The Mauryan empire was followed by the rule of the Sātavahanas, lasting about four and a half centuries from around 230 B.C.

The Sātavahana empire covered the whole of the Deccan and extended into Northern India, possibly as far as Magadha.

The collapse of the empire came after long wars with the Sakas of Gujarat in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D., and by the 3rd century, the empire had virtually disappeared.

The Sātavahana dynasty is identified with the Andhras or Andhrabhrityas in the Puranic lists of kings, indicating their Andhra origin.

The name Andhrabhrityas suggests that the Sātavahanas’ ancestors were employed in the service of the Mauryan empire and eventually set up an independent state after the Mauryas declined.

Pliny mentions that the Andhra territory in the eastern Deccan had thirty walled towns and a military force of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 1,000 elephants.

The Puranas list thirty kings of the dynasty ruling over 460 years, but the history is difficult to piece together due to limited evidence.

The earliest kings are mentioned in inscriptions and coins found in the western Deccan at places like Nasik, Karle, and Naneghat, though no trace has been found in the Andhra country on the east coast.

Khāravela of Kalinga mentions that Satakarni of the Sātavahanas ruled to the west of his kingdom.

The Sātavahanas likely rose to power in the western Deccan, near Paithan (Pratishthāna), and later expanded their empire in all directions.

The empire first conquered north and south Maharashtra, eastern and western Malwa, and what is now Madhya Pradesh.

The Rathikas and Bhojas helped the Sātavahanas in their expansion, receiving rewards in the form of offices, titles, and matrimonial alliances.

The first king, Simuka, likely began his reign around 230 B.C., with evidence from the Nasik inscription confirming his rule during the time of the last Mauryas or earliest Sungas.

Simuka ruled for 23 years but was dethroned and killed due to his wickedness. His brother Kanha succeeded him and extended the kingdom westward to Nasik.

The third king, Sri Satakarni I, conquered western Malwa, and inscriptions mention his large sacrificial offerings.

Satakarni I may be the king mentioned in Khāravela’s inscription, but it’s more likely to refer to Satakarni II, who ascended around 172 A.D.

Satakarni II had a long reign of 56 years and wrested Malwa from the Sungas.

Khāravela of Kalinga challenged the Rathikas and Bhojas, both feudatories of the Sātavahanas.