| Conflict: | Pala invasion of Kannauj |
| Place: | Kannauj, (Now, in Uttar Pradesh) |
| Partof: | Tripartite Struggle |
| Date: | 820 C.E |
| Territory: | The Palas successfully conquered Kannauj |
| Result: | Pala Empire victory |
| Combatants Header: | Belligerents |
| Combatant1: | Pala Empire |
| Combatant2: | Ayudha dynasty |
| Commander1: | Dharmapala Chakrayudha |
| Commander2: | Indrayudha |
| Strength1: | Unknown |
| Strength2: | Unknown |
The Pala invasion of Kannauj was a military expedition of thes Palas to Kannauj during the Tripartite Struggle.[1] [2] [3]
During the 9th Century, different powers of India struggled to take control of Kannauj as because it was the capital of India at the contemporary time, hence to gain the title of the emperor of India the Tripartite Struggle had taken place, where the Gurjara Pratihara, Rashtrakutas and the Palas were engaged in conflicts, Indrayudha who had the crown of Kannauj, was a vassal of the Gurjara Pratihara Vatsraja engaged on a war with Dharmapala and deffeated him but the Rashtrakuta King Dhruva went on an expedition on deffeating Vatsraja and soon he went back to his southern domains. This Invasion made the Pratiharas weak and opened the opportunity for Dharmapala to invade Kannauj.[4]
Dharmapala went on to invade Kannauj, where he defeated [5] and overthrew Indrayudha and installed Chakrayudha on the throne of Kannauj.[6] The 12th verse of the Khalimpur copper plate and the 3rd verse of the Bhagalpur copper plate tells about the attendance of various chieftains from various parts of the India.[7] [8] The verse mentioning the installation of Chakrayudha[9] The 12th verse of the Khalimpur Cooper plate inscription mentions the chieftains who attended the imperial assembly [10] [11]
After the victory over the capital, Dharmapala had assembled an imperial assembly or durbar which was attended by a number of chieftains who bowed down respectfully and granted approval.[12] [13] [14]