BOOK I
HARSHA AND HIS TIMES
(Circa 600-650 A. D.)
CHAPTER I
ACCESSION OF HARSHA
[The broad facts mentioned in these Chapters are of course taken from Sir V. Smith's now standard work on the early history of India. I have, however, studied the materials referred to by him in the original and by their help and the help of the Harsha-Charita of Bāna have tried to throw additional light on many incidents in Harsha's life. On two points I have ventured, with some diffidence, to put forward views differing from those of Sir Vincent Smith. I have further added a few detailed notes embodying discussion on the most controversial points. And lastly I have attempted to determine, on data supplied by the Harsha-Charita, the exact date of the birth of Harsha.]
When the seventh century of the Christian era opened Prabhātvaravardhana of Thanesar was undoubtedly the premier king of Northern India, He had defeated and humbled the Huns who, notwithstanding their signal defeat in the previous century by the combined forces of India led by Yasodharma of Malwa and Bālāditya of Magadha, were still a powerful people in the Panjab and had their kingdoms at Gandhara or Peshawar and at Sākala or Sialkot still in existence. He had defeated the ruling kings of Sind and Gurjara, the chief state in Rajputana, and had also conquered the kings ruling in Malwa and Gujarat at the close of the sixth century.[1] In the eastern portion of Northern India the Maukharis of Kanauj held sway very probably as far east as the Brahmaputra called Lauhitya in ancient days and southwards as far as the
- ↑ See (
Indic characters) H.C., p.174.
