Question

The Rashtrakuta ruler who defeated pratihara king Nagabhata II?
A) Krishna I
B) Krishna I
C) Govinda II
D) Govinda III

Answer 1

Hint: In the Gwalior inscription, Nagabhata II is mentioned. He overthrew the monarchs of Sindhu, Andhra Pradesh, Vidarbha, Kalinga, Matsyas, Vatsas, Malavas, Kiratas, Anartas, and Arabs. He captured western Saurashtra after defeating Saindhava monarch Ranaka I. (now in Gujarat).

Complete answer:
The Rashtrakuta Emperor Govinda III (793–814) conquered Nagabhata II, and Malwa and Gujarat were lost. However, he reclaimed Malwa from the Rashtrakutas, defeated the Palas in Kanauj and the Indo-Gangetic Plain as far as Bihar, and checked the Muslims in the west once more. Kanauj became the capital of the Pratihara state, which ruled over much of northern India at the time.

Let us look at the given options:
A) Krishna l: This option is incorrect because Krishna I was never defeated, his eldest son Govinda II became his successor.
B) Krishna ll: This option is incorrect because Nagabhatta II did not defeat Krishna II. In 892, Krishna II resumed hostilities against Chalukya Bhima I, conquering him and capturing him as a prisoner. Bhima I, on the other hand, was later released and anointed king after driving the Rashtrakutas out of Vengi.
C) Govinda ll: This option is incorrect because Nagabhatta II did not defeat Govinda II. Govinda II's attempt to reclaim control of the empire with the support of neighbouring Kings of Malwa, Kanchi and Vengi failed, and Dhruva Dharavarsha firmly established control of the empire.
D) Govinda lll: This is the correct option: Nagabhata II (reigned c. 793–833), Vatsaraja's successor, rebuilt Pratihara power, conquered Kannauj, and temporarily reversed the situation. Soon after, he was destroyed by Govinda III of the Rashtrakutas (reigned 793–814), who had to contend with a confederacy of southern states.

Thus, the correct answer is Option D) Govinda lll.

Note: Govinda III (reign 793–814) was a great Rashtrakuta ruler who succeeded his legendary father Dhruva Dharavarsha. He was the dynasty's most militarily successful ruler, conquering territory from Cape Comorin in the south to Kannauj in the north, and from Banaras in the east to Broach (Bharuch) in the west.