Question

Write a note on how Harshvardhana became a king.

Answer 1

• Harshvardhana was born in 606 A.D.
• His father Prabhakarvardhana was the king of Thaneshwar (presently Punjab and Haryana).
• When Prabhakarvardhana died, the elder brother of Harshvardhana, Rajyavardhana, came to the throne.
• The two brothers had a sister called Rajyashree.
• Devgupta, the King of Malwa killed Rajyashree’s husband and imprisoned her.
• To take revenge, Rajyavardhana attacked Malwa. But, meanwhile, Shashank, the King of Gauda region, murdered Rajyavardhana using dishonest means.
• Hence, there was no one to beseat the throne of Thaneshwar.
• So, on the advice of the leaders of the state, Harshvardhana became the King of Thaneshwar.