Indian stamp depicting Chandragupta Maurya.
Allegiance:	Maurya Dynasty
Rank:	Emperor
Succeeded by:	Bindusara Maurya
Reign:	322 BC-298 BC
Place of birth:	Indian subcontinent

Chandragupta Maurya (Sanskrit: चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य; Romanized Greek: Sandrakottos), whilst often referred to as Sandrakottos outside India, is also known simply as Chandragupta (born c. 340 BCE, ruled c. 320^[1] – 298 BCE^[2]), was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in bringing together most of the Indian subcontinent. As a result, Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and the first genuine emperor of India.^[3] In foreign Greek and Latin accounts, Chandragupta is known as Sandrokuptos (Σανδρόκυπτος), Sandrokottos (Σανδρόκοττος) or Androcottus.^[4] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. ... Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (297 - c. ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC - 320s BC - 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 327 BC 326 BC 325 BC 324 BC 323 BC - 322 BC - 321 BC 320 BC 319... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC Years: 303 BC 302 BC 301 BC 300 BC 299 BC - 298 BC - 297 BC 296 BC... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Languages can be romanized in a variety of ways, as shown here with Mandarin Chinese In linguistics, romanization (or Latinization, also spelled romanisation or Latinisation) is the representation of a word or language with the Roman (Latin) alphabet, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language... Events Constantine II attacks his brother Constans near Aquileia, aiming for sole control of the western half of the Roman Empire, but is defeated. ... This article is about the year 320 AD. For the aircraft, see Airbus A320. ... Events Constantius Chlorus overthrows the Alamanni in the territory of the Lingones (Langres) and strengthened the Rhine frontier Christians are expelled from the Roman army Baths of Diocletian built in Rome Births Athanasius of Alexandria, bishop and opponent of Arianism Deaths Diophantus, mathematician (approximate date) King Chaekgye of Baekje Categories... A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ...

Prior to Chandragupta's consolidation of power, small regional kingdoms dominated Northwestern sub-continent, while the Nanda Empire dominated the Gangetic plain.^[5] After Chandragupta's conquests, the Maurya Empire extended from Bengal and Assam^[6] in the East, to Afghanistan and Balochistan in the West, to Kashmir and Nepal^[7] in the North, and to the Deccan Plateau in the South.^[8] The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... Bengal (Bengali: বঙ্গ Bôngo, বাংলা Bangla, বঙ্গদেশ Bôngodesh or বাংলাদেশ Bangladesh), is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Assam   (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a north eastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a part of Guwahati. ... Major ethnic groups in Pakistan and surrounding areas, in 1980. ... Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ... Deccan Plateau // Main article: Geography of India So anyway,The Deccan Plateau (Marathi: डेक्कन), also known as The Great Country, is a vast elevated tableland area with widely varying terrain features making up the majority of the southern India located between three ranges and extending over eight states. ...

His achievements, which ranged from defeating Alexander's Macedonian satrapies and conquering the Nanda Empire by the time he was only about 20 years old, to defeating Seleucus Nicator and establishing centralized rule throughout Southern Asia, remain some of the most celebrated in Indian history. Over two thousand years later, the accomplishments of Chandragupta and his successors, including Ashoka the Great, are objects of great study in the annals of South Asian and world history. For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Look up satrap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... Silver coin of Seleucus. ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Ashoka redirects here. ...

[edit] Origins

Maurya Empire

The Maurya Empire at its largest extent under Ashoka.
Imperial Symbol: The Lion Capital of Ashoka
Founder	Chandragupta Maurya
Preceding State(s)	Mahajanapadas, mainly Magadha
Languages	Sanskrit Pali Prakrit Greek (northwest) Aramaic (northwest)
Religions	Hinduism Jainism Buddhism
Capital	Pataliputra
Head of State	Samraat (Emperor)
First Emperor	Chandragupta Maurya
Last Emperor	Brhadrata
Government	Centralized Absolute Monarchy with Divine Right of Kings as described in the Arthashastra
Divisions	4 provinces: Tosali Ujjain Suvarnagiri Taxila Semi-independent tribes
Administration	Inner Council of Ministers (Mantriparishad) under a Mahamantri with a larger assembly of ministers (Mantrinomantriparisadamca). Extensive network of officials from treasurers (Sannidhatas) to collectors (Samahartas) and clerks (Karmikas). Provincial administration under regional viceroys (Kumara or Aryaputra) with their own Mantriparishads and supervisory officials (Mahamattas). Provinces divided into districts run by lower officials and similar stratification down to individual villages run by headmen and supervised by Imperial officials (Gopas).
Area	5 million km² [35] (Southern Asia and parts of Central Asia)
Population	50 million [36] (one third of the world population [37])
Currency	Silver Ingots (Panas)
Existed	322–185 BCE
Dissolution	Military coup by Pusyamitra Sunga
Succeeding state	Sunga Empire

