Magadha Empire | Ancient kingdom of India [short notes for UPSC]

History

The most ancient dynasty of magadha was established by brahdrath

Brahdrath son was jarasandh

Capital of magadha was giribraj (rajgriha)

Rulers

Bimbisara (544 bc – 492 bc)

Follower of buddhism

‘bimbisara’ founded haryak dynasty

Got the throne of magadha in 545 bc.

Ruled for 52 years on magadha made rajgriha as its capital.

Bimbisara’s son ajatsatru killed him and got the throne in 493 bc

Ajatshatru (492 bc – 460 bc)

Follower of jainism

Ruled magadha for 32 years

Also known as ‘kunik’

Got victory over vaishali with the help of his efficient minister vasskar

Ajatshatru’s son udayan killed his father ajatshatru in 461 bc

Udyana (460 bc – 444 bc)

Got the throne of magadha in 461 bc

Follower of jainism.

Established ‘patilgram’.

Udyan’s son was nagadashaka

Anuruddha (444 bc – 440 bc)

Munda (440 bc – 437 bc)

Nagdashaka (437 bc – 413 bc)

Nagdashaka was the last king of haryak dynasty

Nagdashaka’s minister shishunaga dethroned him

Shishunaga dynasty

Rulers

Shishunaga (413 bc – 395 bc)

Shishunaga established shishunag dynasty

Changed his capital from patliputra to vaishali

Kalashoka (395 bc – 367 bc)

Kalashok (also known as kakavarna) was the successor of shishunaga

Restablised patliputra as the capital

Nandivarmana (367 bc – 355 bc)

Mahanandin (355 bc – 345 bc)

Last king of shishunag dynasty He was killed by mahapadamananda (according to puranas)