Karnats of Mithila

Karnatas of Mithila
Karnata dynasty
Karnatas of Mithila Karnata dynasty
1097–1324
	Shatkona seal from the Karnat capital of Simraungadh
	South Asia; 1250 CE DELHI SULTANATE (MAMLUKS) AHOM LOHA; RAS QARLUGHIDS MARYUL GUGE KUMAON SOOMRAS MAKRAN; SULTANATE MONGOL; EMPIRE CHUDASAMAS PARAMARAS CHANDELAS MEWAR BUNDELAS KHANGARS JAISALMER MARWAR AMBER AMARKOT KARNATAS NAGVANSIS KAKATIYAS CHODAS EASTERN; GANGAS YADAVAS PANDYAS CHOLAS HOYSALAS KADAMBAS CHERAS Approximate location of the Karnata dynasty, with contemporary polities circa 1250.
Capital	Nanapura (pre-1097 CE); Simraungadh (post-1097 CE); Darbhanga (Second capital);
Common languages	Sanskrit; Maithili; Abahatta;
Religion	Hinduism; Buddhism;
Government	Monarchy
Historical era	Medieval India
• Established	10 July 1097
• Disestablished	1324
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Pala Empire
Delhi Sultanate
Oiniwar dynasty

The Karnats of Mithila or Karnata dynasty (Karṇāṭa) was a dynasty established in 1097 CE by Nanyadeva. The dynasty controlled the areas we today know as Tirhut or Mithila in India and adjoining parts of South Eastern Nepal. The main power centre of the Karnats was the citadel of Simraungadh which was situated on the India - Nepal border. The city of Darbhanga also became the second capital during the reign of Gangadeva.

According to French orientalist and indologist Sylvain Lévi, Nanyadeva established his supremacy over Simraungadh probably with the help of the Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI. After the reign of Vikramaditya VI in 1076 CE, he led a successful military campaign against the Pala Empire and the Sena dynasty. During the reign of Harisimhadeva, the Karnats also carried out raids into Nepal with the Karnat army under the leadership of the general and minister, Caṇḍeśvara Ṭhakkura.

Under the Karnats, Mithila enjoyed almost full sovereignty from 1097 until 1324. The Karnat kings referred to themselves with the title of Mithileśwara and the first recorded piece of Maithili literature, the Varna Ratnakara was also composed during their rule.