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Ajatashatru

Type Figure Region Magadha Time c. -492–-461 Also known as King Ajatashatru

Ajatashatru (c. 492–461 BCE) seized Magadha's throne by patricide, defeated the Vajji confederacy, and moved the capital to Pataliputra.

Timeline

  1. c. -495–-491Rajgir · RajgirEncouraged by a powerful minister, Ajatashatru staged a coup, imprisoned his father Bimbisara and caused his death, and seized the throne. The act is recorded in both Buddhist and Jain texts and cast a shadow over his early reign.
  2. c. -491–-470Pataliputra · PataliputraAfter taking the throne, Ajatashatru waged a long war against Vaishali and eventually conquered it, extending Magadha's power across the wider Ganges basin. He later moved the capital to the more strategically placed Pataliputra and strengthened central authority.
  3. c. -483–-461Rajgir · RajgirAround the time of the Buddha's parinirvana, Ajatashatru converted to Buddhism, supported the monastic community, and convened the First Council near Rajgir to compile the scriptures. He continued to rule Magadha until his death, a key phase before the rise of the Mauryan Empire.

Sources