The Magadha Empire

Period - 6th Century to 4th Century BC
King - Haryanaka

A. Haryanaka Dynasty : 544 BC - 412BC

     Bimbisara : 544 BC - 492 BC

• 1st Founder of Haryanaka Dynasty
• Childhood name Shronika
• Capital - Giribraj or Rajgrigh
• Bimbisara was contemporary of Lord Mahavira and Patron of Buddha.
• 1^st Wife - Kosladevi (Sister of Kosal King Prasenjit)
• 2^nd Wife - Chellana (Sister of Lichchhavi Head Chaetaka)
• 3^rd Wife – Khema (Daughter of Madra King)

      

      Ajatashatru : 492 BC - 460 BC

• Childhood name Kunika
• 1st Indian King Killed his Father (Bimbisara)
• Ajatshatru struggled in the war against the Vajjis / Lichhavis but managed to defeat them
• Magadha became the most powerful kingdom in Northern India during his reign. 

      Udayin : 460 BC - 440 BC

•  Ajatshatru was killed by his son Udayin
•  Udayin founded new capital at Patliputra
• Last ruler of Nagdashak.

B. Shisunaga Dynasty : 412 BC - 344 BC

• Shishunaga was the founder of Shishuhaga Dynasty
• Shishunaga shifted its capital from Rajgriha to Patliputra.
• According to Buddhist Sources he also had a secondary capital at Vaishali.
• Shishunaga was succeeded by Kalashoka
• The Puranas he was mentioned as Kakavarna
• 2nd Buddhist Council organised by Kalashoka at Vaishali in 383 BC.
• The last ruler of Shishunaga dynasty was Nandivardhan.

C. Nanda Dynasty : 344 BC - 323 BC

     Mahapadmananda : 

• 1st Ruler of Nanda Dynasty
• Mahapadmananda established the Nanda dynasty into a powerful empire.
• Mahapadmananda had the titles of Ekarat and Sarvakshatrantaka.
• The Nanda dynasty followed by Jainism.
• Last ruler of Nanda dynasty was Dhanananda.
• Chandragupta Maurya defeated Dhanananda and laid the foundation of Maurya empire.