# List of monarchs of Magadha

The Kingdom of Magadha, later known as the Magadha Empire, was a kingdom and later empire in ancient north India. Many houses ruled the kingdom and its empire over the centuries until it was defeated by the Satavahana Empire in c. 28 BCE. The history of the monarchs of Magadha, particularly in the Pre-Mauryan period, is shrouded in mystery and legend with various sources claiming different things.

## House of Brihadratha

The Brihadratha dynasty was the first ruling house of Magadha. Brihadratha founded this dynasty in 1700 BCE. This dynasty lasted for more than ten centuries, ruling Magadha from 1700 to 682 BCE.

### List of monarchs

Twenty-one kings of Brihadratha house ruled Magadha beginning with Brihadratha himself.
| Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
| Brihadratha | 1700–1680 BCE |
| Jarasandha | 1680–1665 BCE |
| Sahadeva | 1665–1661 BCE |
| Somadhi | 1661–1603 BCE |
| Srutasravas | 1603–1539 BCE |
| Ayutayus | 1539–1503 BCE |
| Niramitra | 1503–1463 BCE |
| Sukshatra | 1463–1405 BCE |
| Brihatkarman | 1405–1382 BCE |
| Senajit | 1382–1332 BCE |
| Srutanjaya | 1332–1292 BCE |
| Vipra | 1292–1257 BCE |
| Suchi | 1257–1199 BCE |
| Kshemya | 1199–1171 BCE |
| Subrata | 1171–1107 BCE |
| Dharma | 1107–1043 BCE |
| Susuma | 1043–970 BCE |
| Dridhasena | 970–912 BCE |
| Sumati | 912–879 BCE |
| Subala | 879–857 BCE |
| Sunita | 857–817 BCE |
| Satyajit | 817–767 BCE |
| Viswajit | 767–732 BCE |
| Ripunjaya | 732–682 BCE |

## House of Haryanka

The Haryanka dynasty was the third ruling house of Magadha. This dynasty was founded by Bimbisara in 544 BCE. This dynasty lasted for 131 years, ruling Magadha from 544 to 413 BCE.

### List of monarchs

This dynasty had six monarchs.
| Monarchs | Reign (BCE) | Period |
| Bimbisara | 544–492 BCE | 52 |
| Ajatashatru | 492–460 BCE | 32 |
| Udayin | 460–444 BCE | 16 |
| Anuruddha | 444–440 BCE | 4 |
| Munda | 440–437 BCE | 3 |
| Nāgadāsaka | 437–413 BCE | 24 |

## House of Shaishunaga

The Shaishunaga dynasty, also called Shishunaga, was the second ruling house of Magadha. Shisunaga, who was originally a minister of King Nagadashaka, overthrew him in a popular rebellion and ascended the throne in 413 BCE. This dynasty lasted for only 68 years, ruling Magadha from 413 to 345 BCE.

### List of Monarchs

Four monarchs of this dynasty ruled Magadha in succession.
| Monarch | Reign (BCE) | Period |
| Shishunaga | 413–395 | 18 |
| Kalashoka | 395–367 | 28 |
| Nandivardhana | 367–355 | 12 |
| Mahanandin | 355–345 | 10 |

## House of Nanda

The Nanda dynasty was the fourth ruling house of Magadha. Mahapadma Nanda founded this dynasty in 345 BCE after murdering his own father, King Mahanandin. This dynasty was the shortest-living dynasty of Magadha, ruling for only 23 years from 345 to 329 BCE.

### List of Monarchs

Different sources mention different number of Nanda rulers. Buddhist, Jain and Puranic traditions state there were nine rulers, but differ considerably. Greek and Roman accounts mention two generations only—Mahapadma Nanda and his son Dhana Nanda

## House of Maurya

The Maurya dynasty was the sixth and greatest ruling house of Magadha. Chandragupta Maurya founded this dynasty with help of his mentor and grand advisor Chanakya in 322 BCE after organizing a large army and overthrowing King Dhana Nanda. This dynasty lasted for 138 years, ruling Magadha from 322 to 184 BCE.

### List of monarchs

This dynasty ruled for a considerably longer period than the previous house and had nine rulers.
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
| Chandragupta Maurya | 322–297 BCE | Founder of first Indian controlled empire uniting the entire subcontinent. |
| Bindusara | 297–273 BCE | Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushing of Vidarbha revolt. |
| Ashoka | 268–232 BCE | Greatest emperor of dynasty. His son Kunala was blinded and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson. Also known for Kalinga War victory. |
| Dasharatha Maurya | 232–224 BCE | Grandson of Ashoka. |
| Samprati | 224–215 BCE | Brother of Dasharatha. |
| Shalishuka | 215–202 BCE | |
| Devavarman | 202–195 BCE | |
| Shatadhanvan | 195–187 BCE | The Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign |
| Brihadratha | 187–184 BCE | Assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE. |

## House of Shunga

The Shunga dynasty was the seventh ruling house of Magadha. Pushyamitra Shunga, the Commander-in-Chief of Emperor Brihadratha Maurya, organized a coup d'état and killed the emperor, usurping the throne in 184 BCE. This dynasty lasted for 112 years, ruling Magadha from 184 to 72 BCE.

### List of monarchs

This dynasty had nine monarchs.
| Emperor | Reign |
| Pushyamitra | 185–149 BCE |
| Agnimitra | 149–141 BCE |
| Vasujyeshtha | 141–131 BCE |
| Vasumitra | 131–124 BCE |
| Bhadraka | 124–122 BCE |
| Pulindaka | 122–119 BCE |
| Ghosha or Vajramitra | 119-114 BCE |
| Bhagabhadra | 114-83 BCE |
| Devabhuti | 83–73 BCE |

## House of Kanva

The Kanva dynasty was the eighth and last ruling house of Magadha. This dynasty was founded by Vasudeva Kanva who overthrow the Emperor Devabhuti in 73 BCE. This dynasty lasted for only 45 years, ruling Magadha from 73 to 28 BCE. On 28 BCE, the last emperor, Susarman Kanva was killed by the Satavahana Emperor Satakarni II and the Magadha Empire subsequently collapsed.

### List of monarchs

| Monarch | Reign (BCE) | Period |
| Vasudeva Kanva | 73–64 BCE | 9 |
| Bhumimitra | 64–50 BCE | 14 |
| Narayana | 50–38 BCE | 12 |
| Susarman | 38–28 BCE | 10 |