Kanva dynasty

73 BCE–28 BCE

Kanvayana shown with other petty kingdoms of that time, along with the large kingdoms of the Satavahanas & Indo-Scythians.

Capital

Pataliputra and Vidisha

Common languages

Sanskrit

Religion

Hinduism
Buddhism

Government

Monarchy

High King

• 73–64 BCE

Vasudeva Kanva (first)

• 38–28 BCE

Susarman (last)

History

• Established

73 BCE

• Disestablished

28 BCE

Preceded by

Succeeded by

Shunga dynasty

Satavahanas
Kushan Empire
Mitra dynasty (Kosambi)

Part of a series on the
History of India

Prehistoric Madrasian culture Soanian, c. 500,000 BCE Neolithic, c. 7600 – c. 3300 BCE Bhirrana 7570 – 6200 BCE Jhusi 7106 BCE Lahuradewa 7000 BCE Mehrgarh 7000 – 2600 BCE
Ancient Indus Valley civilization, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Post Indus Valley Period (Cemetery H Culture), c. 1700 – c. 1500 BCE Vedic civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Kuru Kingdom, c. 1200 - c. 500 BCE Early Vedic Period Rise of Śramaṇa movement Later Vedic Period Spread of Jainism – Parshvanatha Spread of Jainism – Mahavira Rise of Buddhism Kingdom of Magadha, c. 1100 - c. 345 BCE Nanda Dynasty, c. 345 – c. 322 Mahajanapadas, c. 500 – c. 345 BCE
Classical Kingdom of Magadha Maurya Dynasty, c. 322 – c. 185 BCE Sangam period Shunga Dynasty, c. 185 – c. 75 BCE Kanva Dynasty, c. 75 – c. 30 BCE Kushan Dynasty, c. 30 – c. 230 CE Satavahana Dynasty, c. 30 BCE – c. 220 CE Gupta Dynasty, c. 200 – c. 550 CE
Early medieval Chalukya Dynasty, c. 543 – c. 753 CE Harsha's Dynasty, c. 606 CE – c. 647 CE Karakota Dynasty, c. 724 – c. 760 CE Arab Invasion, c. 738 CE Tripartite Struggle, c. 760 – c. 973 CE Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty Rastrakuta Dynasty Pala Dynasty Chola Dynasty, c. 848 – c. 1251 CE 2nd Chalukya Dynasty, c. 973 – c. 1187 CE
Late medieval Delhi Sultanate, c. 1206 – c. 1526 CE Slave Dynasty Khalji Dynasty Tugluq Dynasty Sayyid Dynasty Lodhi Dynasty Pandyan Dynasty, c. 1251 – c. 1323 CE Vijayanagara, c. 1336 – c. 1646 CE Bengal Sultanate, c. 1342 – c. 1576 CE
Early modern Mughal Dynasty, c. 1526 – c. 1540 CE Suri Dynasty, c. 1540 – c. 1556 CE Mughal Dynasty, c. 1556 – c. 1857 CE Bengal Subah, c. 1576 – c. 1757 CE Maratha Empire, c. 1674 – c. 1818 CE Company Raj, c. 1757 – c. 1858 CE Kingdom of Mysore, c. 1760 – c. 1799 CE Sikh Empire, c. 1799 – c. 1849 CE
Modern The Great Rebellion, 1857 – 1858 CE British Raj, 1858 – 1947 CE Independence Movement Independent India, 1947 CE – present Dominion of India, 1947 – 1950 CE Republic of India, 1950 CE – present
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Outline

Iron Age (1500–200 BC)

Vedic Civilisation	(1500–500 BC)
– Janapadas	(1500–600 BC)
– Black and Red ware culture	(1300–1000 BC)
– Painted Grey Ware culture	(1200–600 BC)
– Northern Black Polished Ware	(700–200 BC)
Pradyota dynasty	(799–684 BC)
Haryanka dynasty	(684–424 BC)
Three Crowned Kingdoms	(c. 600 BC – AD 1600)
Maha Janapadas	(c. 600–300 BC)
Achaemenid Empire	(550–330 BC)
Ror Dynasty	(450 BC – AD 489)
Shaishunaga dynasty	(424–345 BC)
Nanda Empire	(380–321 BC)
Macedonian Empire	(330–323 BC)
Maurya Empire	(321–184 BC)
Seleucid India	(312–303 BC)
Sangam period	(c. 600 BC – c. 300 AD)
Pandya Empire	(c. 300 BC – AD 1345)
Chera Kingdom	(c. 300 BC – AD 1102)
Chola Empire	(c. 300 BC – AD 1279)
Pallava Empire	(c. 250 AD – AD 800)
Maha-Megha-Vahana Empire	(c. 250 BC – c. AD 500)
Parthian Empire	(247 BC – AD 224)

Middle Kingdoms (230 BC – AD 1206)

