List of Gupta emperors

Maharajadhiraja of the Gupta Empire
Imperial
Last to reign Vishnugupta 540 CE – 550 CE
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Chandragupta I (as the successor to the King of Magadha)
Last monarch	Vishnugupta
Formation	319 CE 1706–1707 years ago
Abolition	550 CE 1475–1476 years ago
Residence	Pataliputra (319–550 CE) Ujjain (3rd century) Ayodhya (3rd century)
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender	Later Gupta dynasty

The Gupta Empire (c. 319–550 CE) was a classical Indian Hindu empire. The dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta in late 3rd century CE, but Chandragupta I is credited as the real founder of the empire. The empire lasted until 550 CE. The factors for the downfall of the empire were Hunnic invasions, dynastic dissensions, taxes, internal rebellions and decentralization.

The Gupta Empire was vast and covered most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Skandagupta were some of its mightiest rulers. It brought about a golden era to the region, resulting in technological advancements and cultural improvements.

The Gupta emperors used the titles of Maharajadhiraja ("Great King of Kings"), Samrat ("Supreme King" or "Emperor"), Chakravartin ("Universal Monarch"), etc. The Gupta empresses used the titles of Paramabhattarika-Rajni ("Supreme Queen" or "Samrajni"), Mahadevi ("Great Goddess"), etc.

Gupta Empire at its greatest expansion, c. 400 CE

Family tree

Gupta dynasty

Gupta Kingdom Gupta (1) r. c. 3rd Century Ghatotkacha (2) r. c. 3rd–4th Century Gupta Empire Chandragupta I (3) r. c. 319-335/50 ? Samudragupta (5) r. c. 335/50-375 Kacha (4) r. c. 4th Century ? Chandragupta II (7) r. c. 375–415 Ramagupta (6) r. c. 4th Century Kumaragupta I (8) r. c. 415–455 Skandagupta (8) r. c. 455–467 Purugupta (9) r. c. 467–473 Kumaragupta II (10) r. c. 473–476 Budhagupta (11) r. c. 476–495 Narasimhagupta (12) r. c. 495–530 Kumaragupta III (13) r. c. 530–540 Vishnugupta (14) r. c. 540–550

List of rulers

Estimates of the regnal dates (in CE) of Gupta kings

Name (IAST)	A. S. Altekar (1957)	Coinage	B. C. Chhabra (1986)	S. R. Goyal (2005)	K. K. Thaplyal (2010)	S. Kumar (2024)
Gupta alias Śri-gupta		260–280	270–290	295–300	269–294	269–294
Ghaṭotkacha		280–300	290–305	300–319	294/299–319	?–319
Chandragupta I (possibly with Kumaradevi)		320–330	305–325	319–350	319–343	319–343
Samudragupta		330–370	330–370	350	344–374	344–378
Rāmagupta	—		370–374	—	374–376	378–381
Kācha(-gupta)		—	325–330	350–353		382
Chandragupta II		375–412	375–414	376–413	376–412	383–412
Kumāragupta I		416–450	414–455	415–449	415–455	407–450
Ghaṭotkachagupta		435	—	5th century (first quarter)	435	453
Purugupta	468–470*		—	a short period	467	456
Skandagupta	455–467		456–468	455–467	455–467	449–468
Narasiṁhagupta I		470–472	—	517	510	470–474
Samudragupta II		—	—	—	—	Late 6th c.
Kumāragupta II alias Kramāditya		472–475	—	467–476	473–476	470–476
Chandragupta III		—	—	—	—	Late 6th c.
Budhagupta		475–496	—	476–494	476–494	476–488
Prakāśaditya		496–500	—	—	510	499–520
Parākramādityaḥ		—	—	—	—	Before 532
Vikramādityaḥ		—	—	—	—	Before 532
Chandragupta IV		—	—	—	—	Early 6th c.
Vainyagupta		500–510	—	506–507	507	507/508
Bhānugupta		510–518	—	510	510	?–510
Narasiṁhagupta II alias Balāditya		518–532	—	—	—	518–532(?)
Kumāragupta III		532–540	—	532–550	? - before 543	?–543
Viṣṇugupta alias Candrāditya		540–550	—	532–550	543	540–543

See also

• Gupta Empire
• Gupta era
• Later Gupta dynasty
• Middle kingdoms of India
• List of monarchs of Magadha

References

Bibliography

• Sanjeev Kumar (2024). Treasures of the Gupta Empire: A Numismatic History of the Golden Age of India (2nd ed.). Archaeopress. ISBN 978-1-80327-796-7.