Gurjara-Pratihara Empire

Empire Level 2 ★ Major power

c. 730 CE – c. 1036

Dynasty that checked Arab expansion and ruled north India from Kannauj.

🗺 See on map in 817 CE

Capital: Kannauj (from c. 816)
Region: North
Duration: 306 years
Main period: Tripartite Struggle

Changing extent

c. 730 CE — ~300 km radius: Nagabhata I in Rajasthan/Malwa
c. 816 CE — ~550 km radius: Kannauj captured
c. 950 CE — ~300 km radius: Decline

Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).

Rulers

Nagabhata I King
Resisted Arab invasions.
c. 730 CE – c. 760 CE
Vatsaraja King
c. 780 CE – c. 800 CE
Nagabhata II King
Captured Kannauj.
c. 805 CE – c. 833 CE
Mihira Bhoja King
Peak of the empire.
c. 836 CE – c. 885 CE
Mahendrapala I King
Patron of Rajashekhara.
c. 885 CE – c. 910 CE

Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.

Key events

Year	Event	Place
c. 738 CE	Arab advance checked in Rajasthan Nagabhata I and the Chalukyas of Gujarat halt Arab expansion. Arab expansion east of Sindh was halted for centuries.	Rajasthan
c. 816 CE	Nagabhata II captures Kannauj Kannauj becomes the Pratihara capital; climax of the tripartite struggle. Kannauj became the Pratihara capital.	Kannauj

Personalities

Rajashekhara

active c. 900 CE

Author of the Karpuramanjari and Kavyamimamsa

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Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire for a significant part of its history.

Anuradhapura Kingdom ★

Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017

Pallava Dynasty ★

South · c. 275 CE – c. 897 CE

Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★

West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194

Pala Empire ★

East · c. 750 CE – c. 1161

Rashtrakuta Empire ★

Deccan · c. 753 CE – c. 982 CE

Chola Empire ★

South · c. 848 CE – 1279

Ghaznavid Empire ★

Northwest · c. 977 CE – c. 1186

Western Ganga Dynasty

South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000

Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140

Maitraka Dynasty

West · c. 475 CE – c. 776 CE

Pandya Kingdom (First Empire)

South · c. 590 CE – c. 920 CE

Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi

Deccan · c. 624 CE – c. 1075

Karkota Dynasty of Kashmir

North · c. 625 CE – c. 855 CE

Turk Shahis

Northwest · c. 665 CE – c. 822 CE

Kalachuris of Tripuri

Central · c. 675 CE – 1212

Guhilas of Medapata

West · c. 728 CE – 1303

Tomaras of Delhi

North · c. 736 CE – c. 1152

Abbasid Caliphate — Sindh province

Northwest · c. 750 CE – c. 854 CE

Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal

Himalaya · c. 750 CE – 1200

Chera Perumals of Makotai

South · c. 800 CE – c. 1124

Paramara Dynasty

Central · c. 800 CE – 1305

Hindu Shahis

Northwest · c. 822 CE – c. 1026

Chandela Dynasty

Central · c. 831 CE – 1315

Habbarid Emirate

Northwest · c. 854 CE – c. 1011

Utpala Dynasty of Kashmir

North · c. 855 CE – c. 1003

Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat

West · c. 940 CE – 1244

Western Chalukyas of Kalyani

Deccan · c. 973 CE – c. 1189

Lohara Dynasty of Kashmir

North · c. 1003 – c. 1171