The Rashtrakutas and their Times c19.s1.45

c19.s1.45

Wives and other female relatives of the emperors used to accompany them even in distant expeditions. Amoghavarsha I was born, while his father's camp was pitched at the feet of the Vindyas, during his campaign in the Central India. (30) An inscription from Tiruvurru records a gift from the mother of Kṛṣṇa III made to a local temple. (31) It is interesting to note that Kāmandaka has no objection against this unsound practice (32) and it is, therefore, not unlikely that it may have been fairly common in our period. Our records do not enlighten us as to whether officers and soldiers were allowed to be accompanied by their families when the armies were out on campaigns. In the case of ordinary soldiers this must have been an impossibility, and it would seem that only high officers and generals may have been shown this indulgence. Among the causes that contribute to the weakness of the fighting force, Kāmandaka mentions the presence of women in the camp. (33) It would thus appear that strict and efficient military administrations of our period were not permitting any officers to be accompanied by their families when out on campaigns. The only exception made seems to have been in favour of the emperors and perhaps the generals.