20 Facts About Nanda dynasty

Nanda dynasty ruled in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent during the 4th century BCE, and possibly during the 5th century BCE.

The last Nanda dynasty king was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire, and the latter's mentor Chanakya.

However, the text states that the daughter of the last Nanda dynasty king married Chandragupta, because it was customary for Kshatriya girls to choose their husbands; thus, it implies that the Nanda dynasty king claimed to be a Kshatriya, that is, a member of the warrior class.

Since the claim of the barber ancestry of the Nanda dynasty's founder is attested by two different traditions—Greco-Roman and Jain, it appears to be more reliable than the Puranic claim of Shaishunaga ancestry.

Nanda dynasty later ousted the sons of the Shaishunaga king Kalashoka.

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Nanda dynasty was succeeded by his son Palaka, who ruled for 60 years.

The Nanda dynasty rule, spanning the reigns of nine kings, lasted for 155 years, after which the Mauryas came to power.

The Roman historian Curtius suggests that the Nanda dynasty's founder was a barber-turned-king, and that his son was the Nanda dynasty's last king, who was overthrown by Chandragupta.

The Greek accounts name only one Nanda dynasty king—Agrammes or Xandrames—who was a contemporary of Alexander.

Nanda dynasty capital was located at Pataliputra in the Magadha region of eastern India.

Nanda dynasty empire appears to have stretched from present-day Punjab in the west to Odisha in the east.

Plutarch inflates these numbers significantly, except the infantry: according to him, the Nanda dynasty force included 200,000 infantry; 80,000 cavalry; 6,000 elephants; and 8,000 chariots.

Nanda dynasty army did not have the opportunity to face Alexander, whose soldiers mutinied at the Beas River, refusing to go any further in the east.

The Puranas describe the Nanda dynasty king as ekarat, which suggests that the Nanda dynasty empire was an integrated monarchy rather than a group of virtually independent feudal states.

Nanda dynasty kings appear to have strengthened the Magadha kingdom ruled by their Haryanka and Shaishunaga predecessors, creating the first great empire of northern India in the process.

Nanda dynasty became a minister reluctantly, but after assuming the office, he encouraged the king to adopt an aggressive expansionist policy.

Nanda dynasty buried these treasures in the bed of the Ganges river.

Nanda dynasty acquired further wealth by levying taxes on all sorts of objects, including skins, gums, trees, and stones.

When Shakatala, a minister of the last Nanda dynasty king, died, his son Sthulabhadra refused to inherit his father's office, and instead became a Jain monk.

Nanda dynasty was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya, who was supported by his mentor Chanakya.