Who assassinated King Brihadratha of the Mauryan Empire?

Ruler

Reign

Key Contributions

Chandragupta Maurya

321 BCE – 297 BCE

- Founder of the Mauryan Empire, expanded across Bihar, Nepal, western/northwestern India, and Deccan.

- Fought Seleucus I (305 BCE); Treaty of 303 BCE gained Arachosia, Gedrosia, and Paropamisadai.

- Allowed intermarriage between Greeks and Indians.

- Hosted Megasthenes and Dionysius at his court.

- Became a Jain disciple under Bhadrabahu.

Bindusara

297 BCE – 273 BCE

- Known as Amitraghata (slayer of enemies); "Amitrochates" in Greek sources.

- Expanded empire to the Deccan between Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

- Deimachus was an envoy at his court. - Follower of the Ajivika sect.

Ashoka

272 BCE – 232 BCE

- Initially Viceroy of Taxila and Ujjain.

- Known for inscriptions and edicts promoting Dhamma (moral law).

- Fought Kalinga War; adopted Buddhism afterward.

- Convened the 3rd Buddhist Council at Pataliputra.

- Titles: Devanampiya, Piyadassi, Dharmasoka, Buddhashakya.

Dasharatha

232 BCE – 224 BCE

- Issued imperial inscriptions.

- Empire began to fragment.

- Continued Ashoka’s religious policies.

Samprati

224 BCE – 215 BCE

- Ruled from Pataliputra and Ujjain.

- Recovered lost provinces (Saurashtra, Maharashtra, Andhra, Mysore).

- Promoted Jainism, disciple of Suhastisuriji.

- Protected Jain monks in southern regions.

Shalishuka

215 BCE – 202 BCE

- Described as quarrelsome and unrighteous in Yuga Purana.

Devavarman

202 BCE – 195 BCE

- Ruled for seven years, as per Puranas.

Shatadhanvan

195 BCE – 187 BCE

- Succeeded Devavarman. - Empire weakened due to external invasions.

Brihadratha

187 BCE – 185 BCE

- Last Mauryan ruler. - Assassinated by Pushyamitra Shunga, who established the Shunga Empire.