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List of Maurya emperors

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Chakravarti Samrat[1] of Magadha
Imperial
Longest reign
Ashoka the Great
268 BCE – 232 BCE
Details
StyleHis Imperial Majesty
Devanampriya[2]
First monarchChandragupta Maurya
Last monarchBrihadratha Maurya
Formation322 BCE
Abolition185 BCE
Residence
AppointerHereditary

The Maurya Empire (c. 322–185 BCE) was an ancient Indian empire. The empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE and lasted until 185 BCE. The Mauryan Empire was the first pan-Indian empire. At its height, the empire covered most of the Indian subcontinent.[3] The Mauryan Emperor was the monarchical head of state and wielded absolute rule over the empire.

Chandragupta's chief minister Chanakya, sometimes called Kautilya, advised Chandragupta Maurya and contributed to the empire's legacy.[4] Bindusara, Chandragupta's son, assumed the throne around 297 BCE. He kept the empire running smoothly while maintaining its lands.[5] Bindusara's son, Ashoka,[6] was the third leader of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka left his mark on history by erecting large stone pillars inscribed with edicts that he issued. After Ashoka's death, his family continued to reign, but the empire began to break apart. The last of the Mauryas, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his Senapati, Pushyamitra Shunga who went on to found the Shunga Empire in 185 BCE.[7]

Maurya Empire at its greatest expansion, c. 250 BCE

Family tree

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List of emperors

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Rulers-
Ruler Reign Notes
Chandragupta Maurya 322–297 BCE Founder of the Maurya Empire.
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 Mauryan Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
Brihadratha 187–184 BCE Assassinated and overthrown by his General Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "India in the Magadha and Mauryan Periods".
  2. ^ "The Cambridge Shorter History of India".
  3. ^ Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta (1988). Age of the Nandas and Mauryas. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 208. ISBN 9788120804661.
  4. ^ Kistler, John M. (2007). War Elephants. University of Nebraska Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0803260047. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  5. ^ Vincent Arthur Smith (1920). Asoka, the Buddhist emperor of India. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 18–19. ISBN 9788120613034.
  6. ^ Olivelle, Patrick (2024). Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-27490-5.
  7. ^ Allchin, F. R.; Erdosy, George (1995). The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 306.
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