Major dynasties in the history of Madhya Pradesh
Major dynasties in the history of Madhya Pradesh
The history of Madhya Pradesh is divided into three periods:
- Ancient
- Medieval
- Modern
During the ancient period, the region was dominated by:
- The Nanda Empire
- The Maurya Empire
- The Gupta Empire
The medieval period saw the rise of:
- The Rajput clans
- The Paramara
- The Chandela clans
- The Malwa Sultanate
The modern period in Madhya Pradesh saw the rise of:
- The Mughal
- The Maratha empires
- The British Empire.
The British princely states of Gwalior, Indore, and Bhopal, were a part of modern Madhya Pradesh. The British rule continued until the middle of the 20th century when India gained independence in 1947. The state of Madhya Pradesh was formed in 1956, and Chhattisgarh was carved out from the state in 2000.
Major dynasties in the history of Madhya Pradesh during the Ancient Period:-
Mahajanpada Period ( Sixth Century BC)
According to the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya, which gives the names of the 16 Mahajanpadas, there were three Mahajanpadas in Madhya Bharat:-
(1) Avanti-
- It was located in the Malwa region.
- Divided into two parts- North Avanti ( Capital at Ujjain) and South Avanti ( Capital at Mahishmati).
- Ruled by-The Haihaya Dynasty (Earliest rulers of Avanti), The Vitihora Dynasty (A branch of the Haihayas dynasty), and The Pradotya Dynasty (Contemporary of both Mahavira and Buddha).
- Avanti was a part of the Magadha empire during the Rule of Shishunaga, the Nanda dynasty, and the Mauryan dynasty.
(2) Chedi-
- Fell into the Bundelkhand division of Madhya Pradesh regions.
- Its capital city was called Suktimati.
- According to the Mahabharata, the Chedi Kingdom was ruled by Shishupala.
(3) Vatsa-
- It had a monarchical form of government with its capital at Kaushambi.
- Udayana was the ruler of Vatsa in the 6th-5th century BCE, the time of the Buddha.
The Nanda Empire
- Avanti was part of the Nanda dynasty.
The Mauryan Empire
- Around 322 BC Chandragupta Maurya ruled in modern Madhya Pradesh.
- During the reign of Bindusar, prince Ashoka had ruled as the governor of Ujjain.
- Ashoka's wife Mahadevi was the princess of Vidisha.
- Ashoka made various stupas at Vidisha, Bhojpur, Bharhut, etc. The Sanchi Stupa the most magnificent.
- Four Ashokan edicts have been found from Madhya Pradesh- 1. Rupnath (Jabalpur) 2. Gurjara (Datiya) 3. Saro-Maro (Shahdol) 4. Panguraria ( Shahdol) .
The Shunga Dynasty
- Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra Sunga was the viceroy at Vidisha.
- Kalidas was the court poet of Agnimitra, where he wrote his first title Malvikagnimitram ( a drama on the love story of Agnimitra and Malvika).
- Though Sunga rulers were a follower of the Brahman religion, the promoted reconstruction of Sanchi and Bharhut Stupa.
- Greek ambassador Heliodorus visited during Sunga king Bhagbhadra and built the Garuna pillar at Vidisha.
The Gupta Dynasty
- Avanti or Malwa region was the part of the Gupta dynasty during the 4th century AD
- Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) defeated the Shaka of Ujjain and conquered Malwa. He made Ujjain his capital where he gave patronage to the Navratnas- Kalidas, Vetakbhatta, Varahmihir, Dhanvantari, Amarsimha, Vararuchi, Ghatkar, Harisena, And Kahapanaka.
- The rock-cut temples at Bagh Caves ( Dhar District) attest to the presence of the Gupta dynasty in Madhya Pradesh.
Major dynasties in the history of Madhya Pradesh during the Medieval Period:-
Paramaras
- Founded by a chief called Upendra (Krishanaraja).
- The Paramaras ruled between the 9th and 14th centuries CE.
- The Parmaras established themselves rulers of Malwa in central India in the 9th century, ruling from their capital Dhar.
- The Paramara king Bhoja (c. 1010–1060) was a brilliant polymath and prolific writer. He is famous for his patronage of the arts, and for commissioning, inscriptions found all over the region.
The Bhojeshwar temple at Bhojpur near Bhopal was established by Bhoja. The temple is incomplete and is dedicated to Shiva.
The Bhojpur Lake, a beautiful water body neat Bhopal was built during Bhoja by massive embankment closing the outlets in a circle of mountains was one of the greatest work of Raja Bhoj. The dam was later destroyed by Hoshang Shah.
