Indian kings and their famous empires are an integral part of the country’s history.
If we dig deep into the republican period, we know that India was the second-most populous country in the world. As a result, India has one of the most vibrant histories of all. The emperors and their ruling kingdoms contribute to the country’s rich culture, heritage and architecture.
Here is a list of famous kings and dynasties who played a vital role in shaping India’s history.
Chhatrapati Shivaji (founder of the Maratha Empire) was the bravest and most progressive Indian ruler. He belonged to the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Later, he formed the Maratha Empire by carving out a group from the declining Adil Shahi sultanate. Shivaji Maharaj was the first to pay attention to naval security. Therefore, he is also known as the Father of the Indian Navy.
Chandragupta Maurya (founder of the Mauryan Dynasty) was a courageous leader from ancient India. The philosopher turned minister, Chanakya, guided, counselled and influenced the king to build one of the greatest dynasties in the Indian subcontinent. Today, we might find the details about the society, functioning, economy and military well preserved in Chanakya’s Arthashastra.
Abu’l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (the most powerful emperor of the Mughal Dynasty) was the son of Emperor Humayun. He was one of the youngest rulers to start at the early age of 13 years. Under the guidance of Bairam Khan, Akbar expanded and united the Mughal empire over most of the Indian subcontinents. Hence, he became the ruler of one of the largest dynasties in the world.
Samudragupta (ruler of the Gupta Empire) was the son of the great emperor, Chandragupta-I. He was famous for his different military campaigns and his ability to expand the political powers of the Gupta Dynasty. Samudragupta was given the title of “The Indian Napoleon” by the British historian Vincent Smith for his brilliant military conquest from the According to sources, he performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice for proving his supreme power and sovereignty. Also, he was a well-known poet and musician from ancient times.
Sher Shah Suri (founder of the Suri Empire) was the former governor of Bihar under the rule of King Babur. He proved his power of intelligence after overrunning the state of Bengal to establish the Suri dynasty. It was during his five-year reign that he implemented several modified economic strategies and military administrations. These strategies got later idolized by the Mughal emperor, Akbar.
These are some known names from the history of India.
