Contents
Chandragupta II
The Gupta emperor associated with territorial expansion and a flourishing period of classical Indian culture.
Western conquests · Silver coinage
- Born
- Unknown
- Birthplace
- India
- Died
- c. 415
More people
Chandragupta II
Chandragupta II ruled around the turn of the fifth century. Inscriptions and coins help reconstruct a reign later associated with the name Vikramaditya, although many celebrated stories are much later traditions.
Early life
Gupta dynasty
A son of the emperor Samudragupta.
Succession
The details of his accession are debated because the surviving evidence is incomplete.
Career
- Late 4th century
Accession
Succeeded within the Gupta imperial dynasty.
- Around 400
Western expansion
Defeated the Western Kshatrapas and extended Gupta power westward.
- Early 5th century
Imperial rule
Ruled during the Chinese pilgrim Faxian’s journey in India.
Reign & legacy
Western conquests
Brought important western territories under Gupta rule.
Silver coinage
Issued coins drawing on the defeated Kshatrapas’ monetary tradition.
Dynastic diplomacy
His daughter Prabhavatigupta married into the Vakataka dynasty.
Beyond work
Vikramaditya
Later literary traditions associated his name with an ideal heroic king.
Evidence
Coins, inscriptions and travellers’ accounts provide firmer evidence than later court legends.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Coin depiction; PHGCOM. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.