Madhya Pradesh: Medieval history: dynasties, rulers and forts

In the medieval period, Madhya Pradesh was dominated first by Rajput clans such as the Paramaras and Chandelas, then by the Delhi Sultanate, regional kingdoms, the Mughals and, from the 18th century, the Marathas, before the British established paramountcy. The state Directorate of Archaeology protects many forts and palaces from this era.

Dynasties and political changes

• During 950-1060 AD, Rajput clans such as the Paramaras of Malwa and Chandelas of Bundelkhand dominated the region.
• The Paramara king Raja Bhoj, who gave his name to the city of Bhopal, ruled over Indore and Dhar.
• Gond Kingdoms emerged in Gondwana and Mahakoshal.
• In the 13th century, northern Madhya Pradesh was conquered by the Delhi Sultanate. Its collapse in the 14th century gave rise to regional kingdoms such as the Tomars of Gwalior and the Muslim Sultanate of Malwa, with its capital at Mandu.
• Most of present Madhya Pradesh later came under the Mughal Empire, while Gondwana and Mahakoshal stayed under Gond control, acknowledging Mughal supremacy but enjoying virtual autonomy.
• Mughal control weakened after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. Between 1720-1760 the Marathas took control of most of Madhya Pradesh.
• The Holkars ruled much of Malwa from Indore, the Scindias were at Gwalior, and the Bhonsales of Nagpur controlled Mahakoshal, Gondwana and Vidarbha.
• Bhopal was ruled by a Muslim dynasty descended from the Afghan general Dost Mohammed Khan.
• The British defeated the Marathas between 1775-1818 and established paramountcy over their states. In 1853 they annexed the state of Nagpur, which was combined with the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories to form the Central Province in 1861.

Notable personalities

• Rani Durgawati: a Chandela princess of Mandla, married to King Dalpat Shah of Gondwana; she ruled Gondwana for 16 years.
• Raja Chhatrasal: carried on a struggle for over half a century and freed Bundelkhand from Mughal rule. His cenotaph, with that of Maharani Kamlapati, is at Dhubela, about 17 km from Chhatarpur, built in the 18th century CE in Bundeli style.
• Rani Ahilya Bai: Maharani of Maheshwar, a social reformer and noted administrator, famous for building ghats.
• Tansen: an exponent of Indian classical music from Gwalior, one of the Nav Ratnas in the court of Akbar.

Gwalior Fort

• One of the largest hill forts of India.
• By popular legend, Kachawaha chief Surajsen built a fort on Gwalior hill in 275 CE, named after the hermit 'Gwalipa'.
• In the first quarter of the 6th century CE, the Huna king Mhirakula built a Surya temple on the hill; a Gurjar-Pratihar inscription of 875 CE confirms their rule there.
• Sultan Illtutamish of Delhi captured the fort in the 13th century CE; it was later ruled by the Delhi Sultanate, Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and British.
• Monuments protected by State Archaeology include Karna Mahal, Vikram Mahal, Jehangir Mahal, Shahjehan Mahal, Jauhar Kund and Gujari Mahal.

Dhar Fort

• Dhar was made capital of the Parmara kingdom by Wakapati Munj; the fort was built in the 10th-11th century CE, with gates added later.
• Attacks by the western Chalukyas led the Paramaras to move their capital to Mandu, and Dhar became a military centre.
• Sultan Mohammad Bin Tughlaq rested here in 1344 CE on his way from Daulatabad to Delhi. Aurangzeb built the gates, repaired the fort and added battlements.
• The Pawars (Marathas) made Dhar their capital; Kharbuja Mahal dates from this time. The Sheeshmahal is in Indo-Islamic style.

Bundela country: Garh Kundar and Orchha

• Garh Kundar was built by Khet Singh Khangar in the first half of the 12th century CE; the Chandela ruler Parmardidev captured it in 1182 CE.
• In 1257 CE, Sohanpal Bundela defeated Hurmat Singh Khangar; Garh Kundar became the first capital of the Bundela dynasty.
• In 1531 CE, Rudra Pratap shifted the capital to Orchha.
• Orchha was the centre of Bundeli art, architecture and culture between the 16th and 18th centuries CE. Its murals gave rise to the Bundeli style of painting, a mix of Rajput and Mughal styles.
• The fortified city has seven fortification walls and three gateways, mostly built in the reign of Bharti Chandra.

Gond and Bhopal monuments

• Ram Nagar, 28 km from Mandla, was made capital by the Gond king Hriday Shah. Its Moti Mahal is a three-storied example of Gond architecture.
• The Vishnu Mandir at Ram Nagar was built in 1667 by Rani Sundari Devi, queen of Hriday Shah.
• Jagdishpur, about 11 km from Bhopal, was the capital of the Dewra Rajputs. In 1715, Dost Muhammad Khan, founder of Bhopal city, captured it and named it Islam Nagar; it was his capital from 1715 to 1722.

Holkar Indore

• Malhar Rao Holkar made Indore his residence and in 1747 began the Rajwada palace; Ahilya Bai completed it.
• Rajwada was destroyed by arson in the riots of 1984, except the front portion and parts of the Ganesh hall, which is in French classical style.
• Lalbag Palace, on 72 acres by the Saraswati river, was begun by Shivajirao Holkar and completed by Tukojirao III between 1920 and 1925; it was dedicated to the public as "Nehru Kendra" on 14 Nov. 1988.