The Gupta Empire (c. 319–550 CE) was a classical Indian Hindu empire. The dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta in late 3rd century CE, but Chandragupta I is credited as the real founder of the empire. The empire lasted until 550 CE. The factors for the downfall of the empire were Hunnic invasions, dynastic dissensions, taxes, internal rebellions and decentralization.Raghu Vamsa v 4.60–75

The Gupta Empire was vast and covered most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Skandagupta were some of its mightiest rulers. It brought about a golden era to the region, resulting in technological advancements and cultural improvements.N. Jayapalan, History of India, Vol. I, (Atlantic Publishers, 2001), 130.

The Gupta emperors used the titles of Maharajadhiraja ("Great King of Kings"), Samrat ("Supreme King" or "Emperor"), Chakravartin ("Universal Monarch"), etc. The Gupta empresses used the titles of Paramabhattarika-Rajni ("Supreme Queen" or "Samrajni"), Mahadevi ("Great Goddess"), etc.

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List of rulers

+ Estimates of the regnal dates (in CE) of Gupta kings Name (IAST) A. S. Altekar (1957) Coinage B. C. Chhabra (1986) S. R. Goyal (2005) K. K. Thaplyal (2010) S. Kumar (2024) Gupta alias Śri-gupta 260–280 270–290 295–300 269–294 269–294 Ghaṭotkacha 280–300 290–305 300–319 294/299–319 ?–319 Chandragupta I 320–330 305–325 319–350 319–343 319–343 Samudragupta 330–370 330–370 350 344–374 344–378 Rāmagupta — 370–374 — 374–376 378–381 Kācha(-gupta) — 325–330 350–353 382 Chandragupta II 375–412 375–414 376–413 376–412 383–412 Kumāragupta I 416–450 414–455 415–449 415–455 407–450 Ghaṭotkachagupta 435 — 5th century (first quarter) 435 453 Purugupta 468–470* — a short period 467 456 Skandagupta 455–467 456–468 455–467 455–467 449–468 Narasiṁhagupta I 470–472 — 517 510 470–474 Samudragupta II — — — — Late 6th c. Kumāragupta II alias Kramāditya 472–475 — 467–476 473–476 470–476 Chandragupta III — — — — Late 6th c. Budhagupta 475–496 — 476–494 476–494 476–488 Prakāśaditya 496–500 — — 510 499–520 Parākramādityaḥ — — — — Before 532 Vikramādityaḥ — — — — Before 532 Chandragupta IV — — — — Early 6th c. Vainyagupta 500–510 — 506–507 507 507/508 Bhānugupta 510–518 — 510 510 ?–510 Narasiṁhagupta II alias Balāditya 518–532 — — — 518–532(?) Kumāragupta III 532–540 — 532–550 ? - before 543 ?–543 Viṣṇugupta alias Candrāditya 540–550 — 532–550 543 540–543

See also Gupta Empire Gupta era Later Gupta dynasty Middle kingdoms of India List of monarchs of Magadha

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