Maurya Empire Timeline
Comprehensive timeline of 35 major events spanning the Maurya Empire (c. 320-185 BCE), from Chandragupta Maurya's founding to the assassination of the last emperor Brihadratha.
Birth of Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya was born in Magadha, likely into a family of modest origins. Ancient sources suggest he may have been of Shudra or Kshatriya lineage. His early life remains shrouded in legend, but he would go on to found India's first great empire and overthrow the powerful Nanda dynasty.
Chanakya Meets Chandragupta
The Brahmin scholar Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta) encountered the young Chandragupta and recognized his exceptional potential for leadership. This fateful meeting would lead to one of history's most famous mentor-student relationships, with Chanakya guiding Chandragupta's education in statecraft, military strategy, and political philosophy.
Alexander the Great Reaches Indian Borders
Alexander the Great's Macedonian army crossed into the Indian subcontinent, defeating King Porus at the Battle of Hydaspes. However, his exhausted troops mutinied at the Beas River and refused to advance further. Alexander's brief presence destabilized the northwestern regions, creating power vacuums that Chandragupta would later exploit.
War Against the Nanda Dynasty Begins
Chandragupta Maurya, guided by Chanakya's strategies, launched his campaign to overthrow the powerful but unpopular Nanda dynasty ruling from Pataliputra. The Nandas controlled vast wealth and maintained a formidable army, but faced internal discontent due to oppressive taxation and the low-caste origins of their rulers.
Conquest of Northwestern Territories
Following Alexander's death and the subsequent chaos among his successors, Chandragupta seized control of the northwestern territories including Gandhara and parts of Punjab. He expelled the remaining Greek garrisons and Macedonian satraps, incorporating these wealthy and strategically important regions into his growing domain.
Foundation of the Maurya Empire
Chandragupta Maurya decisively defeated the last Nanda king Dhana Nanda and captured the capital city of Pataliputra, establishing the Maurya dynasty. This marked the beginning of India's first great empire and the unification of most of the Indian subcontinent under a single administration. The event transformed the political landscape of ancient India forever.
Establishment of Mauryan Administrative System
Chandragupta and Chanakya implemented a sophisticated administrative system detailed in the Arthashastra. The empire was divided into provinces (janapadas) governed by royal princes or appointed officials. A vast bureaucracy managed taxation, justice, agriculture, trade, and military affairs, creating one of the ancient world's most efficient governmental systems.
Seleucid-Mauryan War
Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander's successors controlling territories to the west, launched a campaign to reclaim the Indian territories. After inconclusive battles, the two powers negotiated a peace treaty. This conflict demonstrated the Mauryan Empire's military strength on the international stage.
Treaty with Seleucus Nicator
Chandragupta and Seleucus concluded a matrimonial alliance and territorial agreement. The Mauryan emperor received vast territories in Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and eastern Iran, while Seleucus received 500 war elephants that would later prove crucial in his western campaigns. This treaty established diplomatic relations between the Mauryan Empire and the Hellenistic world.
Megasthenes Arrives as Greek Ambassador
Seleucus I sent the Greek historian and diplomat Megasthenes as ambassador to the Mauryan court at Pataliputra. Megasthenes' detailed observations of Mauryan India, recorded in his work 'Indica' (now lost but preserved in fragments), provide invaluable information about the empire's administration, society, and culture. His accounts influenced Western understanding of India for centuries.
Southern Expansion Campaign
Chandragupta launched military campaigns to extend Mauryan control southward into the Deccan plateau. He conquered territories that had previously remained independent, bringing the kingdoms of Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu under Mauryan suzerainty. This expansion made the Maurya Empire truly pan-Indian in scope.
Mauryan Empire Reaches Its First Peak
By this time, Chandragupta had built an empire stretching from Afghanistan in the west to Bengal in the east, and from the Himalayas in the north to the Karnataka region in the south. The empire encompassed approximately 5 million square kilometers with an estimated population of 30-50 million, making it one of the largest empires of its time.
Chandragupta's Abdication and Embrace of Jainism
After ruling for approximately 24 years, Chandragupta abdicated the throne in favor of his son Bindusara. According to Jain tradition, he embraced Jainism under the influence of the Jain monk Bhadrabahu, renounced worldly life, and traveled south to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka where he spent his final years in ascetic practices.
Death of Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya died at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka, reportedly through the Jain practice of sallekhana (fasting unto death). His death marked the end of an era, but the empire he built continued to flourish under his successors. A temple at Shravanabelagola still commemorates the site of his passing.
