Medieval History notes · Chapter 11 of 15 · Mithila (north Bihar) · 1097–1324
Karnata dynasty
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At a glance
- After the Pala empire collapsed, the Karnata dynasty ruled Mithila (Tirhut) in north Bihar and south-eastern Nepal. It gave Maithili its first literary work and its Brahmin genealogy system, and ended when Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq invaded in 1324.
Timeline
- 1097 Nanyadeva founds the Karnata dynasty; capital Simraongadh
- 1097–1147 Nanyadeva’s reign
- 1297–98 Alauddin Khalji invades Mithila, under Shaktisimha Deva
- 1324 Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq invades; Harisimhadeva abandons his fort; Karnata rule ends
Background
- The Pala empire collapsed, leaving a power vacuum in north Bihar.
- The name “Karnata” points to a southern (Karnataka) origin for the ruling family.
Check yourself
The collapse of which empire created the power vacuum filled by the Karnatas?
The Pala empire.
Nanyadeva (1097–1147)
- Founder of the dynasty.
- Capital: Simraongadh (Simraungadh), on the India–Nepal border — known from the Simraongadh inscription.
- Title: Mithileshwar (lord of Mithila).
- Reign covered Tirhut/Mithila and south-eastern Nepal.
- Defeated by Vijayasena of the Sena dynasty — recorded in the Deopara inscription.
- A scholar-king: author of Sarasvati Hridayalankara, a treatise on music in the Natyashastra tradition.
Check yourself
What was Nanyadeva’s capital?
Simraongadh, on the India–Nepal border.
What title did Nanyadeva take?
Mithileshwar.
Who defeated Nanyadeva, and which inscription records it?
Vijayasena of the Sena dynasty; the Deopara inscription.
Which book did Nanyadeva write?
Sarasvati Hridayalankara, on music.
Gangadeva and the middle rulers
- Gangadeva, son of Nanyadeva, made Darbhanga the second capital of Mithila.
- Followed by Narasimhadeva, Ramasimhadeva and Shaktisimha Deva.
- 1297–98: under Shaktisimha Deva, Alauddin Khalji invaded Mithila.
Check yourself
Who made Darbhanga the second capital of Mithila?
Gangadeva, son of Nanyadeva.
Which Sultan invaded Mithila in 1297–98?
Alauddin Khalji, during Shaktisimha Deva’s reign.
Harisimhadeva (1297–1324)
- The most famous Karnata king.
- Institutionalised Panji Prabandha — a genealogical registry system for Maithil Brahmins, maintained by record-keepers (panjikars) to prevent marriages within prohibited degrees of kinship.
- Jyotirishwar Thakur, his court poet, wrote Varna Ratnakara — the first known literary work in Maithili, an encyclopaedic prose text.
- His minister Chandeshwar Thakur was a noted writer on law (smriti).
- 1324:
- defeated by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, who was returning from his Bengal campaign
- Harisimhadeva abandoned his fort without a fight and fled to Nepal; tradition says his descendants founded the Malla dynasty of Kathmandu
- Ghiyasuddin entrusted Mithila to Kameshwar Thakur, his Brahmin priest — the beginning of Oinwar rule
- Karnata rule abruptly ended
Check yourself
Who founded the Karnata dynasty of Mithila, and when?
Nanyadeva, in 1097.
Who was the most famous Karnata king?
Harisimhadeva.
What is Panji Prabandha?
A genealogical registry system for Maithil Brahmins, institutionalised by Harisimhadeva.
What is the first known literary work in Maithili, and who wrote it?
Varna Ratnakara, by Jyotirishwar Thakur.
Who ended Karnata rule, and when?
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, in 1324.
To whom did Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq entrust Mithila?
Kameshwar Thakur, Harisimhadeva’s Brahmin priest.
Where did Harisimhadeva flee in 1324?
To Nepal; tradition links his descendants to the Malla dynasty of Kathmandu.
All 15 chapters of Medieval History notes
- Arab conquest of Sindh8 sections
- Mahmud of Ghazni7 sections
- Muhammad Ghori9 sections
- Mamluk (Slave) dynasty10 sections
- Khalji dynasty13 sections
- Tughlaq dynasty7 sections
- Sayyid dynasty4 sections
- Lodi dynasty5 sections
- Bahmani kingdom10 sections
- Vijayanagara empire11 sections
- Karnata dynasty5 sections
- Oinwar dynasty5 sections
- Mughal empire15 sections
- Sur dynasty7 sections
- Marathas7 sections