Political History of Ancient Bengal

Political History of Ancient Bengal

We can get an idea about chronological history of Bengal since the Pala rule. It is not easy to find out the history before that. During this period no ruler could reign for a long time all over Bengal. So, the political life of Bengal evolved disconnectedly. There was an unstable situation after the end of Maurya and Gupta rule. Some independent kingdom roses through this instability. King Sasanka of North Bengal was the most powerful among those independent kingdoms. After his death there was no competent ruler in Bengal for a long time. As a result, there appeared anarchy and disorder all over the kingdom. Nearly one hundred years passed all the way through this condition. Afterwards a leader named Gopala brought this unstable condition to an end and established the Pala dynasty. In the middle of the twelveth century the Pala dynasty encountered its downfall. During that Pala regime small independent kingdoms came into being in south-east Bengal. After that the Senas coming from Karnataka of South India established a kingdom in East Bengal. The Sena regin continued for about two hundred years. In the first decade of the thirteenth century the Sena reign yielded to Muslim power. Then a new chapter started - the Middle Age of Bengal.

Important dynasties of ancient Bengal and administrative system Bengal during the Age of Maurya and Gupta

There were no sources available to write any chronological history of ancient Bengal prior to the age of Gupta because people of that time were not used to writing history like those of today. We get a few sources of history from sporadic and separated comments in Indian and foreign literatures about Bengal of that time. It is not possible to write any chronological history attached with dates, years and authentic events by unjustly joining these unconnected events. In fact, in 327 B.C. -26 A.D. during the invasion of India by Greek hero Alexander, history took its original form. In the writings of Greek writers there was a powerful kingdom named 'Gongariddi' in Bengal. The nation 'Gongaridi' inhabited in the region between the two streams of the Ganges now known as the Bhagirathi and the Padma. The Greek writers referred to another nation called 'Prasioy' in addition to 'Gongaridi'.Their capital was Palibothra (Patliputra). It can be guessed depending on the descriptions of the Greek writers that these two nations took their arms against Alexander under the leadership of the same dynasty. It can also be guessed that during Alexander's invasion the king of Bengal extended his kingdom upto Punjab. He was someone king belonging the conquering Magadha and surrounding kingdom to Nanda Dynasty of Patliputra. It is beyond doubt from comments of ancient Greek writers that the king of Bengal was the most powerful at that time. Just after two years of the departure of Alexander from India in 321 B.C. Maurya king Chandra gupta Maurya established the lordship of Maurya Dynasty on a vast region of India. During the reign of Emperor Ashoka (269B.C.-232 B.C.) the Maurya rule was established in North Bengal. The region turned to a province of the Mauryans. Ancient Pundranagar was the capital of this province. Besides, north Bengal, Maurya rule was established in Karnasubarno (Murshidabad), Tamralipta (Hoogly) and Samatata (South-east Bengal). After the fall of Maurya Empire, Shunga dynasty and later Kanva dynasty appeared. We do not have enough sources to know the history of this age. It is thought that they established their rule on some small regions. After that quite a good number of foreign powers inveded India. Among them Greek, 'Saka' 'Pahlav', 'Kushana' are mentionable. But it cannot be said whether these inbedors came upto Bengal. Quite a number of sources are available to historians to know about the Gupta Age. It has been easy to write the history of the last half of the Third century and the first phase of the 4th century from these sources. Gupta Empire was established in India in 320 A.D. Then some independent kingdoms came into being in Bengal. Among them Samatata of South-east Bengal and Puskoron of West Bengal are mentionable. Some sections of the North Bengal came under the possession of Gupta Empire just during the reign of Gupta Emperor Chandragupta. Though whole Bengal was conquered during the reign of Samudragupta, Samatata was a vanal kingdom. Since the reign of Samudragupta up to the middle of the sixth century North Bengal was used to be considered as a 'Province' or 'Bhukti' of Gupta Empire. Like the Mauryas, Pundrangar of Mohasthangar was the capital of the Gupta kings of the province.

Bengal in Post Gupta Period

As a result of the attack by The daring mountainous tribe the Huns in the fifth century and by JoshovarmanofMalabainthesixthcentury,Guptarulecompletelycametoanendattheveryfirst half of the sixth century. After the fall of great Gupta Empire, there was the emergence of small independent kingdoms in North India. Thus after the fall of the Gupta empire political instability grew all over north India. With that chance two independent kingdoms came into being. Either of them was Banga. It was situated in the Southern region of South-east Bengal and West Bengal.

The independent Kingdom of Bangla

An independent kingdom emerged in the Banga Janapada with the advantage of the weaknesses of the Gupta's Empire. It was known from 'Copper inscription' on copper that three kings named Gochandra, Dharmaditya and Samachardeva ruled independent Bengal. All of them assumed the title 'Moharajadhiraj'. Their regime was between 525A.D. -600 A.D. It cannot be said when and how the independent and powerful Bongo kingdom collapsed. It is a notion that Kirtivarman the king belonging to Chalukya dynasty brought about the downfall of independent Bangla kingdom. Those who do not hold dissimilar opinion say that due to the rise of independent Gaur kingdom, the Bongo kingdom collapsed. The rise of some feudal kings is also held responsible for the fall of independent Bengal because before the seventh century independent and feudal kings belonging to Bhadra, Kharga, Rahr dynasty rose in the kingdom Samatata of south Bengal.