Govinda IV (reigned 930–936 CE) was the younger brother of Amoghavarsha II. He became the Rashtrakuta emperor in 930 as described in the Kalasa record of Chikmagalur. He was a very unpopular ruler who indulged in licentious acts. Control over Kannauj was lost during his rule. The of Vengi defeated him and much territory was lost. Finally, his own vassals including King Arikesari II of Vemulavada revolted against him and placed Amoghavarsha III on the throne in 935. This is known from the records of Kannada poet Adikavi Pampa, who was patronised by King Arikesari.[Kamath 2001, p. 82] Govinda IV patronised Kannada poet Ravinagabhatta.
Name and Attestations
A
Kannada form of his name,
Gojjiga, is attested in contemporary epigraphy. At least two inscriptions and two copper plate grants of Govinda IV have been found. The first inscription, found at
Dharwad in present-day
Dharwad district, is dated to 918; the second is dated to 930. The first copper plate grant is dated to 930; and the second, found at
Sangli, is dated to 933.
[Reu 1933, p. 80]
Family
Govinda was the son of
Indra III and the younger brother of
Amoghavarsha II.
[Reu 1933, p. 80]
Reign
Based on inscriptions of the Eastern Chalukya kings
Amma I and
Bhima III, it seems that there was a war between the Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas during Govinda's reign. One inscription specifies that Bhima had "repulsed" the armies of Govinda, implying that Govinda was the attacker in this conflict.
[Reu 1933, p. 80]
The Sānglī copper plate grant of 933 says that Govinda "did not wrong his elder brother, nor was he guilty of incest, nor of cruelty". Reu interprets this as meaning that Govinda was accused of these misdeeds during his lifetime, hence why he felt the need to refute these claims in the plate.[Reu 1933, p. 81]
Death
According to Reu, Govinda IV appears to have had a short reign and died prematurely.
[Reu 1933, pp. 80–1]
Notes
External links