Ajatashatru
Ajatasattu (Pāli Ajātasattu) or Ajatashatru (Sanskrit Ajātaśatru) in Buddhist tradition, or Kunika (Kūṇika) and Kuniya (Kūṇiya) in the Jain histories, (reigned c. 492 to 460 BCE, or c. 405 to 373 BCE) was one of the most important kings of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha in East India. He was the son of King Bimbisara and was a contemporary of both Mahavira and Gautama Buddha. He forcefully took over the kingdom of Magadha from his father and imprisoned him. He fought a war against the Vajjika League, led by the Licchavis, and conquered the republic of Vaishali. The city of Pataliputra was formed by fortification of a village by Ajatashatru.
| Ajatashatru | |
|---|---|
Royal procession leaving Rajagriha, possibly depicting Ajatashatru, from Sanchi | |
| 2nd Haryanka Emperor | |
| Reign | c. 492 – c. 460 BCE or c. 405 – c. 373 BCE |
| Predecessor | Bimbisara |
| Successor | Udayabhadra |
| Governor of Champa | |
| Reign | ? – c.492 or c.405 BCE |
| Died | 460 BCE or c. 373 BCE |
| Spouse |
|
| Issue | Udayabhadra |
| Dynasty | Haryanka |
| Father | Bimbisara |
| Mother | Queen Chellana (Sanskrit: Cellaṇā), daughter of President Chetaka (Jainism) Queen Kosala Devī (Buddhism) |
| Religion | Jainism, Buddhism |
Ajatashatru followed policies of conquest and expansion. He defeated his neighbouring rivals including the king of Kosala; his brothers, at odds with him, went to Kashi, which had been given to Bimbisara as dowry and led to a war between Magadha and Kosala.
Ajatashatru occupied Kashi and captured the smaller kingdoms. Magadha under Ajatashatru became the most powerful kingdom in North India.