Main article: Ancestry of Chandragupta Maurya

The ancestry of Chandragupta is still shrouded in mystery, with little known for certain.^[9] There are several views regarding his origin, each with its own set of adherents. A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... Image File history File links Mauryan_map. ... Allegiance: Magadhan Empire Rank: Emperor Succeeded by: Dasaratha Maurya Reign: 273 BC-232 BC Place of birth: Pataliputra, India Battles/Wars Kalinga War Emperor Ashoka the Great (Devanagari: अशोक(:); IAST transliteration: , pronunciation: ) (304 BC–232 BC) (Imperial Title:Devanampiya Piyadassi ie He who is the beloved of the Gods who, in... The Lion Capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four lions standing back to back. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Pali (IAST: ) is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... Prakrit (also spelt Pracrit) (Sanskrit: , original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual, i. ... Aramaic is a Semitic language with a four-thousand year history. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... ... Head of state or Chief of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchic or republican nation-state, federation, commonwealth or any other political state. ... Samraat (Sanskrit samrãṭ) is an Ancient Indian title meaning Emperor. The title of empress is Samragyi (in Sanskrit, samrãjñī). Categories: | | ... Brhadrata was the last ruler of the Indian Mauryan dynasty. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... The Divine Right of Kings is a European political and religious doctrine of political absolutism. ... The Arthashastra (more precisely Arthaśāstra) is a treatise on statecraft and economic policy which identifies its author by the names Kautilya[1] and Viṣṇugupta,[2] who are traditionally identified with the Mauryan minister Cāṇakya. ... , Ujjain   (Hindi:उज्जैन) (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantikapuri) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... Kanakagiri is Historical place of India, situated in Karnataka State, 40 Km North to Gangavati town. ... Taxila is an important archaelogical site in Pakistan containing the ruins of the Gandhāran city and university of Takshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important Vedic/Hindu[1] and Buddhist[2] centre of learning from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. In 1980, Taxila was declared... The term Administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction. ... The Mantriparishad was the council of ministers that was part of the administrative system of the Maurya Empire in Ancient India. ... Mantri is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in Asian cultures with a Hindu tradition (even if later converted, usually to buddhism or Islam), for various public offices, from fairly humble to ministerial rank, either alone or in a pleiad of compounds. ... A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. ... Kumara is the general Polynesian word for the sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas Kumara is also the name of a town on the West Coast of New Zealand Kumara or Kumaraswami is a name for Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... [[Image:[[Gold bars|Gold ingots. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Pusyamitra Sunga (also Pushyamitra Shunga) was the founder of the Indian Sunga dynasty (185-78 BCE). ... The Sunga Empire (or Shunga Empire) is a Magadha dynasty that controlled North-central and Eastern India from around 185 to 73 BCE. It was established after the fall of the Indian Mauryan empire. ... The ancestry of Chandragupta is still shrouded in mystery and not known for certain [1]. There are divergent views regarding the origin, and each view has its own set of adherents. ...

