Shunga Empire

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Shunga Empire
185 BCE–73 BCE
SATAVAHANAS MAHAMEGHA- VAHANAS MALAVAS INDO- GREEKS PANDYAS CHOLAS ◁ ▷ Territory of the Shungas c. 150 BCE.[1]
Capital	Pataliputra Besnagara
Common languages	Sanskrit
Religion	Hinduism
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• c. 185 – c. 151 BCE	Pushyamitra (first)
• c. 151–141 BCE	Agnimitra
• c. 83–73 BCE	Devabhuti (last)
Historical era	Ancient India
• Assassination of Brihadratha by Pushyamitra Shunga	185 BCE
• Assassination of Devabhuti by Vasudeva Kanva	73 BCE
Preceded by Succeeded by Maurya Empire Vidarbha kingdom (Mauryan era) Kanva dynasty Kosala Avanti (region) Panchala Ancient Nepal
Today part of	India Bangladesh Nepal Pakistan

The Shunga dynasty (IAST: Śuṅga) was the fifth ruling dynasty of 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 (modern Vidisha) in eastern Malwa.^[2] This dynasty is also responsible for successfully fighting and resisting the Greeks in Shunga–Greek War.^[3][4][5]

Pushyamitra ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Shunga rulers. However, after the death of Agnimitra, the second king of the dynasty, the empire rapidly disintegrated:^[6] 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.^[7] The dynasty is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and indigenous powers. They fought the Kalinga, the Satavahana dynasty, the Indo-Greek kingdom and possibly the Panchalas and Mitras of Mathura.

Art, education, philosophy, and other forms of learning flowered during this period, including small terracotta images, larger stone sculptures, and architectural monuments such as the stupa at Bharhut, and the renowned Great Stupa at Sanchi. The Shunga rulers helped to establish the tradition of royal sponsorship of learning and art. The script used by the empire was a variant of Brahmi script and was used to write Sanskrit.

The Shungas were important patrons of culture at a time when some of the most important developments in Hindu thought were taking place. Patanjali's Mahābhāṣya was composed in this period. Artistry also progressed with the rise of the Mathura art style.

The last of the Shunga emperors was Devabhuti (83–73 BCE). He was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva Kanva and was said to have been overfond of the company of women. The Kanva dynasty succeeded the Shungas around 73 BCE.