Consider the following statements pertaining to the Satavahanas: 1. Satavahana rulers were identified through matronymics. 2. Satavahana succession to the throne was generally patrilineal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The Satavahana dynasty, which ruled parts of the Deccan and central India, exhibited a unique blend of social and political structures. Statement 1 is correct as Satavahana rulers were famously identified through matronymics, which are names derived from the mother [1]. Inscriptions and coins frequently mention titles such as 'Gautamiputra' (son of Gautami) and 'Vashishtiputra' (son of Vashisthi), reflecting the high status of queens and the use of feminine forms of Vedic gotras [2]. Statement 2 is also correct because, despite these matrilineal naming conventions, the actual political succession to the throne remained patrilineal [1]. Power was inherited by sons rather than daughters, and the state structure was essentially patriarchal. This distinction highlights that while women held prominent roles and religious influence, the core dynastic transmission of authority followed male lineage [1].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class > 2.5 Were mothers important? > p. 60
2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class > Names of Satavahana kings from inscriptions > p. 59