Pratihara Empire

Gurjara-Pratihara
mid-7th century CE–1036 CE
Extent of the Pratihara Empire shown in green
Capital		Kannauj
Languages		Sanskrit, Prakrit
Religion		Hinduism
Government		Monarchy
Historical era		Late Classical India
•	Established	mid-7th century CE
•	Conquest of Kannauj by Mahmud of Ghazni	1008 CE
•	Disestablished	1036 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Empire of Harsha Chandela Paramara dynasty Kalachuris of Tripuri Chavda dynasty Chahamanas of Shakambhari
Today part of		India

The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, also known as the Pratihara Empire, was an imperial power during the Late Classical period on the Indian subcontinent, that ruled much of Northern India from the mid-7th to the 11th century. They ruled first at Ujjain and later at Kannauj.

The Gurjara-Pratiharas were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River.Nagabhata I defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin during the Caliphate campaigns in India. Under Nagabhata II, the Gurjara-Pratiharas became the most powerful dynasty in northern India. He was succeeded by his son Ramabhadra, who ruled briefly before being succeeded by his son, Mihira Bhoja. Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala I, the Pratihara Empire reached its peak of prosperity and power. By the time of Mahendrapala, the extent of its territory rivalled that of the Gupta Empire stretching from the border of Sindh in the west to Bengal in the east and from the Himalayas in the north to areas past the Narmada in the south. The expansion triggered a tripartite power struggle with the Rashtrakuta and Pala empires for control of the Indian Subcontinent. During this period, Imperial Pratihara took the title of Maharajadhiraja of Āryāvarta (Great King of Kings of India).