CHANDRA GUPTA

CHANDRA GUPTA

Ghatotkacha was succeeded by his son Chandra Gupta I (in about AD 320), who assumed the title of Mnharajadhiraja. Like Bimbisara he strengthened his position by matrimonial alliance with the Lichchavis-then controlling portions of Bihar and Nepal. The Lichchavi princess Kumaradevi must have brought to the Guptas enormous accession of power and prestige, as the Guptas were probably vaishyas and the Lichchavis were a very old family of kshatriyas. Much prominence has been given to the Lichchavi princess in the genealogies of later Gupta kings, and special coins were minted to commemorate her marriage to Chandra Gupta I who possessed fairly large domains including the regions of Magadha and Kosala. Chandra Gupta I started the Gupta era in AD 320, which marked the date of his accession. An important act of this king was the holding of an assembly of councillors and members of the royal family at which Prince Samudra Gupta was formally nominated successor in about AD 335.