Siddharth Darnal at 17:07, 1 April 2026

2026-04-01T17:07:15Z

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{{Short description|Rulers and dynasties of Magadha Kingdom in Ancient India}}
{{POV|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}

The [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Kingdom of Magadha]], later known as the Magadha Empire, was a kingdom and later empire in ancient north India. Many houses ruled the [[Monarchy|kingdom]] and its [[empire]] over the centuries until it was defeated by the [[Satavahana Empire]] in {{circa|28 BCE}}. The history of the monarchs of Magadha, particularly in the Pre-Mauryan period, is shrouded in mystery and legend with various sources claiming different things.

== House of Brihadratha ==
{{main|Brihadratha Dynasty}}
The Brihadratha dynasty was the first ruling house of Magadha. Brihadratha founded this dynasty in 1700 BCE. This dynasty lasted for more than ten centuries, ruling Magadha from 1700 to 682 BCE.The Capital City of Brihadratha Dynasty was Girivraja mentioned in [[Mahabharata]] which many scholars significantly Identified this ancient capital with Modern [[Rajgir]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Alexander |title=The Ancient Geography of India: The Buddhist Period, Including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang |date=1871 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-51998-4 |series=Cambridge library collection. Perspectives from the Royal Asiatic Society |location=Cambridge}}</ref>

{{Infobox family
| name = House of Brihadratha
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_names =
| type = [[Royal house]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_size =
| alt =
| coat_of_arms_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt2 =
| image_caption =
| parent_family =
| country = [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Kingdom of Magadha]]
| region = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| early_forms =
| etymology =
| origin =
| founded = {{circa|1700 BCE}}
| founder = [[Brihadratha]]
| current_head =
| final_ruler = [[Ripunjaya]]
| final_head =
| seat =
| titles = King of Magadha
| styles =
| members =
| other_families =
| dissolution =
| deposition = 682 BCE
| footnotes =
}}

=== List of monarchs ===

Twenty-one kings of Brihadratha house ruled Magadha, beginning with [[Brihadratha]] himself.

{| class="wikitable"
!Ruler
!Reign (BCE)
|-
| [[Brihadratha]]||1700–1680
|-
| [[Jarasandha]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jarasandha was a very powerful king of Magadha, and the history of his birth and activities is also very interesting - Vaniquotes |url=http://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Jarasandha_was_a_very_powerful_king_of_Magadha,_and_the_history_of_his_birth_and_activities_is_also_very_interesting |access-date=2015-12-31 |website=vaniquotes.org}}</ref>|| 1680–1665
|-
| [[Sahadeva of Magadha|Sahadeva]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Puranic_Encyclopedia/mvXsDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover |title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |date=2015-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0597-2 |language=en}}</ref>|| 1665–1661
|-
| Somadhi || 1661–1603
|-
| Srutasravas || 1603–1539
|-
| Ayutayus || 1539–1503
|-
| [[Niramitra]] || 1503–1463
|-
| Sukshatra || 1463–1405
|-
| Brihatkarman || 1405–1382
|-
| Senajit || 1382–1332
|-
| Srutanjaya || 1332–1292
|-
| Vipra || 1292–1257
|-
| Suchi || 1257–1199
|-
| Kshemya || 1199–1171
|-
| Subrata || 1171–1107
|-
| Dharma || 1107–1043
|-
| Susuma || 1043–970
|-
| Dridhasena || 970–912
|-
| Sumati || 912–879
|-
| [[Subala]] || 879–857
|-
| Sunita || 857–817
|-
| Satyajit || 817–767
|-
| Viswajit || 767–732
|-
| [[Ripunjaya]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |date=1999 |publisher=New Age International |isbn=978-81-224-1198-0 |language=en |quote=Ripunjaya, was killed by his minister . Thereafter Bimbisara of the Haryanka Kula occupied the Magadha throne . He was the son of a petty chieftain Bhattiya and five years younger than the Buddha .}}</ref>|| 732–682
|}

== House of Haryanka ==
{{main|Haryanka Dynasty}}
The Haryanka dynasty was the second ruling house of Magadha. This dynasty was founded by [[Bimbisara]] in 544 BCE. This dynasty lasted for 131 years, ruling Magadha from 544 to 413 BCE.

