Bimbisara

Bimbisara (ruled 544-491 BCE) was a king of the Magadha empire and belonged to Haryanaka dynasty.

Career

There are many accounts of Bimbisara in the Buddhist Jatakas, since he was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. He acquired Anga and placed it under the viceroyalty of his son Ajatashatru, with its capital at Champa.

Marriage alliances

Bimbisara used marriage alliances to strengthen his position. His first wife was the daughter of the king of Kosala and a sister of Prasenajit. His bride brought him Kashi, which was then a mere village, as dowry. This marriage also ended the hostility between Magadha and Kosala and gave him a free hand in dealing with the other states. Bimbisara's second wife, Chellana, was a Lachchhavi princess from Vaishali. His third wife was a daughter of the chief of the Madra clan of Punjab.

Death

Tradition tells us that Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son Ajatashatru who is said to have starved him to death. This is reported to have taken place around 492 BC.

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