Ancient and Medieval Indian Rulers

Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 BCE) founded the Mauryan Empire, India's first major empire, with Chanakya's guidance. Prithvi Raj Chauhan (12th century) and Maharana Pratap (16th century) were later regional rulers. Babur founded the Mughal Empire in 1526.

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Dynasty in 321 BCE with the help of his advisor Chanakya (Kautilya). He established the first major empire that unified most of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka was his famous grandson who embraced Buddhism.

Seleucus I Nicator, the Greek general, dispatched Megasthenes as ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya around 305 BCE. Megasthenes wrote 'Indica', a valuable account of Indian society and geography, though the original text is now lost.

Brihadratha was the last ruler of the Maurya Dynasty, reigning from 187 to 180 BCE. He was assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga, who then founded the Shunga Dynasty. This marked the end of the Mauryan Empire.

Chandragupta Maurya defeated Dhana Nanda, the last ruler of the Nanda Dynasty, around 322 BCE with the help of his mentor Chanakya. This event marked the establishment of the Mauryan Empire, which became one of India's greatest empires.

Sita was the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Mithila. She was found while Janaka was ploughing a field as part of a yagna ceremony, earning her the name Sita (furrow).

Ayodhya was the capital city of the Kosala Kingdom, ruled by the Ikshvaku dynasty. King Dasaratha and later his son Rama ruled from Ayodhya.

The Vijayanagar Empire was founded in 1336 by two brothers, Harihara I (Hakka) and Bukka Raya (Bukka), who served as the first co-rulers. Krishnadevaraya was a later famous ruler, not a founder.

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya dynasty around 321 BCE with the help of his mentor Chanakya (Kautilya). Ashoka was his grandson who came later, while Bindusara was Chandragupta's son and successor.

Maya Sabha (Palace of Illusions) at Indraprastha was built by the divine architect Vishwakarma for the Pandavas. Maya was a demon architect who helped design it, but Vishwakarma was the chief architect. Purochana was sent to burn the palace.

Indraprastha was the new kingdom built by the Pandavas with the help of Maya the Asura architect. It was given to them by Dhritarashtra to prevent conflict between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Hastinapura was the original Kuru capital where Dhritarashtra ruled. Pandavapura and Kunthipura are not documented kingdoms in the Mahabharata narrative.

Harshavardhana (Harsha) belonged to the Vardhana (also called Pushyabhuti) dynasty, which ruled from Thanesar and later Kanauj. He unified much of North India after the Gupta decline and ruled from 606-647 CE. The Maurya, Gupta, and Kanva were different dynasties from other periods.

Sri Gupta (c. 240-280 CE) is regarded as the founder of the Gupta dynasty, though his grandson Chandragupta I (r. 320-335 CE) was the first great ruler who significantly expanded the empire and started the Gupta Era. Chandragupta II was a later famous ruler. Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.

Pulakeshin I (c. 543-566 CE) established the Chalukya dynasty of Badami in South India. His son Kirtivarman I and grandson Pulakeshin II expanded the kingdom; Pulakeshin II was famous for defeating Harshavardhana. Kirtivarman II was the last ruler of this dynasty.