Reignc. 320 – c. 335 CE ConsortKumaradevi DynastyGupta Died335 AD ParentsGhatotkacha PredecessorGhatotkacha
Coronation320 CE IssueSamudragupta
Kacha FatherGhatotkacha HouseGupta Empire SuccessorSamudragupta
ChildrenSamudragupta, Prabhavati Gupta SimilarSamudragupta, Sri Gupta, Skandagupta, Kumaragupta I, Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta I was a king of the Gupta Empire around 320 CE. As the ruler of the Gupta Empire, he is known for forging alliances with many powerful families in the Ganges region. He was also the first important ruler of the Gupta Empire.
Description
Chandragupta I was the son of Ghatotkacha and the grandson of Sri Gupta. Unlike his predecessors, who were known as Maharaja (king), he came to be known as Maharajadhiraja (king of kings). He came to power in 320 CE as his father Ghatotkacha died leaving him on the throne. However, it remains unknown how he expanded a "small principality to the status of an important kingdom" by annexing neighbouring kingdoms. He also married a Licchhavi princess, Kumaradevi, indicating that the matrimonial connections between the two led to the "political greatness" of the Gupta dynasty.
The exact boundaries of his empire remains unknown. He had two main sons. The eldest was Kacha and the younger was Samudragupta.