{{Infobox family
| name = House of Haryanka
| native_name = 𑀳𑀭𑁆𑀬𑀸𑀦𑁆𑀓𑀸
| native_name_lang =
| other_names =
| type = [[Royal house]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_size =
| alt =
| coat_of_arms_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt2 =
| image_caption =
| parent_family =
| country = [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Kingdom of Magadha]]
| region = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| early_forms =
| etymology = Probably derived from clan name ''"Harya"''
| origin =
| founded = 544 BCE
| founder = [[Bimbisara]]
| current_head =
| final_ruler = [[Nagadasaka]]
| final_head =
| seat = [[Rajagriha]] (later, [[Patliputra]])
| titles = King of Magadha
| styles =
| members =
| other_families =
| dissolution =
| deposition = 413 BCE, popular rebellion
| footnotes =
}}

=== List of monarchs ===
This dynasty had six monarchs.

{| class="wikitable"
!Monarchs
!Reign (BCE)
!Period
|-
| [[Bimbisara]]
| 544–492
| 52
|-
| [[Ajatashatru]]
| 492–460
| 32
|-
| [[Udayin]]
| 460–444
| 16
|-
| [[Anuruddha (king)|Anuruddha]]
| 444–440
| 4
|-
| Munda
| 440–437
| 3
|-
| [[Nāgadāsaka]]
| 437–413
| 24
|}

== House of Shaishunaga ==
{{main|Shaishunaga dynasty}}

The Shaishunaga dynasty, also called Shishunaga, was the third ruling house of Magadha. Shisunaga, who was originally a minister of King Nagadashaka, overthrew him in a popular rebellion and ascended the throne in 413 BCE. This dynasty lasted for only 68 years, ruling Magadha from 413 to 345 BCE.

{{Infobox family
| name = House of Shaishunaga
| native_name = 𑀰𑁃𑀰𑀼𑀗𑀸
| native_name_lang =
| other_names =
| type = [[Royal house]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_size =
| alt =
| coat_of_arms_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt2 =
| image_caption =
| parent_family =
| country = [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Kingdom of Magadha]]
| region = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| early_forms =
| etymology =
| origin =
| founded = 413 BCE
| founder = [[Shishunaga]]
| current_head =
| final_ruler = [[Mahanandin]]
| final_head =
| seat = [[Rajgriha]] and [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]]
 (later, [[Patliputra]])
| titles = King of Magadha
| styles =
| members =
| other_families =
| dissolution =
| deposition = 345 BCE, assassination of King [[Mahanandin]] by [[Mahapadma Nanda]]
| footnotes =
}}

=== List of Monarchs ===
Four monarchs of this dynasty ruled Magadha in succession.
{| class="wikitable"
!Monarch
!Reign (BCE)
!Period
|-
| [[Shishunaga]]
| 413–395
| 18
|-
| [[Kalashoka]]
| 395–367
| 28
|-
| [[Nandivardhana]]
| 367–355
| 12
|-
| [[Mahanandin]]
| 355–345
| 10
|}

== House of Nanda ==
{{main|Nanda Dynasty}}

The Nanda dynasty was the fourth ruling house of Magadha. [[Mahapadma Nanda]] founded this dynasty in 345 BCE after murdering his own father, King [[Mahanandin]]. This dynasty was the shortest-living dynasty of Magadha, ruling for only 23 years from 345 to 329 BCE.

