Kalinga War

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The Kalinga War

Date	264 BC/265 BC
Location	Indian subcontinent
Result	Decisive Mauryan Empire victory

Combatants

Mauryan Empire

State of Kalinga

Commanders

Ashoka

Unknown

Strength

Unknown larger quantity

Unknown smaller quantity

Casualties

10,000 (approx.)

100,000 (approx. This may contain civilian casualties)

The Kalinga War (Sanskrit: कलिन्ग युध्धम्) was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka the Great and the state of Kalinga, a feudal republic located in on the coast of the present-day Indian state of Orissa.

[edit] The War

The war began in the 9th year of Ashoka's reign, probably in either 265 or 264 BC. Ashoka's father Bindusara had previously attempted to conquer Kalinga, but had been repulsed. After a bloody battle for the throne after Bindusara's death, Ashoka tried to annex Kalinga. He was successful only after a savage war, whose consequences changed Ashoka's views on war and led him to pledge never to wage a war. It is said that in the aftermath of the Battle of Kalinga the Daya River running next to the battle field turned red with the blood of the slain; about 100,000 Kalinga civilians and more than 10,000 of Ashoka's own warriors were among those slain. Dhauli hill is presumed to be the area where Kalinga War was fought. The historically important Dhauli hills are located on the banks of the Daya River, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar in Orissa (India). Dhauli hill with vast open space adjoining it, and has major Edicts of Ashoka engraved on a mass of rock, by the side of the road leading to the summit of the hill.

[edit] Effect on Ashoka

**Maurya Empire**
The Maurya Empire at its largest extent under Ashoka.
Imperial Symbol: The Lion Capital of Ashoka
Founder	Chandragupta Maurya
Preceding State(s)	Mahajanapadas, mainly Magadha
Languages	Sanskrit Pali Prakrit Greek (northwest) Aramaic (northwest)
Religions	Hinduism Jainism Buddhism
Capital	Pataliputra
Head of State	Samraat (Emperor)
First Emperor	Chandragupta Maurya
Last Emperor	Brhadrata
Government	Centralized Absolute Monarchy with Divine Right of Kings as described in the Arthashastra
Divisions	4 provinces: Tosali Ujjain Suvarnagiri Taxila Semi-independent tribes
Administration	Inner Council of Ministers (Mantriparishad) under a Mahamantri with a larger assembly of ministers (Mantrinomantriparisadamca). Extensive network of officials from treasurers (Sannidhatas) to collectors (Samahartas) and clerks (Karmikas). Provincial administration under regional viceroys (Kumara or Aryaputra) with their own Mantriparishads and supervisory officials (Mahamattas). Provinces divided into districts run by lower officials and similar stratification down to individual villages run by headmen and supervised by Imperial officials (Gopas).
Area	5 million km² ^[1] (Southern Asia and parts of Central Asia)
Population	50 million ^[2] (one third of the world population ^[3])
Currency	Silver Ingots (Panas)
Existed	322–185 BCE
Dissolution	Military coup by Pusyamitra Sunga
Succeeding state	Sunga Empire

Ashoka had seen the blood shed himself with his own eyes. The mangled bodies of men and women, young and old, he could see over two hundred terrible sins. He was the cause of rivers of flowing blood, widows crying over there slain husbandsand orphaned children, this made his heart break in unbearable shame and guilt. Ashoka's response to the Kalinga War is recorded in the Edicts of Ashoka. According to some of these (Rock Edict XIII and Minor Rock Edict I), the Kalinga War prompted Ashoka, already a non-engaged Buddhist, to devote the rest of his life to Ahimsa (non-violence) and to Dhamma-Vijaya (victory through Dhamma). Following the conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka ended the military expansion of the empire and over 40 years of peace, harmony and prosperity followed until Ashoka's death. Dhamma Vijay and not Dig Vijay became th goal of his life.