Sena Dynasty: Map & History
The Sena dynasty, or the Senas, were a Hindu dynasty that succeeded the Pala Empire and ruled much of the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent from Bengal, during the early medieval period, through the 11th and 13th centuries.
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The Sena dynasty, or the Senas, were a Hindu dynasty that succeeded the Pala Empire and ruled much of the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent from Bengal, during the early medieval period, through the 11th and 13th centuries.
Modern Countries Once Part of Sena Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Sena Dynasty covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Sena Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Sena Dynasty in Depth
Origins
The rulers of the Sena Dynasty traced their origin to the south of India. Deopara Prashasti described the founder of Sena dynasty Samanta Sena, as a migrant Brahmaksatriya from Karnataka. The epithet 'Brahma-Kshatriya' suggests that Senas were Brahmins by caste who took the profession of arms and became Kshatriyas. The Sena kings were also probably Baidyas, according to historian P.N. Chopra.
A copper plate suggests that the Senas settled in western Bengal before the birth of Samantasena. The Senas entered into the service of Palas as sāmantas in Rāḍha, probably under Samantasena. With the decline of the Pālas, their territory had expanded to include Vaṅga and a part of Varendra by the end of Vijayasena's reign.
Decline
Downfall of Sena dynasty was destined under the rule of weak rulers of this dynasty. This dynasty started declining during the rule of Lakshmana Sena who was the last significant Sena king. He was succeeded by his two sons Vishvarupa Sena and Keshava Sena. Probably they ruled till at least 1230 AD. However it was learnt from Tabaqat-i-Nasiri that the descendants of Lakshmana Sena ruled in Bengal (Bang) till at least 1245 AD or 1260 AD.
Legacy
The Senas and their descendants merged into the Kayastha caste-group, heralding them as the neo-Kshatriyas of Bengal — hence, Abul Fazl would write that Bengal had always been ruled by Kayasthas. The actual caste-status of Senas — notwithstanding the anachronism — remain contested in popular memory: premodern Baidya genealogies claim the Senas as their own which are agreed upon by some Brahmin genealogies but rejected by Kayastha ones.
In the 16th century, a dynasty emerged in the southern parts of Nepal near the border with Bihar which used the Sena surname and claimed descent from the Senas of Bengal. One of their branches formed the Sena dynasty of Makwanpur which ruled from the fort of Makwanpur Gadhi.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sena dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sena Dynasty: Key Facts
| Capital | Nabadwip |
|---|---|
| Religion | Hinduism |
Facts from Wikidata Q2428714 (CC0).
Sena Dynasty Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Sena Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.
Sena Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 257,822 km² in 1149 CE.
Sena Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sena Dynasty exist?
The Sena Dynasty is dated to 1072 CE – 1235 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Sena Dynasty?
The capital of the Sena Dynasty was Gauda, Bikrampur, Nabadwip, Lakhnauti.
How large was the Sena Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 1149 AD the Sena Dynasty covered about 257,822 km².
How did the map of the Sena Dynasty change over time?
The Sena Dynasty appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1100 CE to 1200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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