Pratiharas

It Pratiharas believed to be the Rajput clan. They set foot in India in females invasion and settle around Panjab Rajputana region. Soon they advanced to the Aravali and Ujjain. The branch of Pratiharas who reigned in Gurjarat was Gurjaras. The inscription of Pratiharas trace their origin to Lakshmana, the anuja of Rama who acted as Rama's doorkeeper or Pratihara. But in reality, when Dantidurga, the Rashtrakuta King defeated Gurjura King Nagabhata-I, the latter was made a Pratihara (doorkeeper), while Dantidurga performed Hiranyagarbha dana ceremony at Ujjain.

The Pratihara dynasty began well below the ruler Nagabhatta-I. Although he initially had hiccups with Rashtrakutas, he was able to leave a strong state consisting Malwa, parts of Rajputana and Gujarat. He was followed by two weak successors, namely Kakkuka and Devaraja. But it is only the next ruler Vatsraja, son of Devaraja was the most ambitious ruler who had a desire to conquer all of northern India. The same thought put him in conflict with PALAS but the war with Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruva was expensive and ended in defeat. Vatsaraja died in 805 AD, but it is true that he laid the foundation for a customer Pratihara empire.

His successor Nagabhatta-II (805 to 839 AD) showed its military capabilities by checking Muslim advancement and victory over Andhra, Vidharbha, Vatsa, Sindhu and Kalinga. But he suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Rashtrakutas (Govinda-III), which allowed it to Dharmapala and Devapala to reestablish hegemony Palace. Vatsaraja was followed by a minor Rambhadra to govern in three years. Miirabhoja, the successor to Rambhadra pronounced in nearly fifty years (until 890 AD). The glorious chapter began in the history of Pratiharas with accession Mihirabhoja. Although initially suffered a loss, the other half of his reign were remarkable. He regained all the territories which he had lost, and stood as a bulwark of defense against Muslim aggression and left this task as a sacred inheritance to his successors.

Mahendrapala-I and his son Mahipala (Bhoja-II) succeeded Mihirabhoja one after the other, and somehow managed to contain the unrest comes from Rashtrakutas and aggression of Muslims. During the series of Rajyapala-II (son of Mahipala-I) Chandellas came into dominance. The steady decline in the power and authority Pratiharas as segmentation Pratihara empire in the hands of the Chalukyas of Anhilwada, the Chandellas of Jejakabhukti, Chedis of Dahala, Paramaras of Malwa, the Guhilas in Southern Rajputana, the Chahamanas of Sakambhari and Kacchwahasghatas of Gwalior. Towards the end of 10 century, came prestige Pratiharas to and end with the humiliating submission of Rajyapala for Mahmood in 1018 AD. Subsequently, the Pratiharas like Trilochanapala, Yasapala continued reigning for another century.