List of rulers of Malwa

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Following is a list of rulers of Malwa since the Janapada kingdoms:

Malwa in 1780

Bhil dynasty (1400 – 1113 BCE)[edit]

Bhil queen Doshra was allegedly the ruler of Malwa state comprising a large portion of the present-day western and central Madhya Pradesh, and parts of south-eastern Rajasthan and northern Maharashtra, whose ansestors had ruled Malwa for 289 years.[1]

Malava dynasty (c. 1113 – 840 BCE)[edit]

  • King Aswapati and his queen was Malavi (Malwa named after Malavi), their descendants dynasty first ruled Malwa.[2][3][4]

Dhanna Bhil dynasty (c. 840 – 400 BCE)[edit]

Bhil King Dhanna and his descendants dynasty ruled Malwa before feudatories to Malavas until 400s BCE. The descendants of Raja Dhanna Bhil challenged the ruler of Delhi in 730 BC. The last ruler of the Bhil dynasty was Putra-raja.[5][6]

Malwa under Magadha dynasties[edit]

Magadha dynesties expansion

Haryanka dynasty (c. 544 – 413 BCE)[edit]

Rulers-
List of Haryanka dynasty rulers
Ruler Reign (BCE)
Bimbisara 544–491 BCE
Ajatashatru 491–461 BCE
Udayin 461–428 BCE
Anirudha 428–419 BCE
Munda 419–417 BCE
Darshaka 417–415 BCE
Nāgadāsaka 415–413 BCE

Shishunaga dynasty (c. 413 – 345 BCE)[edit]

Rulers-
List of Shishunga dynasty rulers
Ruler Reign (BCE)
Shishunaga 413–395 BCE
Kalashoka 395–377 BCE
Kshemadharman 377–365 BCE
Kshatraujas 365–355 BCE
Nandivardhana 355–349 BCE
Mahanandin 349–345 BCE

Nanda Empire (c. 345 – 322 BCE)[edit]

Rulers-
List of Nanda dynasty rulers
Ruler Reign (BCE)
Mahapadma Nanda 345–340 BCE
Pandukananda 340–339 BCE
Pandugatinanda 339–338 BCE
Bhutapalananda 338–337 BCE
Rashtrapalananada 337–336 BCE
Govishanakananda 336–335 BCE
Dashasiddhakananda 335–334 BCE
Kaivartananda 334–329 BCE
Dhana Nanda 329–322 BCE

Maurya Empire (c. 322 – 185 BCE)[edit]

Rulers-
Ruler Reign Notes
Chandragupta Maurya 322–297 BCE Founder of first Indian united empire.
Bindusara 297–273 BCE Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbh revolt.
Ashoka 268–232 BCE Greatest emperor of dynasty. His son Kunala was blinded and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson. Also known for Kalinga war victory.
Dasharatha Maurya 232–224 BCE Grandson of Ashoka.
Samprati 224–215 BCE Brother of Dasharatha.
Shalishuka 215–202 BCE
Devavarman 202–195 BCE
Shatadhanvan 195–187 BCE The Mauryan Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
Brihadratha 187–184 BCE Assassinated by his Commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

Shunga Empire (c. 185 – 73 BCE)[edit]

Rulers-
List of Shunga dynasty rulers
Ruler Reign (BCE)
Pushyamitra Shunga 185–149 BCE
Agnimitra 149–141 BCE
Vasujyeshtha 141–131 BCE
Vasumitra 131–124 BCE
Bhadraka 124–122 BCE
Pulindaka 122–119 BCE
Ghosha 119–108 BCE
Vajramitra 108–94 BCE
Bhagabhadra 94–83 BCE
Devabhuti 83–73 BCE

Malwa under Andhra-Satavahana Empire (c. 100 BCE – 200 CE)[edit]

Himanshu Prabha Ray provides the following chronology, based on archaeological and numismatic evidence:[7]

Malwa under Kushan Empire (c. 1 – 375 CE)[edit]

