Magadha Empire UPSC notes best 2021(Haryanaka Dynasty)

• He was the founder of Haryanaka Dynasty
• Magadha came into prominence under the leadership of Bimbisara.
• He was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha
• He married the princess of kosala ( kosaldevi / Mahakoshala- sister of kosal king Prasenjit) , Lichchhavi ( chellana – sister Lichchhavi head chetaka ) and Madra (khema- Daughter of Madra king) which helped him in his expansionist policy.
• He gained a part of kashi as the dowry in his marriage with the sister of king Prasenjit of kosala.
• He conquered Anga
• He sent a royal Physician jivaka to Ujjain , when avanti king pradyota was suffered by jaundice.
• Known as seniya , he was the first Indian king who had a regular and standing army.

He built the city of New Rajgriha.

• Bimbisara was succeeded by his son Ajatashatru. Ajatashatru killed his father and seized the throne.
• Ajatashatru followed a more agressive policy. He gained complete control over kashi and broke the earlier amicable relations by attacking his maternal uncle Prasenjit, the king of kosala.
• The Vajji confederation was Ajatashatru’s next attack . This war was a lengthy one and tradition tells us that after a long period of 16 years , he was able to defeat the Vajji only through deceit, by sowing the seeds of discord amongst the people of Vajji.
• The three things that played important role to defeat the Vajji – 1. Subidha and vatsakar– Ajatshatru diplomatic ministers who sowed the seeds of discord amongst vajjis. 2. Rathamusala– a kind of chariot to which a mace was attached 3. Mahashilakantaka– a war engine which catapulted big stones.
• In this way kashi and vaishali ( the capital of Vajji) were added to magadha Empire making it the most powerful territorial power in the Ganges valley.
• He built the fort of Rajgriha and a watch fort ( Jaladurga) at a village called Patali , on the banks of Ganges.

•  Ajatashatru was succeeded by his son Udayin
• His regin is important because he laid the foundations of the city of Patliputra at the confluence of the son and the Ganges and shifted the capital from Rajagriha to Patliputra.
• Udayin was succeeded by Anuruddha, Munda and Naga Dasak respectively who all were weak and parricides.