TheIndosphere

An encyclopedia of Indian civilization.

A Reference · History

Kingdoms of India

Every realm that ever ruled the subcontinent — dynasties, empires, tribal republics, sultanates, colonial powers and the five-hundred-odd princely states — from the civic cities of the Indus to the Republic that dissolved the last thrones.

On “every.” Over four-and-a-half millennia the polities of the subcontinent number in the thousands, and whole classes resist a clean count — the acephalous Naga and Garo chiefdoms had no single throne; the Kathiawar talukas alone ran past two hundred tiny estates; lineages split, renamed and merged across centuries. What follows collapses monarchs into their dynasties, groups the smallest states, and marks a chiefdom as a chiefdom rather than dressing it as a crown. Dates are approximate and contested at the edges. Use the search to find anyone; where a realm's name is underlined it has an entry of its own.

492 entries
I

Indus & Vedic

c. 3300 – 600 BCE14

The proto-historic and early Vedic horizon: the civic Harappan cities that left no named king, and the tribal janapadas of the Ṛgveda and Brāhmaṇas that hardened into the first monarchies.

Panchala

c. 1100–500 BCE

Rohilkhand, upper Doab

Kingdom

Puru

c. 1500–1000 BCE

Punjab (Sarasvati/Ravi)

Kingdom

Videha

c. 1100–600 BCE

N. Bihar / Mithila, Nepal Terai

Kingdom

Kikata

c. 1500–1000 BCE

Bihar (early Magadha)

Kingdom

Salva

c. 1000–600 BCE

Rajasthan / Haryana borderlands

Kingdom

Kekaya

c. 1000–600 BCE

Punjab (Beas–Jhelum)

Kingdom

Madra

c. 1000–500 BCE

Central Punjab (Sakala/Sialkot)

Kingdom
II

Mahājanapadas & Pre-Mauryan

c. 600 – 322 BCE21

The sixteen “great realms,” the rise of Magadha through the Haryanka, Shishunaga and Nanda lines, the gana-sangha republics, and the first foreign incursions — Achaemenid satraps, then Alexander.

Kosala

c. 700–350 BCE

E. Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya, Sravasti)

Kingdom

Anga

c. 700–530 BCE

E. Bihar / Bengal border (Champa)

Kingdom

Malla

c. 600–400 BCE

E. UP (Kusinara, Pava)

Republic

Surasena

c. 600–400 BCE

Braj region (Mathura)

Kingdom

Avanti

c. 700–350 BCE

Malwa (Ujjain, Mahishmati)

Kingdom

Gandhara

c. 600–535 BCE

Peshawar–Taxila

Kingdom

Kamboja

c. 600–300 BCE

Kabul valley, NW Pakistan

Republic
III

Mauryan & Classical

c. 322 BCE – 320 CE29

India’s first subcontinental empire and its aftermath: Shungas and Kanvas, the northwestern Indo-Greek, Saka, Parthian and Kushan houses, and the many coin-issuing tribal republics of the plains and foothills.

Maurya Empire

c. 322–185 BCE

Pan-subcontinental (Pataliputra)

Empire

Yaudheya

c. 200 BCE–400 CE

Haryana/Punjab/Rajasthan (Rohtak)

Republic

Arjunayana

c. 100 BCE–100 CE

E. Rajasthan / Bharatpur–Agra

Republic

Audumbara

2nd–1st c. BCE

Kangra / Gurdaspur

Republic

Kuluta

1st–2nd c. CE

Kullu valley, Himachal

Republic

Trigarta

c. 200 BCE onward

Jalandhar–Kangra

Republic

Rajanya

c. 2nd c. BCE

N. India (near Mathura)

Republic

Uddehika

1st–3rd c. CE

Bharatpur / Rajasthan

Republic

Sibi (Sivi)

2nd–1st c. BCE

Chittorgarh (Madhyamika)

Republic
IV

Ancient South & Deccan

c. 300 BCE – 600 CE21

The Satavahana bridge across the Deccan, the three ancient Tamil crowned dynasties of the Sangam age, and the early kingdoms of Andhra, Kalinga and Karnataka.

Kalabhras

c. 300–590 CE

Tamil country (interregnum)

Dynasty

Ay dynasty

1st–10th c. CE

S. Kerala (Aykudi, Vizhinjam)

Dynasty
V

Gupta Era & Contemporaries

c. 240 – 600 CE14

The classical “golden age” of the imperial Guptas and the regional powers around and after them — Vakatakas, Maitrakas, early Gangas, the first Kalachuris, and the Hūṇa storm.