Ruler Reign Notes
Heraios 1–30 King or clan chief of the Kushans. Founder of the dynasty.
Kujula Kadphises 30–80 United the Yuezhi confederation during the 1st century, and became the first Kushan emperor.
Vima Takto Soter Megas 80–90 Alias The Great Saviour. His empire covered northwestern Gandhara and greater Bactria towards China, where Kushan presence has been asserted in the Tarim Basin. Under his reign, embassies were also sent to the Chinese court.
Vima Kadphises 90–127 The first great Kushan emperor. He introduced gold coinage, in addition to the existing copper and silver coinage. Most of the gold seems to have been obtained through trade with the Roman Empire.
Kanishka I the Great 127–144 Came to rule an empire in Bactria extending to Pataliputra on the Gangetic plain. His conquests and patronage of Buddhism played an important role in the development of the Silk Road, and in the transmission of Mahayana Buddhism from Gandhara across the Karakoram range to China.
Huvishka 144–191 His rule was a period of retrenchment and consolidation for the Empire.
Vasudeva I 191–232 He was the last great Kushan emperor, and the end of his rule coincides with the invasion of the Sassanians as far as northwestern India, and the establishment of the Indo-Sassanians or Kushanshahs from around 240.
Kanishka II 232–245 It is likely he lost part of his empire to the Kushano-Sassanians.
Vashishka 245–250
Kanishka III 250–275
Vasudeva II 275–310
Chhu 310–325
Vasudeva III c.300? Kings whose existence is uncertain.
Vasudeva IV
Vasudeva V
Shaka Kushan/Shaka I 325–350
Kipunada 350–375 May have been a subject of Samudragupta from Gupta Empire.

Western Saka dynasty (c. 119 – 395 CE)[edit]

Abhira interregnum-

Restored Satraps-

Bharshiva dynasty (Nagas of Padmavati) (c. 175 – 325 CE)[edit]

  • Vrisha-naga

(Possibly ruled at Vidisha in the late 2nd Century).

  • Vrishabha or Vrisha-bhava

(May also be the name of a distinct king who succeeded Vrisha-naga).

  • Bhima-naga (210–230 CE)

(Probably the first king to rule from Padmavati)

  • Skanda-naga
  • Vasu-naga
  • Brihaspati-naga
  • Vibhu-naga
  • Ravi-naga
  • Bhava-naga
  • Prabhakara-naga
  • Deva-naga
  • Vyaghra-naga
  • Ganapati-naga

Malwa under Gupta Empire (c. 335 – 550 CE)[edit]

List of complete Gupt rulers-
Ruler Reign Notes
Sri-Gupta I 240–290 Founder of the dynasty.
Ghatotkacha 290–319
Chandra-Gupta I 319–335 His title Maharajadhiraja ("king of great kings") suggests that he was the first emperor of the dynasty. It is not certain how he turned his small ancestral kingdom into an empire, although a widely accepted theory among modern historians is that his marriage to the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi helped him extend his political power.
Samudra-Gupta 335–375 Defeated several kings of northern India, and annexed their territories to his empire. He also marched along the south-eastern coast of India, advancing as far as the Pallava kingdom. In addition, he subjugated several frontier kingdoms and tribal oligarchies. His empire extended from Ravi River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to central India in the south-west; several rulers along the south-eastern coast were his tributaries.
Kacha 4th-century Rival brother/king, possibly an usurper, there are coins who attest him as ruler; possibly identical with Samudra-Gupta.
Rama-Gupta 375–380
Chandra-Gupta II Vikramaditya 380–415 Continued the expansionist policy of his father Samudragupta: historical evidence suggests that he defeated the Western Kshatrapas, and extended the Gupta empire from the Indus River in the west to the Bengal region in the east, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to the Narmada River in the south.
Kumara-Gupta I 415–455 He seems to have maintained control of his inherited territory, which extended from Gujarat in the west to Bengal region in the east.
Skanda-Gupta 455–467 It is stated that he restored the fallen fortunes of the Gupta family, which has led to suggestions that during his predecessor's last years, the Empire may have suffered reverses, possibly against the Pushyamitras or the Hunas. He is generally considered the last of the great Gupta Emperors.
Puru-Gupta 467–472
Kumara-Gupta II Kramaditya 472–479
Buddha-Gupta 479–496 He had close ties with the rulers of Kannauj and together they sought to run the Alchon Huns (Hunas) out of the fertile plains of Northern India.
Narasimha-Gupta Baladitya 496–530
Kumara-Gupta III 530–540
Vishnu-Gupta Candraditya 540–550
Bhanu-Gupta ? A lesser-known king with uncertain position in the list.

Aulikara Empire of Dashapura (c. 300 – 560 CE)[edit]

Rulers of First Aulikara dynasty-

  • Jayavarma
  • Simhavarma
  • Naravarma
  • Vishvavarma
  • Bandhuvarma

Rulers of Second Aulikara dynasty-

  • Drumavardhana
  • Jayavardhana
  • Ajitavardhana
  • Vibhishanavardhana
  • Rajyavardhana
  • Prakashadharma
  • Yashodharman (c. 515–545 CE)

Harsha Empire (c. 606–647 CE)[edit]

  • Harshavardhana (606–647), unified Northern India and ruled it for over 40 years, he was the last non-Muslim emperor to rule a unified Northern India.

