Historical Rulers and Political Figures
- Anawrahta (1014–1077), founder of Pagan Empire, credited with introducing Theravada Buddhism in Pagan Kingdom and restarting Theravada Buddhism in Ceylon
- Ashoka the Great (304–232 BC), Mauryan Emperor of ancient India, and the first Buddhist ruler to send Buddhist missionaries outside of India throughout the Old World (阿育王)
- Brhadrata, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty
- Harshavardhana (606–648), Indian emperor who converted to Buddhism.
- Jayavarman VII (1181–1219), king of Cambodia
- Kanishka, ruler of the Kushan Empire
- Kublai Khan Mongol emperor
- Menander (Pali: Milinda), 2nd century BCE, an Indo-Greek king of northwestern India, who questioned Nāgasena about Buddhism in the Milinda Pañha, and is said to have become an arhat.
- Mindon (1808–1878), king of Myanmar and facilitator of "Fifth World Theravada Buddhist Council" or Fifth Sangayana
- Emperor Ming of Han China.
- Mongkut, king of Thailand and founder of the Thammayut Nikaya
- Shōtoku (574–622), crown prince and regent of Japan
- Theodorus (1st century BCE), Indo-Greek governor, author of a Buddhist dedication.
- Tony Jaa Martial Artist, became a buddhist monk May 28th, 2010.
- Empress Wu of Zhou China (625–705), the only female empress regnant in Chinese history
- Emperor Wu of Liang China (梁武帝) (502–549), Emperor during the Chinese Liang Dynasty
- King Devanampiya Tissa (307 BC – 267 BC) of Sri Lanka
Read more about this topic: List Of Buddhists
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—Joseph Featherstone (20th century)