E1 - Haryanka Rajvansh

Creative Director: Kanchan Vishnu Mhatre

The Magadha Empire is considered as India’s first empire. There have been sixteen great states known as Mahajanapadas, out of which Magadha was on the rise. The Haryanka Dynasty was Magadha’s first powerful and vibrant dynasty. Bimbisara was the first king of the dynasty. Bimbisara expanded his kingdom and his administration system reveal a great depth of intellect and thus ushered in a new period of innovative approaches later adopted by India’s future rulers. Bimbisara was deposed and killed by his own ambitious son Ajatshatru. His aggrasive conquest led to expansion of the kingdom. History repeated itself and Ajatshatru was also killed by his son Udayin. It is said that every king of the dynasty was killed by their sons. The haryanka dynasty saw lot of internal conflicts and family bloodshed, due to which the people and ministers of the kingdom revolted against the last ruler of the dynasty and brought their reign to end.