Foreign relations of the Magadhan Empire
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Foreign relations of the Magadhan Empire were usually centered towards native states in Indian subcontinent and as well as the Greek kingdoms in the aftermath of Alexander's campaigns.
Macedonian Empire and Alexander the Great
[edit]
During Alexander's campaign of India it is said he reached the outer boundaries of the Magadhan Empire's Nanda dynasty, but his army mutinied after finding out that Nandas wielded a large army[1]
According to Plutarch, Chandragupta Maurya met with Alexander probably around Taxila in northwest region of the Indian subcontinent.[2]
Greek satraps
[edit]Chandragupta conquered Northwest India which was ruled by Greek Satraps left by Alexander, it is said he conquered them by deploying mercenaries.
This conquest is also associated with the death of Alexander's governors such as Philip and Nicanor.[3]
Seleucid Empire
[edit]Following the division of Alexander's empire, Alexander's former general Seleucus I Nicator ruled parts of Persia and Northwest India and directly borded the Magadhan Empire during rule of Mauryan dynasty.
According to Appian, "Seleucid troops crossed the Indus and waged war with Chandragupta, king of the Indians, who dwelt on the banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with each other and contracted a marriage relationship. Some of these exploits were performed before the death of Antigonus and some afterward."[4]
Magadhan Empire won the war and it is said Seleucid fared badly against the Mauryas as they ceded large territories to Mauryans and came into a marriage alliance, Chandragupta also gave Seleucids 500 elephants.[5]
Under the rule of Bindusara, the Mauryans and Seleucids exchanged various presents.[6]
As per 2nd Rock Edict of Ashoka, Emperor Ashoka, he encouraged use and making of herbal medicines to his bordering nations such as Seleucids and Cholas.
Ashoka also sended various buddhist missions to western world.[7]
Indo-Greek Kingdom
[edit]Around c. 182 BCE, Demetrius I of Indo-Greek Kingdom invaded the Magadhan Empire under the rule of Shunga dynasty, the Shungas successfully resisted the invasion.[8]
The Indo-Greeks and the Shungas seem to have reconciled and exchanged diplomatic missions around 110 BCE, as indicated by the Heliodorus pillar, which records the dispatch of a Greek ambassador named Heliodorus, from the court of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas, to the court of the Shunga emperor Bhagabhadra at the site of Vidisha in central India.
Indian states
[edit]Northern and Central Indian states
[edit]Magadhan Empire's relation with North Indian states was hostile, they waged several wars and conquests against North Indian kingdoms and republics, Chandragupta led conquests in northern and central India, while Ashoka conquered Kalinga.
Deep Southern States
[edit]Ashoka mentions the Three Crowned Kings of southern India as the bordering nations of his realm, there have been no concrete proofs about hostility between these states.
References
[edit]- ^ Habib, Irfan; Jha, Vivekanand (2004). Mauryan India. Tulika Books. p. 13. ISBN 978-81-85229-92-8.
- ^ Mookerji, Radhakumud (1966). Chandragupta Maurya and His Times. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-81-208-0405-0.
- ^ Mookerji, Radhakumud (1966). Chandragupta Maurya and His Times. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 6–8, 31–33. ISBN 978-81-208-0405-0.
- ^ "Appian, The Syrian Wars 11 - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Romila Thapar (1963). Asoka and the Decline of the Mauryas. Internet Archive. p. 16.
- ^ "Literature Collection - Collection - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Kosmin, Paul J. (2014-06-23). The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire. Harvard University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-674-72882-0.
- ^ Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 170. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.