Nanda Empire

Nanda Dynasty
← 345 BC–321 BC →
The Nanda Dynasty at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda c. 323 BC.
Capital		Pataliputra
Languages		Sanskrit
Religion		Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
Government		Monarchy
Samrat		Mahapadma Nanda
		Dhana Nanda
Historical era		Iron Age India
-	Established	345 BC
-	Disestablished	321 BC
Today part of		Bangladesh  Bhutan  India  Myanmar    Nepal  Pakistan

Asiain 323 BC, showing borders of the Nanda Empire in relation to Alexander's Empire and neighbors.

The Nanda Dynasty originated from the region of Magadha in ancient India during the 4th century BC. At its greatest extent, the Nanda Dynasty extended from Bengal in the east, to Punjab in the west and as far south as the Vindhya Range.^[1] The Nanda Empire was later conquered by Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the Maurya Empire.

Establishment of the dynasty

Mahapadma Nanda, who has been described as "the destroyer of all the Kshatriyas", defeated the Panchalas, Kasis, Haihayas, Kalingas, Asmakas, Kurus, Maithilas, Surasenas and the Vitihotras; to name a few.^[2] He expanded his territory south of the Deccan plains. The Nandas who usurped the throne of the Shishunaga dynasty c. 345 BC^[3] were thought to be of low origin with some sources stating that the dynasty's founder, Mahapadma, was the son of a Shudra mother .^[4]

Nanda rule

The Nandas are sometimes described as the first empire builders in the recorded history of India. They inherited the large kingdom of Magadha and wished to extend it to yet more distant frontiers. To this purpose they built up a vast army, consisting of 200,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 2,000 war chariots and 3,000 war elephants (at the lowest estimates). According to Plutarch however, the size of the Nanda army was even larger, numbering 200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 war chariots, and 6,000 war elephants. However, the Nandas never had the opportunity to see their army up against Alexander, who invaded India at the time of Dhana Nanda, since Alexander had to confine his campaign to the plains of Punjab, for his forces, frightened by the prospect of facing a formidable foe, mutinied at the Hyphasis River (the modern Beas River) refusing to march any further. This river thus marks the eastern-most extent of Alexander's conquests.

List of Nanda rulers

• Mahapadma Nanda (c. 345 BC – 329 BC)
• Pandhuka
• Panghupati
• Bhutapala
• Rashtrapala
• Govishanaka
• Dashasidkhaka
• Kaivarta
• Mahendra
• Dhana Nanda (Agrammes) (c. 329 BCE – 321 BC)

Footnotes