THE SHUNGA DYNASTY 187-73 B.C

THE SHUNGA DYNASTY 187-73 B.C

the last ruler of the Maurya Empire, was assassinated by his Senānī or commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga,[5] while he was reviewing the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pushyamitra Shunga then ascended the throne Its capital was Pataliputra, but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at Besnagar (modern Vidisha) in eastern Malwa.[1]

Pushyamitra Shunga 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.

They fought the Kalinga, the Satavahana dynasty, the Indo-Greek Kingdom and possibly the Panchalas and Mitras of Mathura.
Pushyamitra Shunga became the ruler of Magadha and neighbouring territories. His realm essentially covered the central parts of the old Mauryan Empire.[

 Ayodhya in northern central India,  the city of Mathura ] On the contrary, according to the Yavanarajya inscription, Mathura was probably under the control of Indo-Greeks from some time between 180 BCE and 100 BCE, and remained so as late as 70 BCE.[7]  Pushyamitra equipped a fourfold army, and intending to destroy the Buddhist religion, he went to the Kukkutarama (in Pataliputra). ... 

Pushyamitra therefore destroyed the sangharama, killed the monks there, and departed.Pushyamitra died after ruling for 36 years (187–151 BCE). He was succeeded by son Agnimitra. This prince is the hero of a famous drama by one of India's greatest playwrights, Kālidāsa. Agnimitra was viceroy of Vidisha when the story takes place.

The power of the Shungas gradually weakened. It is said that there were ten Shunga emperors. The Shungas were succeeded by the Kanva dynasty around 73 BCE

List of Shunga Emperors[edit]

Emperor	Reign[citation needed]
Pushyamitra Shunga	185–149 BCE
Agnimitra	149–141 BCE
Vasujyeshtha	141–131 BCE
Vasumitra	131–124 BCE
Bhadraka (aka Andraka or Odruka)	124–122 BCE
Pulindaka	122–119 BCE
Ghosha (aka Ghoshavasu)	119-108 BCE
Vajramitra	108-94 BCE
Bhagabhadra (aka Bhagavata)	94-83 BCE
Devabhuti	83–73 BCE