The triangular struggle between the Pratiharas, the Palas and the Rashtrakutas for the supremacy in northern India became an important factor in Indian politics for more than a century. The city of Kannauj which was raised to the position of imperial dignity by Harshavardhana became the prize coveted and won by each with varying degree of success. Kannauj became the centre of gravity due to its strategic and geographical potential. It was located in the middle of the Doab, thus, the control over Kannauj meant control over the eastern and western Ganga Valley. It was also interconnected with land and water routes. It was, therefore, not surprising that the three leading contemporary powers the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas made repeated attempts to control Kannauj.
From the late 8th to the end of the 9th century CE interregional confrontations were particularly intense. The Pratiharas in north, the Palas in east and the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan emerged as powerful dynasties almost at the same time. Vatsaraja, the founder of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty conquered large parts of Rajasthan and North-Western India around 783 CE. On the other hand, the early Pala rulers - Gopala and Dharampala extended their sway westward from Bengal. A clash was then inevitable. Vatsaraja defeated the Pala king near Allahbad. In the meantime, the Rashtrakutas had consolidated their hold on the Deccan and were looking northwards. The third Rashtrakuta king, Dhruva, invaded the Gangetic plains with a large army and defeated both Vatsaraja and Dharampala.
After Dhruva’s death when Rashtrakuta power eclipsed for sometime, Dharampala conquered Kannauj. But soon Nagabhatta (Vatsaraja’s son) restored the glory of the Pratiharas, recaptured Kannauj and then procceded to defeat Dharampala. This victory made the new Rashtrakuta king Govinda III very envious. He invaded the territory of Nagabhatta who fled to the desert of Rajasthan while Dharampala quickly annexed Kannauj again. In the next generation of rulers, Dharampala’s son Devapala was the most prominent. He enhanced his power and influence at the cost of contemporary Pratihara and Rashtrakuta rulers. In the 9th century CE the Pratihara kings Bhoja and Mahendrapala proved to be more powerful than their other contemporaries. Gradually, Kannauj became the main focus of power in India.
Towards the end of the 9th century CE the Rashtrakutas gained momentary strength once more under their kings Indra III and Krishna II but declined soon. By the end of the 10th century CE, the Pratiharas, who also were almost forgotten, still managed to retain their capital Kannauj. The decline of the political unity in northern India was hastened by the invasions of the Muhmud of Ghazni from 1001 to 1027 CE. His attacks destabilized the whole political system in the region and north India did not recover from this onslaught until the Turks finally conquered it.
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