Kanva dynasty

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Kanva dynasty

75 BCE–30 BCE
Kanvayana shown with other petty kingdoms of that time, along with the large kingdoms of the Satavahanas & Indo-Scythians.
Kanvayana shown with other petty kingdoms of that time, along with the large kingdoms of the Satavahanas & Indo-Scythians.
CapitalPataliputra and Vidisha
Common languagesSanskrit
Religion
Hinduism
GovernmentMonarchy
Maharajadhiraj 
• 75 - 66 BCE
Vasudeva Kanva
History 
• Established
75 BCE
• Disestablished
30 BCE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Shunga dynasty
Satavahanas
Kushan Empire
Mitra dynasty (Kosambi)

The Kanva dynasty or Kanvayana that overthrew the Shunga dynasty in parts of eastern and central India, and ruled from 75 BCE to 30 BCE.[1][2]

Although the Puranic literature indicates that the Kanva Dynasty ruled from the former capital of the Shunga Empire in Pataliputra, Magadha in Eastern India, their coins are primarily found in and around the region of Vidisha in Central India,[3] which had also been the capital of later Shunga rulers.[4]

The Kanva dynasty was established by Vasudeva Kanva in 75 BC. Vasudeva was initially a minister of the Shunga Emperor Devabhuti, who then assassinated the former emperor and usurped the throne.[5] The Kanva ruler allowed the kings of the Shunga dynasty to continue to rule in obscurity in a corner of their former dominions. There were four Kanva rulers. According to the Puranas, their dynasty was brought to an end by the Satavahanas.[6][2]

Origin[edit]

The Kanva kings were Brahmins. They were descendants of Sage Saubhari. [7] Vasudeva Kanva killed Devabhuti of the Shunga dynasty and established the rule of the Kanva dynasty.[8]

Rulers[edit]

The first ruler of the Kanva dynasty was Vasudeva.[9] He was succeeded by his son Bhumimitra. Coins bearing the legend Bhumimitra have been discovered from Panchala realm. Copper coins with the legend "Kanvasya" have also been found from Vidisha, as well as Kaushambi in the Vatsa realm.[10] Bhumimitra ruled for fourteen years and was later succeeded by his son Narayana. Narayana ruled for twelve years. He was succeeded by his son Susharman who was the last king of the Kanva dynasty.[11][12]

  • Vasudeva (c. 75 – c. 66 BCE)
  • Bhumimitra (c. 66 – c. 52 BCE)
  • Narayana (c. 52 – c. 40 BCE)
  • Susarman (c. 40 – c. 30 BCE)

Succession[edit]

According to the Puranas, the last king of the Kanva dynasty was killed by Balipuccha, who founded the Andhra dynasty.[8]

Aftermath[edit]

The defeat of the Kanva dynasty by the Satavahana dynasty was a localised event in Central India.[13][14] However, numismatic and epigraphic evidence suggests that Magadha itself came under the hegemony of the Mitra dynasty of Kaushambi from the 1st century BCE until the 2nd century CE.[14]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. INDIAN HISTORY by Dr. Sanjeevkumar Tandle, Page 150
  2. 2.0 2.1 Raychaudhuri 2006, p. 333.
  3. Bhandare, Shailendra. "Numismatics and History: The Maurya-Gupta Interlude in the Gangetic Plain." in Between the Empires: Society in India, 300 to 400, ed. Patrick Olivelle (2006), pp.91–92
  4. Bhandare (2006), pp.71, 79
  5. Radhey Shyam Chaurasia. History of Ancient India: Earliest Times to 1000 A. D. Atlantic Publishers & Dist, 2002 - India - 308 pages. p. 132.
  6. History of Ancient India By Rama Shankar Tripathi, Page 189
  7. World history from early times to A D 2000 By B.V.Rao, Sterling Publishers, Page 97
  8. 8.0 8.1 Thapar 2013, p. 296.
  9. Kumar, Brajmohan. Archaeology of Pataliputra and Nalanda. Ramanand Vidya Bhawan, 1987 - India - 236 pages. p. 26.
  10. Bajpai (2004), p.38 with footnote 4, and p.173
  11. optional Indian history ancient India by Pratiyogita Darpan Editorial Team, Page 121 (The Kanvas)
  12. World Monarchies and Dynasties By John Middleton, Routledge Publishers, Page 486 (Kanva Dynasty)
  13. Bhandare (2006), pp.91–92
  14. 14.0 14.1 K. D. Bajpai (October 2004). Indian Numismatic Studies. Abhinav Publications. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-81-7017-035-8.

Sources[edit]

Preceded by
Shunga dynasty
Magadha dynasties Succeeded by
Satavahana