ABSTRACT
Gupta's from the earlier powerful ones who are often called the Imperial Gupta's. The imperial Gupta's begin with Chandragupta, because it was he who was honoured with the title of Maharajadhiraja, King over Kings, whereas his father, Sri Ghatotkachagupta, and his grandfather, Sri Gupta, had carried only the title of Maharaja. Among the many monarchs who ruled in South Asia until the end of the third century of the Common Era, the names and reputations of three have withstood the test of time: Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire; his grandson, Ashoka, who promulgated the law of Dhamma; and Kanishka, the great Kushan king. With the death of Skandagupta, the line of illustrious Imperial Gupta's comes to an end. The real death blow to the empire, however, came from the internal crisis of the Gupta dynasty: the weak and inept emperors were confronted with the assumption of their right to hereditary rule by provincial governors and imperial feudatories.
