List of wars in the Indian subcontinent


This is a list of known battels, wars, and conflicts among the former kingdoms, empires and colonial states, from ancient India to colonial India, in the Indian subcontinent.

Ancient India (c. 15th to 1st century BCE)

Name of conflictBelligerentsBelligerentsOutcome
Battle of the Ten Kings BharatasTen King AllianceBharatas Victory
Kurukshetra WarPandavas of Kuru kingdomKauravas of Kuru kingdomPandavas Victory
  • Kuru dominance in North and Central India.
    • Kosala-Kashi warKosala kingdomKasi kingdomKosala Victory
    • Kosala annexation of Kāsī
    Kosala conquest of GaṇasaṅghasKosala kingdomGaṇasaṅghas
    		Kosala Victory
  • Kosala annexation of three Gaṇasaṅghas
    • Gandhāra-Avanti warGandhāra kingdomAvanti
    		Gandhāra Victory
  • Pushkarasarin of Gandhāra defeated Pradyota of Avanti
    • Magadha-Anga warMagadha
    		Anga KingdomMagadha Victory
  • Magadhan annexation of Anga
    • Achaemenid conquest of the Indus ValleyMahajanapadas
    		Achaemenid EmpireAchaemenid Victory
  • Persian rule established over the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent
    • Avanti-Magadhan warsMagadha
    		Avanti kingdomMagadha Victory
  • Magadhan annexation of Avanti
    • Magadha-Kosala warKosala kingdomMagadha
    		Magadha Victory
  • Magadhan annexation of Kosala and Kasi
    • Magadha-Vajji warMagadha
    		Vajjika League led by the LicchavisMagadha Victory
  • Magadhan annexation of Vajji confederacy
    • Indian campaign of Alexander the GreatBattle of the HydaspesMacedonian Empire
    		North-western Indian Kingdoms
  • Aśvaka
  • Guraeans
  • Pauravas
  • Mallians
  • Oxydracians
  • Amvastha
    		• Partial Macedon Victory
  • Macedonia conquers up to the Beas River, yet has to stop its advance in the Indus.
    • Nanda conquest of Northern IndiaMagadha
    		North Indian states
  • Maithalas
  • Kasheyas
  • Ikshvakus
  • Panchalas
  • Shurasenas
  • Kurus
  • Haihayas
  • Vitihotras
  • Kalingas
  • Ashmakas
    		• Nanda Victory
  • Expansion of the Nanda Empire in Northern India.
    • Mauryan conquest of the Nanda EmpireMagadha
    		House of MauryaMaurya Victory
  • Fall of Nanda dynasty.
  • Consolidation of the Maurya dynasty
    • Chandragupta's conquest of North-western IndiaMagadha
    		Alexander's governors and their states
  • Nicanor
  • Philip
    		• Mauryan Victory
  • Mauryan annexation of North-western India.
    • Chandragupta's conquest of DeccanMagadha
    		Southern statesMauryan Victory
    Seleucid–Mauryan warMagadha
    		Seleucid EmpireMaurya Victory
  • Maurya annexation of all of the Macedonian Satrapies in the Indus River Valley along with conquest of Persian territories such as Arachosia, Gedrosia and Paropamisadae by the Mauryans
    • Kalinga WarMagadha
    		Kalinga kingdomMaurya Victory
  • Maurya annexation of Kalinga
    • Shunga-Greek WarMagadha
    		Greco-Bactrian kingdomShunga Victory
    Early Chola invasion of AnuradhapuraBattle of VijithapuraChola dynastyAnuradhapura KingdomAnuradhapura Victory
    Shunga-Vidarbha War
    		Magadha
    		Vidarbha kingdomShunga Victory

    Early Modern India (c. 16th to mid 19th century CE)

    Name of conflict BelligerentsOpponentsOutcome
    First Luso-Malabarese War
    		Kingdom of Calicut
    Republic of Venice