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Conquest of the Nanda Empire

May 24, 2023

The conquest of the Nanda Empire under Dhana Nanda by a force under Chandragupta Maurya in the late 4th century BCE led to the establishment of the Maurya Empire. Little is known from historical sources for certain about the conflict.

Mauryan-Nanda War
Part of Conquests of Maurya Empire

The Nanda Empire during the time of the war.
Datec. 323–321 BCE
Location
Nanda Empire in Northern India
Result Mauryan victory
Belligerents
Nanda Empire Chandragupta Maurya
Commanders and leaders
Dhana Nanda

Chandragupta Maurya

Chanakya
About 10,105,200-10,170,000 warriors and civilians killed. Additional 10,00,000 cavalry, 10000 elephants and 5000 horses killed during the war.

Background

The story of the main figures involved and the conquest is obscure.[1] The Nanda Empire, led by Dhana Nanda, was based in Magadha and containing many of the kingdoms in the Ganges basin.

Chandragupta was born to a Shudra woman. His ancestry was unknown. The knowledge of statecraft and warfare was taught to Chandragupta by his teacher Chanakya, who is referred to as Kautilya. Kautilya's Arthasastra was a science of politics intended to teach a wise king how to govern.[2] Chanakya taught the young king a wide-ranging discussions on war and diplomacy. Chanakya's work included; his wish to have his king become a world conqueror, his analysis of which kingdoms are natural allies and which are inevitable enemies, his willingness to make treaties he knew he would break and retain, his doctrine of silent war or a war of assassination against an unsuspecting king, his approval of secret agents who killed enemy leaders and sowed discord among them, his views of men and women as weapons of war, his use of religion and superstition to bolster his troops and demoralize enemy soldiers, the spread of disinformation, and his humane treatment of conquered soldiers and subjects.[3]

War

Much of what is known about the conquest comes from accounts written long after the war itself. Ancient historian, Plutarch (AD 46 – AD 120) gives an account of parts of the conquest.[4] The conquest was fictionalized in Mudrarakshasa, a political drama in Sanskrit by Vishakadatta composed between 300 CE and 700 CE.[5] The history is also briefly recounted in Vishnu Purana (unknown date), which emphasizes the importance of Chanakya in the destruction of the Nanda empire.[6] In another work, Milinda Panha (dating from 100 BCE), Bhaddasala is named as a Nanda general during the conquest.[5]

Estimates of the number of soldiers involved are based in part on ancient Roman sources. Plutarch estimates that Chandragupta's army would later number 600,000 by the time it had subdued all of India,[1] an estimate also given by Pliny ((23 AD–79 AD)). Pliny and Plutarch also estimated the Nanda Army strength in the east as 200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 6,000 war elephants. These estimates were based in part of the earlier work of the Seleucid ambassador to the Maurya, Megasthenes.[7] One 21st-century author, Suhas Chatterjee, suggests that "Chandragupta had to engage all his military strength, even Greek mercenaries from Punjab in his conquest of the Nanda king" and according to references about the conquest in the Milinda Panha "One lakh of soldiers, 10,000 elephants, 100,000 horses and 5,000 charioteers were killed in the encounter".[8]

In Mudrarakshasa, Chandragupta was said to have first acquired Punjab, and then combined forces with Chanakya and advanced upon the Nanda Empire.[5] Similarly, Plutarch writes that he first overthrew Alexanders Prefects in the northwest of India.[4] P. K. Bhattacharyya concludes that the war would have consisted of gradual conquest of provinces after the initial consolidation of Magadha.[1] In Mudrarakshasa, he laid siege to Kusumapura (or Pataliputra now Patna), the capital of Magadha, with the help of north-west frontier tribe mercenaries from areas already conquered.[5] The siege may have begun in 320 BCE.[9] By 312 BCE he had conquered all of north and north-west India.[5]

In the war, Chandragupta may have allied with the King of Simhapura in Rajputana and Gajapati King of Kalinga (modern day Orissa).[10] The prior experience of his mercenaries from the Punjab were likely important in his military success.[11] It is also suggested that Chandragupta's campaign was laid out by using popular guerrilla tactics, as the Nanda Empire was large and had been able to wield large armies that would have been overwhelming to oppose by an upstart.[9] The war brought an end to the Nanda Dynasty and established the Maurya Empire with Chandragupta Maurya as its leader.