While many Indian historians hold the view that Chandragupta was an illegitimate child of the Nanda Dynasty of Magadha in eastern India, born to a Nanda prince and a maid named "Mura",^[10] other later literary traditions imply that Chandragupta may have been raised by peacock-tamers (Sanskrit: Mayura-Poshakha), which earned him the Maurya epithet. Both the Buddhist as well as Jaina traditions testify to the supposed connection between the Moriya (Maurya) and Mora or Mayura (Peacock).^[11] Yet there are other literary traditions according to which Chandragupta belonged to Moriyas, a Kshatriya (warrior) clan of a little ancient republic of Pippalivana located between Rummindei in the Nepali Tarai and Kasia in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Legitimacy (law). ... The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and South-East Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and... A maidservant or in current usage maid is a female employed in domestic service. ... Peacock re-directs here; for alternate uses see Peacock (disambiguation). ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Chandragupta Maurya (ruled 322–298 BC), known to the Greeks as Sandracottus, was the first emperor of the Mauryan empire. ... An epithet (Greek - επιθετον and Latin - epitheton; literally meaning imposed) is a descriptive word or phrase. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is one of the four varnas, or castes, in Hinduism. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lumbini(27° 28 60N, 83° 16 60E) (Sanskrit: , the lovely) is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located in Rupandehi District, Lumbini Zone of Nepal. ... Motto जननी जन्मभूमिष्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी  (Sanskrit) Mother and motherland are dearer than the heavens Anthem Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka Capital (and largest city) Kathmandu Official languages Nepali Demonym Nepali Government Interim government  -  King Gyanendra1  -  Interim Head of State Girija Prasad Koirala  -  Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Unification December 21, 1768  Area  -  Total 147,181... The Terai, or Tarai (i. ... Gorakhpur (Hindi: गोरखपुर, Urdu: Ú¯Û‹Ú™Ú©Ú¾ پور) is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. ... , Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: , translation: Northern Province, IPA: ,  ), [often referred to as U.P.], located in central-south Asia and northern India, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Republic of India. ...

There are different theories regarding Chandragupta Maurya’s origins. Some regard Chandragupta to have originated from Magadha, possibly as the son of a Nanda prince and a maid named "Mura".^[10][12] A kshatriya people known as the "Mauryas" who had received the relics of the Buddha are also mentioned in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the Digha Nikaya. Then the Moriyas of Pipphalivana came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had passed away. And they sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying: "The Blessed One was of the warrior caste, and we are too. We are worthy to receive a portion of the relics of the Blessed One. We will erect a stupa over the relics of the Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor." Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... Media:Example. ... For the Mahāparinirvāṇa SÅ«tra, a text of East Asian Mahayana Buddhism, see Nirvana Sutra. ... The Digha Nikaya (Collection of Long Discourses) is the first part of the Sutta Pitaka- one of the three baskets that compose the Pali Tipitaka. ...

Others claim that the Mauryas were the Muras or rather Mors, and another view of kshatriya origin of Indo-Scythian lineage has been proposed.^[13][14][15] Another school of thought, including scholars such as B. M. Barua,^[16] Dr J. W. McCrindle, Dr D. B. Spooner ^[17], Dr H. C. Seth ^[18], Dr Hari Ram Gupta ^[19], Dr Ranajit Pal and Kirpal Singh have connected Chandragupta to Gandhara (or Kamboja) in modern day Pakistan. Based on interpretations of Plutarch and Appian's writings, these scholars assert that Chandragupta Maurya may have belonged to the north-west frontier region, possibly to the Assakenoi or Ashvaka (q.v.) Kshatriya clan of Swat/Kunar valley ( modern Koh-I-Mor or Mer-coh — the Meros of the classical writings)^{[19][20][21][22]}. Ashvakas were a section of the Kambojas, who were exclusively engaged in horse-culture and were noted for lending out their cavalry services ^{[23] [24]}. For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is one of the four varnas, or castes, in Hinduism. ... The Indo-Scythian King of Kings Azes II (c. ... Gandhāra (Sanskrit: गन्धार, Persian; Gandara, Waihind) (Urdu: گندھارا) is the name of an ancient Indian Mahajanapada, currently in northern Pakistan (the North-West Frontier Province and parts of northern Punjab and Kashmir) and eastern Afghanistan. ... Kamboja (Sanskrit: कम्बोज) was the ancient name of a Hindu country, and the Indo-Iranian Kshatriya tribe, the Kambojas, settled therein. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ... Appian (c. ... The Ashvakas are very ancient people of north-east Afghanistan. ... The Ashvakas are very ancient people of north-east Afghanistan. ... For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is one of the four varnas, or castes, in Hinduism. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about Special Weapons and Tactics. ... Kunar province is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of the country and on the border with Pakistan. ... Fljótsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley In geology, a valley is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. ... Kambojas are a very ancient Kshatriya tribe of the north-western parts of the Indian subcontinent and what is now Afghanistan, frequently mentioned in ancient texts, although not in the Rig Veda. ...

