Bimbisara

Bimbisara (ruled 544-491 BCE) was a king of the Magadha empire and belonged to Haryanaka dynasty. There are many accounts of him in the Buddhist Jatakas, since he was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. He acquired Anga and placed it under the viceroyalty of Ajatashatru at Champa. He also strengthed his position by marriage alliances. His first wife was the daughter of the king of Kosala and sister of Prasenajit. The Kosali bride brought him Kashi village as dowry. This marriage also ended the hostility of Kosala and gave him free hand in dealing with the other states. His second wife, Chellana, was a Lachchhavi princess from Vishali and his third wife was a daughter of the chief of the Madra clan of Punjab. 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.