Editing History of India (section)

==== Empire of Harsha ====
{{Main|Harsha|Pushyabhuti dynasty}}
[[Harsha]] ruled northern India from 606 to 647 CE. He was the son of [[Prabhakarvardhana]] and the younger brother of [[Rajyavardhana]], who were members of the [[Vardhana dynasty]] and ruled [[Thanesar]], in present-day [[Haryana]].
[[File:Harshavardhana Circa AD 606-647.jpg|thumb|250px|Coin of [[Harsha|Emperor Harsha]], c. 606–647 CE.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=261204|title=CNG: eAuction 329. India, Post-Gupta (Ganges Valley). Vardhanas of Thanesar and Kanauj. Harshavardhana. Circa AD 606–647. AR Drachm (13&nbsp;mm, 2.28 g, 1h).|website=cngcoins.com}}</ref>|alt=]]

After the downfall of the prior [[Gupta Empire]] in the middle of the 6th century, [[North India]] reverted to smaller republics and monarchical states. The power vacuum resulted in the rise of the Vardhanas of Thanesar, who began uniting the republics and monarchies from the Punjab to central India. After the death of Harsha's father and brother, representatives of the empire crowned Harsha emperor in April 606 CE, giving him the title of Maharaja.<ref>RN Kundra & SS Bawa, History of Ancient and Medieval India</ref> At the peak, his Empire covered much of North and Northwestern India, extended East until [[Kamarupa]], and South until [[Narmada River]]; and eventually made [[Kannauj]] (in present [[Uttar Pradesh]]) his capital, and ruled until 647 CE.<ref name="Historic Places p.507">International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania by Trudy Ring, Robert M. Salkin, Sharon La Boda p. 507</ref>

The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors.<ref name="Historic Places p.507" /> During this time, Harsha converted to Buddhism from [[Surya]] worship.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/256065/Harsha|title=Harsha|year=2015|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> The Chinese traveller [[Xuanzang]] visited the court of Harsha and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.<ref name="Historic Places p.507" /> His biography ''[[Harshacharita]]'' ("Deeds of Harsha") written by Sanskrit poet [[Banabhatta]], describes his association with Thanesar and the palace with a two-storied ''Dhavalagriha'' (White Mansion).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Sthanvishvara (historical region, India)|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/566090/Sthanvishvara|access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Harsha (Indian emperor)|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/256065/Harsha|access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref>