Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj (ancient name 'Kanyakubja')
WHY KANNAUJ ?
To get control over the rich resources of the Gangetic valley.
Kannauj was centrally located on the Ganga trade route and also connected to the Silk Route. This made it strategically and commercially very important.
To control Gujarat and Malwa and benefit in trade from their proximity to the coast.
Booty gained from the conquest could be used to maintain the army.
Kannauj was the capital of Harshavardhan's Empire in North India.
To acquire supremacy over Kannauj was also a symbol of prestige.
TRIPARTITE STRUGGLE (750-1000 A.D.)
The conflict between three powers to capture and control Kannauj is known as the 'tripartite struggle' in the history of ancient India.
The three kingdoms involved in the tripartite struggle were –
Palas of Bengal, Gurjara-Pratiharas of Northern and Western India, Rashtrakutas of Northern Deccan.
Tripartite struggle lasted for two centuries, because the three kingdoms were almost equal in strength. So, the victory of one king over the other did not last very long.
In the end, Gurjara-Pratiharas emerged victorious in the tripartite struggle, but it made all three dynasties weak in the long run.
It resulted in the political disintegration of the country and benefitted the early islamic invaders who made inroads to India.