From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? 1. The Guptas of Magadha 2. The Paramaras of Malwa 3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar 4. The Maukharis of Kanauj 5. The Yadavas of Devagiri 6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Contents8
- A1, 2 and 5
- B1, 3, 4 and 6
- C2, 3 and 4
- D5 and 6
Show answer
Answer: (B) 1, 3, 4 and 6
After the Gupta Empire declined (around 6th century CE), North India fragmented into regional kingdoms before Harsha reunited parts in the early 7th century.
The Guptas of Magadha (Option 1) — correct, the Gupta Empire shrank to just Magadha in its final phase.
The Paramaras of Malwa (Option 2) — wrong, they became prominent only by the 10th century.
The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar (Option 3) — correct, they ruled Thaneswar; Harsha himself was from this dynasty.
The Maukharis of Kanauj (Option 4) — correct, they ruled Agra and Oudh (UP) as an independent state.
The Yadavas of Devagiri (Option 5) — wrong, they belong to a later period (10th-11th century).
The Maitrakas of Valabhi (Option 6) — correct, they ruled Saurashtra (Gujarat) with Valabhi as capital.
Options 1, 3, 4, and 6 are correct.
Answer: (b).
The post-Gupta period (6th-7th century CE) saw North India fragment into multiple regional kingdoms before Harsha's unification - a crucial transition phase between two major empires.
UPSC is testing chronological precision by mixing dynasties from the correct 6th-7th century period with later medieval dynasties like Paramaras and Yadavas from 10th-11th centuries.
Students must memorize which specific dynasties controlled which regions during this exact 150-year window between Gupta decline and Harsha's rise.
Post-Gupta Northern Indian Kingdoms
Ancient And Medieval History Guptas of Magadha Pushyabhutis of Thanesar Maukharis of Kanauj Maitrakas of Valabhi
Post-Gupta Northern Kingdoms (6th-7th Century CE)
Four kingdoms held power in North India between Gupta decline and Harsha's rise
Period spans 6th to early 7th century CE - critical transition phase
Pushyabhutis of Thanesar gave rise to Harsha himself
Later Guptas survived only in Magadha after empire's collapse
After the mighty Gupta Empire declined around the 6th century CE, North India fragmented into several regional kingdoms before Harshavardhana reunited parts in the early 7th century CE. This transitional period saw four key dynasties maintaining power across different regions.
Kingdoms Holding Power (6th-7th Century)
Dynasty | Capital/Region | Modern Location | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
Guptas of Magadha | Magadha | Bihar | Remnant of great empire, survived in reduced form |
Pushyabhutis of Thanesar | Thanesar | Haryana | Harsha's own dynasty, ruled from Thanesar |
Maukharis of Kanauj | Kanauj | Uttar Pradesh | Controlled Agra and Oudh regions |
Maitrakas of Valabhi | Valabhi | Gujarat (Saurashtra) | Independent rulers of western coast |
This question tests the chronological precision that UPSC demands. The trap lies in including Paramaras of Malwa and Yadavas of Devagiri - both powerful dynasties but from the 10th-11th centuries, not the 6th-7th century post-Gupta period.
Paramaras of Malwa ruled in 10th century, not 6th-7th century post-Gupta period
Yadavas of Devagiri belong to 10th-11th centuries, classic chronological trap
Later Guptas of Magadha ≠ original Gupta Empire - they were a reduced remnant
Pushyabhutis connection to Harsha often missed - same dynasty, different generation
Harsha and Pushyabhuti Dynasty
Ancient And Medieval History Harshavardhana Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
Harshavardhana & the Pushyabhuti Dynasty
Harsha (606-647 CE) belonged to Pushyabhuti dynasty of Thanesar
Reunited North India after post-Gupta fragmentation
Moved capital from Thanesar to Kanauj after defeating Maukharis
Harshavardhana emerged from the Pushyabhuti dynasty that ruled Thanesar (modern Haryana). His rise in 606 CE marked the end of the post-Gupta fragmentation period and the beginning of North Indian political reunification.
Harsha's Rise to Power
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Pushyabhutis Rule Thanesar**
Regional kingdom in 6th-7th century CE`"]
s2["`**Harsha Becomes King (606 CE)**
Young ruler inherits Thanesar throne`"]
s3["`**Defeats Maukharis**
Conquers Kanauj from rival dynasty`"]
s4["`**Shifts Capital to Kanauj**
Strategic move to control Gangetic plains`"]
s5["`**Unifies North India**
Creates large empire by 647 CE`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5Thanesar was Harsha's original capital, not Kanauj (shifted later)
Pushyabhutis were already ruling before Harsha - he didn't found the dynasty
Chronological Confusion in Dynasties
Ancient And Medieval History Paramaras of Malwa Yadavas of Devagiri
Medieval Dynasty Chronology: Common UPSC Traps
Paramaras and Yadavas ruled in 10th-11th centuries, not 6th-7th
UPSC frequently tests chronological precision in dynasty questions
UPSC creates systematic chronological confusion by mixing dynasties from different centuries. The Paramaras of Malwa and Yadavas of Devagiri were indeed powerful kingdoms, but they belong to the medieval period (10th-11th centuries), not the post-Gupta transition (6th-7th centuries).
Dynasty Periods: Actual vs Confused
Dynasty | Actual Period | UPSC Confusion | Key Ruler/Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
Paramaras of Malwa | 10th-11th century | Mixed with 6th-7th century | Raja Bhoja, Dhara |
Yadavas of Devagiri | 10th-11th century | Mixed with 6th-7th century | Bhillama V, Devagiri |
Guptas of Magadha | 6th-7th century | Confused with original Guptas | Post-decline remnant |
Maukharis of Kanauj | 6th-7th century | Often overlooked | Pre-Harsha Kanauj rulers |
Raja Bhoja of Paramaras lived in 11th century, not during post-Gupta period
Devagiri (Daulatabad) was Yadava capital in medieval times, not ancient
Don't confuse Later Guptas with the Imperial Gupta period (4th-6th century)
Post-Gupta Political Fragmentation
Ancient And Medieval History
Political Fragmentation After Gupta Decline
Gupta Empire collapsed around 6th century due to Hun invasions and internal conflicts
Regional kingdoms emerged across North India before Harsha's reunification
Period lasted roughly 100-150 years (6th to early 7th century)
The decline of the Gupta Empire around the 6th century CE led to significant political fragmentation in North India. Multiple factors including Hun invasions, internal succession disputes, and administrative breakdown caused the centralized empire to fragment into regional kingdoms.
Causes of Post-Gupta Fragmentation
# Gupta Decline
## External Invasions
- Hun invasions
- Toramana attacks
- Mihirakula's campaigns
## Internal Factors
- Succession disputes
- Administrative breakdown
- Economic decline
## Regional Assertions
- Local governors independence
- Feudal tendencies
- Regional identityThis fragmentation period ended only when Harshavardhana began reunifying North India in the early 7th century, starting from his base in Thanesar and expanding across the Gangetic plains.