List of monarchs of Magadha

The Kingdom of Magadha, later known as the Magadha Empire, was a kingdom and later empire in ancient north India. Many houses ruled the kingdom and it's empire over the centuries until it was defeated by the Satavahana Empire in c. 28 BCE. The history of the monarchs of Magadha, particularly in the Pre-Mauryan period, is shrouded in mystery and legend with various sources claiming different things.

Kingdom of Magadha

House of Brihadratha

Main article: Brihadratha Dynasty

The Brihadratha dynasty was the first ruling house of Magadha. Brihadratha founded this dynasty in 1700 BCE. This dynasty lasted for more than ten centuries, ruling Magadha from 1700 to 682 BCE.

House of Brihadratha
Royal house of Magadha
Country	Kingdom of Magadha
Current region	India
Founded	c. 1700 BCE
Founder	Brihadratha
Final ruler	Ripunjaya
Titles	King of Magadha
Deposition	682 BCE (682 BCE)

List of monarchs

Twenty-one kings of Brihadratha house ruled Magadha beginning with Brihadratha himself.

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Brihadratha	1700–1680 BCE
Jarasandha	1680–1665 BCE
Sahadeva	1665–1661 BCE
Somadhi	1661–1603 BCE
Srutasravas	1603–1539 BCE
Ayutayus	1539–1503 BCE
Niramitra	1503–1463 BCE
Sukshatra	1463–1405 BCE
Brihatkarman	1405–1382 BCE
Senajit	1382–1332 BCE
Srutanjaya	1332–1292 BCE
Vipra	1292–1257 BCE
Suchi	1257–1199 BCE
Kshemya	1199–1171 BCE
Subrata	1171–1107 BCE
Dharma	1107–1043 BCE
Susuma	1043–970 BCE
Dridhasena	970–912 BCE
Sumati	912–879 BCE
Subala	879–857 BCE
Sunita	857–817 BCE
Satyajit	817–767 BCE
Viswajit	767–732 BCE
Ripunjaya	732–682 BCE

Pre-Mauryan Era

House of Haryanka

Main article: Haryanka Dynasty

The Haryanka dynasty was the third ruling house of Magadha. This dynasty was founded by Bimbisara in 544 BCE. This dynasty lasted for 131 years, ruling Magadha from 544 to 413 BCE.

House of Haryanka
Royal house of Magadha
Country	Magadha Empire
Current region	India
Etymology	Probably derived from clan name "Harya"
Founded	544 BCE
Founder	Bimbisara
Final ruler	Nagadasaka
Seat	Rajagriha (later, Patliputra)
Titles	Emperor of Magadha
Deposition	413 BCE (413 BCE), popular rebellion

List of monarchs

This dynasty had six monarchs.

Monarchs	Reign (BCE)	Period
Bimbisara	544–492 BCE	52
Ajatashatru	492–460 BCE	32
Udayin	460–444 BCE	16
Anuruddha	444–440 BCE	4
Munda	440–437 BCE	3
Nāgadāsaka	437–413 BCE	24

House of Shaishunaga

Main article: Shaishunaga Dynasty

The Shaishunaga dynasty, also called Shishunaga, was the fourth ruling house of Magadha. Shisunaga, who was originally a minister of Emperor Nagadashaka, overthrew him in a popular rebellion and ascended the throne in 413 BCE. This dynasty lasted for only 68 years, ruling Magadha from 413 to 345 BCE.

House of Shaishunaga
Royal house of Magadha
Country	Magadha Empire
Current region	India
Founded	413 BCE
Founder	Shishunaga
Final ruler	Mahanandin
Seat	Rajgriha and Vaishali (later, Patliputra)
Titles	Emperor of Magadha
Deposition	345 BCE (345 BCE), assassination of Emperor Mahanandin by Mahapadma Nanda

List of Monarchs

Four monarchs of this dynasty ruled Magadha in succession.

Monarch	Reign (BCE)	Period
Shishunaga	413–395	18
Kalashoka	395–367	28
Nandivardhana	367–355	12
Mahanandin	355–345	10

House of Nanda

Main article: Nanda Dynasty

The Nanda dynasty was the fifth ruling house of Magadha. Mahapadma Nanda founded this dynasty in 344 BCE after murdering his own father, Emperor Mahanandin. This dynasty was the shortest-living dynasty of Magadha, ruling for only 23 years from 345 to 322 BCE.

