Brihadratha Maurya

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Brihadratha Maurya
Mauryan Samrat
Full name	Ashoka Bindusara Maurya
Royal House	Mauryan dynasty
Religious beliefs	Buddhism

Brihadratha Maurya was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty. He ruled from c. 187–180 BCE. He was killed by his senapati (commander-in-chief), Pusyamitra Sunga

Reign

According to the Puranas, Brihadratha succeeded Śatadhanvan and he ruled for seven years.^[1] Mauryan territories, centered around the capital of Pataliputra, had shrunk considerably from the time of the great Emperor Ashoka when Brihadratha came to the throne.

Invasion of Demetrius I

In 180 BCE, northwestern India (parts of modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan) were attacked by the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius. He established his rule in the Kabul Valley and parts of the Punjab (the present-day Pakistan). The Yuga Purana section of the Gargi Samhita says that the Yavana (Greco-Bactrian) army led by King Dhamamita (Demetrius) invaded the Mauryan territories during Brihadratha's reign and after occupying Panchala region and the cities of Saketa and Mathura, they finally captured Pataliputra. But soon they had to leave to Bactria to fight a fierce battle (probably between Eucratides and Demetrius).^[2]

Usurpation of power by Pushyamitra Sunga

He was killed in 180 BCE and power usurped by his commander-in-chief, the Army general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then took over the throne and established the Sunga dynasty. Banabhatta in his Harshacharita says, Pushyamitra, while parading the entire Mauryan army before Brihadratha on the pretext of showing him the strength of the army, crushed his master, Brihadratha Maurya,.^[3]

Notes

↑ Thapar, Romila (2001). Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryan, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-564445-X, p.183
↑ Lahiri, B. (1974). Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) , Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.22-4
↑ Lahiri, B. (1974). Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) , Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.24-5

Brihadratha Maurya Mauryan Dynasty
Preceded by Satadhanvan	Mauryan Emperor 187–180	Succeeded by Pusyamitra (Sunga dynasty)

Succeeded by Demetrius I (Indo-Greek kingdom)

Persondata
Name	Brhadrata
Alternative names
Short description	Mauryan emperor
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death

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