Editing Chandragupta II (section)

{{Short description|Ruler of Gupta Empire from c. 375 to c. 415}}
{{other uses|Chandragupta (disambiguation){{!}}Chandragupta}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Chandragupta II
| title        = [[Vikramāditya]]<br>(The Sun of Valour)<br/>[[Maharajadhiraja|Mahārājādhirāja]]<br>Paramabhattaraka<br>[[Devaraja|Devrāja]]<br/>(The God King)<br>Rājarshi<br>Lord of the Three Oceans<br>Apratiratha<br>[[Vaishnav|Paramabhāgavata]]<br>Chakra-Vikramah

| image        = ChandraguptaIIOnHorse.jpg
| image_size   = 
| caption      = An 8 gram gold coin featuring Chandragupta II astride a caparisoned horse, with a bow in his left hand.<ref>*{{British-Museum-db|1910,0403.26|C_1910-0403-26}}</ref> The name ''Cha-gu-pta'' appears in the upper left [[Quadrant (circle)|quadrant]].

| succession = [[List of Gupta emperors|Gupta emperor]]  
| reign = {{circa|375 or 380|415 CE}}<br/>(35-40 years)  
| coronation  = {{circa|380 CE}} 
| predecessor = [[Samudragupta]], possibly [[Ramagupta]]  
| successor = [[Kumaragupta I]]

| birth_date   = (Unknown) possibly {{circa|345-350 CE}}
| birth_place  = [[Pataliputra]],<br/>
[[Gupta Empire]]
| death_date   = {{Circa|415 CE}}
| death_place  = [[Pataliputra]] <br/>or possibly [[Ujjain]],<br/> [[Gupta Empire]]
| spouse       = [[Dhruvadevi]], Kuberanaga
| issue        = {{flatlist|
* [[Kumaragupta I]]
* [[Prabhavatigupta]]
* [[Govindagupta]]}}
| father       = [[Samudragupta]]
| mother       = [[Dattadevi]]
| dynasty      = [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]]
| religion     = [[Hinduism]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781594202056/page/378/mode/2up |title=The Hindus: An Alternative History|author=Doniger, Wendy|year=2009 |page=379|isbn=9781594202056 |access-date=2022-09-24 |language=en}}</ref>
{{Infobox military person
                       | embed        = yes
                       
| allegiance   =  [[Gupta Empire]]
                       
| branch       =  [[Gupta Empire#Military|Gupta Army]] 
                       
| rank         = [[Commander-in-chief|Supreme Commander]]

| battles_label =  
| battles = {{collapsible list|title = {{nobold|''See list''}}|{{tree list}}  
Wars of Chandragupta II  
**Gupta Conquests of Bengal (c. 320–380)  
**[[Gupta-Saka Wars]] (c. 375–385)  
***Defeat of the Western Kshatrapas  
**Northern and Northwestern Campaigns  
***Conquests in Punjab  
**Gupta-Kidarite wars(390–399)  
***Campaigns against the Kidarite Huns  
***Battle of Begram  
***Battle of Kapisa Valley  
***Battle of Sistan  
***Submission of Varahran  
***Battle of Balkh 
***Battle of Oxus 
{{tree list/end}}
}}
}}
}}

'''Chandragupta II''' (r. c. 375–415 CE), also known as '''Vikramaditya''', was the son of [[Samudragupta]], He was one of the greatest emperors of the [[Gupta Empire]], taking it to its zenith. His reign marked the peak of [[India]]'s [[Golden Age]], with advancements in art, literature, science, and governance.

He is identified with King Chandra of the [[Delhi]]'s Iron Pillar inscription, which records his military victories. He continued the [[Samudragupta#Military campaigns & territorial expansion|expansionist policy]] of his father [[Samudragupta]] through military conquests and marital alliances. Historical evidence attests to his remarkable victories, which include the defeat of the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanids]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prakash |first=Buddha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqI5AQAAIAAJ |title=Studies in Indian History and Civilization |date=1962 |publisher=Shiva Lal Agarwala |language=en}}</ref> the [[Gupta–Saka Wars|conquest]] of the [[Western Kshatrapas]] and the vassalization of the [[Hephthalites|Hunas]]. Under the reign of Chandragupta II, the Gupta Empire reached its zenith, directly controlling a vast territory which stretched from the [[Oxus River]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Agrawal |first=Ashvini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA315 |title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas |date=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0592-7 |page=240 & 264 |language=en}}</ref> in the west to the [[Bengal]] region in the east, and from the foothills of the [[Himalayas]] in the north to the [[Narmada River]] in the south. Chandragupta II expanded his influence and indirectly ruled over the [[Kuntala country|Kuntala]] region of Karnataka through a marriage alliance with Kadambas, and during his daughter [[Prabhavatigupta|Prabhavatigupta's]] 20 years long regency, he effectively integrated the [[Vakataka dynasty|Vakataka kingdom]] into the Gupta Empire.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raychaudhuri |first=Hem Channdra |url=http://archive.org/details/politicalhistory00raycuoft |title=Political history of ancient India, from the accession of Parikshit to the extinction of the Gupta dynasty |date=1923 |publisher=Calcutta, Univ. of Calcutta |others=Robarts - University of Toronto |pages=282–288}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107941/page/n17/mode/2up |title=Annual Report Of Mysore 1886 To 1903}}</ref>{{sfn|Hermann Kulke|Dietmar Rothermund|2004|p=91}}

Chandragupta II was a devout [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnav]] but tolerated other faiths as well. He was a great patron of learning, his court is said to have hosted the legendary Navaratnas (Nine Gems). His rule strengthened trade, culture, and administration, making him one of [[India]]'s most celebrated monarchs. The Chinese pilgrim [[Faxian]], who visited India during his reign, suggests that he ruled over a peaceful and prosperous kingdom. The legendary figure of [[Vikramaditya]] is probably based on Chandragupta II (among other kings), and the noted [[Sanskrit]] poet [[Kalidasa]] may have been his court poet. The cave shrines at [[Udayagiri Caves|Udayagiri]] were also built during his rule. He was succeeded by [[Kumaragupta I]].