Rise of Kingdoms in India

• After the Gupta empire fell apart in the 6th century AD, smaller kingdoms that used to be part of it grew as independent kingdoms in India.
• New kingdoms and kings, such as Yasodharma, emerged.
• Kingdoms like the Maukharis, Hunas, Magdhan Guptas, the Pushyabhutis of Thaneswar, the Maitrakas of Kanauj, the Gaudas of Sasanka, and the Varmans of Kamarupa rose to power.
• Political instability led to the rise of important kings like Pushyabhuti of Thaneshwar, located in Srikanta Janapada, which is now Haryana.
• Harshavardhana brought political stability in the 7th century and created a larger kingdom.
• Harsha was a famous ruler of the Phushyabhuti family.
• Harsha took over the throne from his brother Rajya Vardhan in 606 AD.

The Maukharis

• Kannauj or Kanyakubja became the capital of the Maukhari kingdom during the 6th century.
• The title of Maharaja was given to the first three Maukhari kings of the Gupta dynasty.
• Ishana Varman (550-560 AD), the 4th Maukhari king, took the title of Maharajadhiraja.
• Ishana Varman followed a policy of expansion and fought battles with the Andhras, Gaudas, and Guptas of Magadha.
• Sarva Varman seized the throne from Ishana Varman and established a strong Maukhari presence in Madhya Desha.
• Graha Varman was a significant ruler of the Maukharis dynasty.
• Graha Varman married Rajyashri of the Pushyabhuti family of Thaneshwar.
• The Malwa king killed Graha Varman and imprisoned Rajyashri.
• Later, Kannauj merged with Harsha Vardhan's kingdom of Thaneshwar.

The Pushyabhutis

• Aditya Vardhan's son, Prabhakara Vardhan, was the first king of the dynasty.
• Prabhakara Vardhan was the first king to take the title "Param Bhattarak Maharajadhiraja" and ruled from 583 to 605.
• Prabhakara Vardhan defeated various dynasties, including the Hunas, Gurjaras, the Sindhu king, the Gandhara's lord, and the Malwa kings.
• The first three kings of the Pushyabhuti dynasty, Nara Vardhan, Rajya Vardhan, and Aditya Vardhan, received the title of Maharaja, in accordance with their feudal lordship under the Gupta dynasties.
• Rajya Vardhan succeeded Prabhakar Vardhan, but he was killed in battle with Shashank Gauda of Bengal.
• Harsha Vardhan then took the throne with the support of the Mantri Parishad (Council of Ministers).

Harsha Vardhana (from 606-647 AD)

• Hieun-Tsang's writings and travelogues improved our knowledge about Harsha.
• Harsha was initially hesitant to take on the responsibilities of kingship.
• Harsha brought the majority of northern India under his control.
• Harsha assumed the name 'Siladitya'.
• Two important assemblies took place at Prayag and Kanauj during Harsha's reign.