[edit] Early life

Very little is known about Chandragupta's youth. Much of what is known about his youth is gathered from later classical Sanskrit literature, as well as classical Greek and Latin sources which refer to Chandragupta by the names "Sandracottos" or "Andracottus". He was paragon for next rulers. Literature in Sanskrit, one of Indias two oldest languages, and the basis of several modern languages in India. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ...

According to traditional accounts, Chanakya, a teacher at Takshila University at the time of Alexander's invasion, found the boy Chandragupta from the Magadha kingdom in eastern India. As the story goes, Chandragupta was playing as a king with his friends and was giving justice to another boy playing criminal. Chanakya saw this and was impressed with Chandragupta's sense of justice. Chanakya asked his mother for him and then gave him education in Takshila. It is also believed that Chandragupta's lineage was born of a maid (dasi) of the King. His mother's name was "Mura", hence the name of his dynasty was later known as Maurya.^[10] Chānakya (Sanskrit: चाणक्य) (c. ... Taxila is an important archaelogical site in Pakistan containing the ruins of the Gandhāran city and university of Takshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important Vedic/Hindu[1] and Buddhist[2] centre of learning from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. In 1980, Taxila was declared... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and South-East Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and...

Plutarch reports that he met with Alexander the Great, probably around Takshila in the northwest, and that he viewed the ruling Nanda Empire in a negative light: Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Taxila (Sanskrit: Takshashîlâ/तक्षशीला) is an archaeological site, located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, west of the Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi, on the border of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province and just off the Grand Trunk Road. ... The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ...

According to this tradition, the encounter would have happened around 326 BCE, suggesting a birth date for Chandragupta around 340 BCE.

Junianus Justinus (Justin) describes the humble origins of Chandragupta, and explains how he later led a popular uprising against the Nanda king: Justin or Marcus Junianus Justinus or Justinus Frontinus, 3rd century Roman historian. ...

[edit] Foundation of the Maurya Empire

Further information: Magadha and Maurya Empire

Silver punch mark coin of the Maurya empire, with symbols of wheel and elephant. 3rd century BCE.

At the time of Alexander's invasion, Chanakya was a teacher at Taxila University. The king of Taxila and Gandhara, Ambhi (also known as Taxiles), made a treaty with Alexander and did not fight against him. Chanakya saw the foreign invasion against the Indian culture and sought help from other kings to unite and fight Alexander. Porus (Parvateshwar), a king of Punjab, was the only local king who was able to challenge Alexander at the Battle of the Hydaspes River, but was defeated. Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... Coin of the Mauryan empire, c. ... Coin of the Mauryan empire, c. ... A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Chānakya (Sanskrit: चाणक्य) (c. ... Taxila is an important archaelogical site in Pakistan containing the ruins of the Gandhāran city and university of Takshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important Vedic/Hindu[1] and Buddhist[2] centre of learning from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. In 1980, Taxila was declared... Taxila is an important archaelogical site in Pakistan containing the ruins of the Gandhāran city and university of Takshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important Vedic/Hindu[1] and Buddhist[2] centre of learning from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. In 1980, Taxila was declared... Gandhāra (Sanskrit: गन्धार, Persian; Gandara, Waihind) (Urdu: گندھارا) is the name of an ancient Indian Mahajanapada, currently in northern Pakistan (the North-West Frontier Province and parts of northern Punjab and Kashmir) and eastern Afghanistan. ... Taxiles (in Greek Tαξιλης; lived 4th century BC) was a prince or king, who reigned over the tract between the Indus and the Hydaspes rivers, in the Punjab at the period of the expedition of Alexander the Great, 327 BC. His real name was Ambhi, and the Greeks appear to... King Porus (also Raja Puru), was the King of Pauravaa, a Kingdom in Punjab located between the Jhelum and the Chenab (in Greek, the Hydaspes and the Acesines) rivers in the Punjab and dominions extending to Hyphasis[1]. Its capital may have been near the current city of Lahore [2... Punjab, 1903 Punjab Province, 1909 Punjab (Persian: ‎, meaning Land of the five Rivers) (c. ... Combatants Macedonian Empire Greek allies Persian allies Indian allies Paurava (Punjabi Indian kingdom) Commanders Alexander the Great, Craterus King Porus Strength 34,000 infantry,[2][3][4] 7,000 cavalry[5][6] 20,000 infantry,[7] 2,000 cavalry,[7] 85 war elephants,[8][9] 60 chariots[10] Casualties 4...

