The city of Kannauj had previously been ruled by emperor Harshavardhana, who died without an heir and thus created a power vacuum.

[5] Much of information on him is derived from the Gaudavaho (Slaying of the king of Gauda),[6] a Prakrit-language poem written by his court poet Vakpati.

The Gaudavaho depicts Yashovarman as conquering large swathes of northern India — including Bihar, Bengal, the western Deccan, Indus Valley and Kashmir — before returning in triumph to Kannauj.

[9] Although R. C. Majumdar is among those who are wary of the ancient accounts of conquests, he believes that Yashovarman was "unquestionably the most powerful king [in the region] about this time."

[10] Āma, Dunduka, and Bhoja are considered as insignificant rulers, who achieved nothing of importance and reigned for 15–20 years.