The Kingdom of Magadha, later known as the Magadha Empire, was a kingdom and later empire in ancient north India. Many houses ruled the kingdom and its empire over the centuries until it was defeated by the Satavahana Empire in Template:Circa. 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
Template:Main 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.[1]
List of monarchs
Twenty-one kings of Brihadratha house ruled Magadha, beginning with Brihadratha himself.
| Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
|---|---|
| Brihadratha | 1700–1680 |
| Jarasandha[2] | 1680–1665 |
| Sahadeva[3] | 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[4] | 732–682 |
House of Haryanka
Template:Main 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.
List of monarchs
This dynasty had six monarchs.
| Monarchs | Reign (BCE) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Bimbisara | 544–492 | 52 |
| Ajatashatru | 492–460 | 32 |
| Udayin | 460–444 | 16 |
| Anuruddha | 444–440 | 4 |
| Munda | 440–437 | 3 |
| Nāgadāsaka | 437–413 | 24 |
House of Shaishunaga
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.
List of Monarchs
Four monarchs of this dynasty ruled Magadha in succession.
| Monarch | Reign (BCE) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Shishunaga | 413–395 | 18 |
| Kalashoka | 395–367 | 28 |
| Nandivardhana | 367–355 | 12 |
| Mahanandin | 355–345 | 10 |
House of Nanda
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.
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
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.
List of monarchs
This dynasty ruled for a considerably longer period than the previous house and had nine rulers.
| Ruler | Reign (BCE) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | File:Chandragupt maurya Birla mandir 6 dec 2009 (31).JPG | 322–297 | Founder of first Indian controlled empire uniting the entire subcontinent. |
| Bindusara | File:I42 1karshapana Maurya Bindusara MACW4165 1ar (8486583162).jpg | 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 | 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 | 232–224 | Grandson of Ashoka. |
| Samprati | File:Emperor Samprati Maurya.jpg | 224–215 | Brother of Dasharatha. |
| Shalishuka | File:Mauryan Empire. temp. Salisuka or later. Circa 207-194 BC.jpg | 215–202 | |
| Devavarman | 202–195 | ||
| Shatadhanvan | 195–187 BCE | The empire had shrunk by the time of his reign | |
| Brihadratha | 187–185 | Assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga, in 185 BCE. | |
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House of Shunga
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.
List of monarchs
This dynasty had nine monarchs.
| Emperor | Reign (BCE) |
|---|---|
| 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
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.
List of monarchs
| 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
References
- ↑ The Ancient Geography of India: The Buddhist Period, Including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang{{#if:Cunningham|, Cunningham}. Cambridge University Press(1871). ISBN 978-1-139-51998-4
- ↑ Jarasandha was a very powerful king of Magadha, and the history of his birth and activities is also very interesting - Vaniquotes. vaniquotes.org. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
- ↑ Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature{{#if:Mani|, Mani}. Motilal Banarsidass(2015-01-01). ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2
- ↑ Ancient Indian History and Civilization{{#if:Sen|, Sen}. New Age International(1999). ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0