Chanakya then went to Magadha further east to seek the help of Dhana Nanda, who ruled a vast Nanda Empire which extended from Bihar and Bengal in the east to eastern Punjab in the west,^[25] but he denied any such help. After this incident, Chanakya began sowing the seeds of building an empire that can protect Indian territories from foreign invasion into his disciple Chandragupta. Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... , Bihar (Hindi: बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA: ,  ) is a state of the Indian union situated in north India. ... Bengal (Bengali: বঙ্গ Bôngo, বাংলা Bangla, বঙ্গদেশ Bôngodesh or বাংলাদেশ Bangladesh), is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of South Asia. ... , This article is about the Indian state of Punjab. ...

[edit] Chanakya

Main article: Chanakya

The court of Chandragupta Maurya, especially Chanakya, played an important part in the foundation and governance of the Maurya dynasty.

Chandragupta's adviser or prime minister^[26] Chanakya, who is also known as Kautilya and was the author of the Arthashastra, is regarded as the architect of Chandragupta's early rise to power. Chandragupta Maurya, with the help of Chanakya, began laying the foundation of the Maurya Empire. In all the forms of the Chanakya legend,^[27] he is thrown out of the Nanda court by the king, whereupon he swears revenge. While in Magadha, Chanakya by chance met Chandragupta whom he spotted great military and executive abilities. Chanakya was impressed by the prince's personality and intelligence, and immediately took the young boy under his wing to fulfill his silent vow. Chānakya (Sanskrit: चाणक्य) (c. ... Image File history File links India_CG3. ... Image File history File links India_CG3. ... Chānakya (Sanskrit: चाणक्य) (c. ... The Mauryan dynasty ruled the Mauryan empire, the first unified empire of India, from 322 BCE to 183 BCE. The rulers of the Mauryan dynasty were: Chandragupta Maurya (322 - 298 BCE) - founder of the Mauryan empire. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... The Arthashastra (more precisely Arthaśāstra) is a treatise on statecraft and economic policy which identifies its author by the names Kautilya[1] and Viṣṇugupta,[2] who are traditionally identified with the Mauryan minister Cāṇakya. ...

Depending upon the interpretation of Justin's accounts, the second version of the above story is that Chandragupta had also accompanied Chanakya to Pataliputra and himself was insulted by Dhana Nanda (Nandrum of Justin). If this version of Justin's accounts is accepted, then the view that Chanakya had purchased Chandragupta from Bihar, on his way back to Taxila, becomes irrelevant. The shrewd Chanakya had trained Chandragupta under his expert guidance and together they planned the conquest of the Nanda Empire.

[edit] Nanda army

The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC.

Main article: Nanda Dynasty

According to Plutarch, at the time of Alexander's Battle of the Hydaspes River, the size of the Nanda Empire's army further east numbered 200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 6,000 war elephants, which was discouraging for Alexander's men and stayed their further progress into India: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 337 pixelsFull resolution (400 × 337 pixel, file size: 10 KB, MIME type: image/gif) The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 337 pixelsFull resolution (400 × 337 pixel, file size: 10 KB, MIME type: image/gif) The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ... Combatants Macedonian Empire Greek allies Persian allies Indian allies Paurava (Punjabi Indian kingdom) Commanders Alexander the Great, Craterus King Porus Strength 34,000 infantry,[2][3][4] 7,000 cavalry[5][6] 20,000 infantry,[7] 2,000 cavalry,[7] 85 war elephants,[8][9] 60 chariots[10] Casualties 4... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, bicycles, or other means. ... Not to be confused with Golgotha, which was called Calvary. ... For other uses, see Chariot (disambiguation). ... The elephants thick hide protects it from injury. ...

In order to defeat the powerful Nanda army, Chandragupta needed to raise a formidable army of his own.^[25]

[edit] Conquest of Macedonian territories in India

Chandragupta defeated the remaining Macedonian satrapies in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent circa 317 BC.

