Lalitaditya Muktapida
| Lalitaditya Muktapida | |
|---|---|
| King of Kashmir | |
| Reign | c. 724 CE–760 CE |
| Predecessor | Tarapida |
| Successor | Kuvalayapida |
| Spouse | Kamaladevi, Chakramardika |
| Issue | Kuvalayapida Vajraditya II |
| Dynasty | Karkota |
| Father | Durlabhaka |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Lalitaditya (originally Muktapida) was an 8th-century king of the Karkota Empire of Kashmir. Most of the information about him and his dynasty comes from the 12th-century writer Kalhan, who credited him of vast conquests and magical powers. He is said to have been built the Martand Sun Temple of Kashmir.
Early life
[change | change source]The Rajatarangini says Lalitaditya was the youngest son of King Durlabhaka and Queen Narendraprabha of the Karkota dynasty. His mother, Narendraprabha, was earlier married to a foreign merchant who had settled in Kashmir. Lalitaditya had two older brothers, Chandrapida and Tarapida. They ruled Kashmir before him.[1]
Rule
[change | change source]Kalhana says Lalitaditya ruled for 36 years, 7 months, and 11 days. He says Lalitaditya's rule was from 724 to 761 CE.[1] However, this timeline is likely wrong because Lalitaditya's predecessor is known to have sent a mission to the Tang capital, Chang'an, in 720 CE.[2] This predecessor, called "Tianmu" in Tang records, was probably Tarapida. Some think it might have been Chandrapida.[3] Modern historians estimate Lalitaditya's rule to be around 724/5 to 760 CE.[4]
Military career
[change | change source]
Kalhana has given a detailed account of Lalitaditya's military career.[5] However, historians doubt it. They believe only a few of his conquest to be historical.
According to them, Lalitaditya invaded Kannauj, the Kingdom of Yashovarman. He defeated him and captured all of his land.[6]
He also invaded Afghanistan and Punjab region.[7]
Succession
[change | change source]He was succeeded by his son Kuvalayaditya, who ruled from c. 760-761 CE.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stein, Marc Aurel (1900). Kalhana's Rajatarangini Vol 1. p. 131.
- ↑ Goetz, Hermann (1969). Studies in the History and Art of Kashmir and the Indian Himalaya. Harrassowitz. p. 15.
- ↑ Sen, Tansen (2004). "Kaśmīr, Tang China, and Muktāpīḍa Lalitā-Ditya's Ascendancy Over the Southern Hindukush Region". Journal of Asian History. 38 (2): 141–162. ISSN 0021-910X. JSTOR 41933381.
- ↑ Sen, Tansen (2004). "Kaśmīr, Tang China, and Muktāpīḍa Lalitā-Ditya's Ascendancy Over the Southern Hindukush Region". Journal of Asian History. 38 (2): 141–162. ISSN 0021-910X. JSTOR 41933381.
- ↑ Marc Aurel Stein (1900). Kalhana's Rajatarangini Vol 1. pp. 130–131.
- ↑ Marc Aurel Stein (1900). Kalhana's Rajatarangini Vol 1. pp. 132–134.
- ↑ Sen, Tansen (2004). "Kaśmīr, Tang China, and Muktāpīḍa Lalitā-Ditya's Ascendancy Over the Southern Hindukush Region". Journal of Asian History. 38 (2): 150. ISSN 0021-910X. JSTOR 41933381.