CHANDRA GUPTA II c.350 - c.415 King of India The Guptas, who had been vassals of the Kushanas emerged by 328 in the Ganges valley. By intermarriage and conquest, they expanded their power over northern India. During much of the Gupta period warfare and violence was tamed by chivalric conventions and religious tolerance, and Indian civilization experienced its golden age. Chandra Gupta II was the third, and most significant of the Gupta kings (c.375--c.415). Inheriting a large empire he extended his control to Gujarat (north of Bombay) and Malwa (central India). To strengthen his southern flank he made marriage arrangements for his daughters with southern dynasties. His patronage of literature, arts, and architecture initiated a Sanskrit revival in Northern India, and the cultural development of ancient India reached its climax. The famous poet Kalidasa resided at his court in the splendid capital Pataliputra (Patna) and the great physician Susruta advanced medical knowledge by writing text books on surgery.
Chandra Gupta was a devout Hindu, but tolerated Buddhist and
Jain religions.
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