Skandagupta

Skandagupta (d. 467) was a ruler of northern India under the Gupta dynasty. He is generally considered the last of the great Gupta Emperors. He faced some of the greatest challenges in the annals of the empire having to contend with the Pushyamitras and the Hunas. He defeated the Pushyamitras, a rival Indian dynasty, but then was faced with invading Indo-Hephthalites or "White Huns", known in India as "Hunas", from the northwest. Skandagupta had warred against the Huns during the reign of his father, and was celebrated throughout the empire as a great warrior. He repulsed a Huna attack c. 455, and managed to keep them at bay; however, the expense of the wars drained the empire's resources and contributed to its decline. Skandagupta died in 467 and was succeeded by his son Narasimhagupta Baladitya, who along with Yasovarman, is credited with ultimately driving the Huns from the plains of Northern India. Skandagupta's name appear in Javanese text `Tantrikamandaka', and Chinese writer, Wang-hiuen-tse refers that an ambassador was sent to his court by King Meghvarma of Sri Lanka, who had asked his permission to build a Buddhist monastery at Bodh Gaya for the monks traveling from Sri Lanka. But the most detailed and authentic record of his reign is preserved in the rock pillar of the Allahabad, composed by Harisena.