Magadha Empire Introduction

Magadha Empire lasted from 684 B.C - 320 B.C in India. The two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata mention the Magadha Empire.
It is said that the Shishunaga dynasty founded the Magadha Empire. Some of the greatest empires and religions of India originated here. The Gupta Empire and Mauryan Empire started here. The great religions, Buddhism and Jainism were founded in Magadha Empire.

Magadha Empire gained much power and importance during the rule of King Bimbisara and his son and successor Ajatshatru. Bimbisara is said to have been murdered by his son Ajatshatru. The Magadha Empire in India extended in the modern day Bihar and Patna and some parts of Bengal. Magadha Empire was a part of the 16 Mahajanapadas. The empire extended up to River Ganges and the kingdoms of Kosala and Kashi were annexed. The places that came under the Magadha Empire were mostly republican in nature and the administration was divided into judicial, executive and military functions.


Magadha Empire The Magadha Empire fought gruesome battles with most of its neighbors. They had advanced forms of weaponry andthe opposed forces did not stand a chance against them. Ajatshatru even built a huge fort at his capital Pataliputra. This was the place that Buddha prophesized would become a popular place of trade and commerce. With an unmatched military force, the Magadha Empire naturally had an upper hand over conquering neighborhood places and spreading the territory. This is what made it a major part of the 16 Mahajanapadas. However, after the death of King Udayan, the Magadha Empire started to decline very rapidly. Internal disturbances and corruption within the kingdom led to its decline. The Magadha Empire was finally taken over by the powerful Nanda dynasty who then ruled here for a good amount of time before being taken over by the Mauryas.

Rise and Growth of the Magadha Empire

• Magadha came into prominence under the leadership of Bimbisara, who belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.
• Bimbisara was a contemporary of the Buddha
• Bimbisara acquired Anga and placed it under the viceroyalty of his son Ajatashatru

Bimbasara (544 ~492 B.C) & His Family

• first wife was the daughter of the king of Koshala and the sister of Parsenajit.
• second wife Chellana was a Lichchhavi princess from Vaishali mother of Ajatashatru
• third wife was the daughter of the chief of the Madra clan of Punjab

Growth

• Magadha's most serious rival was Avanti
• king Chanda Pradyota Mahasena fought Bimbisara , but ultimately the two thought it wise to become friends
• kingdom is said to have consisted of 80,000 villages
• The earliest capital of Magadha was at Rajgir - surrounded by five hills , the openings in which were closed by stonewalls on all sides

Ajatashatru (492-460 B.C.)

• Ajatashatru killed his father and seized the throne for himself.
• He also possessed a chariot to which a mace was attached, and it facilitated mass killings
• Ajatashatru faced a stronger rival in the ruler of Avant - Avanti had defeated the Vatsas of Kaushambi

Udayin (460- 444 B.C)

• greatest achievement was the destruction of the power of Avanti with, its capital at Ujjain. This brought to an end the 100-year old rivalry between Magadha and Avanti.
• The Nandas added to the Magadhan power by conquering Kalinga from where the brought an image of the Jina as a victory trophy.
• Punjab at that time did not dare to move towards the east.