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13 Most Famous Indian Kings and Emperors
Originally published by Christine in April 2020 and updated by Charity in July 2022
The Republic of India is the second most populous country and the most populous democracy in the world. One can only imagine the machinery that goes into the proper governance of such a country. India boasts a rich and vibrant history, most of it ingrained in its many empires. The 10 most famous Indian Kings and Emperors give us a glimpse into India’s vibrant history.
1. Emperor Akbar
Emperor Akbar- Wikimedia Commons
Emperor Akbar was from the Mughal empire and was one of the greatest monarchs in the history of India. He was born in 1542 to Mughal emperor Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum.
His father was in exile hence Akbar was raised by his paternal uncles, spending time hunting, horse riding, playing sword, and running, which made him a trained and skillful warrior.
He did not attend regular school and hence did not learn to read and write. Rather he had various subjects such as history, religion, science, philosophy, and other topics recited to him. It is remarkable that this made him knowledgeable in almost all subjects, illiteracy notwithstanding.
Akbar was a Muslim and one of the most powerful emperors of the Mughal Dynasty and built a large empire expanding over most of the Indian subcontinent.
He had an early start as emperor as his father died when he was 13. He went after territories and states in the northern, western, and eastern regions, especially Punjab, Delhi, Agra, Rajputana, Gujarat, Bengal, Kabul, Kandahar, and Baluchistan which he conquered. This brought most of India under his control.
Emperor Akbar’s reign was enriched by his adoption of policies that created a peaceful atmosphere, re-organization of taxation systems, and division of his army establishment of foreign relations with the West.
The emperor was into art and culture and had literature books written in various languages and constructed numerous architectural masterpieces.
Akbar married Ruqaiya Sultan Begum in 1551. She was his first cousin. He went on to have many other wives, some out of political interests.
Rather unusual, Emperor Akbar introduced a new sect ‘Din-i-Ilahi’ that combined the practices of Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism! This was after he created the Ibadat Khana, a house of worship, at Fatehpur Sikri.
Emperor Akbar died in 1605 from dysentery and was succeeded by his son.
Popular culture captures the life and times of this great emperor in novels based on his life and television series telling his story.
2. Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya and Bhadrabahu- by Jayanti Sengupta- Wikimedia Commons
Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire, which stretched across Kashmir in the north to Deccan Plateau in the south and Afghanistan and Balochistan in the west to Bengal and Assam in the east.
He seized the Macedonian territories and conquered the eastern territories of Alexander’s general Seleucus making his territory even larger.
Maurya was one of the most important rulers in the history of India who is credited with unifying small independent states in India to form a large single kingdom under one administration.
A young Chandragupta Maurya destroyed the Nanda dynasty, which ruled most of northern India. This was quite an achievement for a 20-year-old.
Chandragupta Maurya was born in 340 BC in Bihar and was guided by Chanaka, great Brahmin economics, and political science scholar, who later became his mentor.
Details of his birth parents are uncertain- he is said to have been born to a Namda Prince and his maidservant Mura, or that he was from the Moriya tribe of Peacock tamers.
As already established, Chandragupta Maurya conquered most of the Indian subcontinent, establishing one of the largest empires ever seen in India’s history. He is known and honored for this feat.
His son Bindusara succeeded him after he abandoned his throne and converted to Jainism. Maurya traveled to Shravanabelagola, a famous religious site in south India where he meditated and fasted to his death in 298 BC.
3. Emperor Ashoka
Emperor Ashoka- by Kutara- Wikimedia Commons
The spread of Buddhism in many parts of the world is credited to Emperor Ashoka who was the third ruler of the Mauryan Empire. He was also known as ‘Ashoka the Great’ as he ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent. He focused on expanding his empire continuously. His reign is considered one of India’s most glorious periods.
Ashoka went on and on with his conquests but had a turnaround after his bloodiest and most lethal one at Kalinga- it left him shattered and changed him from a fierce vengeful ruler to a peaceful and non-violent emperor.
The battle of Kalinga left 100,000 soldiers and civilians dead and more than 150,000 deported.
