India has played host to the ebb and flow of empire-building since around 600 BCE. Its position at the confluence of east and west has also seen it come under fire from various would-be conquerors, including the Mongols of Genghis Khan and Timur, the Persian Achaemenids under Cyrus the Great, and even the Macedonian warrior Alexander the Great. For much of the first two millennia, though, India’s conflicts were driven by internal friction between neighbouring clans and kingdoms, led by some brilliant military and diplomatic minds – and others whose intentions were rather more sadistic. The below list is of 10 most famous kings in Indian history.

Here are 10 most famous kings in Indian history:

1. Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BCE) – The founder of the Maurya Empire, he played a crucial role in unifying a significant part of India under one rule. Ashoka (274-232 BCE) – A prominent Mauryan emperor known for his promotion of Buddhism across India.
2. Harsha (606-647 CE) – The emperor of the Gupta Empire, celebrated for his support of arts and scholarship.
3. Vikramaditya II (734-744 CE) – Ruler of the Chalukya Empire, renowned for his patronage of the arts and scholarship.
4. Raja Raja Chola I (985-1014 CE) – A significant ruler of the Chola Empire who expanded his territory and helped spread Hinduism.
5. Prithviraj Chauhan (1179-1192) – The ruler of the Kingdom of Delhi and a key figure in resisting Muslim invasions.
6. Turkic/Muslim/Mughal rulers:(a) Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) – A Delhi Sultanate ruler known for his military conquests and centralization efforts.
   (b) Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351) – A Delhi Sultanate ruler famous for his ambitious policies.
   (c) Akbar (1556-1605) – A celebrated Mughal Emperor recognized for his religious tolerance and cultural contributions.
   (d) Shah Jahan (1628-1658) – Mughal Emperor and the architect of the iconic Taj Mahal.
   (e) Aurangzeb (1658-1707) – One of the longest-reigning Mughal Emperors, known for his empire expansion and strict adherence to Islamic law.
7. Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) – A significant ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire who supported arts and scholarship.
8. Rana Pratap (1572-1597) – The ruler of the Kingdom of Mewar and a key figure in resisting Mughal rule.
9. Chhatrapati Shivaji (1627-1680) – The founder of the Maratha Empire and a prominent figure in the resistance against Mughal rule.
10. Tipu Sultan (1782-1799) – The ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore who played a crucial role in resisting British colonial rule in India.