Coronation of Bindusara
Bindusara, son of Chandragupta Maurya, ascended the throne as the second Mauryan emperor. Known by the Greek name 'Amitraghata' (slayer of enemies), he would continue his father's expansionist policies and maintain diplomatic relations with Hellenistic kingdoms. His reign consolidated Mauryan power and set the stage for his son Ashoka's legendary rule.
Bindusara's Deccan Conquests
Emperor Bindusara extended Mauryan control further south, conquering most of the Deccan plateau and reaching as far south as Mysore. Only the Kalinga kingdom (modern Odisha) and the far southern Tamil kingdoms remained outside Mauryan control. These conquests expanded the empire to encompass nearly the entire subcontinent.
Flourishing of Hellenistic Trade Relations
During Bindusara's reign, trade and diplomatic relations with Hellenistic kingdoms flourished. Greek ambassadors resided at Pataliputra, and luxury goods were exchanged between civilizations. Bindusara is said to have requested Greek wine, dried figs, and a philosopher from the Seleucid court, demonstrating sophisticated cultural exchanges.
Birth of Ashoka
Ashoka, who would become the greatest Mauryan emperor, was born to Bindusara and Queen Subhadrangi (or Dharma). As a younger prince, his path to the throne was not initially clear. However, his exceptional military and administrative abilities would eventually lead him to power and transform the course of Indian history.
Ashoka Appointed Governor of Ujjain
Prince Ashoka was appointed viceroy of Ujjain, one of the empire's most important provincial centers. During this posting, he demonstrated exceptional administrative and military skills, suppressing rebellions and governing effectively. He also married Devi Vidisha, who would become the mother of his children Mahinda and Sanghamitta, future Buddhist missionaries.
Ashoka Suppresses Taxila Rebellion
A serious rebellion erupted in Taxila (Takshashila), the great center of learning in the northwest. Prince Ashoka was dispatched to restore order, which he accomplished through a combination of military force and diplomatic skill. This mission further established his reputation as a capable administrator and military commander.
Death of Bindusara
Emperor Bindusara died after ruling for 26 years, leaving behind a vast, stable empire. His death triggered a succession crisis among his sons. According to Buddhist texts, there was a four-year struggle for the throne before Ashoka emerged victorious, though the details remain historically unclear.
Succession Struggle and Ashoka's Accession
Following Bindusara's death, a succession struggle ensued among his sons. Prince Ashoka, despite not being the eldest, emerged victorious after eliminating rival claimants. Buddhist sources claim he killed 99 brothers, though this is likely exaggerated. He officially assumed the throne around 268 BCE, beginning one of ancient India's most remarkable reigns.
Formal Coronation of Ashoka
Ashoka underwent his formal coronation ceremony (abhisheka) as emperor, four years after first assuming power. This elaborate ceremony, conducted by Brahmin priests according to ancient Vedic traditions, legitimized his rule and marked the beginning of his official reign. He took the title Devanampriya ('Beloved of the Gods').
The Kalinga War
Emperor Ashoka launched a massive military campaign to conquer Kalinga (modern Odisha), one of the last independent kingdoms in the subcontinent. The war was extraordinarily bloody, with an estimated 100,000 killed and 150,000 deported according to Ashoka's own inscriptions. The carnage deeply affected Ashoka, triggering his spiritual transformation and conversion to Buddhism.
Ashoka's Conversion to Buddhism
Deeply remorseful after witnessing the devastating consequences of the Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced Buddhism under the guidance of Buddhist monks, particularly the monk Upagupta. This conversion transformed him from 'Chandashoka' (Ashoka the Fierce) to 'Dharmashoka' (Ashoka the Righteous). He renounced aggressive warfare and dedicated himself to dhamma (dharma/righteousness).
Introduction of Ashoka's Dhamma Policy
Ashoka began implementing his policy of Dhamma, a moral code emphasizing non-violence, tolerance, respect for parents and elders, generosity to Brahmins and ascetics, and compassionate treatment of servants and animals. Though influenced by Buddhism, Dhamma was intended as a universal ethical code for all his subjects regardless of their religion.
Inscription of the First Major Rock Edicts
Ashoka began inscribing his famous edicts on rocks and pillars throughout the empire. These edicts, written in Prakrit using the Brahmi script (and Greek and Aramaic in the northwest), communicated his dhamma teachings to his subjects. They represent some of the earliest decipherable written records in Indian history and provide invaluable information about Mauryan administration and society.
Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra
Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra under the presidency of the monk Moggaliputta Tissa. The council was organized to resolve doctrinal disputes, purify the sangha (monastic community) of false monks, and compile authoritative Buddhist texts. This council helped consolidate Buddhist teachings and prepare for missionary activities abroad.
