Why is nanda dynasty remarkable in the history of india?
We all know that an empire is a large kingdom ruled by an emperor, but who first formed an empire in india?
From what we know from the recorded histories the nandas were the first kings to form an empire in india. They assumed power, replacing sisunaga dynasty in magadha. magadha was under the powerful rule of the nandas from 360 BC, prior to the mauryas.
According to the puranas, there were 9 nanda kings_ a father and eight sons.
The first nanda king to rule over the large empire was mahapadma. He had a huge army with 60,000 cavalrymen and 6,000 war elephants.
The nandas ruled almost all parts of india for a century. They are credited with implementing a more centralized administration; they introduced a new Currency and tax action system and that is probably how they amassed grate wealth. From the ancient text's, it is also know that the nandas were unpopular and disliked by there subjects because of there low rank in the cast structure, excessive taxation, and there general misconduct.
Dhanananda,the last nanda rule was overthrown by chandragupta maurya in 321 BC. He did this with the help of chanakya, his friend and later his minister, and established the mauryan empire.
Dhanananda's capital was at pataliputra then. Chandragupta decided to conquer the outskirts of dhanananda's kingdom first. For this, he took over the north _ west, abandoned by alexander and finally occupied pataliputra with careful planing.
Spaning over 5 million square kilometers, the mauryan empire was the largest political entity to have existed in the Indian subcontinent.
Chandragupta was a power ruler known for expanding his kingdom. He fought selekos nikator, a general of alexander. Chandragupta won the Battle following which he took over many parts of afghanistan.
According to the buddhist stories, Chandragupta is said to have come from an ordinary family, from a land full of peacocks and hence, the name maurya. Though it had great rulers like ashoka, the mauryan empire dissolved in 185 BC, with the foundation of the shunga dynasty in magadha.
Chanakya, also known as kautilya, served as the chief advisor to both emperors chandragupta and his son bindusara. Much of what we know about chanakya comes from - legendary accounts.
