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 it's empire over the centuries until it was defeated by the Satavahana Empire in c. 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.

Kingdom of Magadha

House of Brihadratha

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.

House of Brihadratha
Royal house of Magadha
CountryKingdom of Magadha
Current regionIndia India
Foundedc. 1700 BCE
FounderBrihadratha
Final rulerRipunjaya
TitlesKing of Magadha
Deposition682 BCE (682 BCE)

List of monarchs

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

Ruler Reign (BCE)
Brihadratha1700–1680 BCE
Jarasandha1680–1665 BCE
Sahadeva1665–1661 BCE
Somadhi1661–1603 BCE
Srutasravas1603–1539 BCE
Ayutayus1539–1503 BCE
Niramitra1503–1463 BCE
Sukshatra1463–1405 BCE
Brihatkarman1405–1382 BCE
Senajit1382–1332 BCE
Srutanjaya1332–1292 BCE
Vipra1292–1257 BCE
Suchi1257–1199 BCE
Kshemya1199–1171 BCE
Subrata1171–1107 BCE
Dharma1107–1043 BCE
Susuma1043–970 BCE
Dridhasena970–912 BCE
Sumati912–879 BCE
Subala879–857 BCE
Sunita857–817 BCE
Satyajit817–767 BCE
Viswajit767–732 BCE
Ripunjaya732–682 BCE

Pre-Mauryan Era

House of Haryanka

The Haryanka dynasty was the third 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.

House of Haryanka
Royal house of Magadha
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
EtymologyProbably derived from clan name "Harya"
Founded544 BCE
FounderBimbisara
Final rulerNagadasaka
SeatRajagriha
(later, Patliputra)
TitlesEmperor of Magadha
Deposition413 BCE (413 BCE), popular rebellion

List of monarchs

This dynasty had six monarchs.

Monarchs Reign (BCE) Period
Bimbisara 544–492 BCE 52
Ajatashatru 492–460 BCE 32
Udayin 460–444 BCE 16
Anuruddha 444–440 BCE 4
Munda 440–437 BCE 3
Nāgadāsaka 437–413 BCE 24

House of Shaishunaga

The Shaishunaga dynasty, also called Shishunaga, was the fourth ruling house of Magadha. Shisunaga, who was originally a minister of Emperor 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.

House of Shaishunaga
Royal house of Magadha
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
Founded413 BCE
FounderShishunaga
Final rulerMahanandin
SeatRajgriha and Vaishali
(later, Patliputra)
TitlesEmperor of Magadha
Deposition345 BCE (345 BCE), assassination of Emperor Mahanandin by Mahapadma Nanda

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 fifth ruling house of Magadha. Mahapadma Nanda founded this dynasty in 344 BCE after murdering his own father, Emperor Mahanandin. This dynasty was the shortest-living dynasty of Magadha, ruling for only 23 years from 345 to 322 BCE.

House of Nanda
Royal house of Magadha
Magadha coins issued by Mahapadma Nanda
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Founded322 BCE
FounderMahapadma Nanda
Final rulerDhana Nanda
SeatPataliputra
TitlesEmperor of Magadha
Deposition322 BCE (322 BCE), organised rebellion by Chandragupta Maurya, who overthrew Emperor Dhana Nanda

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 .

Post-Mauryan Era

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 Emperor Dhana Nanda. This dynasty lasted for 138 years, ruling Magadha from 322 to 184 BCE.

House of Maurya
Royal house of Magadha
Lion Capital in Sanchi, made by Emperor Ashoka
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
Pakistan Pakistan
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Nepal
Afghanistan Afghanistan
Founded322 BCE
FounderChandragupta Maurya
Final rulerBrihadratha Maurya
SeatPataliputra
Titles
Deposition413 BCE (413 BCE), assassination of Emperor Brihadratha by Commander-in-Chief Pushyamitra Shunga

List of monarchs

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

RulerReignNotes
Chandragupta Maurya322–297 BCEFounder of first Indian controlled empire uniting the entire subcontinent.
Bindusara297–273 BCEKnown for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbha revolt.
Ashoka268–232 BCEGreatest emperor of dynasty. His son Kunala was blinded and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson. Also known for Kalinga War victory.
Dasharatha Maurya232–224 BCEGrandson of Ashoka.
Samprati224–215 BCEBrother of Dasharatha.
Shalishuka215–202 BCE
Devavarman202–195 BCE
Shatadhanvan195–187 BCEThe Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
Brihadratha187–184 BCEAssassinated by his Commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

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.

House of Shunga
Royal house of Magadha
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
Pakistan Pakistan
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Foundedc. 1700 BCE
FounderPushyamitra
Final rulerDevabhuti
SeatPatliputra and Vidisha
TitlesEmperor of Magadha
Deposition72 BCE (72 BCE)

List of monarchs

This dynasty had nine monarchs.

EmperorReign
Pushyamitra185–149 BCE
Agnimitra149–141 BCE
Vasujyeshtha141–131 BCE
Vasumitra131–124 BCE
Bhadraka124–122 BCE
Pulindaka122–119 BCE
Ghosha or Vajramitra119-114 BCE
Bhagabhadra114-83 BCE
Devabhuti83–73 BCE

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.

House of Kanva
Royal house of Magadha
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Founded73 BCE
FounderVasudeva Kanva
Final rulerSusarman Kanva
SeatPataliputra and Vidisha
TitlesEmperor of Magadha (Maharajadhiraja transl. Great King of Kings)
Deposition28 BCE (28 BCE), invaded by Satavahana Empire

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

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