# Satavahana conquest of Malwa

Satavahana's Conquest of Eastern Malwa or Satavahana occupation of Malwa was a military campaign conducted by Satavahana dynasty against the Kanvas and the Shungas dynasty of Vidhisha in the eastern Malwa region. This conflict occurred during the late 1st century BCE when the Satavahanas were trying to expand their influence northwards after the other Magadha based dynasties had weakened based on the recent events. The conquest brought about an important change of power, whereby the Satavahanas established their authority over parts of central India.

## Background

Pushyamitra Shunga founded the Shunga dynasty in 185 BCE. An orthodox Brahmin ruler, he repelled Menander’s invasion by the Greeks, made Ujjain and Pataliputra his capitals, and performed the grand horse sacrifice called the Ashvamedha Yajna. His son, Agnimitra Shunga, succeeded him and was then depicted in Kālidāsa’s Mālavikāgnimitram.He was repelled by Menander's Greek invasion, made Ujjain and Pataliputra his capitals, and performed the Ashvamedha Yajna. His son, Agnimitra Shunga, succeeded him and was later depicted in Kālidāsa's Mālavikāgnimitram. With the decline of the dynasty, its last king, Devabhuti, was overthrown in 75 BCE by his Brahmin minister, Vasudeva, who founded the Kanva dynasty.
Vasudeva established the Kanva dynasty after overthrowing the last king of the Shunga dynasty, Devabhuti. This occurred in 75 BCE. The Kanva dynasty lasted only inside the Shunga territories and came to an end with its last ruler, Susarman.

## Occupation of Malwa

The Kanva dynasty supplanted the Satavahana dynasty of the Andhrabhrityas. The Satavahana ruler not only ended the rule of the Kanvas but also dismantled the remaining influence of the Sunga dynasty. Puranas note that even following Devabhūmi's demise and the fall of the Shungas, a few specific members or descendants of the family perhaps took to governing in the Vidisa region along with other areas.
The Puranas suggest that Simuka, having probably subdued the Sungas and Kanvas and killing the last Kanva ruler, took his position in the Eastern Malwa region. In addition to that, some coins of 'Malwa' fabric inscribed with a legend referring to a great Satavahana king, and findings from excavations on Nevasa, suggest that Malwa may well have been among the first spheres of Satavahana influence. Coins inscribed with "Satavahana" were possibly issued by Simuka, the first king of the dynasty.
They had been suggested to be in occupation of the Malwa region, based on epigraphical evidence. On the southern gateway of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, there is a votive inscription recording a donation made by Vāsishthiputra Ānanda, described as the foreman of artisans working for King Sātakarni. This king, whose name could be loosely translated from Sanskrit as "that born of Satakarni," is often identified as the Satakarni mentioned in the inscription from Nanaghat. However, some feel that he may be the second king to have borne that name.

## Aftermath

After their defeat by the Satavahanas and the subsequent fall of the Kanva dynasty, the Magadha Empire came to an end. The Kanva dynasty's defeat by the Satavahanas was a localized event in Central India. Numismatic and epigraphic evidence suggests that from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE, Magadha later came under the influence of the Mitra dynasty of Kaushambi.