List of the kings of Gupta Empire
The Roman Empire was, in the course of its existence, dissolved several times, changed hands even more, was split up, parcelled out, apportioned, quartered, gambled away, bought back, and otherwise rendered defunct multiple times- but it's still called the 'Roman Empire'.
On the other hand:-
1- Sri Gupta (240 AD to 280 AD) (Founder of the Empire)
2- Ghatotkacha Gupta (280 AD to 319 AD)
3- Chandra Gupta (320 AD to 335 AD)
4- Samudra Gupta (335 AD to 380 AD)
5- Rama Gupta (380 AD to 382 AD)
6- Chandra Gupta (382 AD to 415 AD)
7- Kumara Gupta (415 AD to 455 AD)
8- Skanda Gupta (455 AD to 467 AD)
9- Puru Gupta (467 AD to 473 AD)
10- Kumara Gupta (473 AD to 476 AD)
11- Buddha Gupta (476 AD to 495 AD)
12- Narasimha Gupta (495 AD to 523 AD)
13- Kumara Gupta (523 AD to 540 AD)
14- Vainya Gupta (540 AD to 550 AD)
15- Bhanu Gupta (550 AD to 557 AD)
16- Krishna Gupta (557 AD to 559 AD)
17- Harsha Gupta
18- Jivita Gupta (few days)
19- Kumara Gupta (560s AD to 570s AD)
20- Damodara Gupta (few days)
21- Mahasena Gupta (570 AD to 580 AD)
22- Prabhakara Pushyabhuti (son-in-law of Mahasena; 580 to 604 AD)
23- Rajyavardhana Pushyabhuti (604 AD to 606 AD)
24- Harshavardhana Pushyabhuti (606 AD to 647 AD)
25- Unnamed noble (No Conclusive Data present)
26- (?) Varmana (690s AD to 725 D)
27- Yashoda Varmana (725 AD to 752 AD)
28- Unnamed Varmana Heir
29- Ama(?) Varmana (780s AD to 832 AD)
30- Dundhaka Varmana (833 AD to 860s AD)
31- Bhoja Varmana (No Conclusive Data present)
So, we have a single Empire extending over most of North India from Punjab to Bengal, with Sindh and Orissa being taken into the Empire every so often, and extending well into the Deccan and North East for centuries at a time- lasting almost uninterrupted for more than 600 years.
This Empire demonstrates remarkable continuity in rule- with power passing fairly smoothly from ruler to successor across three dynasties, linked by both blood and election.
This Empire lasted two period of massive climatic upheaval that led to the destruction of multiple Empires across Europe, South America, Persia, and China- and encompassed the 'Golden Age of India' in the 4th Century- presiding over a flourishing of Art, Culture, and Literature the World has scarcely seen- with an almost exacting continuity of Ethos and Belief.
So- why is 'Roman Empire' a legitimate usage while the 'Gupta-Vardhamana' Empire isn't? The iconography in their coins is consistent, the focus on Emperors being scholar-soldiers is consistent. Their military representation- with the Brahminy Kite standard- is consistent. The administrative organization- barring the steady change from centralized Empire under Sri Gupta to a wholly internally-divided Feudal state under the Varmana- is consistent as well.
So - ideological reasons aside, we find one Empire lasting the better part of six centuries- ensuring continuity and stability over more than a third of the Continent at all times, and pretty much creating the way we Indians look at ourselves even today.
On the other hand:-
1- Sri Gupta (240 AD to 280 AD) (Founder of the Empire)
2- Ghatotkacha Gupta (280 AD to 319 AD)
3- Chandra Gupta (320 AD to 335 AD)
4- Samudra Gupta (335 AD to 380 AD)
5- Rama Gupta (380 AD to 382 AD)
6- Chandra Gupta (382 AD to 415 AD)
7- Kumara Gupta (415 AD to 455 AD)
8- Skanda Gupta (455 AD to 467 AD)
9- Puru Gupta (467 AD to 473 AD)
10- Kumara Gupta (473 AD to 476 AD)
11- Buddha Gupta (476 AD to 495 AD)
12- Narasimha Gupta (495 AD to 523 AD)
13- Kumara Gupta (523 AD to 540 AD)
14- Vainya Gupta (540 AD to 550 AD)
15- Bhanu Gupta (550 AD to 557 AD)
16- Krishna Gupta (557 AD to 559 AD)
17- Harsha Gupta
18- Jivita Gupta (few days)
19- Kumara Gupta (560s AD to 570s AD)
20- Damodara Gupta (few days)
21- Mahasena Gupta (570 AD to 580 AD)
22- Prabhakara Pushyabhuti (son-in-law of Mahasena; 580 to 604 AD)
23- Rajyavardhana Pushyabhuti (604 AD to 606 AD)
24- Harshavardhana Pushyabhuti (606 AD to 647 AD)
25- Unnamed noble (No Conclusive Data present)
26- (?) Varmana (690s AD to 725 D)
27- Yashoda Varmana (725 AD to 752 AD)
28- Unnamed Varmana Heir
29- Ama(?) Varmana (780s AD to 832 AD)
30- Dundhaka Varmana (833 AD to 860s AD)
31- Bhoja Varmana (No Conclusive Data present)
So, we have a single Empire extending over most of North India from Punjab to Bengal, with Sindh and Orissa being taken into the Empire every so often, and extending well into the Deccan and North East for centuries at a time- lasting almost uninterrupted for more than 600 years.
This Empire demonstrates remarkable continuity in rule- with power passing fairly smoothly from ruler to successor across three dynasties, linked by both blood and election.
This Empire lasted two period of massive climatic upheaval that led to the destruction of multiple Empires across Europe, South America, Persia, and China- and encompassed the 'Golden Age of India' in the 4th Century- presiding over a flourishing of Art, Culture, and Literature the World has scarcely seen- with an almost exacting continuity of Ethos and Belief.
So- why is 'Roman Empire' a legitimate usage while the 'Gupta-Vardhamana' Empire isn't? The iconography in their coins is consistent, the focus on Emperors being scholar-soldiers is consistent. Their military representation- with the Brahminy Kite standard- is consistent. The administrative organization- barring the steady change from centralized Empire under Sri Gupta to a wholly internally-divided Feudal state under the Varmana- is consistent as well.
So - ideological reasons aside, we find one Empire lasting the better part of six centuries- ensuring continuity and stability over more than a third of the Continent at all times, and pretty much creating the way we Indians look at ourselves even today.
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