Haryanka Dynasty: Rise of Magadha

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We will cover Haryanaka Dynasty (544 BC-412 BC) beginning with Bimbisara

Bimbisara (Shronika) and the Foundation of the Haryanka Dynasty: 544 BC-492 BC

He was the founder of Haryanka dynasty.
Magadha came into prominence under the leadership of Bimbisara.
He was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha.
He married the princesses of Kosala (Kosaldevi / Mahakosala – daughter of Kosal King Prasenjit), Lichchhavi (Chellana-sister of Lichchhavi Head Chetaka) and Madra (Khema-daughter of Madra king), which helped him in his expansionist policy.
He gained a part of Kashi as 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 from jaundice.
Known as Seniya, he was the first Indian king to have a regular and standing army.
He built the city of New Rajagriha.

Bimbisara was succeeded by his son Ajatashatru. Ajatashatru killed his father and seized the throne.
Ajatashatru followed a more aggressive policy. He gained complete control over Kashi and broke the earlier amicable relations by attacking his maternal uncle Prasenjit, the king of Kosala.
Vajji confederation was Ajatashatru’s next target of 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 seeds of discord amongst the people of Vajji.
The three things that played important role to defeat Vajji- 1. Sunidha and Vatsakar – Ajatashatru’s 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 Vaishall (the capital of Vajji) were added to Magadha, making it the most powerful territorial power in the Ganges Valley.
He built the fort of Rajagrihaand a watch-fort (Jaladurga) at a village called Patali, on the banks of the Ganges.

Ajatshatru was succeeded by his son Udayin.
His reign 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 were all weak and committed parricides.

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