Sunga Empire

The Shunga Dynasty ruled between 185 BC and 73 BC by Magadha from a large part of northern India. The capitals were Pataliputra in Magadha and Vidisha ( at Sanchi ) in Malwa, the opinions are divided, which was the major cities now for the dynasty.

History

The Shunga story began (after Harshacarita, 7th century) with the murder of Ashoka's grandson Brihadratha by his general Pushyamitra (reigned about 185-151 BC) at a military parade, bringing the Maurya dynasty ended.

Pushyamitras, the founder of the dynasty of Shunga, came despite his military background from a Brahmin family and reigned for over 30 years. He was in the battles with his opponents, the Shatavahanas the king Satakarni ( 180 BC), the Bactrian Greeks ( King Demetrius I and II and their General Menander from 183 BC, they conquered with their allies apparently not very successful in a muddled time Pataliputra ) or the Conqueror Kharavela of Kalinga.

Pushyamitra son Agnimitra was viceroy in central India, and its capital was Vidisha in Malwa ( at Sanchi ). He should - play Kalidasa According to one - the enmity of the Vidarbha kingdom in Berar (which may have the Shatavahanas shelter ) have ended by a marriage. In his time the advance of the well-known Indo- Greek king Menander falls.

Despite their 112 - year reign, little is known about the Shunga. They moved back to Brahmanism Buddhism before and cultivated Sanskrit. The funding Buddhist monasteries in order to uplift the general culture was compared them to the settlement of Brahmin probably too expensive. It is true that the Buddhist representation of the persecution of Buddhists by Pushyamitra (100 gold pieces per head) and the destruction of 84,000 stupas, yet grew their monasteries, and the stupa of Bharhut was built at that time. The Shunga lifted apparently many measures Ashoka regarding celebrations and animal sacrifices again, as well as their neighbor in Kalinga, in addition to Pushyamitra have again celebrated the Vedic horse sacrifice ( Ashvamedha ). Furthermore, the Shunga preferred in contrast to the Maurya again more Indian elements in art.

In the course of about 100 years, the Shunga Empire shrank to Magadha and in its place arose several independent kingdoms and tribal states. The ninth king, Bhagavata is mentioned on the Heliodorus pillar in Vidisha, in which by a delegation of the Indo - Greek king Antialkidas is mentioned. The Shunga dynasty ended when the tenth King Devabhuti was 73 BC murdered at the instigation of his minister Vasudeva by a slave. Vasudeva founded the short-lived Kanva Dynasty ( 73-28 BC), which has achieved only four kings and fell back to the status of a border territory of the Satavahanas under the Magadha to Guptazeit.

Comments

List of Shunga kings

  • Pushyamitra Shunga ( 185-149 BC)
  • Agnimitra ( 149-141 BC)
  • Vasujyestha (about 141 BC)
  • Vasumitra ( 141-137/1 BC)
  • Andraka
  • Pulindaka
  • Ghoshavasu
  • Vajramitra (? -116 BC, covered multi. )
  • Bhagavata ( 116-83 BC)
  • Devabhuti ( 83-73 BC)
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