Pratihara Empire (c. 725 – 1036 CE)[edit]

Paramara dynasty of Malwa (c. 800 – 1305 CE)[edit]

According to historical Kailash Chand Jain, "Knowledge of the early Paramara rulers from Upendra to Vairisimha is scanty; there are no records, and they are known only from later sources."[8]

The Paramara rulers mentioned in the various inscriptions and literary sources include:

Malwa Sultanate rule[edit]

Ghorids[edit]

Khiljis[edit]

Qadirid[edit]

  • Qadir Shah (1535–1542)

Shuja'at Khani[edit]

Mughal rule[edit]

  • Mughals ruled Malwa from (1562–1720 CE)

Malwa under Maratha Empire (c. 1713 – 1948 CE)[edit]

India 1780

Territory under Maratha control in 1760 (yellow)

Peshwas region (c. 1713 – 1858 CE)[edit]

Technically they were not monarchs, but hereditary prime ministers, though in fact they ruled instead of the Chhatrapati (Maratha emperor) after death of Chattrapati Shahu, and were hegemon of the Maratha confederation.

  • Balaji Vishwanath (1713–2 April 1720) (b. 1660, died 2 April 1720)
  • Peshwa Bajirao I (17 April 1720 – 28 April 1740) (b. 18 August 1700, died 28 April 1740)
  • Balaji Bajirao (4 July 1740 – 23 June 1761) (b. 8 December 1721, d. 23 June 1761)
  • Madhavrao Ballal (1761–18 November 1772) (b. 16 February 1745, d. 18 November 1772)
  • Narayanrao Bajirao (13 Dec 1772–30 August 1773) (b. 10 August 1755, d. 30 August 1773)
  • Raghunath Rao Bajirao (5 Dec 1773–1774) (b. 18 August 1734, d. 11 December 1783)
  • Sawai Madhavrao (1774–27 October 1795) (b. 18 April 1774, d. 27 October 1795)
  • Baji Rao II (6 Dec 1796–3 June 1818) (d. 28 January 1851)
  • Nana Sahib (1 July 1857 – 1858) (b. 19 May 1825, d. 24 September 1859)

Dhar State (c. 1730 – 1947 CE)[edit]

Reign start Reign end Name Birth-death
1728 1732 Udaji Raje I Pawar
1732 1736 Anand Raje I Pawar (b. ... – died 1749)
1736 1761, 6 January Yeshwant Raje I Pawar (1724–1761)
1761, 6 January 1782 Khande Raje Pawar (b. c.1758 – died 1782)
1782 1807, 10 June Anand Raje II Pawar (1782–1807)
1807, Dec 1810 Ramchandra Raje I Pawar (1807–1810)
1807, Dec 1810 Maina Bai (f) (regent)
1810 1833, October Ramchandra Raje II Pawar (1805–1833)
1834, 21 April 1857, 23 May Yeshwant Raje II Pawar (1823–1857)
1857, 23 May 1858, 19 Jan Anand Raje III Pawar (1st time) (1844–1898)
1858, 19 Jan 1860, 1 May state abolished
1860, 1 May 1898, 29 July Anand Raje III Pawar (2nd time) (1844–1898)
1898, 29 July 1926 Udaji Raje II Pawar "Baba Sahib" (1886–1926)
1926 1931 Laxmibai Sahiba (f) (regent)
1926 1989 Anand Raje IV Pawar (1920–1989)

Holkar rulers of Indore (c. 1731 – 1948 CE)[edit]

British Colonial rule[edit]

  • British ruled Malwa from (1858–1948 CE)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dugar, Nidhi (17 April 2023). 10 Indian Tribes and the Unique Lives They Lead. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5708-047-7.
  2. ^ P. K. Basant (2012), The City and the Country in Early India: A Study of Malwa, p.85
  3. ^ Upinder Singh (2008), A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century, p.227
  4. ^ Ancient India by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar p.294
  5. ^ Thompson, Charles S. (1895). Rudiments of the Bhili Language ... United Printing Press.
  6. ^ Chacko, Pariyaram M. (1 February 2005). Tribal Communities and Social Change. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 978-81-321-0346-2.
  7. ^ Sinopoli, Carla M. (2001). "On the Edge of Empire: Form and Substance in the Satavahana Dynasty". In Alcock, Susan E.; D'Altroy, Terence N.; Morrison, Kathleen D.; Sinopoli, Carla M. (eds.). Empires: Perspectives from Archaeology and History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780521770200.
  8. ^ Jain, Kailash Chand (1972). Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 329. ISBN 978-81-208-0824-9.