Pictures
Paramanu Sarkar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- INTRO
- 2500- 1700 BC
- 1500 BC -600BC
- 600 BC-300 BC
- 400 BC TO 200 BC
- 230 BC to 230 CE
- 300 BC To 300 CE
- Early 300 CE TO 600 CE
- 275 CE- - 897CE
- (543- 757 AD) and then (975-1189 AD)
- 593 CE - 982 CE
- 850 CE to 1279 CE
- 952 CE to 1343 CE
- 180 CE to 624 CE
- 700CE to 1200CE
- 1206- 1526 CE
- 1540 CE to 1555 CE
- 1526 CE to 1707 CE
- 1336- 1646 AD
- 1347 CE to 1527 CE
- 1773-1858
- 1858- 1947
- 1947 - Present
Central Administration
Monarchy
Like other dynasties of this period, the Somavamsi had a monarchy with absolute powers entrusted with the king, whose position was generally hereditary. Yet, we have information on when kings were chosen by ministers and vassals. Moreover, the Somavamsi kings assumed lofty titles indicating the sovereign character of their rule, such as Maharjadhiraja, Paramamahesvara, Paramabhattaraka, Paramesvara, Koslanedra, Trikalingadhipati, etc.
Ministers
The term Mantri in the records of the Somavanshi rulers indicates that ministers were regularly employed by the rulers in their administration system. We have information on Mantitilaka and Mahasandhivigrahin, who were chief minister and a minister of war and peace, respectively, as the inscriptions tell us. Mahasandhivigrahin was also responsible for copper plates.
Officers at Centre
The central Administration of the Somavamsi had several officers though we don’t have enough information on their duties and responsibilities. Kumara or Kumaradhiraja were entrusted with the administration of provinces. The chief officer or Mahakshapatalika kept the accounts. The king’s court had a priest or Rajaguru, a valuable officer. The responsibility of executing royal charters and their transmission to local level officers was with the Dutaka.
Administrative Divisions
The Somavanshi kingdom had areas under direct control and areas with control under the vassals of Somavanshi rulers. The direct rule areas had various divisions. The largest Desa was a province, and then came the Mandala, headed by Mandalapati. The eight mandalas of the Somavanshi kingdom were Gandhatipati, Sidanda, Gandharavadi, Kongoda, Airavatta, and Rongoda, The nest division after Mandalas was Visaya, headed by Visayapati. The village or Grama was at the bottom of the administrative hierarchy. Visayapati was the officer in charge of a district. The respective heads of these divisions had judicial powers too. The Somavanshi rulers didn’t promote chieftains and forced them to widen their tax base.
