Vijayasena by his prowess and shrewd opportunism and diplomatic policy became the master of the entire Radha Desa. His calculated meddling in the contemporary politics entitled him a quick success in his aim to establish his own sovereignty by overthrowing the weak Pala king from the heart of Bengal. Vijayasena rendered help to the Pala king Ramapala against the Kaivarta king Bhima. After the allied success against the Kaivarta king, Vijayasena received lavish gift of territory and money from Ramapala. Vijayasena also increased his power by his matrimonial alliance with the princess of the Sura family. Taking advantage of the disintegration of the Pala kingdom after the death of Ramapala, Vijayasena made a bid for the conquest of the whole of Bengal. Moreover he made a timely alliance with king Ananta Varmana Chodaganga of Kalinga. By this policy he became the master of the Radha Desa, which was the first successful step to his subsequent victorious career. ![]() However the conquering energy of Vijayasena was not confined merely within the limits of Bengal. He expanded his authority over the neighboring regions of Bengal. The Deopara inscription of Vijayasena mentioned that he defeated the kings of Kamrupa and Kalinga. Probably his grandson Lakshman Sena assisted him in these campaigns. It is also presumed by the historians that Vijayasena conquered the portion of North Bihar from his Pala rival by sending a naval expedition to the west. According to R.C. Majumdar, the long and prosperous reign of Vijayasena comprised one of the momentous episodes in the history of Bengal. The Senas filled up the vacuum created in the political life of Bengal by the decline of the Pala power. The establishment of a strong monarchy under Vijayasena put an end to the internal disruption and the foreign invasion that tormented the people of Bengal during the closing of the Pala period. A potential authority was needed to keep in check the independent chiefs of Bengal, under whom Bengal was disintegrated after the downfall of the Palas. Vijayasena however brought those small chiefs under his own authority and composed the integration of Bengal under his own supremacy. Vijayasena consolidated his empire in Bengal by defeating other enemies and had a very long reign of about 60 years. He was a Saiva. He was liberal towards Brahmanas versed in the Vedas and the poor. He assumed the imperial titles of Paramamaheshvara Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja. He also adopted the proud title of Ariraja-Vrsabha-Shankara. The literary documents like Gaudorvisakulaprashasti (eulogy of the royal family of Gauda) and the Vijayaprashasti (eulogy of Vijaya) testify the achievements and greatness of the Sena King Vijayasena. |