Nagabhata I and Nagabhata II, who resisted the Arabs and fought for control of Kannauj, were kings of the:

Nagabhata I and Nagabhata II were important kings of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, which ruled much of north and western India from the 8th to the 11th century.

About Nagabhata I:

• He ruled in the mid-8th century (about 730-760 CE), and is regarded as the founder of the imperial Pratihara line.
• His capital was at Ujjain (or Bhinmal).
• He is famous for defending western India against the invading Arabs of Sindh in the 8th century.
• The Gwalior inscription of his descendant Mihira Bhoja says that Nagabhata I destroyed the large armies of the "Mlechchhas" (the Arabs).

About Nagabhata II:

• He ruled in the early 9th century (about 795-833 CE).
• He captured Kannauj from the Pala-supported ruler, and made it the Pratihara capital.
• He defeated the Pala king Dharmapala.
• However, he was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king Govinda III.

The tripartite struggle:

For about 200 years, the Pratiharas, the Palas (of Bengal) and the Rashtrakutas (of the Deccan) fought for control over Kannauj, which was regarded as a symbol of power in north India.

Famous Pratihara rulers:

• Mihira Bhoja (Bhoja I, about 836-885 CE): the greatest Pratihara ruler; the Arab traveller Sulaiman praised his strong army and well-governed kingdom.
• Mahendrapala I: patron of the poet Rajashekhara.

Decline:

• The Pratiharas declined in the 10th century because of attacks by the Rashtrakutas.
• Kannauj was raided by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018, and the Pratihara ruler Rajyapala fled.
• Feudatories such as the Chandelas, Paramaras and Chahamanas became independent.

The name:

• "Pratihara" means a door-keeper; the dynasty claimed descent from Lakshmana, who served as a door-keeper (pratihara) for Rama.
• Good to know
• The Palas ruled Bengal and Bihar.
• The Rashtrakutas ruled the Deccan.
• The Chandelas ruled Bundelkhand.