Satadhanvan Maurya and the decline of Mauryan Empire
Satadhanvan Maurya was among the last rulers of the Mauryan Empire, who became the eighth in chronology and second last one by the research and inscriptions. The Mauryan dynasty founded by Chandragupta Maurya and taken to heights by Bindusara and Ashoka saw its steep decline during the reign of this king. Most of the states were separated or declared their independence. The Mauryan Empire was facing a threat from the Bactrian Greeks in the North as they were pushed out of Bactria by Scythians.
Satadhanvan was the son of Devavarman but instead of following the religion of Jainism and Buddhism, he sought to be Hindu. No major religious development has been seen in the reign of King Satadhanvan Maurya.
The great Mauryan dynasty was at heights and had immense development in all fields due to the consistent efforts of the great kings like Chandragupta, Bindusara, and Ashoka and also due to the support of able and intelligent minister Chanakya who seemed like a gift to the Mauryan Empire in the initial phase. But after the fall of those great rulers, the fall started when the administration came into the hands of Mauryan kings who were not able and who finally led to the collapse of the empire.
Satadhanvan Maurya was the second-last ruler of the Mauryan Empire. During his rule, the Empire once again lost a lot of its territory and was limited to just the central administrative areas. This was not just the result of internal rebellions but also the attacks and skirmishes at border areas by neighbouring kingdoms.
The Bactrian Greeks who were, for a long time in the peace agreement and friendship traits with the Mauryan Empire became active at the borders after the death of Ashoka. The Greek land in Bactria was lost to the Scythians who were pushed out from Chinese land during the formation of the Great Wall of China and then captured the Bactrian region. Due to this Bactrian-Greeks had no choice but to find some land in India. These were later referred to as Indo-Greeks.
His reign lasted for eight years, and his successor Brihadratha Maurya became the last ruler of the Mauryan Empire and was overthrown by Pushyamitra Shunga from the Shunga Empire.
