Post-Gupta Period:
Que. Evaluate the importance of tripartite struggle for the domination over North India during the eighth and ninth centuries. [UPSC CSE-2022]
Approach:
(1) Start your introduction by stating the main participants of the tripartite struggle and its geographical location.
(2) Discuss the causes behind the beginning of the struggle, course of the struggle. Also highlight the long term impact of the struggle in the political sphere.
(4) Conclude by writing the result of the struggle and how it became one of the reasons for Muslims Invasions.
Introduction:
The Tripartite Struggle, also known as the Kannauj Triangle Wars, took place in the 8th and 9th centuries, between the three great Indian dynasties, the Palas, the Pratiharas, and the Rashtrakutas, for control over the Kannauj area of northern India. Kannauj located in the central Gangetic valley was a very important center for trade and commerce. Hence obviously all the dominant dynasties of the time fought for power and control over this area.
Causes of Tripartite Struggle:
Kannauj was the erstwhile capital of Harshavardhana Empire in North India. The following were the causes which provoked tripartite struggle:
(1) Symbol of Prestige & Power: Kannauj was the symbol of prestige and power during the early medieval period.
(2) Control of Central Gangetic Valley: Control of Kannauj also implied control of Central Gangetic valley which had plenty of resources and thus it was both strategically and commercially important.
(3) Trade and Commerce: This center was best for trade and commerce. One of the prime reasons for conflict was the desire for more wealth, which extended beyond their own territories. This was possibly because the rulers needed greater resources to enhance their military prowess.
Beginning of Tripartite Struggle:
(1) Pala and Pratihara Conflict: The Pratihara ruler named Vatsaraja (770 AD-810 AD) was very ambitious about Kannauj. Similarly, Dharmapala (770 AD 810 AD), the Pala ruler also wanted to rule over Kannauj. And thus these two rulers were into a conflict. Vatsaraja defeated Dharmapala in a battle at Gangetic Doab.
(2) Rashtrakutas: At the same time Vatsaraja was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva (780 CE 793 CE). Dhruva also defeated Dharmapala. Finally, this pronounced enmity led to Tripartite Struggle between Palas, Rashtrakutas and Pratiharas.
Course of Struggle:
(1) After the attack by Dhruva, Dharmapala could manage to get back control over his territory and placed Cakrayudha on the throne of Kannauj. But soon Nagabhata II (795 AD-833 AD), the successor of Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja conquered Kannauj and drove away Chakrayudha. Later Nagabhata II also defeated Dharmapala.
(2) The struggle for Kannauj became more severe after Nagabhata II exercised control over it. During the rule of Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III (939 CE 967 CE), there was a successful campaign against the Cholas. The Rashtrakutas also formed a matrimonial relationship with other feudal kings.
(3) However, by the end of the 9th Century the power of the Rashtrakutas started to decline along with the Palas. And by the end of the tripartite struggle, the Pratiharas emerged victorious and established themselves as the rulers of central India
Importance:
(1) All the powers were not local and they fought against each other to establish supremacy over Kannauj. Finally, the Pratiharas became partly successful. But after the long-term war all the powers lost their potentiality to survive. So, there was no final result. But the political and economic significance of the tripartite struggle was very important.
(2) Revolts: For the continuous war they had to maintain a big army and so the tax was very high. We can easily trace some rebellions against the rulers. Some scholars like R.S. Sharma identified the Kaiwartya rebellions during the Pala period as a peasant revolt.
(3) Rise of Samantas: All the contemporary powers became dependable on the Samantas that was their weakness. After sometime the Samanta kings became powerful and caused the downfall of the big powers.
(4) No Central Authority: On the other hand, the unnecessary war weakened the dynasties so that in North India we do not see any powerful empire in the later period.
(5) Muslim Invasion: At the time of Muslim invasion North Indian powers became unable to protect themselves. So, in conclusion we can say that the tripartite struggle was a war without gain for the powers.
Conclusion:
The tripartite conflict lasted for two centuries. In the end, Pratiharas emerged victoriously and established themselves as the rulers of central India. However, tripartite struggle rendered all three dynasties feeble. This led to the country’s political breakdown, which aided the Middle Eastern Islamic invaders.
