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Harshavardhana (Heli-sha)

Type Figure Region North India Time c. 590–647 Also known as Helishafadanna

Harshavardhana (c. 590–647) was the last great unifying monarch of North India in post-Gupta India, capitalizing at Kanyakubja (Kanauj) and founding …

Timeline

  1. c. 590–606Sthanisvara (Thanesar) · North IndiaBorn at Sthanisvara (modern Thanesar in Haryana), son of King Prabhakaravardhana. After his elder brother Rajyavardhana succeeded their father, Harsha served at his side, learning military and statecraft.
  2. 606–612Sthanisvara · North IndiaAfter his brother Rajyavardhana was killed by Shashanka, king of Gauda, Harsha succeeded to the throne, immediately allied with Kanyakubja (his sister's husband's kingdom) to launch a punitive campaign, and annexed neighboring kingdoms, laying the foundation for imperial expansion.
  3. c. 612–647Kanyakubja (Kanauj) · Gangetic PlainHe moved the capital to Kanyakubja, conquered or forced the states of North India into submission, and built a great empire covering the Gangetic basin. He held grand assemblies (dharma assemblies), honored Buddhist monks, and exchanged envoys with the Tang dynasty and the Sasanian dynasty of Persia. Xuanzang resided long at his court, and the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions gives a detailed account.

Sources