The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s4.16

v1.c8.s4.16

But it may be asked: Is it not significant that the Vākāṭakas should have ceased to assume imperial titles just after the digvijaya or conquests of Samudragupta? May not these latter be the cause of the change? The dropping of the imperial title by Rudrasena could hardly have been purely voluntary; it must obviously have been due to a defeat inflicted upon him by Samudragupta. This defeat reduced the Vākāṭakas to the status of feudatories of the Guptas. Their official records are always careful to state that Pravarasena I was a samrāṭ, emperor. But all his successors are given the simple title of mahārāja, which at this time denoted the status of a vassal king. Prabhāvatīguptā describes her father, Chandragupta II, as a mahārājādhirāja, but is content to give the mere title of mahārāja to her husband, Rudrasena II. This is obviously because he was in fact at that time a feudatory of the Guptas.