{{Infobox family
| name = House of Nanda
| native_name = 𑀦𑀦𑁆𑀤𑀸
| native_name_lang =
| other_names =
| type = [[Royal house]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_size =
| alt =
| coat_of_arms_caption =
| image = I12 1karshapana Maghada 1ar (8482307176).jpg
| image_size =
| alt2 =
| image_caption = Magadha coins issued by [[Mahapadma Nanda]]
| parent_family =
| country = [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Kingdom of Magadha]]
| region = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]] {{flagicon|Bangladesh}} [[Bangladesh]]
| early_forms =
| etymology =
| origin =
| founded = 345 BCE
| founder = [[Mahapadma Nanda]]
| current_head =
| final_ruler = [[Dhana Nanda]]
| final_head =
| seat = [[Pataliputra]]
| titles = King of Magadha
| styles =
| members =
| other_families =
| dissolution =
| deposition = 322 BCE, organised rebellion by [[Chandragupta Maurya]], who overthrew King [[Dhana Nanda]]
| footnotes =
}}

=== List of monarchs ===
Different sources mention different number of Nanda rulers. Buddhist, Jain and Puranic traditions state there were nine rulers, but differ considerably. Greek and Roman accounts mention two generations only—[[Mahapadma Nanda]] and his son [[Dhana Nanda]]

== House of Maurya ==
{{main|Mauryan Dynasty|List of Maurya Emperors}}

The Maurya dynasty was the sixth and greatest ruling house of Magadha. Chandragupta Maurya founded this dynasty with help of his mentor and grand advisor [[Chanakya]] in 322 BCE after organizing a large army and overthrowing King [[Dhana Nanda]]. This dynasty lasted for 138 years, ruling Magadha from 322 to 184 BCE.

{{Infobox family
| name = House of Maurya
| native_name = 𑀫𑁅𑀭𑁆𑀬𑀸
| native_name_lang =
| other_names =
| type = [[Imperial house]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_size =
| alt =
| coat_of_arms_caption =
| image = Sarnath capital.jpg
| image_size =
| alt2 =
| image_caption = [[Lion Capital of Ashoka|Lion Capital]] in [[Sanchi]], made by Emperor [[Ashoka]]
| parent_family =
| country = Magadha Empire
| region = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]] {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]] {{flagicon|Bangladesh}} [[Bangladesh]] {{flagicon image|Flag of Nepal.svg}} [[Nepal]] {{flagicon|Afghanistan}} [[Afghanistan]]
| early_forms =
| etymology =
| origin =
| founded = 322 BCE
| founder = [[Chandragupta Maurya]]
| current_head =
| final_ruler = [[Brihadratha Maurya]]
| final_head =
| seat = [[Pataliputra]]
| titles = * Emperor of Magadha
* Emperor of the Four Continents ([[Chakravartin|Chakravala Chakravartin]])
| styles =
| members =
| other_families =
| dissolution =
| deposition = 185 BCE, assassination of Emperor [[Brihadratha]] by his [[Senapati|General]] [[Pushyamitra Shunga]]
| footnotes =
}}

=== List of monarchs ===
This dynasty ruled for a considerably longer period than the previous house and had nine rulers.

{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor=#cccccc
! colspan=2 | Ruler!!Reign (BCE)!!Notes
|-
|[[Chandragupta Maurya]]||[[File:Chandragupt maurya Birla mandir 6 dec 2009 (31).JPG|100px]]||322–297|| Founder of first Indian controlled empire uniting the entire subcontinent.
|-
|[[Bindusara]]||[[File:I42 1karshapana Maurya Bindusara MACW4165 1ar (8486583162).jpg|100px]] ||297–273||Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushing of [[Vidarbha]] revolt.
|-
|[[Ashoka]]||[[File:Ashoka's visit to the Ramagrama stupa Sanchi Stupa 1 Southern gateway.jpg|100px]] ||268–232||Greatest emperor of dynasty. Known for his [[Kalinga War]] victory and future conversion to [[Buddhism]], later becoming one of the most important people in its spread. His son [[Kunala]] was blinded and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson.
|-
|[[Dasharatha Maurya]]||[[File:Dasaratha Maurya inscription on entrance of Vadathika cave.jpg|100px]] ||232–224||Grandson of Ashoka.
|-
|[[Samprati]]||[[File:Emperor Samprati Maurya.jpg|100px]]||224–215||Brother of Dasharatha.
|-
|[[Shalishuka]]||[[File:Mauryan Empire. temp. Salisuka or later. Circa 207-194 BC.jpg|100px]]||215–202||
|-
|[[Devavarman (Maurya)|Devavarman]]||||202–195||
|-
|[[Shatadhanvan]]||||195–187 BCE|| The empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
|-
|[[Brihadratha Maurya|Brihadratha]]||||187–185|| Assassinated by his commander-in-chief, [[Pushyamitra Shunga]], in 185 BCE.
|}

