The Sunga Empire or the Shunga Empire was an ancient Indian dynasty from the Magadha that controlled the vast areas of the Indian subcontinent from around the 187 to 78 BCE. The dynasty was established by the Pushyamitra Sunga after the fall of the Maurya Empire. Its capital was the Pataliputra but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at the Besnagar, modern vidisha in the Eastern Malwa.
Pushyamitra Sunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Sunga rulers. The empire is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and indigenous powers. They fought battles with the Kalingas, Satavahanas, the Indo-Greeks, and possibly the Panchalas and Mathuras.
The Sunga Empire played an imperative role in patronizing Indian culture at the time when some of the most important developments in Hindu thought were taking place. Patanjali's Mahabhasya was composed in this period. Artistry also progressed with the rise of the Mathura school of art. Thereafter, there was a downfall of the dynasty and Kanvas succeeded around 73 BCE.
The Sunga dynasty was established in the 185 BCE, about 50 years after the Ashoka's death, when the Emperor Brhadratha, the last of the Mauryan rulers, was assassinated by the then commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, Pushyamitra Sunga, while he was taking the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pushyamitra Sunga then ascended the throne.
Pushyamitra Sunga became the ruler of Magadha and neighbouring territories. The empire of Pushyamitra was extended up to Narmada in the south, and controlled by Jalandhar and Sialkot in the Punjab in the north-western regions and the city of Ujjain in central India. The Kabul Valley and much of the Punjab passed into hands of the Indo-Greeks and the Deccan to the Satavahanas.
The Sungas were succeeded by the Kanva dynasty around 73 BCE.
Rulers of the Dynasty:
Pushyamitra Sunga:
Pushyamitra Sunga from 185–149 BCE was the founder and first King of the Sunga Dynasty in Northern India.
Pushyamitra was originally the Senapati (General) of the Mauryan Empire. In 185 BCE he assassinated the last Mauryan Emperor (Brihadratha Maurya) during an army review, and proclaimed himself King. He then performed the Ashwamedha Yajna and brought much of Northern India under his rule. Inscriptions of the Shungas have been found as far as the Jalandhar in the Punjab, and the Divyavadana mentions that his rule extended as far as Sagala (Sialkot, Pakistan).
Agnimitra
Agnimitra (reigned 149–141 BCE) was the second King of the Sunga Dynasty of northern India. He succeeded his father, Pushyamitra Sunga, in 149 BCE. The Vayu Purana and the Brahmanda Purana have assigned 8 years as the length of his reign.
Agnimitra's reign ended in 141 BCE and he was succeeded either by his son Vasujyeshtha (according to the Matsya Purana) or Sujyeshtha (according to the Vayu, BrahamÄnda, Vishnu, and Bhagavata Puranas).
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunga_Empire
Pushyamitra Sunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Sunga rulers. The empire is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and indigenous powers. They fought battles with the Kalingas, Satavahanas, the Indo-Greeks, and possibly the Panchalas and Mathuras.
The Sunga Empire played an imperative role in patronizing Indian culture at the time when some of the most important developments in Hindu thought were taking place. Patanjali's Mahabhasya was composed in this period. Artistry also progressed with the rise of the Mathura school of art. Thereafter, there was a downfall of the dynasty and Kanvas succeeded around 73 BCE.
The Sunga dynasty was established in the 185 BCE, about 50 years after the Ashoka's death, when the Emperor Brhadratha, the last of the Mauryan rulers, was assassinated by the then commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, Pushyamitra Sunga, while he was taking the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pushyamitra Sunga then ascended the throne.
Pushyamitra Sunga became the ruler of Magadha and neighbouring territories. The empire of Pushyamitra was extended up to Narmada in the south, and controlled by Jalandhar and Sialkot in the Punjab in the north-western regions and the city of Ujjain in central India. The Kabul Valley and much of the Punjab passed into hands of the Indo-Greeks and the Deccan to the Satavahanas.
The Sungas were succeeded by the Kanva dynasty around 73 BCE.
Rulers of the Dynasty:
Pushyamitra Sunga:
Pushyamitra Sunga from 185–149 BCE was the founder and first King of the Sunga Dynasty in Northern India.
Pushyamitra was originally the Senapati (General) of the Mauryan Empire. In 185 BCE he assassinated the last Mauryan Emperor (Brihadratha Maurya) during an army review, and proclaimed himself King. He then performed the Ashwamedha Yajna and brought much of Northern India under his rule. Inscriptions of the Shungas have been found as far as the Jalandhar in the Punjab, and the Divyavadana mentions that his rule extended as far as Sagala (Sialkot, Pakistan).
Agnimitra
Agnimitra (reigned 149–141 BCE) was the second King of the Sunga Dynasty of northern India. He succeeded his father, Pushyamitra Sunga, in 149 BCE. The Vayu Purana and the Brahmanda Purana have assigned 8 years as the length of his reign.
Agnimitra's reign ended in 141 BCE and he was succeeded either by his son Vasujyeshtha (according to the Matsya Purana) or Sujyeshtha (according to the Vayu, BrahamÄnda, Vishnu, and Bhagavata Puranas).
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunga_Empire
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