According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama’s father was Suddhodana.
Suddhodana is described in Buddhist texts as a leader of the Shakya clan and the father of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha. He is often called a king in popular retellings, although historians note that the Shakya political system may have been closer to a clan-based republic or oligarchy than a centralized monarchy.
Suddhodana’s wife was Maya, also known as Queen Maya or Mahamaya. After Maya died soon after Siddhartha’s birth, her sister Mahapajapati Gotami helped raise the child. This family relationship is important because Mahapajapati later became a major figure in the Buddhist monastic tradition.
Different Buddhist traditions preserve slightly different details about Suddhodana’s status and life. The name itself, however, is consistently associated with Siddhartha Gautama’s father in traditional biographies. He should not be confused with King Bimbisara of Magadha, a later royal supporter of the Buddha.