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Among the 16 Janapadas, Magadha rose to the level of an empire. It started off as a small Janapada or a state in the southern banks of the mighty life giving Ganges river(Ganga). It had great dynasties like the Brihadratha, Haryanka(Bimbisara), Shishunaga and the Nandas. But it tasted true glory under the Mauryas, who expanded Magadhan Empire to much of modern day Indian subcontinent.

Chandra Gupta, the first ruler of Mauryan dynasty, was aided to power by the great strategic thinker Vishnugupta, also known as Chankaya and Kautilya. He was succeeded by Bindusara. Bindusara's death saw a four year long struggle for power that saw Ashoka rise to power.