Today you will find telltale signs of Ashoka’s legacy in India- you will see places of meditation called stupas across his large empire, pillars, and the Ashoka Chakra inscribed on many of his relics.
Emperor Ashoka was born in 304 BC near Patna to the second emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty, Bindusara, and Maharani Dharma. Being born into a royal family gave him exposure to some training he wouldn’t otherwise have had- he was good at fighting and hunting. He also received royal military training.
His ascension to the throne was rather gory and unconventional- he had to kill his 99 brothers to claim the throne which was fiercely contested among them when his father died.
4. Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar
Bahadur Shah Zafar- Wikimedia Commons
Bahadur Shah Zafar was born in 1775 in Delhi, He was a second son to Akbar Shah II and Lai Bai thus was not the first pick to take over from his father. He was the last Mughal emperor of India.
He was educated in Urdu, Persian and Arabic languages, and trained in the military arts of horsemanship, swordsmanship, shooting with bow and arrow, and with firearms.
Two of his teachers exposed him to and made him fall in love with poetry. Zafar would have much rather pursued Sufism, music, and literature than politics.
Emperor Zafar ruled over a relatively small empire at a time when the East India Company was gaining political power in India. He had very little power over India that had by now broken into hundreds of Kingdoms and principalities.
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Emperor Zafar played a prominent role in fighting for India’s independence from British Rule- the British had grossly underestimated him.
Emperor Zafar was keen to have religious tolerance in his empire. He promoted religious fairness but did not support the extremist views of some Orthodox Muslim sheiks.
The decline of Emperor Zafar’s empire is attributed to the British invasion. Zafar lost many male members of his family who were killed by the British.
Zafar died in exile where he had been sentenced by the British, at age 87.
5. Emperor Krishnadevaraya
He was the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire that ruled during the most critical stage of the empire when many powers were making a bid for it. Krishnadevaraya consolidated the empire, defeating the Bahmani Sultans and Portuguese and the Bahmani Sultans, thereby conquering their fortresses of Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, and Bijapur.
He seized and captured the fortresses of Udayagiri, Kondavalli, and Kondavidu. The first few years of his reign were spent averting sieges
Emperor Krishnadevaraya had a great track record of brilliant achievements and was able to maintain political stability. His success is often compared to that of the greatest emperors of Asia and Europe.
His territory encompassed three different powerful regions, with each referring to him by different titles such as King of three Kings.
Krishnadevaraya also made smart trade decisions- he capitalized on the presence of the Portuguese, buying Arabian horses and guns and improving the supply of water in Vijayanagara City.
Emperor Krishnadevaraya was born in 1471. His father was an army commander who established the Tuluva Dynasty after the death of its ruler to keep it together.
Krishnadevaraya fell critically ill in 1529 and died, leaving behind a rich legacy.
6. King Prithviraj Chauhan
Statue of Prithviraj Chauhan- by आशीष भटनागर- Wikimedia Commons
King Prithviraj Chauhan, alias Rai Pithora, was a Rajput king and one of the last independent Hindu kings to rule the kingdom of Delhi. His father was king of Ajmer. Prithviraj was an exceptional child- he was very brave and intelligent. His military prowess shone through even in his childhood- he could hit targets by only following their sounds!
After the death of his father in a battle in 1179, Prithviraj Chauhan succeeded the throne. He ruled over the twin capitals of Ajmer and Delhi which he had received from his grandfather.
Like most rulers in India, he was keen on expanding his territories. There are some famous battles he is remembered for, such as those with Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori.
The story of King Prithviraj’s marriage to Sanyukta, daughter of Raja Jaichand of Kannauj is told with mirth as the two eloped, right under Sanyukta’s father’s nose. Her father disapproved of their union since Prithviraj belonged to a rival clan. The couple went on to have several children.
The Afghan invasion brought Prithviraj Chauhan’s reign to an end, he was captured by Muhammad Ghori after his loss at the Second Battle of Tarain and executed.
