KINGSHIP AND POLITICAL LEGITIMACY IN THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

Abstract

The Mauryan Empire (c. 321–185 BCE) represents one of the earliest and most significant experiments in imperial governance in Indian history. The emergence of a centralized state under Chandragupta Maurya and its consolidation under Bindusara and Ashoka transformed the political landscape of the Indian subcontinent. This article examines the nature of kingship and the sources of political legitimacy in the Mauryan Empire. Drawing upon literary, epigraphic, and foreign accounts, the study investigates how Mauryan rulers constructed and maintained their authority through military conquest, administrative centralization, religious ideology, and ethical governance. Special attention is given to the Arthashastra tradition, which provided a pragmatic framework for statecraft, and to Ashoka's conception of Dhamma, which sought to establish moral legitimacy alongside political power. The article argues that Mauryan kingship combined traditional notions of divine and hereditary authority with practical mechanisms of governance and welfare-oriented policies. The transformation of imperial ideology under Ashoka marked a significant departure from purely coercive authority toward a model emphasizing ethical responsibility and public welfare. The study highlights the multifaceted nature of political legitimacy in the Mauryan state and demonstrates how the Mauryan experience contributed to the development of political thought and state formation in ancient India.

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