Gupta Empire

c. 240/319–550 CE

N. & Central India (Pataliputra)

Empire
VI

Early Medieval North & West

c. 550 – 1200 CE70

Harsha’s Kannauj, the tripartite struggle of Pratihara, Pala and Rashtrakuta, the flowering of the Rajput clans across Rajasthan and central India, and the dynasties of Kashmir, Sindh and Odisha.

Sena dynasty

c. 1070–1230 CE

Bengal, Bihar (Nabadwip)

Dynasty
VII

Medieval South & Deccan

c. 550 – 1600 CE46

The Chalukya houses, the imperial Cholas at their maritime height, Hoysalas and Kakatiyas, the Kerala swarūpams, and the countless feudatory lines of Karnataka and Andhra.

Hoysalas

c. 1026–1343 CE

S. Karnataka (Halebidu)

Dynasty

Kakatiyas

c. 1083–1323 CE

Telangana / Andhra (Warangal)

Dynasty

Sendrakas

5th–8th c. CE

Shivamogga, Karnataka

Dynasty

Vaidumbas

8th–12th c. CE

Kurnool–Kadapa

Dynasty
VIII

Northeast & Himalayan Kingdoms

c. 350 CE – 197566

The realms routine lists forget: the Ahom and Kamarupa succession, Manipur and Tripura, the Khasi and Naga hill states, the Garhwal and Kumaon kingdoms, the Punjab hill states, and the trans-Himalayan lines of Ladakh, Baltistan and Sikkim.

Chamba

c. 550–1948

Himachal

Kingdom

Mandi

1527–1948

Himachal

Kingdom

Suket

c. 1211–1948

Himachal

Kingdom

Guler

1405–1813

Himachal (Kangra)

Dynasty
IX

Sultanates & Vijayanagara

1206 – 168722

The five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate, the provincial sultanates of Bengal, Malwa, Gujarat and the Deccan, the great Hindu counterweight of Vijayanagara, and the Bahmani successor states.

X

Mughal, Maratha & Sikh

1526 – 185820

The Mughal century and its long decline, the Maratha confederacy that inherited much of it, the Sikh misls and empire of the Punjab, and the post-Mughal successor nawabs.

Mughal Empire

1526–1857

Delhi/Agra, near-pan-subcontinental

Empire
XI

European Colonial Powers

1498 – 19618

The trading companies that became territorial empires — Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, French and British — and the minor ventures that flickered and failed.

French India

1668–1954

Pondicherry, Chandannagar, Mahé, Yanam…

Colonial

Danish India

1620–1869

Tranquebar, Serampore, Nicobars

Colonial
XII

Princely States (British Raj)

1858 – 1949160

The ~565 states that survived under British paramountcy, from 21-gun Hyderabad and Mysore to single-village thikanas, grouped by the agencies that administered them. Acceded to India or Pakistan at Partition.

Hyderabad

1724–1948

Deccan — Nizam · 21-gun

Princely state

Mysore

1399–1947

Southern India · 21-gun

Princely state

Baroda (Gaekwad)

1721–1949

Gujarat · 21-gun

Princely state

Gwalior (Scindia)

1731–1948

Central India · 21-gun

Princely state

Jammu and Kashmir

1846–1947

Northern India — Dogra · 21-gun

Princely state

Indore (Holkar)

1731–1948

Central India · 19-gun

Princely state

Bhopal

1723–1949

Central India · 19-gun

Princely state

Kolhapur

1707–1949

Deccan · 19-gun

Princely state

Kalat

1666–1948

Baluchistan — Khanate · 19-gun

Princely state

Udaipur (Mewar)

medieval–1949

Rajputana — senior Rajput house · 19–21-gun

Princely state

Travancore

1729–1949

Madras States — Kerala · 19-gun

Princely state

Cutch (Kachchh)

1147–1948

Gujarat — Rao · 17-gun

Princely state

Cochin

1102–1949

Madras States — Kerala · 17-gun

Princely state

Bikaner

1465–1949

Rajputana · 17-gun

Princely state

Bharatpur

1722–1949

Rajputana — Jat · 17-gun

Princely state

Bundi

1342–1949

Rajputana — Hada · 17-gun

Princely state

Jaipur

1128–1949

Rajputana — Kachwaha · 17–19-gun

Princely state

Jodhpur (Marwar)

