Ashoka

@Emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, Birthday and Childhood

Ashoka was the third emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty and ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent

304 BC

IndianHistorical PersonalitiesEmperors & KingsLeaders
Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: 304 BC
  • Nationality: Indian
  • Famous: Emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, Emperors, Kings, Historical Personalities, Emperors & Kings, Leaders
  • Hobbies: Hunting
  • Spouses: Karuvaki, Maharani Devi, Rani Padmavati, Tishyaraksha
  • Siblings: Susima
  • Known as: Dharma Ashoka, Ashoka the Terrible, Asoka, Ashoka the Great

Ashoka born at

Pataliputra

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Birth Place

While on exile in Kalinga for two years to escape his brothers’ enmity, he met and fell in love with its princess, Kaurwaki, as a commoner, both unaware of each other’s real identities. The two later married secretly.

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Personal Life

While being treated for his injuries at Ujjain, he met Vidisa Mahadevi Sakya Kumari (Devi), from Vidisha, whom he later married. The couple had two children – son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra.

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Personal Life

Apart from Kaurwaki and Devi, he is believed to have had many other wives too. Padmavati, Tishyaraksha and Asandhimitra were some of them, with whom he had several children.

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Personal Life

Ashoka was born as Devanampriya Priyadarshi Samrat Ashoka, in 304 BC, in Pataliputra (close to modern-day Patna), to the second emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty, Bindusara, and Maharani Dharma.

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Childhood & Early Life

The grandson of the founder of Mauryan Dynasty, Chandragupta Maurya, he had several half-brothers from his father’s other wives.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born into a royal family, he was good at fighting since childhood and received royal military training. Besides, he was also excellent at hunting, evident from his ability to kill a lion with only a wooden rod.

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Childhood & Early Life

Considered a fearless and heartless military leader, he was deputed to curb the riots in the Avanti province of the empire.

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Accession & Reign

He was appointed the Viceroy of Avanti province in 286 BC after suppressing the uprising at Ujjain.

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Accession & Reign

He was called upon by his father to help heir-apparent Susima in quelling a revolt at Taxila, which he did successfully, thereby becoming the Viceroy of Taxila. He is also said to have handled and curbed a second rebellion in Taxila later.

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Accession & Reign

After his father Bindusara’s death in 272 BC, a two-year long fierce battle broke out between Ashoka and his half brothers. According to Dipavansa and Mahavansa (Buddhist texts), he killed his 99 brothers, sparing just Vitashoka or Tissa, to capture the throne.

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Accession & Reign

While he ascended the throne in 272 BC, he had to wait for four years for his coronation in 269 BC to become the third ruler of the Mauryan Empire.

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Accession & Reign

He attacked Kalinga in 261 BC to further extend his Empire and conquered it successfully, only to be shocked to see the massive destruction caused in terms of both property and human lives.

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Major Battles