Yashovarman was a ruler of Kannauj in the early 8th century CE who brought the region out of obscurity after the decline of the Harshavardhana dynasty. He conquered territories across northern and central India, including Magadha and Bengal, and possibly extending as far as the Himalayas and Narmada River. However, he eventually suffered a defeat against the king of Kashmir, Lalitaditya Muktapida, and either lost his throne or became subservient to the king of Kashmir. As a ruler, Yashovarman patronized literature and the arts, with famous poets like Vakpati and Bhavabhuti serving at his

1. BA I Sem
Yashovarman of Kannauj
By
Prachi Virag Sontakke

2. Introduction
• Kannauj as seat of Imperial power during Harshavardhan’s time.
• The period from death of Harshavardhan to rise of Yashovarma: Most
confusing & darkest chapter of History of Kannauj.
• Lack of information.
• Obscurity of Kannuaj’s history lifts with the coming of Yashovarma.
• H.C.Raichaudhary: Reign from c.700 to 740CE.
• V. Pathak: Reign from c.724-752CE

3. Sources
• Gauda-vaho by Vakpati
• Rajatarangini by Kalhana
• Prabandhakosha by Rajshekhar
• Jain text Prabhavakachrita
• Account of Korean traveller Hui-
Chao.
• Chinese court records.
• Coin?

4. Suggested readings: Relevant chapters

5. Origin
• Obscure ancestry.
• Gaud-Vaho: He was Chandravamsi Kshatriya.
• S.R.Goyal: Descended from Maukharies.
• Jain texts: Related to Mauryan dynasty.

6. Digvijaya: Outlined in Gaud-Vaho
1. Yashovarma killed King of Magadh.
• Magadh King = Later Gupta king Jeevitgupta II.
• Got control of Kanpur, Fatehpur, Prayag.
2. Defeated king of Bang = Eastern Bengal.
3. Subdued an unnamed king of Deccan.
• Chalukyan inscription: King Vijayaditya fought and defeated
‘Sakaluttarapathnath’ = Lord of whole of north India.
• H.C.Raichaudhary: Lord of whole of north India = King Yashovarman.
• Claims of victory by both parties.
4. Conquered Mewar.
5. Defeated Persians in India and collected taxes from western Ghats.

7. Diplomatic relations
• Diplomatic relations with China.
• Chinese sources: He sent Buddhist monk Buddhasena to Chinese court in 731 CE.
• Initially friendly with Kashmir King Lalitaditya: Similar goals.
• Chinese sources: King Lalitaditya’s embassy to Chinese court in 736 CE refered to
King Yashovarma as his friend.
• They both asked for Chinese help against the common threat of Arabs & Tibet.

8. Battle with Lalitaditya Muktapida
• Conflicting political aspirations of Yashovarman & Lalitaditya: fall out
• Ensuing prolonged struggle between the two: A temporary truce.
• Rajatarangini: When treaty was drawn, minister of Lalitaditya refused to ratify it on the
grounds that in it name of Yashovarman preceded that of Lalitdiya.
• Negotiations broke off: hostilities renewed.
• Disastrous for Yashovarman.
• In One verse Kalhana says that Yasovarman was totally uprooted.
• In following verse he says that Yasovarman himself turned a court poet of Lalitaditya.
• Not clear if he was slain or was allowed to retain his throne as subservient of Kashmir king.

9. Extension of Empire
• Smith: It seems plausible for a ruler like Yashovarma to have extended
his empire from Himalayas in north to Narmada in south and Bengal
in east.
• R.S.Tripathi: Details of Digvijay conquests are exaggerated. But he had
Magadh and Bengal under his dominion.
• Hui-Chao: Some parts of Punjab, Sravasti, Kapilvastu, Vaishali were
under Yashovarma.

10. Achievements
• A poet and patron of letters.
• Vakapati & Bhavabhuti adorned his court.
• Bhavabhuti wrote Maltimadhava, Uttararamacharita, Mahaviracharita.
• Vakapati wrote Gaud-Vaho
• Constructed Yashovarmapur vihar in Magadh.
• Gave grants.

11. Successors
• Names of three successors known.
• Ama, Dunduka, Bhoja
• Ama = S/O Yashovarma. Probably a Jain.
• Probably ruled for a period of 15-20 years only.
• Succumbed to Ayudha kings.