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Samudragupta, ruler of the Gupta Empire (c.AD 335
- 380), and successor to Chandragupta I, is
considered to be one of the greatest military
geniuses that India ever produced, thus also known
as the 'Napoleon of India'. His name is taken to
be a title acquired by his conquests (Samudra
referring to the `oceans'). Samudragupta is
believed to have been his father's chosen
successor even though he had several older
brothers. It is therefore believed that after the
death of Chandragupta I, there was a struggle for
succession in which Samudragupta prevailed. 

The main source of Samudragupta's history is an
inscription engraved on one of the stone pillars
set up by Ashoka in Kausambi (present day
Allahabad). In this inscription Samudragupta
details his conquests. This inscription is also
important because of the political geography of
India that it indicates by naming the different
kings and peoples who populated India in the first
half of the 4th century|fourth century AD The
inscription or more aptly the eulogy to the Great
Gupta's martial exploits states that its author is
Harishena, who was an important poet of
Samudragupta's court.

The beginning of Samudragupta's reign was marked
by the defeat of his immediate neighbours,
Achyuta, ruler of Ahichchhatra and Nagasena.
Following this Samudragupta began a campaign
against the kingdoms to the south. This southern
campaign took him south along the Bay of Bengal.
He passed through the forest tracts of Madhya
Pradesh, crossed the Orissa coast, marched through
Ganjam, Vishakapatnam, Godavari, Krishna and
Nellore districts and may have reached as far as
Kancheepuram. Here however he did not attempt to
maintain direct control. After capturing his
enemies he reinstated them as tributary kings.
This act prevented the Gupta Empire from attaining
the almost immediate demise of the Chandragupta
Maurya|Maurya empire of Ashoka and is a testament
to his abilities as a statesman. The details of
Samudragupta's campaigns are too numerous to
recount here. These can be found in the first
reference below. However it is clear that he
possessed a powerful navy in addition to his army.
In addition to tributary kingdoms, many other
rulers of foreign states like the Saka and Kushana
kings accepted the suzerainty of Samudragupta and
offered him their services.

Much is known about Samudragupta through coins
issued by him. These were of eight different types
and all made of pure gold. His conquests brought
him the gold and also the coin-making expertise
from his acquaintance with the Kushana.
Samudragupta is also known to have been a man of
culture. He was a patron of learning, a celebrated
poet and a musician. Several coins depict him
playing on the Indian lyre or Veena. He also
restored the old Brahmanical practice of the
Ashwamedha sacrifice. Though he favoured the
Brahmanical religion like the other Gupta kings,
he was reputed to possess a tolerant spirit
vis-a-vis other religions. A clear illustration of
this is the permission granted by him to the king
of Ceylon to build a monastery for Buddhist
pilgrims in Bodh Gaya.

Beyond doubt Samudragupta was a great military
general, but apart from that, his personal
accomplishments are equally remarkable. He showed
great magnanimity towards all those kings who were
defeated. His polished intelligence and good
knowledge of scriptures won him many admirers. He
gathered a galaxy of poets and scholars and took
effective actions to foster and propagate
religious, artistic and literary aspects of Indian
culture. He had good proficiency in music and was
perhaps an accomplished Lyrist (Lyre or Veena is a
musical instrument). This fact is amply
demonstrated in his lyrist type coins. Most king
took pride in trumpeting their bravery but
Samudragupta is the only king in whole of Indian
history who showed softer side of his personality
(Kumargupta, his grandson, have copied this type
and minted few Lyrist type gold coins, which are
exceedingly rare). These coins are unique, very
special and rare.

Vincent Smith has elevated Samudragupta in Indian
history as the Napoleon of India. His tradition of
(Milito) religious toleration reflects in the
Allahabad inscription and speaks thus " put to
Shama the preceptor of the lord of the gods.
Brahaspati by his sharp and polished intellect and
Tamburu and Narad by lovely performance."
Samudragupta had several sons. His rule is
presumed to have been till about 375AD.

Samudragupta probably died in AD 380, and was
succeeded by his sons Ramagupta and Chandragupta
II|Chandragupta.



{| align="center" cellpadding="2" border="2"
|-
| width="30%" align="center" | Preceded
by:
Chandragupta I
| width="40%" align="center" | Gupta Empire|Gupta
Empire Ruler
(335-380 CE)
| width="30%" align="center" | Succeeded
by:
Chandragupta II
|}

==Sources==

* R. K. Mookerji, The Gupta Empire, 4th edition. 
Motilal Banarsidass, 1959.
* R. C. Majumdar, Ancient India, 6th revised
edition. Motilal Banarsidass, 1971.