Dispatch of Buddhist Missions Abroad
Following the Third Buddhist Council, Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to spread the dhamma internationally. His son Mahinda was sent to Sri Lanka, while other missions went to the Hellenistic kingdoms of the west, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. These missions were remarkably successful, transforming Buddhism from a regional Indian religion into a world religion.
Mahinda's Mission to Sri Lanka
Ashoka's son Mahinda (or Mahendra) led a Buddhist mission to Sri Lanka, successfully converting King Devanampiya Tissa and establishing Buddhism on the island. Mahinda's sister Sanghamitta later brought a sapling of the Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka. This mission transformed Sri Lankan culture and established Buddhism firmly in Southeast Asia.
Donation of Barabar Caves to Ajivika Sect
Despite his personal devotion to Buddhism, Ashoka demonstrated religious tolerance by donating the rock-cut Barabar Caves in Bihar to the Ajivika sect, a heterodox religious group. These caves, with their remarkably polished interiors, represent some of the finest examples of ancient Indian rock-cut architecture and demonstrate Ashoka's pluralistic approach to religious patronage.
Erection of the Pillar Edicts
Ashoka commissioned the creation of highly polished sandstone pillars topped with animal capitals (lions, bulls, elephants) bearing important edicts. These pillars, standing up to 50 feet tall and weighing up to 50 tons, were erected at significant Buddhist sites and along major trade routes. The Lion Capital from Sarnath later became India's national emblem.
Mauryan Empire at Its Greatest Extent
The Mauryan Empire under Ashoka reached its greatest territorial extent, controlling virtually the entire Indian subcontinent except the southern tip. The empire stretched from Afghanistan and Baluchistan in the northwest to Bengal and Assam in the east, and from Kashmir in the north to Mysore in the south, encompassing approximately 5 million square kilometers.
Death of Emperor Ashoka
Ashoka died after ruling for approximately 36 years, having transformed the Mauryan Empire and Buddhism itself. His later years saw some decline in central authority and increasing power of provincial governors. Despite this, he left behind an unparalleled legacy in governance, ethics, and religious tolerance that continues to inspire. His principles of dharma influenced rulers for centuries.
Division of the Empire
After Ashoka's death, the vast Mauryan Empire was divided between his grandsons. Dasharatha ruled the eastern part from Pataliputra, while Samprati controlled the western regions from Ujjain. This partition marked the beginning of the empire's gradual fragmentation, though both kingdoms remained powerful and continued Mauryan administrative traditions.
Reign of Dasharatha
Dasharatha, Ashoka's grandson, ruled the eastern Mauryan territories for eight years. He continued Ashoka's policy of religious tolerance, donating additional caves to the Ajivika sect near the Barabar Caves. His relatively brief reign saw continued prosperity but also the beginning of provincial autonomy that would weaken the empire.
Samprati Promotes Jainism
Samprati, ruling from Ujjain, became a great patron of Jainism, much as his grandfather Ashoka had been to Buddhism. He built numerous Jain temples and sponsored the spread of Jainism throughout western and southern India. Jain texts compare his contributions to Jainism with Ashoka's to Buddhism, calling him 'Jain Ashoka.'
Greco-Bactrian Invasions Begin
The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom began mounting pressure on the northwestern frontiers of the Mauryan Empire. The weakening central authority after Ashoka's death made it difficult to maintain control over distant provinces. Greek rulers gradually reclaimed territories in Afghanistan and pushed into the Punjab, eroding Mauryan control in the northwest.
Increasing Provincial Autonomy
As successive weak emperors ruled from Pataliputra, provincial governors and local rulers increasingly acted independently. The sophisticated administrative system established by Chandragupta and Chanakya began to break down. Regional powers emerged, and the empire's revenue system weakened, reducing the central government's ability to maintain military forces.
Rise of Pushyamitra Shunga
Pushyamitra Shunga, a Brahmin general, rose to become the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan army under Emperor Brihadratha. He represented the traditional Brahmanical establishment that had lost influence during the Buddhist Mauryan period. His increasing power and ambition posed a growing threat to the last Mauryan emperor.
Assassination of Brihadratha and End of Mauryan Empire
Pushyamitra Shunga assassinated the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha during a military parade, ending the Mauryan dynasty after 137 years of rule. He established the Shunga dynasty in its place, marking a Brahmanical reaction against Buddhist dominance. The assassination symbolically ended ancient India's first great empire and ushered in a period of smaller regional kingdoms.