Maukharis of Kannauj
Royal dynasty of India
The Maukhari dynasty (Gupta script: , Mau-kha-ri) was a post-Gupta dynasty who controlled the vast plains of Ganga-Yamuna for almost a century from Kannauj. They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas and later of Harsha's Vardhana dynasty. The Maukharis established their independence during the mid-6th century. The dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. Around 606 CE, a large area of their empire was reconquered by the Later Guptas. According to Xuanzang, the territory may have been lost to King Shashanka of the Gauda Kingdom, who declared independence circa 600CE.
Origin
Several Maukhari branches were found to be distributed across multiple regions of the subcontinent. The dynastic name is believed to derive from Mukhara, an eponymous progenitor. According to the Harshacharita by Bāṇabhaṭṭa, the marriage between princess Rājyaśrī and Grahavarman united the Pushyabhuti and Mukhara lineages. The dynasty claimed descent from Ashvapati, who is described in the Mahabharata as the ruler of Madra in the Punjab, thereby associating themselves with the Solar dynasty.
Epigraphic evidence indicates that the Maukhari presence extended beyond northern India.
“Maukharis of Kannauj” enters the record as royal dynasty of India. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Maukharis, Kannauj and Royal can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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