Ajatashatru

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Ajatashatru
Royal procession leaving Rajagriha, possibly depicting Ajatashatru, from Sanchi[1]
2nd Haryanka Emperor
Reign	c. 492 – c. 460 BCE[2] or c. 405 – c. 373 BCE[3][4]
Predecessor	Bimbisara
Successor	Udayabhadra
Governor of Champa
Reign	? – c.492 or c.405 BCE
Died	460 BCE[2] or c. 373 BCE[3][4]
Spouse	Vajira Padmavati Dharini Subadhra
Issue	Udayabhadra
Dynasty	Haryanka
Father	Bimbisara
Mother	Queen Chellana (Sanskrit: Cellaṇā), daughter of President Chetaka[5][6] (Jainism) Queen Kosala Devī (Buddhism)
Religion	Jainism, Buddhism

Ajatasattu (Pāli Ajātasattu^[2]) or Ajatashatru (Sanskrit Ajātaśatru^[2]) in Buddhist tradition, or Kunika (Kūṇika) and Kuniya (Kūṇiya) in the Jain histories,^[7] (reigned c. 492 to 460 BCE, or c. 405 to 373 BCE^[3][4]) 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 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.