- The last known Paramara king was defeated and killed by the forces of Alauddin Khalji of Delhi in 1305.
- The Chandelas ruled in the Bundelkhand between the 9th and the 13th centuries CE.
Rulers of Chandel Dynasty
1. Maharaja Rao Vidyadhara: The Chandel administration is popular in Indian history for Maharaja Rao Vidyadhara, who rebuffed the assaults of Mahmud of Ghazni.
2. Nannuk: The founder of the Chandel dynasty. Khajuraho was called Khajuravatika - Bearer of Dates or Khajuravatika – Garden of Dates, which was firmly in the hands of Nannuk. Vakapati succeeded his father Nannuk amid the 2nd quarter of the ninth century.
3. Vakapati: Vakapati the leader of Khajuraho, needed to regularly help Pratiharas in the front line, in light of the fact that he was a vassal of the Pratiharas. Vakapti’s two children, Jaishakti and Vijayshakti, succeeded him, in a steady progression. Both the sovereigns were solid and courageous and attached impressive regions to their empire.
4. Jaishakti: Jaishakti, the senior sibling who governed initially, was likewise called Jai Jak and from this name, the area governed by the Chandelas gained the name of Jaijikbhukti. He was succeeded by his younger sibling, Vajaishakti.
5. Rahil: The town Rahilya which is three km southwest of Mohaba was named after Rahil. There he likewise fabricated a reservoir known as Rahilyasagar and also a temple on its banks, which is presently in remnants.
6. Harshdev: Harshdev earned for himself a paramount spot ever. In the 25 years or somewhere in the vicinity of his tenet, he amplified his region and improved the eminence of his tradition.
- They created the temple city of Khajuraho between c. 950 and c. 1050. The temple complex is famous for its erotic sculptures. The Khajuraho group of temples were built together but were dedicated to two religions, Hinduism and Jainism, suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views.
Malwa Sultanate/Dynasty- Founder- Dilawar Khan Gauri.
- Capital shifted from Dhar to Mandu which was renamed Shadiabad (the city of joy).
- Dilawar Khan succeeded by his son Alp Khan.
Malwa Sultanate/Dynasty
- Founder- Dilawar Khan Gauri.
- Capital shifted from Dhar to Mandu which was renamed Shadiabad (the city of joy).
- Dilawar Khan succeeded by his son Alp Khan.
Kalchuri Dynasty
- They ruled the historical chedi region, from their capital Tripuri (present-day Tewar near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh).
- The time period was from 10-12th century.
Rulers of the Kalachuri Dynasty
- Kokalla I (850-885 AD): He was the founder of this dynasty; Kokalla won the Konkan area and helped Rashtrakuta King Krishna II against Chalukyas and Pratiharas. He was married to a Chandella princess and had 18 sons.
- Samkaragana (878-888AD): He was the eldest son and the successor of Kokalla. He won in the fierce battle between Somavansi rulers of South Kosala. He extended his territory near Ratnapur in Bilaspur District.
- Balaharsha: After Samkaragana the throne was ascended by his two sons Balaharsha and Yuvraj in about the middle of the 10th century AD. Yuvraja defeated and drove out the Rashtrakuta forces. The famous poet Rajasekara staged his drama Viddhasalabhanjika to celebrate this victory. The Kalachuri inscription credit Yuvraja for battles against Kashmir and the Himalayan region.
- Yuvaraja I (reigned 915–945): The Kalachuri’s occasionally took part in Rashtrakuta politics, in the period of Yuvaraja I.
- Lakshmanaraja: Yuvraja’s son Lakshmanaraja, who ruled in the second half of the 10th century A.D., was also a great conqueror. He invaded Vangala, south Bengal, and the king of South Kosala; Somavansi was also defeated by him. In the west, he invaded Lata, ruled by a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta’s, and defeated the king of Gurjara, the founder of the Chalukya Dynasty.
- Samkaragana II and Yuvraj II: Laxmanraja’s two sons, Samkaragana II and Yuvraja II, proved to be unworthy sons of a worthy father.
- Gangeyadeva (reigned 1015–41AD): In the token of his great victory he assumed the proud title of ‘Trikalingadhipati’ which meant ‘Lord of Trikalinga’. He got the title of Vikramaditya. He issued coins of different metals, sizes, weights which were made of different metals like gold, silver, and copper. Probably he ascended the throne before 1019 AD and died about 1040 AD.
