Nalanda   Copper Plate        Royal Charter
  II                          (Other five are private
                              records of donations)
  Kamaragupta     14          Out of them, five are
  I                           official copper plates and
                              the rest (9) are private
                              records.
  Skandagupta     5           Junagarh Rock               Prasasti
                              Bhitari Pillar              Prasasti
                              Indore Stone Pillar         Royal Charter
                                                          (Evidence of
                                                          subinfeudation)
  Buddhagupta     7           Paharpur Copper Plate       Royal Charter
                              inscription                 (Evidence of
                                                          state ownership
                                                          of land)
The Early Guptas
Srigupta and his son Ghatotkachagupta were nonentities assuming the simple
title of maharaja. As it is not known definitely where these Gupta kings ruled
and whether they owed allegiance to any paramount sovereign, it is better to
leave undecided the status of the first two Gupta kings.
Chandragupta I
The third ruler Chandragupta I, the son and successor of Ghatotkacha, was
definitely a strong ruler whose hands were sought by the Lichchhavis who
gave their princess Kumaradevi in marriage to him. This matrimonial alliance
with this ancient historic family no doubt enhanced the status of the obscure
Guptas. The Lichchhavi territory of north Bihar and the adjoining principality
over which the Guptas ruled were united under Chandragupta and the latter
was able to extend his dominion over Oudh as well as Magadha, and along
the Ganges as far as Prayaga or AllahabAD. Chandragupta I is usually
regarded as the founder of the Gupta era, which commenced on 26 February
AD 320 to commemorate his            accession or coronation—an era which