Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c26.26

c26.26

Next to the Hun inroads must be mentioned the ambition of generals and feudatories. In the time of the Emperor Skanda Gupta, Surāshṭra was governed by a *Goptṛi* or Margrave named Parṇadatta, who was appointed by the emperor himself to the Viceroyalty of the Far West. Shortly afterwards, Bhaṭārka, a chief of the Maitraka clan, established himself in this province as general or military governor, with his capital probably at Valabhī. He, as well as his immediate successor, Dharasena I, was satisfied with the title of *Senāpati* or general, but the next chief Droṇasiṁha, the second son of Bhaṭārka (A.D. 502-03) had to be installed as *Mahārāja* by his suzerain. A branch of the dynasty established itself in Mo-la-po (Mālavaka)³ or the westernmost part of Mālwa in the latter half of the sixth century, and made extensive conquests in the direction of the Sahya and Vindhya Hills.⁴ Another, and a junior, branch continued to rule at Valabhī. In the seventh century Dhruvasena II of Valabhī married the daughter of Harsha. His son Dharasena IV (A.D. 645-49) assumed the imperial titles of *Paramabhaṭṭāraka Parameśvara Chakravartin*.