- Karna (reigned 1041–73): He was the son and successor of Gangeyadeva. He had the city Allahabad in his territory which was conquered by his father. He carried his victorious arms alone in the eastern coast as far as the country round Kanchi. He proved to be a better ruler than his father. In 1072 AD, he abdicated the throne for his son Yasahkarna.
Bundela Dynasty
- The Bundelas are a Rajput clan of central India.
- The Bundelas, whose origin is obscure, emerged in the 14th century.
- Orchha town in Niwari district of MP’s Bundelkhand region has a peculiar style of architecture used by the Bundela dynasty.
- The architectural heritage of Orchha town has been included in the tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites.
- Established in 1501 by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh, Orchha has witnessed tough times as well as friendly relations with the Mughal Dynasty.
Baghel Dynasty
- Branch of the Solanki dynasty established control over present Rewa.
- Vyaghra Dev was the first Solanki ruler who came to this area from Gujrat and established his rule. The descendants of Vyaghra Dev are known as Baghels.
- The most known princes and fighters were brothers Aalhaa and Udal.
Kalchuri Dynasty
- They ruled the historical chedi region, from their capital Tripuri (present-day Tewar near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh).
- The time period was from 10-12th century.
Rulers of the Kalachuri Dynasty
- Kokalla I (850-885 AD): He was the founder of this dynasty; Kokalla won the Konkan area and helped Rashtrakuta King Krishna II against Chalukyas and Pratiharas. He was married to a Chandella princess and had 18 sons.
- Samkaragana (878-888AD): He was the eldest son and the successor of Kokalla. He won in the fierce battle between Somavansi rulers of South Kosala. He extended his territory near Ratnapur in Bilaspur District.
- Balaharsha: After Samkaragana the throne was ascended by his two sons Balaharsha and Yuvraj in about the middle of the 10th century AD. Yuvraja defeated and drove out the Rashtrakuta forces. The famous poet Rajasekara staged his drama Viddhasalabhanjika to celebrate this victory. The Kalachuri inscription credit Yuvraja for battles against Kashmir and the Himalayan region.
- Yuvaraja I (reigned 915–945): The Kalachuri’s occasionally took part in Rashtrakuta politics, in the period of Yuvaraja I.
- Lakshmanaraja: Yuvraja’s son Lakshmanaraja, who ruled in the second half of the 10th century A.D., was also a great conqueror. He invaded Vangala, south Bengal, and the king of South Kosala; Somavansi was also defeated by him. In the west, he invaded Lata, ruled by a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta’s, and defeated the king of Gurjara, the founder of the Chalukya Dynasty.
- Samkaragana II and Yuvraj II: Laxmanraja’s two sons, Samkaragana II and Yuvraja II, proved to be unworthy sons of a worthy father.
- Gangeyadeva (reigned 1015–41AD): In the token of his great victory he assumed the proud title of ‘Trikalingadhipati’ which meant ‘Lord of Trikalinga’. He got the title of Vikramaditya. He issued coins of different metals, sizes, weights which were made of different metals like gold, silver, and copper. Probably he ascended the throne before 1019 AD and died about 1040 AD.
- Karna (reigned 1041–73): He was the son and successor of Gangeyadeva. He had the city Allahabad in his territory which was conquered by his father. He carried his victorious arms alone in the eastern coast as far as the country round Kanchi. He proved to be a better ruler than his father. In 1072 AD, he abdicated the throne for his son Yasahkarna.
Bundela Dynasty
- The Bundelas are a Rajput clan of central India.
- The Bundelas, whose origin is obscure, emerged in the 14th century.
- Orchha town in Niwari district of MP’s Bundelkhand region has a peculiar style of architecture used by the Bundela dynasty.
- The architectural heritage of Orchha town has been included in the tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites.
- Established in 1501 by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh, Orchha has witnessed tough times as well as friendly relations with the Mughal Dynasty.
Baghel Dynasty
- Branch of the Solanki dynasty established control over present Rewa.
- Vyaghra Dev was the first Solanki ruler who came to this area from Gujrat and established his rule. The descendants of Vyaghra Dev are known as Baghels.
- The most known princes and fighters were brothers Aalhaa and Udal.
Major dynasties in the history of Madhya Pradesh during the Modern Period:-
- The Ghuri dynasty founded by Dilawar Khan Ghuri was replaced by the Khalji dynasty founded by Muhammad Shah I, which ruled Malwa till 1531. Muhammad Shah II, the last ruler of the Khalji dynasty surrender to Bahadur Shah, the sultan of Gujrat in 1531.
- In 1542, Sher Shah Suri conquered the kingdom and appointed Shujaat Khan as the Governor. His son Baz Bahadur declared himself independent in 1555.
