Chandragupta I
320 - 335 CE

Sri Gupta and his son Ghaotkacha Gupta were rulers of a small kingdom near Magadha (present day Behar state in India). Very little was known about their origins. Only a temple inscription shows that Sri Gupta had built it for the chinese buddhist monks to worship during their piligrimage to India. Ghaotkacha Gupta's son Chandragupta I founded the Gupta Empire in 320 CE. After accession to the throne, Chandragupta I married Kumaradevi, a Licchavi princess from the adjacent kingdom ( It may have included Magadha).  This event was commemorated by issue of gold coins (Many numismatic scholars believe that the coins were issued by their son Samudragupta) showing the king and the queen, a unique event that was repeated only in the roman imperial coins.  This marriage alliance united Chandragupta's and Licchavi's kingdoms. This might had been the begining of Gupta Empire. At this point, Chandragupta had taken a new title Maharajadhiraja (great king of kings).

Samudragupta succeeded Chandragupta I in 335 CE.

Suvarnarupa of Chandragupta I  320-335 CE
Obverse: Chandragupta I and Kumaradevi
Reverse: Goddess Parvathi seated on a lion.