== House of Shunga ==
{{main|Shunga Dynasty}}

The Shunga dynasty was the seventh ruling house of Magadha. [[Pushyamitra Shunga]], the Commander-in-Chief of Emperor [[Brihadratha Maurya]], organized a coup d'état and killed the emperor, usurping the throne in 184 BCE. This dynasty lasted for 112 years, ruling Magadha from 184 to 72 BCE.

{{Infobox family
| name = House of Shunga
| native_name = 𑀰𑀼𑀗𑀸
| native_name_lang =
| other_names =
| type = [[Imperial house]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_size =
| alt =
| coat_of_arms_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt2 =
| image_caption =
| parent_family =
| country = Magadha Empire
| region = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]] {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]] {{flagicon|Bangladesh}} [[Bangladesh]]
| early_forms =
| etymology =
| origin =
| founded = {{circa|185 BCE}}
| founder = [[Pushyamitra]]
| current_head =
| final_ruler = [[Devabhuti]]
| final_head =
| seat = [[Patliputra]] and [[Vidisha]]
| titles = Emperor of Magadha
| styles =
| members =
| other_families =
| dissolution =
| deposition = 72 BCE
| footnotes =
}}

=== List of monarchs ===
This dynasty had nine monarchs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Emperor !! Reign (BCE)
|-
| [[Pushyamitra Shunga|Pushyamitra]]|| 185–149
|-
| [[Agnimitra]]|| 149–141
|-
| [[Vasujyeshtha]]|| 141–131
|-
| [[Vasumitra]]|| 131–124
|-
| Bhadraka || 124–122
|-
| Pulindaka|| 122–119
|-
| Ghosha or Vajramitra|| 119-114
|-
| [[Bhagabhadra]]|| 114-83
|-
| [[Devabhuti]]|| 83–73
|}

== House of Kanva ==
{{main|Kanva Dynasty}}

The Kanva dynasty was the eighth and last ruling house of Magadha. This dynasty was founded by [[Vasudeva Kanva]] who overthrow the Emperor [[Devabhuti]] in 73 BCE. This dynasty lasted for only 45 years, ruling Magadha from 73 to 28 BCE. On 28 BCE, the last emperor, Susarman Kanva was killed by the [[Satavahana]] Emperor [[Satakarni II]] and the Magadha Empire subsequently collapsed.

{{Infobox family
| name = House of Kanva
| native_name = 𑀓𑀦𑁆𑀯𑀸
| native_name_lang =
| other_names =
| type = [[Imperial house]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_size =
| alt =
| coat_of_arms_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt2 =
| image_caption =
| parent_family =
| country = Magadha Empire
| region = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]] {{flagicon|Bangladesh}} [[Bangladesh]]
| early_forms =
| etymology =
| origin =
| founded = 73 BCE
| founder = [[Vasudeva Kanva]]
| current_head =
| final_ruler = Susarman Kanva
| final_head =
| seat = [[Pataliputra]] and [[Vidisha]]
| titles = Emperor of Magadha
| styles =
| members =
| other_families =
| dissolution =
| deposition = 28 BCE, invaded by [[Satavahana Empire]]
| footnotes =
}}

=== List of monarchs ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Monarch
!Reign (BCE)
!Period
|-
| [[Vasudeva Kanva]]
| 73–64 BCE
|9
|-
| Bhumimitra
| 64–50 BCE
|14
|-
| Narayana
| 50–38 BCE
|12
|-
| Susarman
|38–28 BCE
|10
|}

== See also ==
* [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]
* [[Greater Magadha]]
* [[Magadha period]]
* [[Magadhi Prakrit]]
* [[List of Indian monarchs]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

__FORCETOC__

[[Category:Monarchs of Magadha| ]]
[[Category:Lists of Indian monarchs|M]]

List of monarchs of Magadha - Revision history

Siddharth Darnal at 17:07, 1 April 2026