MAGADHA EMPIRE

     Magadha Empire was one of the Sixteen Mahajanapadas, located in the region of Southern Bihar (the present area of Bihar, Bengal, Eastern UP, Jharkhand, Orissa and some parts of Nepal and Bangladesh). The Magadha has an important role in creation of Jainism and Budhhism. The two greatest Empires of India, the Maurya Empire and the Gupta Empire, both of them originated in Magadha. The time period of Magadha Empire existed from 545 BCE TO 320 BCE. The location of the Magadha Empire was encircled by the three rivers: Champa, Son and Ganga.

The four Core Empire of the Magadha - 1. Brihadrath Dynasty, 2. Haryaka Dynasty, 3. Shishunnag Dynasty, 4. Nanda Dynasty.

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Brihadrath Dynasty ( The rise of the Magadha Empire)  

  • Most ancient dynasty of Magadha Empire.
  • Brihadratha founded the Brihadrath dynasty or the Magadha Empire in 6BCE.
  • Brihadratha was son of the Vashu. Vashu was founder of the Vashumati.
  • The glorious king Jarasandha was the son of the Brihadrath and his capital was Girivrij (Present- Rajagriha).
  • Jarasandha killed by Bhima in the war of Mahabharata.
  • Ripunjaya was the last ruler of the Brihadrath dynasty. The minister- Pulik killed the Ripunjaya and he made his son as king.
  • After sort period Pulik son was killed by his minister name- Bhattiya and Bhattiya’s son Bimbisara became the King of the Magadha .

Haryaka Dynasty

    Bhattiya’s son Bimbisara was the founder of the Haryaka dynasty. It is regarded as the most crucial and prominent dynasty of the Magadha Empire.
Bimbisara
  • Ruled from 544 BCE to 492 BCE, nearly for 52 years.
  • He is regarded as the real founder of the Haryaka dynasty.
  • Was follower of the Lord Buddha and send his royalty Rajabaidhya Jivaka to serve the Buddha.
  • Also known as another names- Shronika and Kshetraujasa.
  • He was contemporary of the Lord Buddha and the lord Mahavira.
  • Capital - Girivraja (present-Rajagriaha).
  • Feudatory of Avanti king Pradyota.
  • He followed the policies of Matrimonial alliance for the purpose of the kingdom’s expansion.
  • He was Husband of three wives: 1. Kosaladevi (The Daughter of king Kosala and the sister of the illustrious king Presenjit) 2. Chellana (The daughter of Lichchavi Chief’s Chettaka) 3. Kshema (The Daughter of Madara (Panjab)’s King).
  • He also followed the policies of Conquest and Expansion. His greatest conquest was the Anga.
Ajatasatru
  • Ruled from 492 BCE to 460 BCE, for the 32 years.
  • He was son of Bimbisara and Chellana.
  • In 492 BC, killed his father and took control over the Magadha. He is also known as Patricide (The father’s killer).
  • Also known as the name- Kunika.
  • To start, he was a follower of the Jainism, later he adopted the Baudh Dharma. Just after the demise of the Lord Buddha, Ajatasatru held the First Buddhist Council in Rajagriha in 483BCE. see the all six buddhist councils- Click Here
  • He conquered the Vaishali and Kosala with the help of the his minister and diplomat name Varaskara.
  • For the first time, he used weapons in Chariots like Ratha Mushala and Mahashila Kantaka for the huge killing in the Battleground.
  • He began Fortification of Rajagriha for defence of his kingdom.
Udayin
  • In 460 BCE, Udayin killed his father Ajatasatru and became the ruler of the Magadha.
  • He ruled for the 16 years (460 BCE to 444 BCE).
  • Known as Father’s killer of the Father’s killer and killer of Father’s killer.
  • Follower of the Jainism.
  • Udayin Changed the Capital of the Magadha from Rajagriha to Patliputra (present- Patna).
  • Udayin was Killed by King of Avanti, Palaka.
    After the death of the Udayin, he was succeeded by Anriruddhaa, Manda and Nagadasaka. Nagadasaka was the last ruler of the Haryaka Dynasty and was son of the Udayin.
Sisunaga Dynasty
    Sisunaga was Amatya (minister) of Udayin and Nagadasaka. In 413, Sisunaga overthrow Nagadasaka and became the king of the Magadha and established the Sisunaga dynasty. Sisunaga dynasty exited from 413 BCE to 345 BCE.
Sisunaga
  • Ruled from 413 BCE to 394 BCE, for the 19years.
  • Before the becoming the king of Magadha, Sisunaga was serving as the viceroy of Kasi.
  • Shifted the capital from Patliputra to Vaishali.
  • Sisunaga conquered the Avanti and the Vatsaraj and made the part of the Magadha. By the winning of the Avanti with its capital Ujjain, this brought the end of the 100-year-old fight of Avanti and Magadha.
Kalasoka
  • Became the king of Magadha in 394 BCE.
  • Father - Sisunaga.
  • Also known as- Kakavarna.
  • Second Buddhist Council was held by him at Vaishali.
  • His death in the Palace became the cause of establishment of the Nanda Dynasty.
    Nandivardhana was the last king of the Sisunaga Dynasty.

Nanda Dynasty
    Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda Dynasty in 345 BCE. Nanda dynasty was the first non-kshatriya dynasty to rule. They ruled from 345 BCE to 321 BCE.
Mahapadma Nanda
  • He was murderer of the King Kalasoka.
  • Mahapadma destroy the Sisunaga Dynasty and established the Nanda Dynasty.
  • Regarded as Adharmika (who doesn’t follows the dharma).
  • Became the most powerful King of Nanda dynasty.
  • Also known as Sarva Kashtriyanka (destructor of all the Kshatriyas) and Ekrat (sole Master, destructor of the rulers).
  • He acquired the Kalinga, Kosala and many other kingdoms to extend his dominion.
  • They were also known Ugrasena in Pali Tests because of his enormous army. They handled 200,000 infantry, more than 60,000 cavalry and more than 6000 war elephants.
Dhana Nanda
  • Last ruler of the Magadha Empire.
  • Contemporary of the Alexander.
  • Known as Agrammes or Xandrames in Greek Texts.
  • During his reign, Alexander attacked North-Western India, but he couldn’t go because of the plains of the Ganga.
  • A huge army inherited from his Father Mahapadma Nanda.
  • He became hated and unpopular because of his Sudra origins, extorting of taxes and anti-Kshatriya policy, which made a lot of enemies.

The cause of the Down of the Magadha Empire

    After the invading of the Alexander and because of the persecution, oppression of the Dhana Nanda, the whole kingdom was in chaos.

    Seeing chaos and tumultuous situation, Chandragupta Maurya defeated Dhana Nanda in the Battleground with the help of Chanakya, and took control over kingdom and established the Maurya Empire.