Ramgupta was the elder son of Samudragupta. Samudragupta was succeeded by Ramagupta according to some legends, but Chandragupta II killed him. It is also believed that during the tenure of Ramagupta, the Gupta empire was invaded by a powerful Shaka kin.
In the Battle of Vatapi, the Pallava ruler Narsimhavarman I defeated and killed Pulakesin II and captured the Chalukyan capital, Badami in 642 AD. Thus, he assumed the title of ‘Vatapikonda’ (Conqueror of Vatapi).