Ancient and Medieval Indian Rulers

The Witch-king of Angmar, leader of the Nazgul, ruled the northern kingdom of Angmar. His realm was specifically established to destroy the northern kingdom of Arnor. Arnor was the kingdom he conquered, Annuminas and Fornost were cities in Arnor (Annuminas was the capital).

According to Ramayana, Lanka originally belonged to Kubera, the god of wealth and Ravana's brother. Ravana conquered Lanka and seized it from Kubera.

The Gupta Dynasty (c. 320-550 CE) is often called the 'Golden Age of Hinduism' as they gave Hinduism extensive state patronage. Hindu temples, art, and literature flourished during this period. While Buddhism and Jainism were also practiced, they did not receive the same level of royal support as during the Mauryan period. Islam had not yet reached India in any significant way during the Gupta era.

Faxian (Fahien), the Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler, visited India during the reign of Chandra Gupta II (Vikramaditya, c. 380-415 CE). His journey (399-414 CE) is documented in his travelogue 'A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms.' He spent several years at Pataliputra studying Buddhist texts. Ashoka, Harshavardhana, and Kanishka ruled in different centuries - Fahien visited during the Gupta period, not their reigns.

Kalidasa, widely regarded as ancient India's greatest Sanskrit poet and playwright, flourished during the reign of Chandra Gupta II (Vikramaditya, c. 380-415 CE). He was one of the 'Navratnas' (nine gems) in Vikramaditya's court. His famous works include 'Shakuntala,' 'Meghaduta,' and 'Raghuvamsha.' Ashoka, Samudra Gupta, and Chandra Gupta Maurya ruled in different periods - Kalidasa belonged specifically to the Gupta period under Chandra Gupta II.

According to Hindu mythology and the Ramayana, Sumitra was the last king of the Suryavansha (Ikshvaku dynasty) to rule Ayodhya before the dynasty's rule ended. Kusha, Kulak, and Kshudrak were descendants but not the final rulers of the dynasty.

After the deaths of Bhishma, Drona, and Karna, Ashwatthama became the commander-in-chief of the remaining Kaurava forces and led them in the final battle, including the controversial night attack on the Pandava camp.

Ayodhya was the capital of the Kosala Kingdom, ruled by the Ikshvaku dynasty, including King Dasharatha and Lord Rama. Mithila was the kingdom of King Janaka, Indraprastha was the capital of the Pandavas, and Lanka was the kingdom ruled by Ravana.

Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336, establishing one of the greatest empires in South Indian history. They were originally in the service of the Kakatiya dynasty and later inspired by the sage Vidyaranya to establish their own kingdom. The Vijayanagara Empire lasted for over 300 years and was known for its prosperity, art, and architecture. Hampi was its capital.

The Allahabad Pillar inscription, also known as Prayag Prashasti, contains a detailed account of Samudra Gupta's conquests. It was composed by his court poet Harishena and is considered one of the most important historical records of the Gupta period. Ujjain was an important city but not the inscription site.

The earliest Ajanta caves (9 and 10) were constructed during the reign of the Vakataka dynasty, specifically under Emperor Harishena. The Vakatakas were patrons of Buddhism and supported the excavation of these rock-cut caves. The Chalukyas came later and built different cave complexes, while Cheras and Kshatrapas were not associated with Ajanta.

Emperor Ashoka (304-232 BCE) belonged to the Maurya Dynasty, founded by Chandragupta Maurya. Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta and son of Bindusara, ruling over one of ancient India's largest empires. After the brutal Kalinga War, he converted to Buddhism and became known for promoting peace, tolerance, and dhamma. The Harsha, Chalukya, and Yadava dynasties ruled in different periods - Harsha in the 7th century, Chalukyas in the Deccan, and Yadavas in the 12th-13th centuries, all after the Mauryan era.

INS Viraat, INS Vikrant (also spelled Vikranth), and INS Vikramaditya are all aircraft carriers that have served in the Indian Navy. Viraat was decommissioned in 2017, while Vikramaditya is currently in service. These are ships, not kings or people.