- In 1561, Akbar's army led by Adham Khan and Pir Mohammad Khan attacked Malwa and defeated Baz Bahadur in the battle of Sarangpur. Now Malwa became subah (province) of the Mughal Empire.
- After 1700, as the Mughal state weakened, Maratha came to power in Malwa. Subsequently, three Maratha Sardar established their hold in the Malwa region- Scindias in Gwalior, Holkars in Indore, and Pawar's in Dhar and Dewas.
Mughal Rule
- Mughal emperor Akbar brought most of Madhya Pradesh under the Mughal rule
- After the death of the Aurangzeb in 1707 Mughal control began to weaken and the Marathas began to expand their influence.
The Marathas
- Madhya Pradesh was under the control of Marathas between 1720 to 1760.
- The Holkar of Indore ruled much of Malwa and the Bhonsale of Nagpur dominated Mahakaushal and Gondwana. Pawar's ruled Dewas and Dhar, Scindia ruled the northern part of the state.
Holkar Dynasty
- The dynasty was founded by Malhar Rao, who joined the service of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire in 1721. In 1747, he started the construction of his royal palace, the Rajwada.
- Malhar Rao was succeeded by Ahilyabai Holkar (r. 1767–1795), his daughter-in-law. She was born in the Chaundi village in Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar, south of Indore on the Narmada River. Rani Ahilyabai was a prolific builder and patron of Hindu temples in Maheshwar and Indore.
- The adopted son of Malhar Rao Holkar, Tukoji Rao Holkar (r. 1795-1797) briefly succeeded Rani Ahilyabai upon her death. Tukoji Rao had been a commander under Ahilyabai for her entire rule.
- Tukoji Rao Holkar son Yashwantrao Holkar (r. 1797–1811) (also called Jaswant Rao) succeeded him upon his death.
- In 1811, the four-year-old Maharaja Malhar Rao Holkar III succeeded Yashwantrao Holkar. His mother, Maharani Tulsabai Holkar, looked after the administration.
- At the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the Holkars lost much of their territory to the British and were incorporated into the British Raj as a princely state of the Central India Agency. The capital was shifted from Bhanpura to Indore.
Scindia Dynasty
- Is a Hindu Maratha dynasty that ruled the erstwhile State of Gwalior.
- It was founded by Ranoji Scindia, who started as a " -bearer" of the Peshwa Bajirao I.
- The Gwalior state was a princely state under the British Raj during the 19th and the 20th centuries.
- Ranoji was in charge of the Maratha conquests in Malwa in 1726. Ranoji established his capital at Ujjain in 1731. His successors included Jayajirao, Jyotibarao, Dattajirao, Jankojirao, Mahadji Shinde, and Daulat Rao Scindia. The Scindias became a major regional power in the latter half of the 18th century.
- After India's independence in 1947, several members of the Sindhia family went on to join Indian politics.
The British Empire
- In 1761, the Third Battle of Panipat brought an end to the Maratha expansion.
- The British took advantage and expanded their influence.
- The Third Anglo-Maratha War resulted in the emergence of British supremacy and most of MP came under the British Empire.
- The state of Indore, Bhopal, Rewa, and other smaller states become the princely state of British India and the Mahakaushal region becomes a British province.
- Mahakausal along with Nagpur state was organized as Central Province. It covered parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh, and Maharastra states. Its capital was Nagpur.
- Contribution of Madhya Pradesh in the Revolt of 1857 and Freedom Struggle:-
- The Ghuri dynasty founded by Dilawar Khan Ghuri was replaced by the Khalji dynasty founded by Muhammad Shah I, which ruled Malwa till 1531. Muhammad Shah II, the last ruler of the Khalji dynasty surrender to Bahadur Shah, the sultan of Gujrat in 1531.
- In 1542, Sher Shah Suri conquered the kingdom and appointed Shujaat Khan as the Governor. His son Baz Bahadur declared himself independent in 1555.
- In 1561, Akbar's army led by Adham Khan and Pir Mohammad Khan attacked Malwa and defeated Baz Bahadur in the battle of Sarangpur. Now Malwa became subah (province) of the Mughal Empire.
- After 1700, as the Mughal state weakened, Maratha came to power in Malwa. Subsequently, three Maratha Sardar established their hold in the Malwa region- Scindias in Gwalior, Holkars in Indore, and Pawar's in Dhar and Dewas.
Mughal Rule
- Mughal emperor Akbar brought most of Madhya Pradesh under the Mughal rule
- After the death of the Aurangzeb in 1707 Mughal control began to weaken and the Marathas began to expand their influence.
