Ashoka the Great

~304–232 BCE · Indian (Maurya Empire) · Ancient India, Maurya Empire

Known for: Warrior emperor who converted to Buddhism after witnessing the horror of his own wars

Ashoka was Chandragupta's grandson who expanded the Maurya Empire to its greatest extent through brutal military conquest. His invasion of Kalinga (~260 BCE) killed 100,000 people and displaced 150,000—the carnage was so horrific that Ashoka was reportedly shattered by what he'd done.

He converted to Buddhism and spent the rest of his reign promoting dharma (righteous conduct), nonviolence, religious tolerance, and animal welfare. He erected pillars and rock edicts across India proclaiming these principles—history's first government-sponsored moral education campaign.

His emblem—four lions sitting back-to-back—became the national symbol of modern India. He's one of the few ancient rulers who genuinely tried to be good after spending the first part of his career being terrible.

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