Vidarbha War

The Vidarbha War, also called Agnimitra's conquest of Vidarbha, took place in the 2nd century BCE, before Agnimitra became the Shunga king.

The conflict began when Mādhavasena, Agnimitra’s spy and the brother of his rival Yajñasena, the ruler of Vidarbha, was caught by Vidarbha’s forces while trying to escape. Agnimitra asked for his release, but the Vidarbha king refused, leaving him no choice but to launch a military campaign against Vidarbha.
Background
Agnimitra, served as the viceroy at Vidisa. At that time, Vidarbha was ruled by Yajnasena. According to the Malavikagnimitra, Vidarbha had recently become an independent kingdom, and its king was married to the sister of a Mauryan minister.

 Divided Mauryan Court 
During the last days of the Mauryan Empire, two rival factions were competing for power. When Pushyamitra took the throne, he imprisoned the Mauryan minister. Yajnasena, who was his rival declared himself independent in Vidarbha.

 Prelude 
Madhavasena, was secretly traveling to Vidisha when he was captured by the forces of Yajnasena. Agnimitra demanded his release, but the Vidarbha king agreed only on the condition that his brother-in-law, be freed.

A letter stored in the 4th century play, Malavikagnimitra by Kalidasa states:

 War and Agreement 
The conditions set by Yajnasena was not acceptable to the Shunga prince. Agnimitra, commanded Virasena, his commander-in-chief to lead an attack on Vidarbha. Yajnasena was defeated and captured by the Shunga forces. Madhavasena was set free, and the kingdom of Vidarbha was divided between the two cousins, with the river Wardha serving as the boundary between their territories. Northern part of Vidarbha was under Madhavsena and the Southern part was given to Yajnasena.:747

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