Empire of Harsha

Main articles: Harsha and Vardhana dynasty

Harsha ruled northern India from 606 to 647 CE. He was the son of Prabhakarvardhana and the
younger brother of Rajyavardhana, who were members of the Vardhana dynasty and
ruled Thanesar, in present-day Haryana.

Coin of Emperor Harsha, c. 606–647 CE.[175]

After the downfall of the prior Gupta Empire in the middle of the 6th century, North India reverted
to smaller republics and monarchical states. The power vacuum resulted in the rise of the
Vardhanas of Thanesar, who began uniting the republics and monarchies from the Punjab to
central India. After the death of Harsha's father and brother, representatives of the empire
crowned Harsha emperor at an assembly in April 606 CE, giving him the title of Maharaja when
he was merely 16 years old.[176] At the height of his power, his Empire covered much of North and
Northwestern India, extended East until Kamarupa, and South until Narmada River; and
eventually made Kannauj (in present Uttar Pradesh state) his capital, and ruled until 647 CE.[177]
The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting
scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide.[177] During this time, Harsha converted to
Buddhism from Surya worship.[178] The Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited the court of Harsha
and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.[177] His
biography Harshacharita ("Deeds of Harsha") written by Sanskrit poet Banabhatta, describes his
association with Thanesar, besides mentioning the defence wall, a moat and the palace with a
two-storied Dhavalagriha (White Mansion).[179][180]