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List of monarchs of Magadha

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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.

House of Brihadratha

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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

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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

House of Haryanka

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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
CountryKingdom of Magadha
Current regionIndia India
EtymologyProbably derived from clan name "Harya"
Founded544 BCE
FounderBimbisara
Final rulerNagadasaka
SeatRajagriha
(later, Patliputra)
TitlesKing of Magadha
Deposition413 BCE (413 BCE), popular rebellion

List of monarchs

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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

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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
CountryKingdom of Magadha
Current regionIndia India
Founded413 BCE
FounderShishunaga
Final rulerMahanandin
SeatRajgriha and Vaishali
(later, Patliputra)
TitlesKing of Magadha
Deposition345 BCE (345 BCE), assassination of King Mahanandin by Mahapadma Nanda

List of Monarchs

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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

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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
Magadha coins issued by Mahapadma Nanda
CountryKingdom of Magadha
Current regionIndia India
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Founded345 BCE
FounderMahapadma Nanda
Final rulerDhana Nanda
SeatPataliputra
TitlesKing of Magadha
Deposition322 BCE (322 BCE), organised rebellion by Chandragupta Maurya, who overthrew King Dhana Nanda

List of Monarchs

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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

House of Maurya

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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
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
Deposition185 BCE (185 BCE), assassination of Emperor Brihadratha by his General Pushyamitra Shunga

List of monarchs

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

Ruler Reign Notes
Chandragupta Maurya 322–297 BCE Founder of first Indian controlled empire uniting the entire subcontinent.
Bindusara 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

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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
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
Pakistan Pakistan
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Foundedc. 185 BCE
FounderPushyamitra
Final rulerDevabhuti
SeatPatliputra and Vidisha
TitlesEmperor of Magadha
Deposition72 BCE (72 BCE)

List of monarchs

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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

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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
CountryMagadha Empire
Current regionIndia India
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Founded73 BCE
FounderVasudeva Kanva
Final rulerSusarman Kanva
SeatPataliputra and Vidisha
TitlesEmperor of Magadha
Deposition28 BCE (28 BCE), invaded by Satavahana Empire

List of monarchs

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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

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References

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