I am disappointed that most people in the West have never heard about the Mauryan empire (which is at least as much of a factor in you having misread the title).
This historical character is fascinating to me especially, as someone who lives on the banks of river Daya where Ashoka fought his bloodiest war: the Kalinga war.
Ashoka blamed himself as the cause for destruction. In repentance, Ashoka decided to devote the rest of his life to Ahimsa and converted to Buddhism.