The Marathas
- Madhya Pradesh was under the control of Marathas between 1720 to 1760.
- The Holkar of Indore ruled much of Malwa and the Bhonsale of Nagpur dominated Mahakaushal and Gondwana. Pawar's ruled Dewas and Dhar, Scindia ruled the northern part of the state.
Holkar Dynasty
- The dynasty was founded by Malhar Rao, who joined the service of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire in 1721. In 1747, he started the construction of his royal palace, the Rajwada.
- Malhar Rao was succeeded by Ahilyabai Holkar (r. 1767–1795), his daughter-in-law. She was born in the Chaundi village in Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar, south of Indore on the Narmada River. Rani Ahilyabai was a prolific builder and patron of Hindu temples in Maheshwar and Indore.
- The adopted son of Malhar Rao Holkar, Tukoji Rao Holkar (r. 1795-1797) briefly succeeded Rani Ahilyabai upon her death. Tukoji Rao had been a commander under Ahilyabai for her entire rule.
- Tukoji Rao Holkar son Yashwantrao Holkar (r. 1797–1811) (also called Jaswant Rao) succeeded him upon his death.
- In 1811, the four-year-old Maharaja Malhar Rao Holkar III succeeded Yashwantrao Holkar. His mother, Maharani Tulsabai Holkar, looked after the administration.
- At the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the Holkars lost much of their territory to the British and were incorporated into the British Raj as a princely state of the Central India Agency. The capital was shifted from Bhanpura to Indore.
Scindia Dynasty
- Is a Hindu Maratha dynasty that ruled the erstwhile State of Gwalior.
- It was founded by Ranoji Scindia, who started as a " -bearer" of the Peshwa Bajirao I.
- The Gwalior state was a princely state under the British Raj during the 19th and the 20th centuries.
- Ranoji was in charge of the Maratha conquests in Malwa in 1726. Ranoji established his capital at Ujjain in 1731. His successors included Jayajirao, Jyotibarao, Dattajirao, Jankojirao, Mahadji Shinde, and Daulat Rao Scindia. The Scindias became a major regional power in the latter half of the 18th century.
- After India's independence in 1947, several members of the Sindhia family went on to join Indian politics.
The British Empire
- In 1761, the Third Battle of Panipat brought an end to the Maratha expansion.
- The British took advantage and expanded their influence.
- The Third Anglo-Maratha War resulted in the emergence of British supremacy and most of MP came under the British Empire.
- The state of Indore, Bhopal, Rewa, and other smaller states become the princely state of British India and the Mahakaushal region becomes a British province.
- Mahakausal along with Nagpur state was organized as Central Province. It covered parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh, and Maharastra states. Its capital was Nagpur.
- Contribution of Madhya Pradesh in the Revolt of 1857 and Freedom Struggle:-
- In the history of the Indian freedom movement, Madhya Pradesh played a significant role.
- In the revolt of 1857, several freedom fighters from Madhya Pradesh participated in the Indian freedom struggle and the Indian Independence Movement. Major freedom fighters from Madhya Pradesh were Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ravishankar Shukla, Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rani Avanti Bai, Tantya Bheel, and Jhalkari Bai.
History of Post Independence Madhya Pradesh ( 1947-Present)
- The new states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal were formed out of the Central India Agency.
- In 1956, according to the States Reorganization Act, the states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal were merged into Madhya Pradesh, and the Marathi-speaking southern region Vidarbha, which included Nagpur, was ceded to Bombay State. Bhopal became the new capital of the state, and Ravishankar Shukla was elected as the first Chief Minister.
- In November 2000, as part of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganization Act, the southeastern portion of the state split off to form the new state of Chhattisgarh.
- In the history of the Indian freedom movement, Madhya Pradesh played a significant role.
- In the revolt of 1857, several freedom fighters from Madhya Pradesh participated in the Indian freedom struggle and the Indian Independence Movement. Major freedom fighters from Madhya Pradesh were Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ravishankar Shukla, Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rani Avanti Bai, Tantya Bheel, and Jhalkari Bai.
History of Post Independence Madhya Pradesh ( 1947-Present)
- The new states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal were formed out of the Central India Agency.
- In 1956, according to the States Reorganization Act, the states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal were merged into Madhya Pradesh, and the Marathi-speaking southern region Vidarbha, which included Nagpur, was ceded to Bombay State. Bhopal became the new capital of the state, and Ravishankar Shukla was elected as the first Chief Minister.
- In November 2000, as part of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganization Act, the southeastern portion of the state split off to form the new state of Chhattisgarh.
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