Chandragupta Maurya

@Founder of the Maurya Empire, Timeline and Life

Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan Empire and is credited for unifying India for the first time in history

340 BC

IndianHistorical PersonalitiesEmperors & Kings
Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: 340 BC
  • Nationality: Indian
  • Famous: Emperors, Founder of the Maurya Empire, Kings, Historical Personalities, Emperors & Kings
  • Spouses: Durdhara
  • Childrens: Bindusara
  • Founder / Co-Founder:
    • Maurya Empire
  • Birth Place: Pataliputra

Chandragupta Maurya born at

Pataliputra

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Birth Place

He married Seleucus’ daughter, which further enhanced his friendly relations with the Hellenistic kingdoms apart from improving India’s trade with the western world.

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Personal Life

He abandoned his throne and converted to Jainism, eventually becoming a Muni under Shrutakevali Bhadrabahu with whom he traveled to Shravanabelagola (in modern Karnataka), where he meditated and fasted to death in 298 BC.

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Personal Life

He was succeeded by his son, Bindusara, who was later succeeded by his grandson, Ashoka who became one of the most influential rulers of ancient India.

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Personal Life

Chandragupta Maurya was born in 340 BC in Pataliputra, in modern-day Bihar. His background is, however, uncertain. Some claim that he was born to a Nanda prince and his maid-servant, Mura, from the Shudra caste, while others state that he belonged to the Moriya tribe of Peacock-tamers.

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Childhood & Early Life

Being a brave and determined leader since childhood, he was very well guided by Chanakya, a great Brahmin scholar of economics and political science at Takshashila University, who later became his mentor.

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Childhood & Early Life

He raised an army with assistance from Chanakya, who went on to become his chief advisor and prime minister after establishing the Maurya Empire.

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Accession & Reign

Chandragupta was able to overcome the Nanda army after a series of battles and finally laid siege of Patliputra, the capital city. The conquest of the Nanda Empire enabled him to lay the foundation of the Maurya Empire in North India at the young age of 20

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Accession & Reign

After Alexander’s death in 323 BC, his empire was divided into three satrapies among his generals, with the Macedonian territories, including Punjab, falling under the control of Seleucus I Nicator.

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Accession & Reign

Since Seleucus was busy on the western borders, Chandragupta took this opportunity to attack and assassinate two Macedonian satrapies, Nicanor of Parthia and Philip, son of Machatas.

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Accession & Reign

After defeating Seleucus, Chandragupta signed a peace treaty with him, according to which he got hold of Punjab in exchange of 500 war elephants.

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Accession & Reign

After a series of unsuccessful attempts, he defeated the forces of Dhana Nanda and his army commander, Bhadrasala, in 321 BC thereby ending the Nanda Dynasty and conquering its capital, Pataliputra.

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Major Battles

With a view to further expand his empire, he set his eyes on eastern Persia and successfully invaded it in 305 BC, and captured areas including Hindu Kush, modern-day Afghanistan and Balochistan in Pakistan.

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Major Battles