The Tripartite Struggle For Kannauj

Overview and Importance of Kannauj

The Tripartite Struggle for control over Kannauj(then known as Kanyakubja) and by extension,
North India, happened over a course of nearly 250 years, peaking in the ninth century.
An ancient city mentioned even in age old Hindu scriptures including the Mahabharata1, Kannauj
then fell into obscurity until it was given importance as the capital of the Harsha Empire, ruled
by the famous king Harshavardhana from 606-647, whose influence stretched from Gujarat in
the West to Assam in the East. However, Harsha died without an heir in 647, and his passing lead
to a power vacuum in his Empire and its eventual disintegration. The following period is very
badly documented; however, Kannauj retained its importance for several centuries, eventually
fading away after Iltutmishs conquest.
Kannauj has borne witness to the rise and fall of several Empires fighting over the fertile
Gangetic Plain, most notably the Rashtrakuta Empire, the Pratihara Empire(also known as
Gurjara Pratihara) as well as the Pala Empire.
The city was the prize jewel of the Gangetic Plains, and its early importance was possibly due to
certain advantages it had strategically. The city was located on a cliff on the banks of the Ganga,
which was a highway of commerce and communication.2 Moreover, in these times preceding the
use of the cannon, the city and the fort were easy to defend given their height because they gave
a commanding position against any invading force.3

1 Mahabharata V, Section 30, verse 19

2 Samuel Beal, The Travels of Fa-hian ch. XVIII, pg. xliii
3 Cunningham, Ancient Geography of India p. 436, 1924