Explain briefly the notions of kingship during the Kushana and Gupta empire.

The notions of kingship during the Kushana and Gupta empire are explained below:

Kushana Empire:

a. In the first century, BCE Kushanas ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central Asia to northwest India.

b. History has been reconstructed from various inscriptions and texts.

c. The notions of kingship during the Kushana empire are best understood from the coins and culture.

d. The statues of these rulers were found in Afghanistan and Mathura.

e. According to some historians, it indicates that these rulers thought of themselves as God.

f. Many rulers also assumed the title of Devaputra which means the ‘Son of God’. It is said that they were inspired by the Chinese leaders who called himself the ‘Son of Heaven’.

Gupta empire

a. The history of the Gupta Empire in understood from literature, coins, inscriptions, and Prashastis. Prashastis were praises composed of kings in particular and patrons in general by poets.

b. The court poet of Samudragupta, Harisena composed Prayag Prashashti. It was also known as the Allahabad pillar inscription.

c. He described Samudraguupta as the most powerful king of the Gupta empire.

d. He was considered as equally powerful to God and the protector of his poor subjects.