Durlabharaja I
| Durlabharaja I | |
|---|---|
| Chahamana ruler | |
| Reign | c. 784-809 CE |
| Predecessor | Gopendraraja |
| Successor | Govindaraja I |
| Dynasty | Chahamanas of Shakambhari |
| Father | Chandraraja I |
Durlabha-rāja I (r. c. 784-809 CE ) was an Indian ruler belonging to the Chahamana dynasty. He ruled parts of present-day Rajasthan in north-western India as a vassal of the Gurjara-Pratihara king Vatsaraja.
Early life[]
Durlabha was the son of the Chahamana king Chandraraja I, and succeeded his uncle (Chandraraja's brother) Gopendraraja.[1]
Gauda campaign[]
Historical evidence suggests that Durlabha achieved military success against the Pala Empire of present-day Bengal, as a vassal of the Gurjara-Pratihara king Vatsaraja.[2]
The Prithviraja Vijaya states that Durlabha's sword bathed in Ganga-sagara (presumably the confluence of the Ganga river and the ocean), and tasted the sweet juice of Gauda. This refers to Durlabha's military achievements in the Gauda region.[3][4] Durlabha's son Guvaka is known to have been a vassal of the Gurjara-Pratihara king Nagabhata II. This suggests that Durlabha was also a feudatory of the Pratiharas, most probably that of Nagabhata's father Vatsaraja.[4][5] This theory is supported by the Radhanpur Plate Inscription, which refers to Vatsaraja's successful military campaign in the Gauda region.[2]
Durlabha appears to have achieved his victories in Gauda during Vatsaraja's campaign against the Pala king Dharmapala.[4][5] The Palas came into conflict from time to time with the Pratiharas. The 812 CE Baroda Inscription also refers to Nagabhata's victory over the Gauda king Dharmapala.[2]
Historian R. C. Majumdar theorizes that "Gauda" here refers to the Ganga-Yamuna Doab in present-day Uttar Pradesh. Other historians, such as Dasharatha Sharma and Rima Hooja, identify it with the Gauda region in Bengal, which was the core Pala territory.[6][2]
According to the Radhanpur inscription Dharamapala, was deprived of his two white , and fled, pursued by the Pratihara forces. The inscription suggests that through vigorous campaigning, Vatsraja extended his dominions to include a large part of northern India, from the Thar Desert in the west up to the frontiers of bengal in the east.[7]
Both Vatsaraja and Dharmapala were later subdued by the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva. As Dhruva died in 793 CE, Durlabha's military successes in Gauda can be dated before this year.[8]
Successor[]
Durlabha was succeeded by his son Govindaraja I alias Guvaka.[1]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b R. B. Singh 1964, p. 55.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Rima Hooja 2006, pp. 274–278.
- ^ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 93.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 24.
- ^ Jump up to: a b R. B. Singh 1964, p. 94.
- ^ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 25.
- ^ A History of Rajasthan Rima Hooja Rupa & Company, 2006 - Rajasthan pg - 274-278 ISBN 8129108909
- ^ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 26.
Bibliography[]
- Dasharatha Sharma (1959). Early Chauhān Dynasties. S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9780842606189.
- R. B. Singh (1964). History of the Chāhamānas. N. Kishore. OCLC 11038728.
- R. V. Somani (1976). History of Mewar, from Earliest Times to 1751 A.D. Mateshwari. OCLC 2929852.
- A History of Rajasthan Rima Hooja. Rupa & Company. 2006. ISBN 8129108909.
- Chahamanas of Shakambhari
- 8th-century Indian monarchs
- 9th-century Indian monarchs