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  • Satavahanas: Important Rulers of The Satvahana Dynasty

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    The Satavahana dynasty ruled from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD over present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. They were the first Indian rulers to issue coins with ruler portraits. An important ruler, Gautamiputra Satakarni, defeated foreign invaders and expanded the empire. The administration was based on religious texts and included the king, princes, military leaders, and bureaucrats. Agriculture was the economic backbone while Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced. The dynasty fragmented after the last major ruler, Pulamavi IV, in 225 AD.

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    The Satavahana dynasty ruled from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD over present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. They were the first Indian rulers to issue coins with ruler portraits. An important ruler, Gautamiputra Satakarni, defeated foreign invaders and expanded the empire. The administration was based on religious texts and included the king, princes, military leaders, and bureaucrats. Agriculture was the economic backbone while Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced. The dynasty fragmented after the last major ruler, Pulamavi IV, in 225 AD.

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    93 views4 pages

    Satavahanas: Important Rulers of The Satvahana Dynasty

    Uploaded by

    Angad Kumar
    The Satavahana dynasty ruled from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD over present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. They were the first Indian rulers to issue coins with ruler portraits. An important ruler, Gautamiputra Satakarni, defeated foreign invaders and expanded the empire. The administration was based on religious texts and included the king, princes, military leaders, and bureaucrats. Agriculture was the economic backbone while Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced. The dynasty fragmented after the last major ruler, Pulamavi IV, in 225 AD.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Satavahanas

    • The Satavahana rule is believed to have started around the third


    century BC, in 235 BC and lasted until the second century AD.
    • They are referred to as Andhras in the Puranas.
    • The Satavahana kingdom chiefly comprised of modern-day Andhra
    Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. At times, their rule also
    included parts of Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
    • Their capital cities varied at different times. Pratishthana (Paithan)
    and Amaravati were its capitals.
    • Simuka founded the dynasty.
    • They were the first native Indian rulers to issue their own coins
    with the portraits of the rulers.
    • This practice was started by Gautamiputra Satakarni who derived
    the practice from the Western Satraps after defeating them.
    • The coin legends were in Prakrit language. Some reverse coin
    legends are in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.
    • They patronised Prakrit more than Sanskrit.
    • They supported both Buddhism and Brahminism although they
    were Hindus and claimed Brahminical status.
    • They successfully defended their territories against foreign invaders
    and had many on-going battles with the Sakas (Western Satraps).

    Important Rulers of the Satvahana dynasty

    Satakarni I (180 – 124 BC)

    • Satakarni I was the third Satavahana king.


    • Satakarni I was the first Satavahana king to expand his empire by
    military conquests.
    • He conquered Kalinga after the death of Kharavela.
    • He also pushed back the Sungas in Pataliputra.
    • He also ruled over Madhya Pradesh.
    • After annexing the Godavari Valley, he assumed the title of ‘Lord of
    Dakshinapatha’.
    • His queen was Nayanika who wrote the Naneghat inscription which
    describes the king as Dakshinapathapati.
    • He performed Ashvamedha and revived Vedic Brahminism in the
    Deccan.

    Hala

    • King Hala compiled the Gatha Saptashati. Called Gaha Sattasai in


    Prakrit, it is a collection of poems with mostly love as the theme.
    Around forty of the poems are attributed to Hala himself.
    • Hala’s minister Gunadhya composed Brihatkatha.

    Gautamiputra Satakarni (106 – 130 AD or 86 – 110 AD)

    • He is considered the greatest king of the Satavahana dynasty.


    • He defeated the Greeks, Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians) and the Sakas.
    • His kingdom ran from Krishna in the south to Malwa and Saurashtra
    in the north and from Berar in the east to the Konkan in the west.
    • He defeated Nahapana, an important king of the Western Satraps.
    • He is also called Ekabrahmana.
    • His mother was Gautami Balasri and hence his name Gautamiputra
    (son of Gautami).
    • He was succeeded by his son Vasisthiputra Sri Pulamavi or Pulamavi
    II.
    Administration of the Satvahana dynasty
    The administration of the Satvahana dynasty was entirely based on the
    Shastras which has the following structure:

    1. Rajan or the king who is the ruler


    2. Princes or Rajas who had their names inscribed on coins
    3. Maharathis, who had the power of granting villages and also had
    the privilege of maintaining marital relations with the ruling family.
    4. Mahasenapati
    5. Mahatalavara

    The inscription of the ruler Guatamipurna Satakrni threw some light on


    the bureaucratic structure of administration. However, clarity on the
    detailed structure is still awaited by historians.

    Economy
    Agriculture was the backbone of the economy during the rule of
    Satvahana kings. They also relied on trade and production of various
    commodities within and outside India.

    Religion & Language


    The Satvahanas belonged to Hindu religion and Brahmanical caste. But,
    the interesting fact is their generosity towards other caste and religion
    which is evident from the donations made by them towards the Buddhist
    monasteries. Many Buddhist monasteries were constructed during the
    rule of the Satvahana dynasty.
    The Language used during that period was “Prakrit” which is a modern
    version of the Indo-Aryan Language. Political inscriptions also threw some
    light on the rare use of Sanskrit Literature.
    Decline of the Satavahanas

    • Pulamavi IV is considered the last king of the main Satavahana line.


    • He ruled until 225 AD. After his death, the empire fragmented into
    five smaller kingdoms.

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