Question

Who was the last important ruler of the Satavahana Dynasty?
a) Vashishti Putra satakarni
b) Pulomavi II
c) Yagnasri satakarni
d) Satakarni I

Answer 1

Hint: Beginning with Simuka , the Satavahana dynasty had its territory in the modern-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra, also including parts of Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Complete Step by Step answer: Believed to exist between 1BCE and 3CE, this dynasty has its own landmark accomplishments. Their administration was based entirely on the Shastras and had agriculture as the backbone of the economy. The fact that they were involved in trade practices proves that the Satavahana rulers were well advanced.
Let us one by one analyse each of the given four options and check their time periods as well.
Option a, Vashishtiputra Satakarni was the grandson of the greatest Satavahana king, Gautamiputra Satakarni and reigned from probably either 38-145 CE, or 158-165 CE.
Option b, Pulomavi II or Vashishtiputra Pulovami, was the son of Gautamiputra Satakarni or the father of Vashishti Putra Satakarni. He had his capital at Paithan and reigned probably from either 85-125 CE or a110–138 CE/ 130–159 CE.
Option c, Yagnasri satakarni, is one of the greatest important kings of the Dynasty as he is known to have regained a good extent of their lost territory from back from the Shakas. His period is debated to be either one of the following: 152-181 CE or 165-195 CE or 170-199 CE or 174-203.
And lastly, option d, Satakarni I, was third in succession of the throne.
Hence we can clearly deduce that option c is the correct answer as his period of reign is the last amongst the given four.

Note: The question asks for the last ‘important’ ruler of the Satavahana dynasty, while Pulomavi IV was the last in lineage, he is not historically considered an ‘important’ ruler; Pulomavi IV ruled until 225 AD, after which the entire kingdom fragmented into small territories.