According to Greek texts, during this period he met Alexander who was then stationed in North West India as a part of his world conquest. According to legends he organized a rebellion against the Nandas with the help of a shrewd teacher and advisor named Chanakya and succeeded in overthrowing them. He probably belonged to some royal lineage through his mother but grew up in relative obscurity with a strong desire to become a sovereign in his own right. His birth and early childhood are unclear. He ascended the throne between 323 BC and 321 BC, after defeating Dhana Nanda in a fierce battle. Most historians agree that the first true emperor of India was Chandragupta Maurya. Royal procession leaving Rajagriha, possibly depicting Ajatashatru, from Sanchi, CC BY-SA 3.0 2. However, we do not know whether it is the same historical king or a different person. Ajatashatru also figures in the Upanishads as a learned king who was well-versed in the secret knowledge of the self. The first Buddhist council was probably held under his leadership. Archeological and literary evidence, however, suggests that he might have converted to Buddhism in the last phase of his life and died as a Buddhist. Both Jain and Buddhist texts claim him to be a follower of their respective faiths, since he patronized and admired both Mahavira and the Buddha after personally meeting them. According to some Buddhist texts, he succeed to the throne by imprisoning his own father and killing him. ![]() His son Ajatashatru, also known as Kunika, continued his father’s policy of conquests and extended it further, often using dubious means to defeat his rivals such as the Licchaivies of Vaisali. Due to lack of historical records,there is no unanimity among historians about the exact period of their reign.)īimbisara, was the first emperor to annexe many small states (Mahajanapadas) and independent republics and lay the foundation of a mighty Magadhan empire which included 80,000 villages and several republics. (Ps: The dates for these rules are taken from history text books. By recognizing these 12 rulers, we do no intend to undermine the rest of the kings and queens who were a part of its known and unknown history. Most of them are not at all remembered, but their contribution cannot be ignored in the march of the civilization. In its long history, India saw the rise and fall of numerous dynasties and thousands of kings and queens. It is well known that history mostly remembers victors, whether they are good or evil, and records their version of events. We present here twelve great rulers of ancient India who played an important role in shaping its history and civilization. However, it was never entirely under the control of a single emperor. In its long history, the land witnessed the rise and fall of numerous dynasties, kings and emperors, each comparable to any in the West. ![]() They pioneered vast empires, built large and powerful armies and established well-organized administrative systems. They were followed by the Mauryan dynasty. The principality of Magadha witnessed the emergence of the first great Indian empire about 600 BC, through conquests and annexations first by the rulers of the Haryanka dynasty and later by the Nandas. Some were legendary and some were historical. In its long history, India, which then comprised of the whole Indian subcontinent and adjoining territories, was ruled by many kings, queens and emperors. India has a long history which dates back to the Indus Period (about 3000 BC), and may be earlier to preceding cultures, since an advanced civilization such as the Indus could not have appeared, without prior development.
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