Haryanka Dynasty , Shishunagas and Nanda Dynasty

Rise of Magadha under the Haryanka Dynasty

  • Among the 16 mahajanapadas, Kasi was initially powerful. However, Kosala became dominant later.
  • A power struggle broke out between Magadha, Kosala, Vrijji and Avanti. Eventually Magadha emerged as the dominant mahajanapada and established the first Indian empire.
  • The first known ruler of Magadha was Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty.
  • He extended the territory of Magadhan Empire by matrimonial alliances and conquests. By marrying off his sister to Prasenajit, ruler of Kosala, he received Kasi as dowry.
  • He also married the princesses of Lichchhavis and Madra. He maintained friendly relations with Avanti but annexed Anga by military might. Thus, Magadha became a powerful and prominent power.
  • During his reign, Bimbisara patronised various religious sects and their leaders. He had an encounter with Buddha as well.
  • His son Ajatashatru ascended the throne by killing his father. King Prasenajit immediately took back Kasi, which he had handed out as dowry to Bimbisara. This led to a military confrontation between Magadha and Kosala.
  • The struggle lasted until Prasenajit was overthrown and died at Rajgriha, the capital of Magadha Empire.Kosala was then annexed to Magadha.

Fig : Extend of Magadha Dynasty

  • Ajatashatru also fought and won the battle against the Lichchhavis. He defeated the Lichchhavis and the Mallas.
  • Ajatashatru is also believed to have met Buddha in his lifetime. By the time Ajatashatru died in 461 BCE Magadha had become undisputedly the strongest power.
  • The Haryanka dynasty was succeeded by the Shishunaga dynasty. Shishunaga, a viceroy of Benaras, deposed the last Haryanka king and ascended the throne.
  • The Shishunagas ruled for fifty years before the throne was usurped by Mahapadma Nanda.

 Nandas

Fig : Extend of Nanda Dynasty

  • The First Empire Builders of India About a hundred years after Ajatashatru’s demise, the Nandas became the emperors of Magadha in 362 BCE.
  • The first Nanda ruler was Mahapadma.
  • It is believed that he usurped the throne by murdering the last of the Shishunaga kings.
  • Under the Nandas, the empire expanded considerably, and the wealth and power of the Nandas became widely known and feared.
  • Mahapadma Nanda was succeeded by his eight sons, and they were together known as the navanandas or the nine Nandas.

Fig : Punch Marked Coins during Nanda Dynasty

  • During the process of empire building, Nandas exterminated many kshatriya clans and subjugated kshatriya-ruled kingdoms, which had still retained a degree of autonomous authority, thus creating a centralised state. A
  • In inscription known as the Hathigumpha (elephant cave) from Udayagiri near Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, records the aqueduct built by King Nanda three hundred years earlier.
  • This is also indicative of the geographical extent of the Nanda Empire. Though the Nandas were able administrators and had strengthened the Magadha Empire, they were not popular among the people.

 

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