017 (GS Paper 1)

Question: Discuss the decline of the Gupta Empire after the reign of Skandagupta.

Answer: After Skandagupta’s death, the Gupta Empire rapidly declined due to internal strife, economic challenges, and renewed foreign invasions. The financial strain caused by constant warfare, along with weak successors, led to the disintegration of centralized control. The weakened empire could not withstand subsequent invasions, resulting in the collapse of the once-mighty Gupta dynasty.