House of Nanda
Royal house of Magadha
Magadha coins issued by Mahapadma Nanda
Country	Magadha Empire
Current region	India Bangladesh
Founded	322 BCE
Founder	Mahapadma Nanda
Final ruler	Dhana Nanda
Seat	Pataliputra
Titles	Emperor of Magadha
Deposition	322 BCE (322 BCE), organised rebellion by Chandragupta Maurya, who overthrew Emperor Dhana Nanda

List of Monarchs

Different sources mention different number of Nanda rulers. Buddhist, Jain and Puranic traditions state there were nine rulers, but differ considerably. Greek and Roman accounts mention two generations only—Mahapadma Nanda and his son Dhana Nanda.

Post-Mauryan Era

House of Maurya

Main articles: Mauryan Dynasty and List of Maurya Emperors

The Maurya dynasty was the sixth and greatest ruling house of Magadha. Chandragupta Maurya founded this dynasty with help of his mentor and grand advisor Chanakya in 322 BCE after organizing a large army and overthrowing Emperor Dhana Nanda. This dynasty lasted for 138 years, ruling Magadha from 322 to 184 BCE.

House of Maurya
Royal house of Magadha
Lion Capital in Sanchi, made by Emperor Ashoka
Country	Magadha Empire
Current region	India Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal Afghanistan
Founded	322 BCE
Founder	Chandragupta Maurya
Final ruler	Brihadratha Maurya
Seat	Pataliputra
Titles	Emperor of Magadha Emperor of the Four Continents (Chakravala Chakravartin)
Deposition	413 BCE (413 BCE), assassination of Emperor Brihadratha by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga

List of monarchs

This dynasty ruled for a considerably longer period than the previous house and had nine rulers.

Ruler		Reign	Notes
Chandragupta Maurya		322–297 BCE	Founder of first Indian controlled empire uniting the entire subcontinent.
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 Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
Brihadratha		187–184 BCE	Assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

House of Shunga

Main article: Shunga Dynasty

The Shunga dynasty was the seventh ruling house of Magadha. Pushyamitra Shunga, the Commander-in-Chief of Emperor Brihadratha Maurya, organized a coup d'état and killed the emperor, usurping the throne in 184 BCE. This dynasty lasted for 112 years, ruling Magadha from 184 to 72 BCE.

House of Shunga
Royal house of Magadha
Country	Magadha Empire
Current region	India Pakistan Bangladesh
Founded	c. 1700 BCE
Founder	Pushyamitra
Final ruler	Devabhuti
Seat	Patliputra and Vidisha
Titles	Emperor of Magadha
Deposition	72 BCE (72 BCE)

List of monarchs

This dynasty had nine monarchs.

Emperor	Reign
Pushyamitra	185–149 BCE
Agnimitra	149–141 BCE
Vasujyeshtha	141–131 BCE
Vasumitra	131–124 BCE
Bhadraka	124–122 BCE
Pulindaka	122–119 BCE
Ghosha or Vajramitra	119-114 BCE
Bhagabhadra	114-83 BCE
Devabhuti	83–73 BCE

House of Kanva

Main article: Kanva Dynasty

The Kanva dynasty was the eighth and last ruling house of Magadha. This dynasty was founded by Vasudeva Kanva who overthrow the Emperor Devabhuti in 73 BCE. This dynasty lasted for only 45 years, ruling Magadha from 73 to 28 BCE. On 28 BCE, the last emperor, Susarman Kanva was killed by the Satavahana Emperor Satakarni II and the Magadha Empire subsequently collapsed.

House of Kanva
Royal house of Magadha
Country	Magadha Empire
Current region	India Bangladesh
Founded	73 BCE
Founder	Vasudeva Kanva
Final ruler	Susarman Kanva
Seat	Pataliputra and Vidisha
Titles	Emperor of Magadha (Maharajadhiraja transl. Great King of Kings)
Deposition	28 BCE (28 BCE), invaded by Satavahana Empire

List of monarchs

Monarch	Reign (BCE)	Period
Vasudeva Kanva	73–64 BCE	9
Bhumimitra	64–50 BCE	14
Narayana	50–38 BCE	12
Susarman	38–28 BCE	10

See also

• Magadha
• Greater Magadha
• Magadha period
• Magadhi Prakrit
• List of Indian monarchs