History of Uttar Pradesh State

Kushan Dynasty

The Kushan dynasty was established by Kujul Kadphises I. His son and sucessor, Vim Kadphises or Kadphises II had come upto the Ganga valley. His sucessor, Kanishk was doubtlessly the greartest among all Kushan rulers.Stories of war which Kanishk fought with the king of Soked (Saket) have been preserved in the accounts of Chinese and Tibetan historians and several inscriptions and coins found in excavations in extensive parts of Uttar Pradesh indicate that this territory was at sometime part of the Kushan empire. Mathura was at that time a well known centre of art.

The reign of Kanishk and genealogy of Kushan rulers are uncertain. Some scholars are of the view that Kanishk ascended the throne in 78 AD, while some others are of the view that Kanishk ruled between 120 and 140 AD. His capital was Purushpur of Peshawar and other capital was in Mathura. Gandhar, Kashmir and basins of Indus and Ganga Valleys came under his kingdom. After Kanishk his son Huvishk succeeded to the throne and was followed by his son.Vasudev.The empire of the Kushanas was greatly reduced during Vasudev's rule and after him disintegrated and split into several small border kingdoms. With the approach of third century AD, the Kushan sovereignty in Madhya Desh had collapsed and a number of smaller states had once again sprung up in the place. Although the names of some of them are still preserved in the pillar inscription of Samudragupta (4th century AD) at Allahabad, the most powerful dynasty to rule north India during this period was of the Nagas. Another sect of the Nagas, the Bharshivas also rose to power during this period. An idea of their power and the extent of their empire can be had from the fact that they performed ten ashwamedh Yajnas and were anointed with sacred water brought from the Ganga for their coronation.

The history of the period from the middle of the second century up to the rise of the Gupta rulers in the 4th century is very febulous. The Kushanas were losing power and several smaller states has once again started establishing their suverainty. The Panchalas of Ahichhatra had a powerful kingdom which probably extended upto Mathura. The entire area comprising Kumaon and Garhwal and probably extending upto Kulu and Simla hills formed the kingdom of the Kunindas. The remains found in Kashipur and various places in Terai show that it was an important and powerful kindgom. After the decline of the Kushan power, Kaushambi (Kosam near allahabad) probably became independent. A local dynasty reled over Magadh and subsequently the Guptas also emerged from this very region.

The Gupta Dynasty and its Downfall

With the advent of the Guptas in 4th century AD, pilitical unity was again restored in India and duing two centuries of their rule, Madhya Desh (Uttar Pradesh) shared general peace and properity with other regions. After the decline of the Gupta empire in 6th century AD, the power was once again decentralised. The Maukharis of Kannauj ruled over a large part of Madhya Desh for some time. They had to contend fiercely with the Gupta kings of Malva. Their last ruler, Grihwarman was defeated and killed about 606 AD by the Malva king Devagupta. After this Grihwarman's ministers handed over the reins of administration to his brother in law Harshavardhan, the king of  Thaneshwar.

With the accession of Harsha, the ruling dynasty of Thaneshwar and Kannuaj joined hands. Kannauj became a major city of north India. For centuries, it enjoyed the same prestige which Patalipurta had enjoyed earlier. Because of its grandeur and prosperity, it was known as "Mahodaya Shri" and its possession became the goal of successive Hindu rulers after Harsha (i.e. after 647 AD). The Chinese trabveller, Yuan-Chwang, who visited the country at that time, has given a vivid description of Kannauj. After Harsha, north India was once again thrown in turmoil. It is not possible to construct a coherent history of the period on the basis of available material. Only a few events can be narrated.