Aftermath

Maurya consisted of at least four provinces at the end of Chandragupta's conquests: Avantirastra (capital: Ujjayini), Daksinapatha (capital: uncertain, perhaps Suvarnagiri), Uttarapatha (capital: Taksasila), and Pracya (capital: Pataliputra).[1] Chanakya later became Chandragupta's prime minister.[11]

Chandragupta eventually expanded his empire to southern India and warred with the Seleucid Empire over control over all of north western India and parts of Persia. The Maurya Empire eventually became the most extensive empire in India seen up to the date of when he abdicated.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bhattacharyya, Pranab Kumar. Historical Geography of Madhyapradesh from Early Records. Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1977. p8
  2. ^ Boesche, Roger. "Kautilya's Arthasastra on War and Diplomacy in Ancient India." The Journal of Military History, vol. 67 no. 1, 2003, pp. 9-37. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/jmh.2003.0006
  3. ^ Boesche, Roger. "Kautilya's Arthasastra on War and Diplomacy in Ancient India." The Journal of Military History, vol. 67 no. 1, 2003, pp. 9-37. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/jmh.2003.0006
  4. ^ a b Barua, Pradeep. The State at War in South Asia. Vol. 2. U of Nebraska Press, 2005. pp13-15 via Project MUSE (subscription required)
  5. ^ a b c d e Roy, Kaushik. Hinduism and the Ethics of Warfare in South Asia: From Antiquity to the Present. Cambridge University Press, 2012. p61-62
  6. ^ Sharma, Urmila, and Sanjeev Kumar Sharma. Indian Political Thought. Atlantic Publishers & Dist, 2001. p53
  7. ^ Mookerji, Radhakumud. Chandragupta Maurya and his times. Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1966. p165-166
  8. ^ Chatterjee, Suhas (1998). Indian civilization and culture. New Delhi: M.D. Publications. p. 155. ISBN 9788175330832.
  9. ^ a b c R.G. Grant: Commanders, Penguin (2010). pg. 49
  10. ^ Roy, Kaushik. Warfare in Pre-British India–1500BCE to 1740CE. Routledge, 2015. p46-50
  11. ^ a b Roy, Kaushik. Military Manpower, Armies and Warfare in South Asia. Routledge, 2015. p13

