Top 10 Famous Indian Kings
India has a colourful and varied past, most of which is buried under its several dynasties. We may see a bit of India's colourful past through the ten most well-known Indian Kings and Emperors.
Dec 19, 2023, 15:10 IST
![Top 10 Famous Indian Kings](https://theopinionatedindian.com/static/c1e/client/86164/uploaded/669eb4d06e1b9bae0b32eb66ceadc76e.png)
1. Emperor Akbar
![Akbar](https://theopinionatedindian.com/static/c1e/client/86164/uploaded/db93e65a47145f6fc062da2e7842ce69.jpg)
One of the greatest emperors in Indian history, Akbar was a member of the Mughal empire. He was born in 1542 to Hamida Banu Begum and Humayun, the Mughal emperor.
Emperor Akbar created a new sect known as the "Din-i-Ilahi," which blended elements of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. This was quite rare! This came about following his construction of the Ibadat Khana, a place of worship, in Fatehpur Sikri.
After suffering from illness and dying in 1605, Emperor Akbar's son succeeded him.
2. Chandragupta Maurya
The Mauryan Empire was established by Chandragupta Maurya and spanned from Afghanistan and Balochistan in the west to Bengal and Assam in the east, and from Kashmir in the north to the Deccan Plateau in the south.
As previously said, Chandragupta Maurya founded one of the biggest empires in Indian history after conquering the majority of the Indian subcontinent. For this achievement, he is renowned and respected.
3. Emperor Ashoka
![Ashoka](https://theopinionatedindian.com/static/c1e/client/86164/uploaded/0122ba8e831df0676f6dda8f0fa33c0b.jpg)
Emperor Ashoka, the third Mauryan Empire emperor, is credited for bringing Buddhism to many regions of the world. Because of his reign over nearly the whole Indian subcontinent, he was sometimes referred to as "Ashoka the Great." He was constantly focused on growing his empire. His rule is regarded as one of India's most illustrious times.
The second emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty, Bindusara, and Maharani Dharma welcomed Emperor Ashoka into the world in 304 BC, not far from Patna. He would not have otherwise had access to some training because he was born into a royal family, and as a result, he was skilled in both fighting and hunting. He was trained as a royal soldier as well.
4. Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar
Being the second son of Akbar Shah II and Lai Bai, Bahadur Shah Zafar was not the first choice to succeed his father. He was born in Delhi in 1775. He was India's final Mughal emperor.
The British greatly misjudged Emperor Zafar, who was instrumental in the war for India's independence from British rule during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
5. Emperor Krishnadevaraya
He was the Vijayanagara Empire's emperor at its most vulnerable period, when several nations were vying for control. By overthrowing the Portuguese, the Bahmani Sultans, and the Bahmani Sultans themselves, Krishnadevaraya united the empire and took control of their strongholds in Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, and Bijapur.
After becoming gravely ill in 1529, Krishnadevaraya passed away and left behind a vast legacy.
6. King Prithviraj Chauhan
![Prithviraj Chauhan](https://theopinionatedindian.com/static/c1e/client/86164/uploaded/c4254dce06bc2fe706c0e7b2756740b5.jpg)
Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan, also known as Rai Pithora, was one of the last autonomous Hindu kings to govern the kingdom of Delhi. The king of Ajmer was his father. Prithviraj was a remarkable child, full of courage and intelligence. Even as a young child, his military prowess was evident—he could hit targets by simply listening for their sounds!
Prithviraj Chauhan's rule came to an end with the Afghan invasion; following his defeat at the Second Battle of Tarain, he was taken prisoner by Muhammad Ghori and killed.
7. Emperor Shah Jahan
![Shah Jahan](https://theopinionatedindian.com/static/c1e/client/86164/uploaded/bb4cc87761b28d5df10ea04a22e0c90d.jpg)
Emperor Shah Jahan is credited with bestowing upon the world the magnificent Taj Mahal. The ivory-white marble monument was built by the emperor as a memorial to his wife, the empress Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away during childbirth. Shah Jahan's passion for architecture was well recognised.
When the ageing Emperor Shah Jahan passed away in 1666, he was interred at the Taj Mahal beside his beloved wife.
8. King Shivaji
In 1630, King Shivaji was born into a Maratha administrative family. In the armies of the Bijapur Sultanate and Jijabai, his father served as a Maratha general. His mother, who was deeply devout, insisted that he study the sacred writings of Hindu and Sufi saints as he grew up.
He taught his army in advanced tactics of warfare. under addition, he established a fleet with 200 warships that was well-trained and under command. His empire's coastline was shielded from the Portuguese, British, Dutch, Siddis, and Mughals by the fleet. He was dubbed the "Father of the Indian Navy" as a result.
9. Emperor Humayun
Babur, the Mughal dynasty's founder, and Maham Begum welcomed Emperor Humayun into the world in 1508. He came from a big family, and he would have to fight many of them for control and dominance. He was trained for military service and mastered Turki, Arabic, and Persian as a child.
Though commonplace, Humayun's death in 1556 from a fall down stairs is considered pointless, rather than the numerous battles he fought to extend his empire!
10. Emperor Harshavardhana
The Indian emperor Harshavardhana governed for 41 years before his empire completely collapsed. He left no heirs, legal or otherwise, as both of his sons from his marriage to Durgavati passed away.
The majority of Emperor Harshavardhana's reign was affluent and peaceful. He was a wise and righteous leader who was also resourceful and kind. In 647, he passed away.
One thing united Indian emperors and kings: they devoted a significant amount of their time to territorial expansion.