Far East Kingdoms

Gahadavalas (Early Rajputs) (India)
AD 1090 - c.1200

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The name of Rajputana is the old form of today's modern Indian state of Rajasthan. It borders Pakistan in the north-west, and the Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the south, south-east, east, and north respectively.

It is the land of the kshatriya (warrior) Rajputs (with other communities including Meenas, Gujars, Brahmins, Jats, Yadavs, Bhils, Bishnois, and Ahirs). The Rajputs derive their name from their state: Rajputana literally means the 'land of the princes' (with 'raj' meaning 'king' and 'put' meaning 'son'). The modern capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur.

One of the earliest of Rajput kingdoms was Kannauj in ancient northern India. Even though it was early Rajputs who ruled here, today it is part of the state of Uttar Pradesh rather than the Rajasthan which is predominated by Rajputs. The kingdom lasted until the eleventh century before fracturing into several splinter states.

None of those smaller states were dominant until a short interlude had ended and another early Rajput state was created in the form of the Gahadavalas of Banaras. The kingdom's founder was Chandradeva, a Gahadwala and an ancestor of the later Rathore clan of Rajput warriors.

After the fall of Kannauj he established the Gahadavala dynasty to rule a large area of its fragmented former territory. It was during rule of his grandson, Govind Chandra Rathor, that this dynasty reached the pinnacle of its power. Govind Chandra occupied most of the Gangetic valley, consisting of modern Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states. He had his capital at Banaras and oversaw a prosperous and largely stable kingdom. Following his death that kingdom quickly collapsed.

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(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha and Peter Kessler, with additional information by Siddharth Singh Rathore (grandson of Major Maharaj Udai Singh of Bikaner (Ridi) of the erstwhile royal family), from Maharana Pratap, Bhawan Singh Rana (containing a list of rulers of Mewar), and from External Links: India History Blogspot (formerly full of information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha but now seemingly emptied).)

1090 - 1114

Founder of the new kingdom, succeeding Kannauj.

1090

With the once-dominant Rajput kingdom at Kannauj having collapse in 1036 when it had fully fractured into several smaller splinter states, it has taken until now for a replacement dominant Rajput state to emerge. A ruling dynasty at Banares can claim direct descent from the Pratihara of Kannauj kings in the form of the Gahadavalas.

1114 - 1154

Son. Oversaw the kingdom's golden age.

1154 - 1170

Unknown successor.

1170 - 1194

Son of Govindchandra. Probably committed suicide.

Jai Chandra quarrels with Prithviraj Chauhan, ruler of Amer, which he has established as a major power on the Gahadavala western border.

Shown here are two sides of a coin which was issued during the stable and prosperous reign of Govindchandra between 1114-1154

1194

The kingdom is sacked and destroyed by Muhammed II of the Ghurids, along with the Chauhan kingdom of Amer, as part of an aggressive expansion of his empire which results in the formation of the sultanate of Delhi in 1206. Jai Chandra's fate is unclear, but he likely commits suicide in the face of such destruction.

1194 - ?

Ruled in much reduced circumstances. Probably never crowned.

1206

The kingdom's territory is subsumed within the sultanate of Delhi. Sections of the Gahadwalas of Banares have already migrated away from the region. They subsequently resurface when Jai Chandra's grandson founds the kingdom of Marwar.