May 24, 2023
conquest, nanda, empire, conquest, nanda, empire, under, dhana, nanda, force, under, chandragupta, maurya, late, century, establishment, maurya, empire, little, known, from, historical, sources, certain, about, conflict, mauryan, nanda, warpart, conquests, mau. The conquest of the Nanda Empire under Dhana Nanda by a force under Chandragupta Maurya in the late 4th century BCE led to the establishment of the Maurya Empire Little is known from historical sources for certain about the conflict Mauryan Nanda WarPart of Conquests of Maurya EmpireThe Nanda Empire during the time of the war Datec 323 321 BCELocationNanda Empire in Northern IndiaResultMauryan victoryBelligerentsNanda EmpireChandragupta MauryaCommanders and leadersDhana NandaChandragupta Maurya ChanakyaAbout 10 105 200 10 170 000 warriors and civilians killed Additional 10 00 000 cavalry 10000 elephants and 5000 horses killed during the war Contents 1 Background 2 War 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 ReferencesBackground EditThe story of the main figures involved and the conquest is obscure 1 The Nanda Empire led by Dhana Nanda was based in Magadha and containing many of the kingdoms in the Ganges basin Chandragupta was born to a Shudra woman His ancestry was unknown The knowledge of statecraft and warfare was taught to Chandragupta by his teacher Chanakya who is referred to as Kautilya Kautilya s Arthasastra was a science of politics intended to teach a wise king how to govern 2 Chanakya taught the young king a wide ranging discussions on war and diplomacy Chanakya s work included his wish to have his king become a world conqueror his analysis of which kingdoms are natural allies and which are inevitable enemies his willingness to make treaties he knew he would break and retain his doctrine of silent war or a war of assassination against an unsuspecting king his approval of secret agents who killed enemy leaders and sowed discord among them his views of men and women as weapons of war his use of religion and superstition to bolster his troops and demoralize enemy soldiers the spread of disinformation and his humane treatment of conquered soldiers and subjects 3 War EditMuch of what is known about the conquest comes from accounts written long after the war itself Ancient historian Plutarch AD 46 AD 120 gives an account of parts of the conquest 4 The conquest was fictionalized in Mudrarakshasa a political drama in Sanskrit by Vishakadatta composed between 300 CE and 700 CE 5 The history is also briefly recounted in Vishnu Purana unknown date which emphasizes the importance of Chanakya in the destruction of the Nanda empire 6 In another work Milinda Panha dating from 100 BCE Bhaddasala is named as a Nanda general during the conquest 5 Estimates of the number of soldiers involved are based in part on ancient Roman sources Plutarch estimates that Chandragupta s army would later number 600 000 by the time it had subdued all of India 1 an estimate also given by Pliny 23 AD 79 AD Pliny and Plutarch also estimated the Nanda Army strength in the east as 200 000 infantry 80 000 cavalry 8 000 chariots and 6 000 war elephants These estimates were based in part of the earlier work of the Seleucid ambassador to the Maurya Megasthenes 7 One 21st century author Suhas Chatterjee suggests that Chandragupta had to engage all his military strength even Greek mercenaries from Punjab in his conquest of the Nanda king and according to references about the conquest in the Milinda Panha One lakh of soldiers 10 000 elephants 100 000 horses and 5 000 charioteers were killed in the encounter 8 In Mudrarakshasa Chandragupta was said to have first acquired Punjab and then combined forces with Chanakya and advanced upon the Nanda Empire 5 Similarly Plutarch writes that he first overthrew Alexanders Prefects in the northwest of India 4 P K Bhattacharyya concludes that the war would have consisted of gradual conquest of provinces after the initial consolidation of Magadha 1 In Mudrarakshasa he laid siege to Kusumapura or Pataliputra now Patna the capital of Magadha with the help of north west frontier tribe mercenaries from areas already conquered 5 The siege may have begun in 320 BCE 9 By 312 BCE he had conquered all of north and north west India 5 In the war Chandragupta may have allied with the King of Simhapura in Rajputana and Gajapati King of Kalinga modern day Orissa 10 The prior experience of his mercenaries from the Punjab were likely important in his military success 11 It is also suggested that Chandragupta s campaign was laid out by using popular guerrilla tactics as the Nanda Empire was large and had been able to wield large armies that would have been overwhelming to oppose by an upstart 9 The war brought an end to the Nanda Dynasty and established the Maurya Empire with Chandragupta Maurya as its leader Aftermath EditMaurya consisted of at least four provinces at the end of Chandragupta s conquests Avantirastra capital Ujjayini Daksinapatha capital uncertain perhaps Suvarnagiri Uttarapatha capital Taksasila and Pracya capital Pataliputra 1 Chanakya later became Chandragupta s prime minister 11 Chandragupta eventually expanded his empire to southern India and warred with the Seleucid Empire over control over all of north western India and parts of Persia The Maurya Empire eventually became the most extensive empire in India seen up to the date of when he abdicated 9 See also EditMagadha Nanda Empire Maurya EmpireReferences Edit a b c d Bhattacharyya Pranab Kumar Historical Geography of Madhyapradesh from Early Records Motilal Banarsidass Publishe 1977 p8 Boesche Roger Kautilya s Arthasastra on War and Diplomacy in Ancient India The Journal of Military History vol 67 no 1 2003 pp 9 37 Project MUSE doi 10 1353 jmh 2003 0006 Boesche Roger Kautilya s Arthasastra on War and Diplomacy in Ancient India The Journal of Military History vol 67 no 1 2003 pp 9 37 Project MUSE doi 10 1353 jmh 2003 0006 a b Barua Pradeep The State at War in South Asia Vol 2 U of Nebraska Press 2005 pp13 15 via Project MUSE subscription required a b c d e Roy Kaushik Hinduism and the Ethics of Warfare in South Asia From Antiquity to the Present Cambridge University Press 2012 p61 62 Sharma Urmila and Sanjeev Kumar Sharma Indian Political Thought Atlantic Publishers amp Dist 2001 p53 Mookerji Radhakumud Chandragupta Maurya and his times Motilal Banarsidass Publ 1966 p165 166 Chatterjee Suhas 1998 Indian civilization and culture New Delhi M D Publications p 155 ISBN 9788175330832 a b c R G Grant Commanders Penguin 2010 pg 49 Roy Kaushik Warfare in Pre British India 1500BCE to 1740CE Routledge 2015 p46 50 a b Roy Kaushik Military Manpower Armies and Warfare in South Asia Routledge 2015 p13 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Conquest of the Nanda Empire amp oldid 1140327542, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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