7. Emperor Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan- by Govardhan- Wikimedia Commons
The world has Emperor Shah Jahan to thank for giving her the magnificence that is the Taj Mahal. The emperor constructed the ivory-white marble mausoleum in memory of his wife the empress Mumtaz Mahal who died during childbirth. Shah Jahan was known for his love for architecture.
Emperor Shah Jahan was the fifth and greatest Mughal Emperor of India, from an impressive lineage- His father was Emperor Jahangir while his grandfather was Akbar the Great.
He was the third-born son and it was unlikely that he would be the heir to the throne. However, it had been predicted that he would be emperor. Jahan kept off politics for a long time, but his interest gradually grew. He eliminated all contenders and became close to his father who named Jahan emperor upon his death.
Emperor Shah Jahan took to the throne and embarked on tactics to expand his vast empire. For someone who once had no interest in politics, it’s uncharacteristic that Shah Jahan grew impatient for the crown and attempted to overthrow his father. He however didn’t succeed.
Shah Jahan was also keen on ruling for as long as possible. He thus permanently eliminated his very own brothers and nephews so that he could rule unopposed! The emperor succeeded in expanding his territories considerably.
Shah Jahan was a patron of the arts and had the Mughal Empire become a rich center of arts, crafts, and architecture. His reign is credited with some of India’s most well-known architectural and artistic accomplishments such as the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid in Delhi, and the Shalimar Gardens of Lahore.
Emperor Shah Jahan died in his old age in 1666 and was buried at the Taj Mahal next to his favorite wife.
8. King Shivaji
Statue of Shivaji- by Neeraj Rane- Wikimedia Commons
King Shivaji was born in 1630 into a family of Maratha bureaucrats. His father was a Maratha general in the army of the Bijapur Sultanate, and Jijabai. His Mother had him grow up studying religious teachings of Hindu and Sufi saints- she was very religious.
Dadoji Konddeo was Shivaji’s administrator who played a big role in his upbringing after Shivaji’s father left with his second wife. He taught him how to ride a horse, archery, marksmanship, Patta, and other fighting techniques.
King Shivaji’s first conquest was at age 16 when he attacked and captured Torna Fort. He captured three other Forts in succession.
Shivaji respected all religions and was unbiased towards other castes and communities. King Shivaji’s rule saw the rising of a strong and powerful army, comprising infantry and cavalry.
He had his army trained in sophisticated warring methods. He also organized a commanding and disciplined navy, including 200 warships. The navy protected his empire’s coastline from the Portuguese, British, Dutch, Siddis, and Mughals. This earned him the title ‘Father of Indian Navy’.
9. Emperor Humayun
Emperor Humayun- by LACMA- Wikimedia Commons
Emperor Humayun was born in 1508 to the founder of the Mughal dynasty Babur and Maham Begum. He was born into a large family, many of whom he would contend with for authority and sovereignty. Growing up he learned Turki, Arabic, and Persian and was trained for military duties as well.
Humayun had an interest in mathematics, philosophy, and astrology. By age 20, Humayun had been appointed governor of Badakhshan and, fought at Panipat and Khanwa.
Emperor Humayun is famous for leaving a rich legacy for his son Akbar- his peaceful demeanor and patience as a leader were admirable. The Mughals referred to him as ‘Perfect Man’. He was also discerning and strategic.
Emperor Humayun delegated army leadership to Bairam Khan, knowing his shortcoming when it came to military leadership. This delegation resulted in the recapturing of Delhi.
It must have been a grueling and tasking genesis to his rule as Humayun spent his first few years as Emperor fending off rivals interested in his land.
While he lost several of his territories early on in his rule, he recovered them after a few years. Emperor Humayun’s territories may have been seen as a soft target but he did consolidate them.
Humayun can be said to have died a senseless death, that is however commonplace- a fall down the stairs cost him his life in 1556 and not the many battles he fought to expand his empire!
10. Emperor Harshavardhana
Harshavardhana is the Indian emperor whose empire totally disintegrated at his death after he ruled for 41years- he left no heirs, legitimate or otherwise as the two sons he had with his wife Durgavati died.
Harshavardhana took over the empire when he was only 16 years old after his brothers’ death; being propulsive, Harshavardhana declared himself sovereign ruler of Kannauj!
