List of rulers of Malwa

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Following is a list of rulers of Malwa since the Janpada Kingdoms:

Malava Dynasty (c. 1220–840 BCE)[]

King and his wife had ten sons and one daughter. After Aswapati they became king of Malwa (named after Malavi) & established Malava dynasty. According to ancient records Malava dynasty ruled before dynasty. ^[1][2][3]

Haryanka Empire (c. 544–413 BCE)[]

• Bimbisara (558/544–491 BCE), founder of the first Magadhan empire
• Ajatashatru (491–461 BCE)
• Udayin (461-428 BCE)
• Anirudha (428-419 BCE)
• Munda (419-417 BCE)
• Darshaka (417-415 BCE)
• Nāgadāsaka (415-413 BCE)

(last ruler of the Haryanka dynasty)

Shishunaga dynasty (c. 413–345 BCE)[]

• Shishunaga (413–395 BCE), founder of dynasty
• Kalashoka (Kakavarna) (395–377 BCE)
• Kshemadharman (377–365 BCE)
• Kshatraujas (365–355 BCE)
• Nandivardhana (355–349 BCE)
• Mahanandin (349–345 BCE), his empire was inherited by his illegitimate son Mahapadma Nanda in 345 BCE.

Nanda Empire (c. 345–322 BCE)[]

• Mahapadma Nanda (345–340 BCE),

founded the Nanda Empire after inheriting Mahanandin's empire

• Pandhukananda
• Panghupatinanda
• Bhutapalananda
• Rashtrapalananada
• Govishanakananda
• Dashasidkhakananda
• Kaivartananda
• Karvinatha Nand (Illegitimate son of Mahapadma Nanda)
• Dhana Nanda(330–332 BCE)

(until 321 BCE), lost his empire to Chandragupta Maurya after being defeated by him.

Maurya Empire (c. 322–185 BCE)[]

Ruler		Reign	Notes
Chandragupta Maurya		322–297 BCE
Bindusara Amitraghata		297–273 BCE
Ashoka		268–232 BCE	His son, Kunala, was blinded, and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson.
Dasharatha		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 Pushyamitra Shunga

Shunga Empire (c. 185–73 BCE)[]

• Pushyamitra Shunga (185–149 BCE), founded the dynasty after assassinating Brihadratha
• Agnimitra (149–141 BCE), son and successor of Pushyamitra
• Vasujyeshtha (141–131 BCE)
• Vasumitra (131–124 BCE)
• Andhraka (124–122 BCE)
• Pulindaka (122–119 BCE)
• Ghosha (119–116 BCE)
• Vajramitra (116–110 BCE)
• Bhagabhadra (c. 110 BCE), mentioned by the Puranas
• Devabhuti (83–73 BCE), the last Shunga king

Gupta Empire (c. 240–550 CE)[]

Ruler		Reign	Notes
Sri-Gupta I		240–290	Founder of the dynasty.
Ghatotkacha		290–320
Chandra-Gupta I		320–325	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 Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi helped him extend his political power.
Samudra-Gupta		325–375	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.

Western Shatrapa Empire (c. 119–380 CE)[]

• Nahapana (119-124 CE)
• Chashtana (c 120)
• Rudradaman I (c 130-150)
• Damajadasri I (170-175)
• Jivadaman (175 d 199)
• Rudrasimha I (175-188 d 197)
• Isvaradatta (188-191)
• Rudrasimha I (restored) (191-197)
• Jivadaman (restored) (197-199)
• Rudrasena I (200-222)
• Damasena (222-232)
• (227?)
• (232-239) with
• (234-238)
• (239)
• Vijayasena (239-250)
• Damajadasri III (251-255)
• Rudrasena II (255-277)
• (277-282)
• Bhartridaman (282-295) with
• Visvasena (293-304)
• Rudrasimha II (304-348) with
• Yasodaman II (317-332)
• (332-348)
• (348-380)
• Simhasena (380- ?)

