Magadhan Empire

Magadhan Empire
544 BC – 28 BC
Expansion of the Magadhan Empire between 6th and 4th century BCE
Magadha empire under Haryanka and       Shaisunga dynasties Magadha empire under Nanda dynasty      Magadha empire under Maurya dynasty    Magadha empire under Shunga dynasty    Magadha empire under Kanva dynasty      The Magadha Empire under various dynasties
Capital	Rajagriha (Girivraj) Later, Pataliputra (modern-day Patna)
Common languages	Sanskrit[1] Magadhi Prakrit Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
Religion	Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
Demonym(s)	Māgadhī
Government	Absolute monarchy[a]
Notable emperors
• c. 544 – c. 492 BCE	Bimbisara
• c. 492 – c. 460 BCE	Ajatashatru
• c. 413 – c. 395 BCE	Shishunaga
• c. 345 – c. 329 BCE	Mahapadma Nanda
• c. 329 – c. 321 BCE	Dhana Nanda
• c. 321 – c. 297 BCE	Chandragupta Maurya
• c. 268 – c. 232 BCE	Ashoka
• c. 185 – c. 149 BCE	Pushyamitra Shunga
• c. 319 – c. 335 CE	Chandragupta I
• c. 335 – c. 375 CE	Samudragupta
• c. 375 – c. 415 CE	Chandragupta II
Currency	Panas
Preceded by Succeeded by Magadha Satavahana Empire Kalinga (Mahameghavanas) Vidarbha kingdom
Today part of	India Pakistan Afghanistan Bangladesh

The Magadhan Empire was an ancient Indian empire that succeeded the Magadha mahajanapada. It was established by Bimbisara in 544 BC. It was ruled by the Haryankas (544–413 BCE), the Shaishunagas (413–345 BCE), the Nandas (345–322 BCE), the Mauryas (322–184 BCE), the Śungas (184–73 BCE), the Kanvas (73–28 BCE), the Imperial Guptas (240-550 CE) and the Later Guptas (490–700).

Under the Mauryas, Magadha became a pan-Indian empire, covering large swaths of the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan. The Kanva dynasty lost much of its territory after being defeated by the Satavahanas of Deccan in 28 BCE and was reduced to a small principality around Pataliputra.^[2][3] Under the Guptas, Magadha emerged once again as the preeminent power in India.

The Haryanka dynasty was founded by Bimbisara. Bimbisara led an active and expansive policy, conquering the kingdom of Anga in what is now West Bengal. King Bimbisara was killed by his son, Ajatashatru. Pasenadi, king of neighbouring Kosala and brother-in-law of Bimbisara, promptly reconquered the Kashi province.

Accounts differ slightly as to the cause of King Ajatashatru's war with the Licchavi, a powerful tribe north of the river Ganges. It appears that Ajatashatru sent a minister to the area who worked for three years to undermine the unity of the Licchavis. To launch his attack across the Ganges River, Ajatashatru built a fort at the town of Pataliputra. Torn by disagreements, the Licchavis fought with Ajatashatru. It took fifteen years for Ajatashatru to defeat them. Jain texts tell how Ajatashatru used two new weapons: a catapult, and a covered chariot with swinging mace that has been compared to a modern tank. Pataliputra began to grow as a centre of commerce and became the capital of Magadha after Ajatashatru's death.

The Haryanka dynasty was overthrown by the Shishunaga dynasty. The last Shishunaga ruler, Mahanandin, was assassinated by Mahapadma Nanda in 345 BCE, the first of the so-called "Nine Nandas", i. e. Mahapadma and his eight sons, last being Dhana Nanda.

In 326 BCE, the army of Alexander approached the western boundaries of Magadha. The army, exhausted and frightened at the prospect of facing another giant Indian army at the Ganges, mutinied at the Hyphasis (the modern Beas River) and refused to march further east. Alexander, after the meeting with his officer Coenus, was persuaded that it was better to return and turned south, conquering his way down the Indus to the Ocean.

Around 321 BCE, the Nanda Dynasty ended with the defeat of Dhana Nanda at the hands of Chandragupta Maurya who became the first king of the Mauryan Empire with the help of his mentor Chanakya. The Empire later extended over most of India under King Ashoka The Great, who was at first known as 'Ashoka the Cruel' but later became a disciple of Buddhism and became known as 'Dharma Ashoka'.^[4][5] Later, the Mauryan Empire ended, as did the Shunga and Khārabēḷa empires, to be replaced by the Gupta Empire. The capital of the Gupta Empire remained Pataliputra in Magadha.

During the Pala-period in Magadha from the 11th to 13th century CE, a local Buddhist dynasty known as the Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya ruled as tributaries to Pala Empire.^[6]

There is much uncertainty about the succession of kings and the precise chronology of Magadha prior to Mahapadma Nanda; the accounts of various ancient texts (all of which were written many centuries later than the era in question) contradict each other on many points.

Two notable rulers of Magadha were Bimbisara (also known as Shrenika) and his son Ajatashatru (also known as Kunika), who are mentioned in Buddhist and Jain literature as contemporaries of the Buddha and Mahavira. Later, the throne of Magadha was usurped by Mahapadma Nanda, the founder of the Nanda Dynasty (c. 345 – c. 322 BCE), which conquered much of north India. The Nanda dynasty was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire (c. 322–185 BCE).

Furthermore, there is a "Long Chronology" and a contrasting "Short Chronology" preferred by some scholars, an issue that is inextricably linked to the uncertain chronology of the Buddha and Mahavira.^[7] According to historian K. T. S. Sarao, a proponent of the Short Chronology wherein the Buddha's lifespan was c.477–397 BCE, it can be estimated that Bimbisara was reigning c.457–405 BCE, and Ajatashatru was reigning c.405–373 BCE.^[8] According to historian John Keay, a proponent of the "Long Chronology," Bimbisara must have been reigning in the late 5th century BCE,^[9] and Ajatashatru in the early 4th century BCE.^[10] Keay states that there is great uncertainty about the royal succession after Ajatashatru's death, probably because there was a period of "court intrigues and murders," during which "evidently the throne changed hands frequently, perhaps with more than one incumbent claiming to occupy it at the same time" until Mahapadma Nanda was able to secure the throne.^[10]

The following "Long Chronology" is according to the Buddhist Mahavamsa:^[11]

Haryanka dynasty (c. 544 – 413 BCE)

Shishunaga dynasty (c. 413 – 345 BCE)

Nanda Empire (c. 345 – c. 322 BCE)

Puranic list

The Hindu Literature mostly Puranas give a different sequence:^[12]

• Shishunaga dynasty (360 years)
  • Shishunaga (reigned for 40 years)
  • Kakavarna (36 years)
  • Kshemadharman (20 years)
  • Kshatraujas (29 years)
  • Bimbisara (28 years)
  • Ajatashatru (25 years)
  • Darbhaka or Darshaka or Harshaka (25 years)
  • Udayin (33 years)
  • Nandivardhana (42 years)
  • Mahanandin (43 years)
• Nanda dynasty (100 years)

List by Jain literature

A shorter list appears in the Jain tradition, which simply lists Shrenika (Bimbisara), Kunika (Ajatashatru), Udayin, followed by the Nanda dynasty.^[12]