After Alexander's death in 323 BCE, Chandragupta, turned his attention to Northwestern India (modern Pakistan), where he defeated the satrapies (described as "prefects" in classical Western sources) left in place by Alexander (according to Justin), and may have assassinated two of his governors, Nicanor and Philip.^[3][25] The satrapies he fought may have included Eudemus, ruler in western Punjab until his departure in 317 BCE; and Peithon, son of Agenor, ruler of the Greek colonies along the Indus until his departure for Babylon in 316 BCE. The Roman historian Justin described how Sandrocottus (Greek version of Chandragupta's name) conquered the northwest: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 481 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1119 × 1393 pixel, file size: 324 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Eastern Satraps After Alexander. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 481 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1119 × 1393 pixel, file size: 324 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Eastern Satraps After Alexander. ... Look up satrap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC - 320s BC - 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 328 BC 327 BC 326 BC 325 BC 324 BC - 323 BC - 322 BC 321 BC 320... Look up satrap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Assassin and Assassins redirect here. ... Nicanor was the name of several ancient Greeks: Nicanor of Macedon, father of Balacrus, who lived under Philip II of Macedonia Nicanor (Egyptian general), a trusted general of Ptolemy I Soter, king of Egypt Nicanor (general), a key general of Cassander Nicanor of Macedonia, brother of Philotas and comander of... Look up Philip in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Eudemus (in Greek EυδημoÏ‚; died 316 BC) was one of Alexander the Greats generals, who was appointed by him to the command of the troops left in India. ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 322 BC 321 BC 320 BC 319 BC 318 BC 317 BC 316 BC 315 BC 314... Peithon, son of Agenor (?-312 BCE) was an officer in the expedition of Alexander the Great to India, who became satrap of the Indus from 325 to 316 BCE, and then satrap of Babylon, from 316 to 312 BCE, until he died at the Battle of Gaza in 312 BCE... The Indus River (Urdu: Sindh; Sindhi: Sindhu; Sanskrit and Hindi: सिन्धु ; Persian: حندو ; Pashto: ّآباسنFather of Rivers; Tibetan: Lion River; Chinese: Yìndù; Greek: Ινδός Indos) is the longest and most important river in Pakistan and one of the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent and has given the country India its... For other uses, see Babylon (disambiguation). ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 321 BC 320 BC 319 BC 318 BC 317 BC 316 BC 315 BC 314 BC 313... Justin or Marcus Junianus Justinus or Justinus Frontinus, 3rd century Roman historian. ...

Having consolidated power in the northwest, Chandragupta pushed east towards the Nanda Empire.

[edit] Conquest of the Nanda Empire

Further information: Nanda Dynasty

Chandragupta's empire when he founded it circa 320 BC, by the time he was about 20 years old.

Chanakya had trained Chandragupta under his guidance and together they planned the destruction of Dhana Nanda. The Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutta as well as the Jaina work Parisishtaparvan talk of Chandragupta's alliance with the Himalayan king Parvatka, sometimes identified with Porus.^[28] This Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a composite and formidable army, which is said to have included the Shakas (Indo-Scythians), Yavanas (probably Greeks), Kambojas, Kiratas, Parasikas and Bahlikas. The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa 323 BC. The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It is said to have been established by an illegitimate son of the king Mahanandin of the previous Shishunaga dynasty. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 337 pixelsFull resolution (400 × 337 pixel, file size: 11 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Chandragupta Mauryas empire when he founded it circa 320 BC. I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 337 pixelsFull resolution (400 × 337 pixel, file size: 11 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Chandragupta Mauryas empire when he founded it circa 320 BC. I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Mudrarakshasa (lit. ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... King Porus (also Raja Puru), was the King of Pauravaa, a Kingdom in Punjab located between the Jhelum and the Chenab (in Greek, the Hydaspes and the Acesines) rivers in the Punjab and dominions extending to Hyphasis[1]. Its capital may have been near the current city of Lahore [2... For the movie Himalaya, see Himalaya (film). ... A cataphract-style parade armour of a Saka royal from the Issyk kurgan. ... The Indo-Scythians are a branch of the Indo-Iranian Sakas (Scythians), who migrated from southern Siberia into Bactria, Sogdiana, Arachosia, Gandhara, Kashmir, Punjab, and into parts of Western and Central India, Gujarat and Rajasthan, from the middle of the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century BCE. The first... Yona, Yonaka or Yavana is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greeks. ... Kambojas are a very ancient Kshatriya tribe of the north-western parts of the Indian subcontinent and what is now Afghanistan, frequently mentioned in ancient texts, although not in the Rig Veda. ... The Kiratas are one of the earliest inahbitants of Nepal. ... This article is about the Persian people, an ethnic group found mainly in Iran. ... Bactria (Bactriana, also Bhalika in Indian languages) was the ancient Greek name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush (Caucasus Indicus) and the Amu Darya (Oxus); its capital, Bactra (now Balkh), was located in what is now northern Afghanistan, southern Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. ...

