Origins & Early Life

Mihira Bhoja (r. c. 836 – c. 885 CE) or Bhoja I was the Pratihara emperor from 836 to 885 CE.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He inherited a weakened realm in an adverse situation from his father, Ramabhadra. However, his capable reign transformed it into a large and prosperous empire. Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted the title of Ādivarāha, which is inscribed on some of his coins.. One of the outstanding political figures of India in the ninth century, he ranks with Dhruva Dharavarsha and Dharmapala as a great general and empire builder. At its height, Bhoja's empire extended to the Narmada River in the south, the Sutlej River in the northwest, and up to Bengal in the east.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It extended over a large area from the foot of the Himalayas up to the river Narmada and included the present district of Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. During his reign, the capital was Kannauj (present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was a bitter enemy of the Arab-Islamic invaders who, according to an Arab chronicler, Sulaiman, maintained a large army and had a fine cavalry. He was succeeded by his son Mahendrapala I (c. 836 – 910 CE). Mihira Bhoja first consolidated his territories by crushing the rebellious feudatories...

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