The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c6.s6.7

c6.s6.7

In the scramble for territories that followed the dissolution of the Pala empire, the Sena chieftains forestalled all the others. In their grants, they call themselves *Brahmakshatriyas*¹—a term, which indicates a mixed origin—and are known to have come from South India in the train of the Chalukya Vikramaditya when he invaded northeast India between c. 1044 and 1068². Vijayasena (1097-1159)³ soon attacked and dispossessed the Varmans of east Bengal from where he issued a grant in 1159⁴. Evidence suggests that he also made himself master of part of Varendri; the last grant of Madanapala, issued in Bengal, is dated in his eighth regnal year⁵. In his grants, Vijayasena claims not only to have defeated the Gouda ruler, but also those of Kamrup, Kalinga and the smaller princes of north and south Bengal. The victory over the Kamrup king may have some reference to his conflicts with either Ryarideva or his successor Udayakarna, who preceded Vallabhadeva of the Chandravansi dynasty⁶. Raghava, the successor of Chodaganga in Orissa, is said to have levied tribute from the lands bordering on the Ganges and thus presumably incurred the hostility of the Senas, related, as mentioned above, to the Sura rulers of the affected territory. Vijayasena also fought successfully with Nanyadeva of Mithila (North Bihar)⁷. In the copper-plate grant of his successors he is mentioned as having sent a naval expedition up the Ganges. This must obviously refer to the beginning of hostilities with the Gahdvalas, then advancing rapidly into Magadha.