Emperor Harshavardhana was the son of the first important king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. Under his reign, the first diplomatic relations between China and India were established. The economy also thrived, and the capital at Kannauj became a great center of trade.
Harshavardhana can be said to have been a humane emperor. Underprivileged citizens had access to rest- houses that the emperor built, complete with food, drink, and medicine. He stayed in touch with his people’s state by traveling across his kingdom o observe the situation.
Emperor Harshavardhana wasn’t all work and no play- he was a distinguished author who composed Sanskrit dramas. As patron of art and literature, Emperor Harshavardhana made numerous endowments to the University at Nalanda- a lofty wall was built.
It enclosed all the buildings of the university so as to defend the institution from external attacks. Artists and scholars were always welcome into emperor Harshavardhana’s court.
Emperor Harshavardhana’s rule was predominantly peaceful and prosperous. He was an able and just ruler, benevolent and resourceful. He died in 647.
Indian Emperor’s and Kings had one thing in common- they dedicated large portions of their time during their rule expanding their territories.
As this article discusses, some of these rulers made time and invested in their passions such as art. A chance to indulge in one’s passion while working hard to grow an empire doesn’t sound bad at all!
11. Sambhaji Bhosale
He was born on May 14, 1657, and is known to have lived until March 11, 1689. He was the firstborn of Shivaji, the Maratha Empire founder. Bhosale was born to Shivaji’s first wife Saibai.
Bhosale was the second ruler of the Maratha Kingdom who came into rule after the death f his father Shivaji. He only ruled for nine years.
However, his rule was famous for the ongoing wars between the Maratha Kingdon and Mughal Empire. His empire was also involved in fighting with neighboring powers such as the Siddis, Mysore, and the Portuguese in Goa.
Unfortunately, he was captured, tortured, and executed by the powerful Mughal Empire.
12. Kanishka The Great
Photo by Wikimedia Commons – Wikimedia
He was an emperor of the Kushan dynasty in the second century (c. 127–150 CE). He was famous because of his military, political and spiritual achievements.
However, he was a descendant of Kujula Kadphises, the founder of the Kushan empire. He came to rule an empire in Bactria extending to Pataliputra on the Gangetic plain.
In addition, the main capital of his empire was Puruṣapura in Gandhara, with another major capital at Kapisa.
His conquests and patronage of Buddhism played an important role in the development of the Silk Road, and in the transmission of Mahayana Buddhism from Gandhara across the Karakoram range to China. Around 127 CE.
He replaced Greek with Bactrian as the official language of administration in the empire. Earlier scholars believed that Kanishka ascended the Kushan throne in 78 CE. Further, this date was used as the beginning of the Saka calendar era.
However, historians no longer regard this date as that of Kanishka’s accession. Falk estimates that Kanishka came to the throne in 127 CE.
13. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Photo by Wikimedia Commons – Wikimedia
He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or Lion of Punjab and lived between November 13, 1780, to June 27, 1780.
In addition, he was the Sikh Empire leader who ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early years of the 19th century. He was one-eyed as he lost sight of his left eye to smallpox.
At the age of 21, he has proclaimed the Maharaja of Punjab. This was because he fought many battles, the first being with his father at an early age of 10 years while the other he fought after the death of his father against the Afghans.
Surprisingly, his empire grew in the Punjab in which, which had various warrings misls, twelve of which were under Sikh rulers and one Muslim.
He was a successful ruler, the fact that he was able to absorb and unite the Sikh misls while taking over other Kingdoms to crate Sikh Empire was enough evidence that he succeeded in his reign.
Basically, he won many battles which involved outside armies like those from Afghanistan. Most importantly, he established friendly relations with the British.
During his rule, he initiated reforms, modernization, investment, infrastructure, and general prosperity.
His Khalsa army and government included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans. His legacy includes a period of Sikh cultural and artistic renaissance, including the rebuilding of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar as well as other major gurudwaras, including Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar, and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra under his sponsorship. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his son Maharaja Kharak Singh.