Satavahana Empire	(230 BC – AD 220)
Kuninda Kingdom	(200 BC – AD 300)
Mitra Dynasty	(c. 150 – c. 50 BC)
Shunga Empire	(185–73 BC)
Indo-Greek Kingdom	(180 BC – AD 10)
Kanva Empire	(75–26 BC)
Indo-Scythian Kingdom	(50 BC – AD 400)
Indo-Parthian Kingdom	(AD 21 – c. 130)
Western Satrap Empire	(AD 35–405 )
Kushan Empire	(AD 60–240)
Bharshiva Dynasty	(170–350)
Nagas of Padmavati	(210–340)
Sasanian Empire	(224–651)
Indo-Sassanid Kingdom	(230–360)
Vakataka Empire	(c. 250 – c. 500)
Kalabhras Empire	(c. 250 – c. 600)
Gupta Empire	(280–550)
Kadamba Empire	(345–525)
Western Ganga Kingdom	(350–1000)
Kamarupa Kingdom	(350–1100)
Vishnukundina Empire	(420–624)
Maitraka Empire	(475–767)
Huna Kingdom	(475–576)
Rai Kingdom	(489–632)
Kabul Shahi Empire	(c. 500 – 1026)
Chalukya Empire	(543–753)
Maukhari Empire	(c. 550 – c. 700)
Harsha Empire	(606–647)
Tibetan Empire	(618–841)
Eastern Chalukya Kingdom	(624–1075)
Rashidun Caliphate	(632–661)
Gurjara-Pratihara Empire	(650–1036)
Umayyad Caliphate	(661–750)
Mallabhum kingdom	(694-1947)
Bhauma-Kara Kingdom	(736-916)
Pala Empire	(750–1174)
Rashtrakuta Empire	(753–982)
Paramara Kingdom	(800–1327)
Yadava Empire	(850–1334)
Somavamshi Kingdom	(882–1110)
Chaulukya Kingdom	(942–1244)
Western Chalukya Empire	(973–1189)
Lohara Kingdom	(1003–1320)
Hoysala Empire	(1040–1347)
Sena Empire	(1070–1230)
Eastern Ganga Empire	(1078–1434)
Kakatiya Kingdom	(1083–1323)
Zamorin Kingdom	(1102–1766)
Kalachuris of Tripuri	(675-1210)
Kalachuris of Kalyani	(1156–1184)
Chutiya Kingdom	(1187–1673)
Deva Kingdom	(c. 1200 – c. 1300)

Late medieval period (1206–1526)

Ghaznavid Dynasty	(977–1186)
Ghurid Dynasty	(1170–1206)
Delhi Sultanate	(1206–1526)
– Mamluk Sultanate	(1206–1290)
– Khalji Sultanate	(1290–1320)
– Tughlaq Sultanate	(1320–1414)
– Sayyid Sultanate	(1414–1451)
– Lodi Sultanate	(1451–1526)
Ahom Kingdom	(1228–1826)
Chitradurga Kingdom	(1300–1779)
Reddy Kingdom	(1325–1448)
Vijayanagara Empire	(1336–1646)
Bengal Sultanate	(1352–1576)
Garhwal Kingdom	(1358–1803)
Mysore Kingdom	(1399–1947)
Gajapati Empire	(1434–1541)
Ladakh Kingdom	(1470–1842)
Deccan Sultanates	(1490–1596)
– Ahmadnagar Sultanate	(1490–1636)
– Berar Sultanate	(1490–1574)
– Bidar Sultanate	(1492–1619)
– Bijapur Sultanate	(1492–1686)
– Golkonda Sultanate	(1518–1687)
Keladi Kingdom	(1499–1763)
Koch Kingdom	(1515–1947)

The Kanva dynasty or Kanvayana was the eighth ruling dynasty of Magadha, established after Vasudeva Kanva overthrew the preceding Shunga dynasty and ruled from 73 BCE to 28 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 73 BCE. 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 in 28 BCE.^[6]^[2]

Origin

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

The first ruler of the Kanva dynasty was Vasudeva after whose Gotra the dynasty was named.^[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]

List of Kanava dynasty rulers
Emperor	Reign (BCE)	Period
Vasudeva Kanva	73–64 BCE	9
Bhumimitra	64–50 BCE	14
Narayana	50–38 BCE	12
Susarman	38–28 BCE	10

Succession

After the defeat at the hands of Satavahanas and the fall of the Kanva dynasty, the Magadha empire came to an end. The defeat of the Kanva dynasty by the Satavahana dynasty was a localised event in Central India^[13]^[14] and numismatic and epigraphic evidence suggests that Magadha later came under the hegemony of the Mitra dynasty of Kaushambi from the 1st century BCE until the 2nd century CE.^[14]

The Puranas suggest that the last king of the Kanva dynasty was killed by Balipuccha, who founded the Andhra dynasty,^[8] but there is a lack of numismatical and archaeological evidence to support this.

