Ancient History Notes-8 UPSC CSE
Harshvardhan (606-647 AD) After the downfall of the Gupta Empire in the middle of the 6th century, North India was split into several independent kingdoms. Harsha (590–647 CE), also known as Harshavardhana, was an Indian emperor who ruled North India from 606 to 647 CE. He was a member of the Vardhana dynasty (Pushyabhuti dynasty).
Pushyabhuti dynasty foiled attack of Hunas over Indian subcontinent.
The Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) visited the court of Harsha in 631 AD and stayed for eight years and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity. About Harsha ascent to throne:
He became King at the age of 16 with are sponsibility of avenging his Brother in law and real Brother assassinations. His first act was to save his sister who was about to commit sati. Thereafter he waged a war against Shashanka and defeated him convincingly. Harsha administration:
He made kannauj (Kanyakubja its old name) his capital. (Reasons why Kannauj replaced Magadha a…
