Harshacharita has references to various presents sent by a ruler named Bhaskara to Harshavardhana. Bhaskara belonged to Varman Dynasty of Assam. Bhaskaravarman is known for his alliance with Harshavardhana against Shashanka, the first major ruler of Bengal. The Harshacharita ranks as the first historical biography in Sanskrit, although it is written in a florid and fanciful style by Banabhatta.