Editing Gupta Empire (section)

=== Early rulers ===
Gupta ([[Gupta script]]: [[File:Gupta allahabad gu.jpg|14px]]<sub>[[File:Gupta allahabad pt.jpg|12px]]</sub> ''gu-pta'', {{fl|late 3rd century CE}}) is the earliest known king of the Gupta dynasty. Different historians variously date the beginning of his reign from the mid-to-late 3rd century CE.{{sfn|Tej Ram Sharma|1989|pp=49–55}}{{sfn|Ashvini Agrawal|1989|p=86}} Gupta founded the Gupta Empire {{Circa|240}}-280 CE, and was succeeded by his son, [[Ghatotkacha (king)|Ghatotkacha]], {{Circa|280}}-319 CE, followed by Ghatotkacha's son, [[Chandragupta I]], {{Circa|319}}-335 CE.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Gupta Empire {{!}} Boundless World History|url=https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-worldhistory/chapter/the-gupta-empire/|access-date=30 January 2021|website=courses.lumenlearning.com|archive-date=28 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228034701/https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-worldhistory/chapter/the-gupta-empire/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Che-li-ki-to", the name of a king mentioned by the 7th century Chinese Buddhist monk [[Yijing (monk)|Yijing]], is believed to be a transcription of "[[Shri]]-Gupta" ([[IAST]]: Śrigupta), "Shri" being an honorific prefix.{{sfn|Ashvini Agrawal|1989|pp=84–85}} According to Yijing, this king built a temple for Chinese Buddhist pilgrims near "Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no" (believed to be a transcription of [[Mṛgaśikhāvana]]).{{sfn|Ashvini Agrawal|1989|pp=79–81}}{{Relevance inline|date=December 2024}}
[[File:Queen Kumaradevi and King Chandragupta I on a coin of their son Samudragupta 350 380 CE.jpg|thumb|Queen Kumaradevi and King [[Chandragupta I]], depicted on a gold coin|left]]

In the [[Allahabad Pillar]] inscription, Gupta and his successor Ghatotkacha are described as ''[[Maharaja]]'' ("Great King"), while the next king Chandragupta I is called a [[Maharajadhiraja]] ("[[King of Kings|King of Great Kings]]"). In the later period, the title ''Maharaja'' was used by feudatory rulers, which has led to suggestions that Gupta and Ghatotkacha were vassals (possibly of the [[Kushan Empire]]).{{sfn|Ashvini Agrawal|1989|p=85}} However, there are several instances of paramount sovereigns using the title ''Maharaja'', in both pre-Gupta and post-Gupta periods, so this cannot be said with certainty. That said, there is no doubt that Gupta and Ghatotkacha held a lower status and were less powerful than Chandragupta I.{{sfn|R.C. Majumdar|1981|pp=6–7}}

Chandragupta I married the [[Licchavis of Nepal|Licchavi]] princess Kumaradevi, which may have helped him extend his political power and dominions, enabling him to adopt the prestigious title ''Maharajadhiraja''.{{sfn|R.C. Majumdar|1981|p=10}} According to the dynasty's official records, he was succeeded by his son [[Samudragupta]]. However, the discovery of the coins issued by a Gupta emperor named [[Kacha (king)|Kacha]] have led to some debate on this topic: according to one theory, Kacha was another name for Samudragupta; another possibility is that Kacha was a rival claimant to the throne.{{sfn|Tej Ram Sharma|1989|p=71}}