The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c30.23

c30.23

These curious details indicate clearly that some unknown obstacle stood in the way of Harsha's accession, and compelled him to rely for his title to the crown upon election by the nobles rather than upon his hereditary claims. The Chinese work entitled *Fang-chih* represents Harsha as 'administering the government in conjunction with his widowed sister', a statement which suggests that he at first considered himself to be Regent on behalf of his sister, or possibly, an infant child of his late brother.¹ There is reason to suppose that Harsha did not boldly stand forth as avowed king until A. D. 612, when he had been five and a half or six years on the throne, and that his formal coronation or consecration took place in that year. The era called after his name, of which the year 1 was A. D. 606–7, dated from the time of his accession in October, 606.²