Aulikara Kingdom (c. 200–550 CE)[]

• Drumavardhana, first known ruler of dynasty
• Jayavardhana
• Ajitavardhana
• Bhishanavardhana
• Rajyavardhana
• Prakashdharma
• Yashodharman (515–545 CE), greatest ruler of dynasty
• Shiladitya (545–550/560 CE), last known ruler of the dynasty

Harsha Empire (c. 606–647 CE)[]

• 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)[]

Kannuj (Bhinmala) Branch (c. 725–1036 CE)[]

• Nagabhata I (725–756)
• Kakustha (756–765)
• Devaraja (765–778)
• Vatsaraja (778–805)
• Nagabhata II (800–833)
• Ramabhadra (833–836)
• Mihira Bhoja (836–890)
• Mahendrapala I (890–910)
• Bhoja II (910–913)
• Mahipala I (913–944)
• Mahendrapala II (944–948)
• Devpala (948–954)
• Vinaykpala (954–955)
• Mahipala II (955–956)
• Vijaypala II (956–960)
• Rajapala (960–1018)
• Trilochanpala (1018–1027)
• Jasapala (Yashpala) (1024–1036)

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

According to historial 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."^[4] The Paramara rulers mentioned in the various inscriptions and literary sources include:

• Upendra, (last quarter of 8th century)^[5]
• Vairisimha (I) (8th century)^[6]
• Siyaka (I) (9th century)^[6]
• Vakpati (I) (9th century)^[6]
• Vairisimha (II), (10th century)^[7]
• Siyaka (II), (940–972)^[8]
• Vakpati (II) alias Munja, (972–990)^[9]
• Sindhuraja, (990–1010)^[10]
• Bhoja, (1010–1055), Greatest ruler of dynasty^[11]
• Jayasimha I, (1055–1070)^[12]
• Udayaditya, (1070–1086)^[13]
• Lakshmadeva, (1086–1094)^[14]
• Naravarman, (1094–1130)^[15]
• Yashovarman, (1133–1142)^[16]
• Jayavarman I, (1142–1143)^[17]
• Interregnum under an usurper named Ballala and later the Solanki king Kumarapala^[18]
• Vindhyavarman, (1175–1194)^[19]
• Subhatavarman, (1194–1209)^[20]
• Arjunavarman I, (1210–1215)^[21]
• Devapala, (1218–1239)^[22]
• Jaitugideva, (1239–1255)^[23]
• Jayavarman II, (1255–1274)^[24]
• Arjunavarman II, (1274–1285)^[24]
• Bhoja II, (1285–1301)^[24]
• Mahalakadeva, (1301–1305 died & ended of dynasty)^[25]

Malwa Sultanate rule[]

Ghorids[]

• Dilawar Khan (1390–1405)
• Alp Khan Hushang (1405–1435)
• Mahmud Khalji (1435–1436)

Khiljis[]

• Mahmud Shah I (1436–1469)
• Ghiyath Shah (1469–1500)
• Nasr Shah (1500–1511)
• Muhamud Shah II (1511–1531)

Qadirid[]

• (1535–1542)

Shuja'at Khani[]

• Miyan Bayezid Baz Bahadur (1555–1562)

Mughal rule[]

• Mughals ruled Malwa from (1562–1720 CE)

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

[[File:India1760 1905.jpg | image_map_caption = Territory under Maratha control in 1760 (yellow)]]

The Peshwas Region (c. 1713–1858 CE)[]

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)[]

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)[]

• Malharrao Holkar (I) (r. 2 November 1731 – 19 May 1766)
• Malharrao Khanderao Holkar (r. 23 August 1766 – 5 April 1767)
• Ahilyadevi Holkar (r. 5 April 1767 – 13 August 1795)
• (r. 13 August 1795 – 29 January 1797)
• Kashirao Tukojirao Holkar (r. 29 January 1797 – 1798)
• Yashwantrao Holkar (I) (r. 1798–27 November 1811)
• Malharrao Yashwantrao Holkar II (r. November 1811–27 October 1833)
• Martandrao Malharrao Holkar (r. 17 January 1834 – 2 February 1834)
• Harirao Vitthojirao Holkar (r. 17 April 1834 – 24 October 1843)
• Khanderao Harirao Holkar II (r. 13 November 1843 – 17 February 1844)
• Tukojirao Gandharebhau Holkar II (r. 27 June 1844 – 17 June 1886)
• Shivajirao Tukojirao Holkar (r. 17 June 1886 – 31 January 1903)
• Tukojirao Shivajirao Holkar III (r. 31 January 1903 – 26 February 1926)
• Yashwantrao Holkar II (r. 26 February 1926 – 1961)

British Colonial rule[]

• British ruled Malwa from (1858–1947 CE)

References[]