Devapala

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Devapala (rule: 810 AD - 850 AD) was a powerful king of Pala dynasty of Bengal. He was the third king in the line and had succeeded his father, king Dharamapala (rule: 770 - 810 AD). He inherited a great empire built by his father but he also made his own contributions to it to expand its frontiers.

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[edit] Military career of Devapala

Though not much is known about the details of his military campaigns, he is said to have exacted tributes from whole of northern India from Himalayas to Vindhyas and from east to west ocean [2]. More specifically, the inscriptions reveal that his victorious military compaigns led him as far as to Kamboja of northwest and Vindhyas in the south [3] [4] and that he exterminated the Utkalas, conquered the Pragjyotisha (Assam) shattered the pride of the Hunas and humbled the lords of Gurjara Pratiharas and the Dravidas[5].

Information provided by these Inscriptions bears strong witness to Devapala's encounter with the Kambojas of Kabol valley, which nation, since remote antiquity, had been known for its quality war horses. The Monghyr Charter bears powerful witness to the fact that the Palas recruited their war horses from this Kamboja of the northwest[6] [7]

Devapala's Empire at height
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Devapala's Empire at height

[edit] Imperialistic and expanionistic policies

According to "Age of Imperial Kanauj" (History and Culture of Indian People), the above inscriptional statements attest that Devapala had followed imperialistic and expansionistic policy and in his military compaigns under his real cousin General Jayapala,[8] the Pala army invaded Pragjyotisha (Assam) where the king submitted without giving a fight and the Utkalas whose king fled from his capital city [9]. On the opposite frontiers of the empire, were the Hunas located in south-east Punjab in Uttarapatha who became the next target of Devapala's fury. From there, the Pala forces had proceeded further to Kamboja of North-West Frontiers (Trans-Indus territory). Unfortunately, no details of his compaign or extent of success against the Kambojas is available from these inscriptions (Dr R. C. Majumdar). It is not known if Pala army had actually engaged in fight with the Kambojas and subjugated them or not. Thereafter, Devapala reduced king Ramabhadra of the Pratiharas and later he defeated the Bhojas. It also pointed out that Devapala had vanquished the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha. It is further claimed that he humbled the rulers of Dravida too [10].

[edit] Religious leanings

Devapala was a staunch Buddhist and is stated to have granted five villages to Buddhist monastries for the promotion of Buddhism and the welfare & comforts of the Bhikshus. He is said to have got constructed many temples and monastries in Magadha.[11].

[edit] Successor of Devapala

Devapala had ruled for about 40 years and was succeeded by Vigrahapala who was his nephew according to one view and his son according the other.

[edit] Estimate of Devapala

It is stated that the reigns of Dharmapala and Devapala constituted the most brilliant periopd of Bengal. Under the Palas Bengal for the first time, played a very important role in Indian history.

[edit] References

  1. ^ History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p 50, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar
  2. ^ Badal Pillar Inscription, verse 5, Epigraphia Indica, II p 160.
  3. ^ Monghyr Charter of Devapala, year 33, verse 13, Epigraphia Indica, XVIII, p 304.
  4. ^ History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p 50, 55, 56, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar.
  5. ^ op cit., p 50, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar.
  6. ^ Kambojesu cha ysya vajiyuvvbhi dharvastanayaraji jaso heshayiati-hari heshtarvah kaantishchran vikashvah || 13||. This verse attests that the horses in the cavalry of Devapala were over-pleased to reunite with their beloveds, the Kamboja mares. This inscriptions, according to scholars, indisputably attests that not only there were Kamboja horses but also there was a Kamboja cavalry in the armed forces of the Palas (See refs: Dynastic History of Northern India, I. p 311; Indian Historical Quarterly, XV, p 511; History of Ancient Bengal, 1971, pp 127, 182-83).
    • cf: "The Palas employed mercenary forces and certainly recruited horses from Kamboja (Ins B.8 V 13). Mr N. G. Majumdar has rightly observed that if the horses could be brought into Bengal from North-Western Frontiers of India during the Pala period, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the traders and the adventurers could also have found their way into that province" (Epigraphia Indica XXII.153). Mercenary soldiers (specially the cavalry) might have also been recruited from Kamboja and some of them might have been influential chiefs...(Dr R. C. Majumdar).
  7. ^ cf: "In the ninth century, A.D, the Kambojas are said to have been defeated by Devapala, the great king of the Pala Dynasty of Bengal (R. D. Banerjee, Vangalar Itihaasa, p 182). But during the latter part of the tenth century, the tables were turned and the rule of the Pala kings of Bengal was interrupted by the Kambojas who set up one of their chiefs as the king (Dr. V. A. Smith, The Early History of India, p 399)."
  8. ^ Jayapala was son of Dharamapala's younger brother Vakpala, See: Badal Pillar Inscription, verse 13, Epigraphia Indica II, p 160; Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, Indian Antiquary, XV p 304.
  9. ^ Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, Indian Antiquary, XV p 304.
  10. ^ op cit., p 50-51, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar; Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan.
  11. ^ Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan.

[edit] Books and Periodicals

  • History of Bengal, Vol I, Dr R. C. Majumdar
  • Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan
  • History and Culture of Indian People, Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, (Ed) Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar
  • Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, Dr J. L. Kamboj
  • Some Kshatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, Dr B. C. Law
  • Vangalar Itihaasa (Bangla), R. D. Banerjee
  • The Early History of India, 1957, Dr. V. A. Smith
  • Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, S Kirpal Singh
  • Bihar Through the Ages, 1958, (Gen Editor) R. R. Diwarkar
  • Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, 1962, Calcuttta University, Dr B. C. Sen
  • Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol XV-4, 1939, Dr H. C. Ray
  • Epigraphia Indica, Vol XVII
  • Epigraphia Indica, Vol XXII, Dr N. G. Majumdar
  • Dynastic History of Northern India, Vol I, Dr H. C. Ray
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[edit] See also

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