References

Citations

^ INDIAN HISTORY by Dr. Sanjeevkumar Tandle, Page 150
^ ^a ^b Raychaudhuri 2006, p. 333.
^ 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
^ Bhandare (2006), pp.71, 79
^ Radhey Shyam Chaurasia. History of Ancient India: Earliest Times to 1000 A. D. Atlantic Publishers & Dist, 2002 - India - 308 pages. p. 132.
^ History of Ancient India By Rama Shankar Tripathi, Page 189
^ World history from early times to A D 2000 By B.V.Rao, Sterling Publishers, Page 97
^ ^a ^b Thapar 2013, p. 296.
^ Kumar, Brajmohan. Archaeology of Pataliputra and Nalanda. Ramanand Vidya Bhawan, 1987 - India - 236 pages. p. 26.
^ Bajpai (2004), p.38 with footnote 4, and p.173
^ optional Indian history ancient India by Pratiyogita Darpan Editorial Team, Page 121 (The Kanvas)
^ World Monarchies and Dynasties By John Middleton, Routledge Publishers, Page 486 (Kanva Dynasty)
^ Bhandare (2006), pp.91–92
^ ^a ^b K. D. Bajpai (October 2004). Indian Numismatic Studies. Abhinav Publications. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-81-7017-035-8.

Sources

Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (2006), Political History of Ancient India, Cosmo Publications, ISBN 81-307-0291-6
Thapar, Romila (2013), The Past Before Us, Harvard University Press, ISBN 978-0-674-72651-2

Middle kingdoms of India

Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Indo-Gangetic Plain			Central India	Southern India
Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Upper Gangetic Plain (Ganga-Yamuna doab)	Middle Gangetic Plain	Lower Gangetic Plain	Central India	Southern India
IRON AGE
Culture	Late Vedic Period	Late Vedic Period (Srauta culture)^[a] Painted Grey Ware culture	Late Vedic Period (Shramanic culture)^[b] Northern Black Polished Ware		Pre-history
6th century BCE	Gandhara	Kuru-Panchala	Magadha		Adivasi (tribes)	Assaka
Culture	Persian-Greek influences	"Second Urbanisation" Rise of Shramana movements Jainism - Buddhism - Ājīvika - Yoga			Pre-history
5th century BCE	(Persian conquests)		Shaishunaga dynasty		Adivasi (tribes)	Assaka
4th century BCE	(Greek conquests)	Nanda empire			Adivasi (tribes)
HISTORICAL AGE
Culture	Spread of Buddhism				Pre-history
3rd century BCE	Maurya Empire					Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Cheras
Culture	Preclassical Hinduism^[c] - "Hindu Synthesis"^[d] (ca. 200 BC - 300 CE)^[e]^[f] Epics - Puranas - Ramayana - Mahabharata - Bhagavad Gita - Brahma Sutras - Smarta Tradition Mahayana Buddhism
2nd century BCE	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty			Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Cheras
1st century BCE	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty
1st century CE	Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthians		Kuninda Kingdom
2nd century	Kushan Empire
3rd century	Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom	Kushan Empire	Western Satraps	Kamarupa kingdom	Adivasi (tribes)
Culture	"Golden Age of Hinduism"(ca. CE 320-650)^[g] Puranas Co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism
4th century	Kidarites	Gupta Empire Varman dynasty				Andhra Ikshvakus Kalabhra dynasty Kadamba Dynasty Western Ganga Dynasty
5th century	Hephthalite Empire	Alchon Huns				Vishnukundina Kalabhra dynasty
6th century	Nezak Huns Kabul Shahi		Maitraka		Adivasi (tribes)	Vishnukundina Badami Chalukyas Kalabhra dynasty
Culture	Late-Classical Hinduism (ca. CE 650-1100)^[h] Advaita Vedanta - Tantra Decline of Buddhism in India
7th century	Indo-Sassanids		Vakataka dynasty Empire of Harsha	Mlechchha dynasty	Adivasi (tribes)	Badami Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan Kingdom (Revival) Pallava
8th century	Kabul Shahi		Pala Empire			Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan Kingdom Kalachuri
9th century	Kabul Shahi		Gurjara-Pratihara			Rashtrakuta dynasty Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan Kingdom Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai
10th century	Ghaznavids			Pala dynasty Kamboja-Pala dynasty		Kalyani Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai Rashtrakuta
References and sources for table References ^ Samuel ^ Samuel ^ Michaels (2004) p.39 ^ Hiltebeitel (2002) ^ Michaels (2004) p.39 ^ Hiltebeitel (2002) ^ Michaels (2004) p.40 ^ Michaels (2004) p.41 Sources Flood, Gavin D. (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press Hiltebeitel, Alf (2002), Hinduism. In: Joseph Kitagawa, "The Religious Traditions of Asia: Religion, History, and Culture", Routledge Michaels, Axel (2004), Hinduism. Past and present, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press Samuel, Geoffrey (2010), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press

Preceded byShunga dynasty Magadha dynasties Succeeded bySatavahana