(i) The Guptas expanded their state either by winning a state in a war or by entering into matrimonial alliances with the smaller kingdoms.
(ii) The third king, Chandragupta I, took the title of maharajadhiraja. He married a Lichhavi princess-an event celebrated in a series of gold coins. It has been suggested that, if the Guptas ruled in Prayaga (modern Allahabad in eastern Uttar Pradesh), the marriage alliance may have added Magadha to their domain.
(iii) Chandra Gupta appointed his son Samdura Gupta to succeed him about 330 BC, according to a long eulogy to Samudra Gupta inscribed on a pillar at Allahabad.
(iv) Samudra Gupta's campaigns took him in various directions and resulted in many conquests. Among those he rendered were willing to do what others wanted. They belonged to the rulers of Aryavarta, various forest chiefs, the northern oligarchies, and border states in the east, in addition to Nepal.
(v) More distant domains brought within Samudra Gupta's orbit were regarded as subordinate; these comprised the 'king of kings' of the northwest, the Sakas, the Murundas, and the inhabitants of 'all the islands', including Sinhala (Sri Lanka), all of which are listed in the at Allahabad.
(vi) The Ganges Valley and central India were the areas under direct administrative control.
(vii) Samudra Gupta was succeeded about 380 BC by his son Chandra Gupta II. Chandra Gupta II's major campaign was against the Saka rulers of Ujjain, the success of which was celebrated in a series of silver coins.
(viii) Gupta territory adjoining the northern Deccan was secured through a marriage alliance with the Vakataka dynasty, the successors of the Satavahanas in the area.
