Shunga Empire: Map & History
The Shunga Empire was a ruling entity centred around Magadha and controlled most of the northern Indian subcontinent from around 187 to 75 BCE.
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The Shunga Empire was a ruling entity centred around Magadha and controlled most of the northern Indian subcontinent from around 187 to 75 BCE. The dynasty was established by Pushyamitra, after taking the throne of Magadha from the Mauryas. The Shunga empire's capital was Pataliputra, but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at Besnagar in eastern Malwa. This dynasty is also responsible for successfully fighting and resisting the Greeks in Shunga–Greek War.
Modern Countries Once Part of Shunga Empire
At its mapped extent, Shunga Empire covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Shunga Empire's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Shunga Empire in Depth
Origins
According to historical reconstructions, the Shunga dynasty was established in 184 BCE, about 50 years after Ashoka's death, when the emperor Brihadratha Maurya, the last ruler of the Maurya Empire, was assassinated by his Senānī or commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra, while he was reviewing the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pushyamitra then ascended the throne.
Pushyamitra became the ruler of Magadha and neighbouring territories. His realm essentially covered the central parts of the old Mauryan Empire. The Shunga definitely had control of the central city of Ayodhya in northern central India, as is proved by the Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription.
Decline
After the death of Agnimitra, the second king of the dynasty, the empire rapidly disintegrated: inscriptions and coins indicate that much of northern and central India consisted of small kingdoms and city-states that were independent of any Shunga hegemony.
The last king of Sungas, Devabhuti was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, who then established Kanva dynasty. According to the Puranas: "The Andhra Simuka will assail the Kanvayanas and Susarman, and destroy the remains of the Sungas' power and will obtain this earth." The Andhras did indeed destroy the last remains of the Sunga state in central India somewhere around Vidisha, probably as a feeble rump state.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Shunga Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Shunga Empire: Key Facts
| Capital | Pataliputra |
|---|---|
| Official language | Sanskrit |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Founded | 185 BCE |
| Dissolved | 75 BCE |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q651377 (CC0).
Shunga Empire Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Shunga Empire appears, with the other states of the time.
Shunga Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 1,155,730 km² in 72 BCE.
Shunga Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Shunga Empire exist?
The Shunga Empire is dated to 170 BCE – 67 BCE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Shunga Empire?
The capital of the Shunga Empire was Pataliputra.
How large was the Shunga Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 72 BC the Shunga Empire covered about 1,155,730 km².