When did Kumaragupta I ascend the Gupta throne?
Kumaragupta I ascended the Gupta throne in or shortly before 415 CE. His earliest known inscription dates to c. 415 CE marking year 96 of the Gupta era.
Questions about Kumaragupta I
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the parents of Kumaragupta I?
Kumaragupta I was a son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II and Queen Dhruvadevi. He inherited an empire stretching from Gujarat in the west to Bengal region in the east.
What religious groups flourished during the reign of Kumaragupta I?
Epigraphic evidence indicates Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Buddhism, and Jainism all flourished simultaneously under his rule. Kumaragupta constructed several Buddhist monasteries at Nalanda while his silver coins describe him as a devotee of Vishnu using the term parama-bhagavata.
How many coin varieties did Kumaragupta I issue compared to other Gupta kings?
Among Gupta kings Kumaragupta issued the largest number of coin varieties with six hundred twenty-eight coins from the Bayana hoard belonging to fourteen distinct types. These include Archer type Horseman type Swordsman type Lion-slayer type tiger-slayer type Elephant-rider type Rhinoceros-slayer gold coins Ashvamedha-type Lyrist type and King and queen-type.
When did the reign of Kumaragupta I end according to historical records?
Skandagupta's earliest known regnal date is c. 455 CE marking year 136 of the Gupta era which proves Kumaragupta's reign ended by that year though some scholars argue for c. 450 CE. The Mankuwar Buddha inscription from c. 448 CE uses only the title Maharaja instead of Maharajadhiraja suggesting possible reverses during his final years.