Arunasva

Arunasva
King of Kannauj
Reignc. 647 CE- c. ? CE
PredecessorHarshavardhana
SuccessorYashovarman

Arunāsva (also known as Aluonashun by the Chinese and as Arjuna[1]) was the ruler of the Kingdom of Kannauj,[2] and prior to this the governor of Tirabhukti.

He had been the governor of Tirhut and a minister at the court of Harsha and usurped the throne after his death, succeeding the Pushyabhuti dynasty.[3] He is known for repulsing an invasion launched by the Arab Muslims of the Rashidun Caliphate.[4]

Reign

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The historian, Yogendra Mishra, was of the view that Arunasva was likely a prince related to the Maukhari dynasty who had established a base of operations for himself in the region of Tirhut where he served as a governor for Harshavardhana.[5]

After emperor Harshavardhana's death, he usurped the throne and became the new king of Kannauj including his former possessions in Tirabhukti. He was the emperor's former minister. In 648, the Tang dynasty's emperor Tang Taizong sent Wang Xuance to India in response to emperor Harsha having sent an ambassador to China. However once in India he discovered Harsha had died and the new king Aluonashun (supposedly Arunāsva) attacked Wang and his 30 mounted subordinates.[6] This led to Wang Xuance escaping to Tibet and then mounting a joint of over 7,000 Nepalese mounted infantry and 1,200 Tibetan infantry and attack on the Indian state on 16 June.

The success of this attack won Xuance the title of the "Grand Master for the Closing Court." (Note that this is not a prestigious title, only in the 5th rank of Tang's nine-rank official system) [7] He also secured a reported Buddhist relic for China.[8] 2,000 prisoners were taken from Magadha by the Nepali and Tibetan forces under Wang.[9] Tibetan and Chinese writings document describe Wang Xuance's raid on India with Tibetan soldiers.[10] Nepal had been subdued by the Tibetan emperor Songtsen.[11] The Indian pretender was among the captives.[12][3] The war happened in 649.[13] Taizong's grave had a statue of the Indian pretender.[14] The pretender's name was recorded in Chinese records as "Na-fu-ti O-lo-na-shuen" (Dinafudi is probably a reference to Tirabhukti).[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ Tulku Lobsang Tenzin, Acharya Kirti; Dhondup, K (1982). "Early Relations between Tibbet and Nepal (7th to 8th Centuries)". The Tibet Journal. 7: 83–86.
  2. ^ Bennett, Matthew (1998). The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-57958-116-9.
  3. ^ a b Odorico (da Pordenone); Rashīd al-Dīn Ṭabīb; Francesco Balducci Pegolotti; Joannes de Marignolis; Ibn Batuta (1998). Cathay and the Way Thither: Preliminary essay on the intercourse between China and the western nations previous to the discovery of the Cape route. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 69. ISBN 9788121508391.
  4. ^ Virji, krishnakumari J. (1952). Ancient History Of Saurashtra.
  5. ^ Mishra, Yogendra (1977). "IDENTIFICATION OF CHA-PO-HO-LO AND ITS MASTER A-LO-NA-SHUN (A. D. 647-48)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 38: 117–121.
  6. ^ Bennett, Matthew (1998). The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-57958-116-9.
  7. ^ Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations ... By Tansen Sen, pg 23
  8. ^ The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies By International Association of Buddhist Studies
  9. ^ Charles D. Benn (2002). Daily Life in Traditional China: The Tang Dynasty. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-0-313-30955-7.
  10. ^ Tansen Sen (January 2003). Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations, 600-1400. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 253–. ISBN 978-0-8248-2593-5.
  11. ^ Tansen Sen (January 2003). Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations, 600-1400. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 22–. ISBN 978-0-8248-2593-5.
  12. ^ Henry Yule (1915). Cathay and the Way Thither, Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China. Asian Educational Services. pp. 69–. ISBN 978-81-206-1966-1.
  13. ^ "649 – the year China first invaded India – the Acorn".
  14. ^ Prabodh Chandra Bagchi (2011). India and China : interactions through Buddhism and diplomacy ; a collection of essays. Anthem Press. pp. 158–. ISBN 978-93-80601-17-5.
  15. ^ D.C. Sircar (1990). Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 326–. ISBN 978-81-208-0690-0.
  16. ^ Sam Van Schaik (2011). Tibet: A History. Yale University Press. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-0-300-17217-1.


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