List of Maurya emperors

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]

Family tree

Family tree of Maurya Emperors

Chandragupta
Maurya
⁽¹⁾
r. 324/1-297 BCE

Bindusara
Amitraghata
⁽²⁾
r. 297-273 BCE

Ashoka
the Great
⁽³⁾
r. 268-232 BCE

Tivala

Kunala

Dasharatha
⁽⁴⁾
r. 232-224 BCE

Samprati
⁽⁵⁾
r. 224-215 BCE

Shalishuka
⁽⁶⁾
r. 215-202 BCE

Devavarman
⁽⁷⁾
r. 202-195 BCE

Shatadhanvan
⁽⁸⁾
r. 195-187 BCE

Brihadratha
⁽⁹⁾
r. 187-185 BCE

List of emperors

Rulers-

Ruler	Reign	Notes
Chandragupta Maurya (𑀙𑀦𑁆𑀤𑁆𑀭𑀕𑀼𑀧𑁆𑀢𑀸 𑀫𑀸𑀉𑀭𑁆𑀬𑀸)	322–297 BCE	Founder of the Maurya Empire.
Bindusara (𑀩𑀺𑀦𑁆𑀤𑀼𑀲𑀸𑀭𑀸)	297–273 BCE	Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbha revolt.
Ashoka (𑀅𑀰𑁄𑀓𑀸)	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 (𑀤𑀰𑀭𑀣 𑀫𑀸𑀉𑀭𑁆𑀬𑀸)	232–224 BCE	Grandson of Ashoka.
Samprati (𑀲𑀫𑁆𑀧𑁆𑀭𑀢𑀻)	224–215 BCE	Brother of Dasharatha.
Shalishuka (𑀰𑀸𑀮𑀻𑀰𑀼𑀓𑀸)	215–202 BCE
Devavarman (𑀤𑁂𑀯𑀯𑀭𑁆𑀫𑀦𑁆)	202–195 BCE
Shatadhanvan (𑀰𑀢𑀥𑀦𑁆𑀯𑀦𑁆)	195–187 BCE	The Mauryan Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
Brihadratha (𑀩𑁆𑀭𑀺𑀳𑀤𑁆𑀭𑀣𑀸)	187–184 BCE	Assassinated and overthrown by his General Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

References

^ McCrindle, John Watson (1816). "The Invasion of India by Alexander the Great".
^ "The Cambridge Shorter History of India".
^ Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta (1988). Age of the Nandas and Mauryas. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 208. ISBN 9788120804661.
^ Kistler, John M. (2007). War Elephants. University of Nebraska Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0803260047. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
^ Vincent Arthur Smith (1920). Asoka, the Buddhist emperor of India. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 18–19. ISBN 9788120613034. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
^ Olivelle, Patrick (2024). Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-27490-5.
^ 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.

[1] McCrindle, John Watson (1816). "The Invasion of India by Alexander the Great".

[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.

[kistler-4] Kistler, John M. (2007). War Elephants. University of Nebraska Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0803260047. Retrieved 16 August 2019.

[VAS_Asoka-5] Vincent Arthur Smith (1920). Asoka, the Buddhist emperor of India. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 18–19. ISBN 9788120613034. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

[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.

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Family tree

List of emperors

See also

References