TRIPARTITE STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY (INDIAN HISTORY)

                      
                          TRIPARTITE (RASHTRAKUTAS, PRATIHARAS & PALAS)

After the disappearance of centralized politics in northern India, many states came into existence and struggle for supremacy among them. One of the political ambition of the period of 8th to 12th century was to conquer and ruled over the city of Kannauj which was a symbol of imperial power. Kannauj became the bone of contentment between the three powers i.e, the Rashtrajutas, Pratiharas and Palas. Many of their military activities were directed to conquer Kannauj. Pratiharas of Kanary became more powerful sometimes but was later defeated by the Palas. The Rashtrakutas fled away to the west and south Deccan. While these powers were busy in fighting against each others, their feudatories established numbers of small regional kingdom in northern India.



PRATIHARAS:

Gujara-Pratiharas were the early Rajput who ruled from Gujarat to South Western Rajasthan. Later they ruled over Kannauj. Nagabhata I was the first great ruler of this dynasty. He defeated the Muslim forces of Arab. Bhoja I was one on the famous ruler of this dynasty. He was devotee to Vishnu and later adopted a name Adhivaraha, which has been incorporated as a legend in some of his coins  .



PALAS:

The Pala dynasty came into power in Bengal in about the middle of 8th century. Gopala I was the founder of this dynasty, who was elected as a king by the people. Dharmapala and Devapala were the two famous rulers of this dynasty. They extend and consolidated the Pala empire. The Pala ruled over Bihar, Bengal and some parts of Orissa and Assam with many ups and down in learning and religions. During the reign of Dharmapala, he founded a famous Buddhist Monastery at Vikramshila which was just second to the Nalanda in fame for higher learning. During the reign of Devapala, the two kings of South east Asia established a Monastery at Nalanda institution and seek Devapala to endow the income of five of his village for the maintenance of the Monastery.



RASHTRAKUTAS:

The Rashtrakutas called themselves descendant of Satyaki. The founder of this dynasty was Dantivarma or Dantidurga who was a contemporary of Chalukya King Pulakeshin II. Dantidurga occupied all territories between Godavari and Vima. Dantidurga was succeeded by his uncle Krishnaraja. Krishnaraja was responsible for the construction of Kailash Temple at Ellora which stands as an excellence specimen of the Rashtrakuta arts and architecture. The greatest ruler of this dynasty was Amoghavarsha. Amoghavarsha was unlike his father Govinda II as he was a warrior, but he succeeded in defeating the East-Chalukya Kings. It was Amoghavarsha who had arrested the progress of King Bhoja I towards south India.




The most important event of Post-Harsha period was the tripartite struggle for supremacy among the Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas and the Palas. The struggle started during the reign of Vatsaraja  Pratihara. He ascended the throne in 778 AD. He attack Dharmapala, the Pala king of Bengal and carried away his state umbrella.The major causes of the struggle between the three Powers i.e, the Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas and the Palas were:

1) To get control over Gujarat and Malwa where this region is important on foreign trade due to the nearness of the coast.
2) To acquire over Kannauj which is a symbol of prestige in Indian Politics.
3) To control over vast resources of Gangetic Plains.
4) Desire to impress pretty kingdoms with the sense of their might.
5) Lust of war booty, a prominent source for maintaining huge army.




The Pratihara ruler, Vatsaraja wanted to capture Kannauj, Indrayudha was the ruler of Kannauj at that time. He accepted Vatsaraja's supremacy. However at that time, the Pala ruler, Dharmapala and the Rashtrakuta ruler, Dhruva equally wanted to capture Kannauj. Vatsaraja defeated Dharmapala in a battle. Simultaneously, Dhruva entered North India and attack Vatsaraja and conquered him. Besides, he also attack the Pala ruler, Dharmapala and conquest Kannauj. Since he was unable to stay in North he went back to south India. Dharmapala placed his brother, Chakrayudh on the throne of Kannauj under his domination.




Vatsaraja was succeeded by his son Nagabhatta II. He consolidated his power in nearby territories and then attack Kannauj. He defeated Chakrayudh and captured Kannauj. He even attack Dharmapala, defeated him and entered in his territory up to Munger in Bihar. The Rashtrakutas ruler Govinda III was also ambitious ruler. He with the help of Chakrayudh and Dharmapala defeated Nagabhatta II. Chakrayudh and Dharmapala accepted his suzerianty and Kannauj was taken over by Govinda III.




Govinda III soon retired to the South which again created a ground for the Pratiharas and the Palas fight against each other for capturing Kannauj. Probably, thereafter Kannauj was occupied by Nagabhatta II. Dharmapala was succeeded by Devapala in Bengal. He established his supremacy in north India and defeated the new Pratiharas ruler, Mihirbhoja.



However, Devapala's seccessor proved weak. The Pratiharas ruler Mihirbhoja captured Kannauj and Bihar. Mihirbhoja succeeded in creating a widespread empire in North.


The Rashtrakuta ruler, Indra III defeated the Pratihara ruler Mihipala and looted Kannauj. The Rashtrakutas departed to South India. The Pratiharas yet again recaptured their lost position in north India. Therefore in this tripartite contest between the Pratiharas, Palas and the Rashtrakutas, the Pratiharas enjoyed undisputed victory.



But the Pratiharas power began to decline when Rashtrakuta king Indra III, defeated Mahipala Pratihara. After the decline of the Pratihara power the vassal chiefs became powerful. They began to unfurl their flag of Independence. Ultimately due to the absence of any great power the tripartite struggle ended