INTRODUCTION
After the fall of Satavaganas, many kingdom arose in the Deccan. Vakatakas were most powerful among them. The founder of the dynasty was Vindhyasakti. The kingdom extended up to Malwa and southern part of Deccan. The kingdom flourished in the 3rd century AD.
FOUNDER
The real founder was the son of Vindhyasakti, he was Pravarasena. He was the only Vakataka king titled as Samrat. He extended the empire from Bundelkhand in the north to Hyderabad in the south. He also performed Ashvamedha.
TWO BRANCHES
The empire was divided into two after Pravarasena. The grandson of Pravarasena was Rudrasena-I. His son was Gautamiputra. He ruled Nandhivardhana as a capital, which is 22 miles Nagpur. Another son of Pravarasena was Sarvasena. He ruled western part, Vatsagulma as the capital at Berar.
VAKATAKAS AND GUPTAS
The Allahabad pillar enumerate the conquest of the Guptas. But there is no mention about the Vakatakas. Hence it is clear, the Vakatakas and Guptas were equally powerful.
VAKATAKAS AND GUPTAS MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCE
Rudrasena’s grandson Rudrasena -II married Prabavathi Gupta, the daughter of Chandra Gupta-II. Hence the two powerful empires had amicable agreement through matrimonial alliances. After the death of Rudrasena-II, the administration was carried out by Prabavathi Gupta for her minor son Divakarasena.
SUCCESSORS
Divakarasena died before ascending the throne and was succeeded by his brother Damodarasena and Pravarasena-II. Prabavathi Gupta lived long more than 100 years. Pravarasena-II changed his capital to Pravarapura near Berar. The city probably named after him. Some authors suggest that the famous poet Kalidasa was deputed to supervise the education by his grandfather Chandra Gupta. Pravarasena-II was succeeded by Narendrasena.
DECLINE
Narendrasena was succeeded by Prithvisena-II. The decline was caused by the attack of the Vakataka king of Vatsagulma family. Prithvisena-II is the known last king of Vakatakas.
VATSAGULMA BRANCH
Harisena is the most notable king of the branch. He was powerful and his empire extended to the part of Madhya Pradesh, East coast of Deccan, Central India, Malwa, Gujarat, Konkan and North Canara. It is difficult to trace how he maintained the vast area. But he was a powerful king.
