Kautilya

Timeline

1. c. -350–-330Taxila · TaxilaTraditional texts record that Kautilya was born into a Brahmin family and received training in politics, law and warfare at the northwestern scholarly center of Taxila, mastering strategy and statecraft and laying the intellectual foundation for assisting in founding a state.
2. c. -330–-325Magadha · MagadhaAccording to legends such as the Kautilya Jataka, he fell into conflict with the Nanda court and went into exile in Magadha, where he met Chandragupta, swore to help him overthrow Nanda tyranny, and began organizing an anti-Nanda alliance.
3. c. -325–-303Pataliputra · PataliputraAs Chandragupta's chief adviser, he planned the military campaign to overthrow the Nanda dynasty, organized armies and intelligence networks, and took part in diplomatic and strategic decisions during the war with Seleucus, making him a core figure in the founding of the Maurya Empire.
4. c. -303–-275Pataliputra · PataliputraIn his later years, the Arthashastra traditionally attributed to Kautilya was composed, systematically treating the monarch's duties, bureaucracy, taxation, the sixfold policy of diplomacy, city defense and military organization, becoming one of the most important documents of ancient Indian political economy.