Susima

Susima (also spelt Sushim or Sushima; c. 304 – c. 274–270 BCE) was a Crown prince of the Maurya Empire and the eldest son and heir-apparent of the second Mauryan emperor Bindusara. He was next in line for his father's throne, but was assassinated by his younger half-brother, Ashoka, who eventually succeeded Bindusara as the third Mauryan emperor.

Birth and family

Susima was the eldest and favourite son of the second Mauryan emperor Bindusara. Not only was Susima the crown prince, but his mother was also a princess as opposed to Ashoka's mother, Subhadrangi, who was a commoner. All these factors proved to be highly favourable for Susima and thus, made him a strong contender for his father's throne. In contrast, Ashoka's chances of succeeding Bindusara were pretty slim: his mother was a commoner and Bindusara is said to have been not too fond of his younger son. Susima had several younger siblings, his half-brothers from other wives of Bindusara.

Vice-royalty

He had been the viceroy/governor to Takshashila during the reign of his father Bindusara as his younger brother Ashoka was to Ujjain. The Maurya Empire was divided into four provinces, which one of the four, look like a giant crescents with the imperial capital at Pataliputra. From Ashoka's edicts, the names of the four provincial capitals are Tosali (in the east), Ujjain in the west, Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Takshashila (in the north). The head of the provincial administration was the royal prince, who governed the provinces as the emperor's representative. The prince was assisted by Mahamatyas and Council of Ministers. This organizational structure was reflected at the imperial level with the Emperor and his Council of Ministers.