It is noted in the Chandraguptakatha that the protagonist and Chanakya were initially rebuffed by the Nanda forces. Regardless, in the ensuing war, Chandragupta faced off against Bhadrasala – commander of Dhana Nanda's armies. He was eventually able to defeat Bhadrasala and Dhana Nanda in a series of battles, ending with the siege of the capital city Kusumapura^[25] and the conquest of the Nanda Empire around 321 BC,^[25] thus founding the powerful Maurya Empire in Northern India by the time he was about 20 years old. For other uses, see Patna (disambiguation). ...

[edit] Expansion

By the time he was only about 20 years old, Chandragupta, who had succeeded in defeating the Macedonian satrapies in India and conquering the Nanda Empire, had founded a vast empire that extended from Bengal and Assam in the east, to the Indus Valley in the west, which he would further expand in later years. Bengal (Bengali: বঙ্গ Bôngo, বাংলা Bangla, বঙ্গদেশ Bôngodesh or বাংলাদেশ Bangladesh), is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Assam   (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a north eastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a part of Guwahati. ... The Indus River (Urdu: Sindh; Sindhi: Sindhu; Sanskrit and Hindi: सिन्धु ; Persian: حندو ; Pashto: ّآباسنFather of Rivers; Tibetan: Lion River; Chinese: Yìndù; Greek: Ινδός Indos) is the longest and most important river in Pakistan and one of the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent and has given the country India its...

[edit] Conquest of Seleucus' eastern territories

Silver coin of Seleucus I Nicator, who fought Chandragupta Maurya, and later made an alliance with him.

Chandragupta extended the borders of his empire towards Seleucid Persia after his conflict with Seleucus circa 305 BC.

Seleucus I Nicator, a Macedonian satrap of Alexander, reconquered most of Alexander's former empire and put under his own authority eastern territories as far as Bactria and the Indus (Appian, History of Rome, The Syrian Wars 55), until in 305 BCE he entered in a confrontation with Chandragupta: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 591 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (660 × 669 pixel, file size: 170 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 591 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (660 × 669 pixel, file size: 170 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Silver coin of Seleucus. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 337 pixelsFull resolution (400 × 337 pixel, file size: 11 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Chandragupta Mauryas empire in 305 BC after his conflict with Seleucus Nicator. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 337 pixelsFull resolution (400 × 337 pixel, file size: 11 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Chandragupta Mauryas empire in 305 BC after his conflict with Seleucus Nicator. ... The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic successor state of Alexander the Greats dominion. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and beyond in Western Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. ... Silver coin of Seleucus. ... Silver coin of Seleucus. ... Look up satrap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Bactria, about 320 BC Bactria (Bactriana, Bākhtar in Persian, also Bhalika in Arabic and Indian languages, and Ta-Hia in Chinese) was the ancient Greek name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush and the Amu Darya (Oxus); its capital, Bactra or Balhika or Bokhdi (now... Appian (c. ...

The exact details of engagement are not known. As noted by scholars such as R. C. Majumdar^[10] and D. D. Kosambi, Seleucus appears to have fared poorly, having ceded large territories west of the Indus to Chandragupta. Due to his defeat, Seleucus surrendered Arachosia, Gedrosia, Paropamisadae, and Aria.

Seleucus and Chandragupta ultimately reached a settlement, and through a treaty sealed in 305 BC, Seleucus ceded the country around the river Indus, according to Strabo: Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 310 BC 309 BC 308 BC 307 BC 306 BC 305 BC 304 BC 303 BC 302... The Greek geographer Strabo in a 16th century engraving. ...