Govinda III

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Govinda III (793 - 814) C.E. succeeded his illustrious father Dhruva Dharavarsha. According to Dr. Altekar, He was militarily the most successful King of the dynasty with conquests spreading from Cape Comorin in the south to Kannauj in the north, from Banaras in the east to Broach (Bharuch) in the west. He held titles like Prabhutavarsha, Jagattunga, Anupama, Kirthinarayana and Tribhuvanadhavala.

Contents 1 Early feud 2 Capture of Kannauj 3 Southern conquests 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Early feud

Though Govinda III became the emperor it was not before having to face some internal family fueds. His elder brother Kambarasa (also known as Stambha) who coveted the throne went to war having formed an alliance of twelve chiefs as written in the Navasari record. Other records like the Sisvayi and Sanjan records mention support to Govinda III from brother Indra and victory against the combined forces of Kambarasa. Shivamara II of Ganga Dynasty of Talakad had joined Kambarasa but after the defeat was improsoned for a second time while Kambarasa was pardoned.

[edit] Capture of Kannauj

From his capital in Mayurkhandi in Bidar district Govinda III conducted his northern campaign. He successfully obtained the sunmission of Gurjara Pratihara Nagabhata II, Dharmapala of Pala Dynasty and the incumbent puppet ruler of Kannauj, Chakrayudha. It is said Nagabhata II ran away from the battle field. The Sanjan plates of Govinda III mentions that the horses of Govinda III drank the icy waters of the Himalaya mountains and his war elephants tasted the holy waters of the Ganga.

[edit] Southern conquests

The Eastern Chalukyas who had taken an an antagonistic stand against the Rashtrakutas again had to face the wrath of Govinda III who defeated Chalukya Vijyaditya II and installed Bhima Salki as its ruler. He defeated Pallava Dantivarman in 803 at Kanchi. He even obtained the submission of the King of Ceylon without even going to battle. The King of Ceylon is said to have sent him his two statues, one of himself and another of his minister as an act of submission. The Nasari record states that now all the kingdoms of Tamil country, the Cholas, Pandyas and the Kerelas paid their tribute to Govinda III. Never did the Rashtrakuta empire reach such levels of military success and zenith of glory. Govinda III died in 814. His brother Indra during this time founded the Gujarat (Lata) branch kingdom. He was succeeded by his son Amoghavarsha I.

[edit] References

• Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, Concise History of Karnataka, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (reprint 2002)
• Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002)

[edit] External links

• History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje

Preceded by Dhruva Dharavarsha

King of the Rashtrakuta dynasty 793–814

Succeeded by Amoghavarsha I