The decadent period of the Gupta dynasty brought an atmosphere of instability and anarchy in North Indian politics along with emptiness. The invasions of the various Hun leaders Toraman and Mihirkul and the rise of Yashodharman of Malwa inflicted a severe blow on the Gupta Empire. As a result, the tendencies of decentralization once again became active in North India and various regional powers flourished on the remnants of the Gupta Empire.
Many local dynasties that ruled different regions of North India under the brilliant Gupta emperors tried to increase their power to fill this void, leaving the country in many small pieces. I got divided. Some feudal dynasties started dreaming of becoming an imperial power by establishing authority over Magadha and its adjoining areas.
Thus the history of northern India for almost half a century after the fall of the Gupta Empire, is a history of disintegration and conflict between small kingdoms. Vallabhi's Maitraka was also one of the active forces in the politics of post-Gupta India.
In the late period of the Gupta dynasty, when new political forces were emerging in Northeast India, new powers were also emerging in Saurashtra in the West. Saurashtra region was earlier under the Guptas, but it became independent after Skandagupta.
The Maitraka dynasty was founded by the Maitraka Sardar Bhattaraka in about 475 AD. During the reign of Buddhagupta, Bhattaraka established his capital at Vallabhi and became independent, but Bhattaraka and his son Dharasen I have been called generals.
Historians speculate that the early Maitraka rulers did not achieve complete independence from the Guptas. He probably behaved like an independent ruler while holding the rank of commander, although he considered the Guptas as his superintendent. Dharasen's successors to be 'Maharaj ' or 'Mahasamant Maharaj' Said.
The third king of Maitrak dynasty Dron Singh Who was called 'Maharaj from his sovereign ruler. ' degree was obtained. Narasimhagupta Baladitya had recognized his independence keeping in mind the circumstances. After Drona Singh, his younger brother Dhruvasen became the first Maharaja. Both of them donated land. Dhruvasen calls himself 'Parambhattarakapadanudhyat ’, from which it seems that till his time the Maitrakas of Valabhi accepted the suzerainty of the Guptas.
The first dated text of the Maitrakas is of Gupta Samvat 206 i.e. 526 AD in which Dhruvsen I was named as Maharaj, Mahapratihara, Mahadandanayak and Mahakartik has been conferred with such titles. Sixteen donations of Dhruvasena I have been received. Perhaps after the death of the Gupta ruler Bhanugupta, the Maitrakas declared their complete independence. Thus Dhruvasena I further expanded the power of Maitrakas.
The Maharajas of Maitraka dynasty after Dhruvasen Dharanpatta and Guhasen became king. Guhasen's donation letters include 'Parambhattarakapadanudhyat ' has not been used. From this it seems that the Maitraka dynasty was freed from the suzerainty of the Gupta emperors around 550 AD. At the same time the decline of the Guptas also took place.
The Maitrakas got an opportunity to expand their power after the defeat of the Hunas and the end of Yashodharman. In the second half of the 6th century, a branch of the Maitrakas took control of western Malwa as well. After Guhasen, his son Dharasen II and then Dharasen's son Vikramaditya I Dharmaditya (606-612 AD) became the ruler of Maitraka dynasty.
Chinese traveler Hiuensang mentions King Vikramaditya of Mo-la-Pa who was a Buddhist. Hiuen Tsang Shiladitya It is written praising him that he was a capable and generous ruler. He had a Buddhist temple built, he held huge religious ceremonies every year. This Equation of Shiladitya Maitrakvanshi Vikramaditya first Dharmaditya can be done from.
The kingdom of the Maitrakas seems to have extended to the whole of Gujarat, Kutch and western Malwa at this time. Vallabhi was a powerful state in western India. Shiladitya I was followed by Khargraha and then Dharasen III became the ruler. He ruled till about 629 AD.
Dhruvsen II 'Balaaditya'
The most powerful ruler of the Maitrakas was Dhruvasena II. The inscriptions of Dhruvasena II have been found between 629 and 640 AD. Dhruvasena II was a contemporary of Harshavardhana because his presence in the Prayag conference is mentioned by Hiuen Tsang. According to Hiuen Tsang, 'Dhruvsen II was a man of impetuous nature and narrow-mindedness, but he was a follower of Buddhism.'
Harshavardhan strengthened the friendship between the Vardhans and the Maitrakas by marrying his daughter to Dhruvasena II. Dhruvasena II is also known as Dhruvabhata. Hiuen Tsang visited Vallabhi during the time of Dhruvasena II and described Vallabhi as a major center of Buddhism and learning.
After Dhruvasena, his son Dharasena IV (645-650 AD) became the ruler of the Maitraka dynasty. Dharasen IV was a powerful king. Dharasena IV of the Maitraka dynasty was the first ruler to have Parambhattaraka, Maharajadhiraj, Parameshwara, Chakravartin Like universal titles. Dharasena IV fought with the Gurjars and possibly even captured Bharuch. Thus Dharasen IV tried to restore the declining reputation of the Maitrakas.
The power of the Maitrakas began to weaken after Dharasen IV. Last Known Ruler of Maitraka Dynasty Shiladitya VII Who was ruling in 766 AD. The Maitraka dynasty of Vallabhi ruled independently till the end of the eighth century. The rise of Chalukyas, Gurjara Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas and above all the invasion of Arabs put an end to the power of Maitrakas. Later on Arabs took control of Vallabhi Done.
The rulers of the Maitraka dynasty were Buddhists. He donated to Buddhist monasteries and Bihars. Valabhi major center of education during the reign of Maitrakas was. There was a university here, which had the same reputation in western India as that of Nalanda University in eastern India. The Chinese traveler Itsing has praised this educational center very much. According to Itsing, there were one hundred viharas here, in which six thousand monks lived. Students from different parts of the country used to come here for education. Here the education of justice, law, economics, literature, religion etc. was given. In the seventh century, the chiefs of this place Acharya Gunamati and Stharmati Were. The students here were appointed to high positions. Along with being the main center of education, Vallabhi was also a major center of trade and commerce.