List of monarchs of Magadha
 |
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
[edit]House of Brihadratha
[edit]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 | |
| Country | Kingdom of Magadha |
| Current region |  India |
| Founded | c. 1700 BCE |
| Founder | Brihadratha |
| Final ruler | Ripunjaya |
| Titles | King of Magadha |
| Deposition | 682 BCE |
List of monarchs
[edit]Twenty-one kings of Brihadratha house ruled Magadha beginning with Brihadratha himself.
| Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
|---|---|
| Brihadratha | 1700–1680 BCE |
| Jarasandha | 1680–1665 BCE |
| Sahadeva | 1665–1661 BCE |
| Somadhi | 1661–1603 BCE |
| Srutasravas | 1603–1539 BCE |
| Ayutayus | 1539–1503 BCE |
| Niramitra | 1503–1463 BCE |
| Sukshatra | 1463–1405 BCE |
| Brihatkarman | 1405–1382 BCE |
| Senajit | 1382–1332 BCE |
| Srutanjaya | 1332–1292 BCE |
| Vipra | 1292–1257 BCE |
| Suchi | 1257–1199 BCE |
| Kshemya | 1199–1171 BCE |
| Subrata | 1171–1107 BCE |
| Dharma | 1107–1043 BCE |
| Susuma | 1043–970 BCE |
| Dridhasena | 970–912 BCE |
| Sumati | 912–879 BCE |
| Subala | 879–857 BCE |
| Sunita | 857–817 BCE |
| Satyajit | 817–767 BCE |
| Viswajit | 767–732 BCE |
| Ripunjaya | 732–682 BCE |
Pre-Mauryan Era
[edit]House of Haryanka
[edit]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 | |
| Country | Kingdom of Magadha |
| Current region | India |
| Etymology | Probably derived from clan name "Harya" |
| Founded | 544 BCE |
| Founder | Bimbisara |
| Final ruler | Nagadasaka |
| Seat | Rajagriha (later, Patliputra) |
| Titles | King of Magadha |
| Deposition | 413 BCE, popular rebellion |
List of monarchs
[edit]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
[edit]The Shaishunaga dynasty, also called Shishunaga, was the fourth 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.
| House of Shaishunaga | |
|---|---|
| Royal house of Magadha | |
| Country | Kingdom of Magadha |
| Current region | India |
| Founded | 413 BCE |
| Founder | Shishunaga |
| Final ruler | Mahanandin |
| Seat | Rajgriha and Vaishali
(later, Patliputra) |
| Titles | King of Magadha |
| Deposition | 345 BCE, assassination of King Mahanandin by Mahapadma Nanda |
List of Monarchs
[edit]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
[edit]The Nanda dynasty was the fifth ruling house of Magadha. Mahapadma Nanda founded this dynasty in 344 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 322 BCE.
| House of Nanda | |
|---|---|
| Royal house of Magadha | |
.jpg) Magadha coins issued by Mahapadma Nanda | |
| Country | Kingdom of Magadha |
| Current region | India Bangladesh |
| Founded | 345 BCE |
| Founder | Mahapadma Nanda |
| Final ruler | Dhana Nanda |
| Seat | Pataliputra |
| Titles | King of Magadha |
| Deposition | 322 BCE, organised rebellion by Chandragupta Maurya, who overthrew King Dhana Nanda |
List of Monarchs
[edit]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
[edit]House of Maurya
[edit]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.
| House of Maurya | |
|---|---|
| Imperial house of Magadha | |
 | |
| Country | Magadha Empire |
| Current region | India Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal Afghanistan |
| Founded | 322 BCE |
| Founder | Chandragupta Maurya |
| Final ruler | Brihadratha Maurya |
| Seat | Pataliputra |
| Titles |
|
| Deposition | 185 BCE, assassination of Emperor Brihadratha by his General Pushyamitra Shunga |
List of monarchs
[edit]This dynasty ruled for a considerably longer period than the previous house and had nine rulers.
| Ruler | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | .JPG) |
322–297 BCE | Founder of first Indian controlled empire uniting the entire subcontinent. |
| Bindusara | .jpg){kind=small} |
297–273 BCE | Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbha revolt. |
| Ashoka |  |
268–232 BCE | Greatest 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 Maurya |  |
232–224 BCE | Grandson of Ashoka. |
| Samprati |  |
224–215 BCE | Brother of Dasharatha. |
| Shalishuka |  |
215–202 BCE | |
| Devavarman | 202–195 BCE | ||
| Shatadhanvan | 195–187 BCE | The Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign | |
| Brihadratha | 187–184 BCE | Assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE. | |
House of Shunga
[edit]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 | |
|---|---|
| Imperial house of Magadha | |
| Country | Magadha Empire |
| Current region | India Pakistan Bangladesh |
| Founded | c. 185 BCE |
| Founder | Pushyamitra |
| Final ruler | Devabhuti |
| Seat | Patliputra and Vidisha |
| Titles | Emperor of Magadha |
| Deposition | 72 BCE |
List of monarchs
[edit]This dynasty had nine monarchs.
| Emperor | Reign |
|---|---|
| Pushyamitra | 185–149 BCE |
| Agnimitra | 149–141 BCE |
| Vasujyeshtha | 141–131 BCE |
| Vasumitra | 131–124 BCE |
| Bhadraka | 124–122 BCE |
| Pulindaka | 122–119 BCE |
| Ghosha or Vajramitra | 119-114 BCE |
| Bhagabhadra | 114-83 BCE |
| Devabhuti | 83–73 BCE |
House of Kanva
[edit]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 | |
|---|---|
| Imperial house of Magadha | |
| Country | Magadha Empire |
| Current region | India Bangladesh |
| Founded | 73 BCE |
| Founder | Vasudeva Kanva |
| Final ruler | Susarman Kanva |
| Seat | Pataliputra and Vidisha |
| Titles | Emperor of Magadha |
| Deposition | 28 BCE, invaded by Satavahana Empire |
List of monarchs
[edit]| 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 |