[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924) › c29.9 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c29.9 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c29.9 - **Language:** English ### [c29.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.9) A local Rāja at or near Pātaliputra, bearing the famous name of Chandra-gupta,¹ wedded, in or about the year 308, a princess named Kumāra Devī, who belonged to the ancient Lichchhavi clan, celebrated ages before in the early annals of Buddhism. During the long period of about eight centuries which intervened between the reign of Ajātasatru and the marriage of Kumāra Devī the history of the Lichchhavis has been lost for the most part, although they are known to have established a dynasty in Nepāl, which used an era believed to run from A.D. 111.² They now come suddenly into notice again in connexion with this marriage, which proved to be an event of the highest political importance, as being the foundation of the fortunes of a dynasty destined to rival the glories of the Mauryas. Kumāra Devī evidently brought to her husband as her dowry valuable influence, which in the course of a few years secured to him a paramount position in Magadha and the neighbouring countries. It seems probable that at the time of this fateful union the Lichchhavis were masters or overlords of the ancient imperial city, and that Chandra-gupta, by means of his matrimonial alliance, succeeded to the power previously held by his wife's relatives. In the olden days the Lichchhavis of Vaisālī had been the rivals of the kings of Pātaliputra, and apparently, during the disturbed times which followed the reign of Pushyamitra, they paid off old scores by taking possession of the city, which had been built and fortified many centuries earlier for the express purpose of curbing their restless spirit. - [Previous: c29.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.8) - [Next: c29.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.10) - [Up: c29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c29.9) · Pramāṇa