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Medieval History Weekend 9: The Sena dynasty and The Pratihara Dynasty

 History Weekend

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The Sena dynasty

Sena dynasty, Indian dynasty ruling in Bengal in the 11th and 12th centuries CE. Their ancestors came from the south and established themselves as chieftains in southwestern Bengal early in the 11th century. Hemantasena, the founder of the dynasty, was originally a tributary of the Pala dynasty. In the mid-11th century, he declared his independence and set himself up as the king. Vijayasena (reigned c. 1095–1158), built an empire on the ruins of that of the Palas, gaining control of all Bengal and northern Bihar.


The Senas originally belonged to the Karnata country (Karnatadeshatagata) in South India, the Kanarese speaking region in modern Mysore, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh of India, and they were Brahma-Ksatriyas (those who were Brahmanas first and became Ksatriyas afterwards).


Sena rule in Bengal brought about a marked revival of orthodox Hinduism. The caste system, which had become careless because of the Buddhist influence of the Palas. It was re-established, and the Bengali system of hypergamy, the socially upward marriage of women, was reputedly founded by the Sena king Vallalasena. The last Sena king, Lakshmanasena (reigned c. 1178– c. 1205), became a great patron of literature; the poets Jayadeva and Dhoyi wrote at his court on Nadia. Lakshmanasena was expelled from Nadia in 1202 by the Turkish chief Muḥammad Bakhtyār Khaljī and died about three years later. Sena kings continued to rule in eastern Bengal for some decades, but the main political power in Bengal passed to the Muslims.


The Sena dynasty is famous for building Hindu temples and monasteries, which include the renowned Dhakeshwari Temple in what is now Dhaka, Bangladesh.

In Kashmir, the dynasty also likely built a temple knows as Sankara Gaureshwara.



The Pratihara Dynasty


Pratihara also called Gurjana Pratihara because they were related to Gurjan (today's known as Gujrat). The Gurjara-Pratiharas were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River. They were the protector of the north-west India region cause they resisted the Arab incursion through Sindh.


Nagabhata I defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin in the Caliphate campaigns in India. Under Nagabhata II, the Gurjara-Pratiharas became the most powerful dynasty in northern India. He was succeeded by his son Ramabhadra, who ruled briefly before being succeeded by his son, Mihira Bhoja

Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala I, the Pratihara Empire reached its peak of prosperity and power. By the time of Mahendrapala, the extent of its territory resembled that of the Gupta. Empire stretching from the border of Sindh in the west to Bengal in the east. It is stretching from the Himalayas in the north to areas past the Narmada in the south. The expansion triggered a tripartite power struggle. The Rashtrakuta and Pala empires have control of the Indian Subcontinent. During this period, Imperial Pratihara took the title of Maharajadhiraja of Āryāvarta (Great King of Kings of India).




Gurjara-Pratihara is known for their sculptures, carved panels and open pavilion-style temples. The most famous, development of their temple architecture was at Khajuraho, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


In 915 A.D. the Kanauj was attacked by a Rashtrakuta king, who devastated the city leading to the weakening of the Pratihara Empire. In 1018, Kannauj then ruled by Rajyapala Pratihara was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni. The empire broke into independent Rajput states.



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Princy

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