1226–1949

Rajputana — Rathore · 17-gun

Princely state

Karauli

1348–1949

Rajputana — Jadaun · 17-gun

Princely state

Kota

1631–1949

Rajputana — Hada · 17-gun

Princely state

Bahawalpur

1727–1947

Punjab States · 17–21-gun

Princely state

Rewa

1234–1947

Central India — Bagelkhand · 17-gun

Princely state

Tonk

1817–1948

Rajputana — Nawab · 17-gun

Princely state

Pudukkottai

1680–1948

Madras States — Tondaiman · 17-gun

Princely state

Alwar

1770–1949

Rajputana · 15-gun

Princely state

Banswara

1527–1948

Rajputana · 15-gun

Princely state

Dholpur

1806–1949

Rajputana · 15-gun

Princely state

Dungarpur

1197–1948

Rajputana · 15-gun

Princely state

Jaisalmer

1156–1949

Rajputana — Bhati · 15-gun

Princely state

Kishangarh

1611–1948

Rajputana · 15-gun

Princely state

Pratapgarh

1425–1948

Rajputana — Maharawal · 15-gun

Princely state

Sirohi

1405–1949

Rajputana — Maharao · 15-gun

Princely state

Shahpura

1631–1949

Rajputana · 9-gun

Princely state

Kotharia, Kushalgarh, Kekri, Lawa

—

Rajputana — thikanas

Princely state

Datia

1626–1948

Central India — Bundela · 15-gun

Princely state

Dewas Senior

1728–1948

Central India — Puar · 15-gun

Princely state

Dewas Junior

1728–1948

Central India — Puar · 15-gun

Princely state

Dhar

1728–1948

Central India — Puar · 15-gun

Princely state

Orchha

1531–1950

Central India — senior Bundela · 15-gun

Princely state

Jaora

1808–1948

Central India — Nawab · 13-gun

Princely state

Ratlam

1651–1948

Central India — Rathore · 13-gun

Princely state

Benares (Ramnagar)

1737–1949

Central India · 13-gun

Princely state

Ajaigarh

1765–1949

Central India — Bundela · 11-gun

Princely state

Alirajpur

1437–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Baoni

1784–1948

Central India — Nawab · 11-gun

Princely state

Barwani

c. 1640–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Bijawar

1765–1948

Central India — Bundela · 11-gun

Princely state

Charkhari

1765–1948

Central India — Bundela · 11-gun

Princely state

Chhatarpur

1785–1948

Central India — Bundela · 11-gun

Princely state

Jhabua

1584–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Narsinghgarh

1681–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Panna

1732–1950

Central India — Bundela · 11-gun

Princely state

Rajgarh

1640–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Sailana

1730–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Samthar

1770–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Sitamau

1701–1948

Central India · 11-gun

Princely state

Baraundha

1549–1950

Central India — Bagelkhand · 9-gun

Princely state

Khilchipur

1544–1948

Central India · 9-gun

Princely state

Maihar

1778–1950

Central India · 9-gun

Princely state

Nagod

1344–1950

Central India — Bagelkhand · 9-gun

Princely state

Alipura, Bihat, Bijna, Dhurwai, Garrauli, Jaso, Kothi

—

Central India — Bundelkhand/Bagelkhand minors

Princely state

Jaitpur, Jigni, Kamta-Rajaula, Kurwai, Makrai, Sohawal

—

Central India — minor states

Princely state

Paldeo, Paron, Pathari, Piploda, Raghogarh, Sarila

—

Central India — minor states

Princely state

Sondhwa, Taraon, Tori Fatehpur, Umri

—

Central India — jagirs

Princely state

Nawanagar (Navanagar)

1540–1948

Kathiawar — Jam Sahib · 13-gun

Princely state

Bhavnagar

1723–1948

Kathiawar — Gohil · 13-gun

Princely state

Dhrangadhra-Halvad

1735–1948

Kathiawar — Jhala · 13-gun

Princely state

Junagadh

1730–1948

Kathiawar — Nawab (Babi) · 13-gun

Princely state

Porbandar

1785–1948

Kathiawar — Jethwa · 13-gun

Princely state

Gondal

1634–1948

Kathiawar — Jadeja · 11-gun

Princely state

Morvi

1698–1948

Kathiawar — Jadeja · 11-gun

Princely state

Wankaner

1620–1948

Kathiawar — Jhala · 11-gun

Princely state

Dhrol

1625–1948

Kathiawar — Jadeja · 9-gun

Princely state

Limbdi

1660–1948

Kathiawar — Jhala · 9-gun

Princely state

Palitana

1194–1948

Kathiawar — Gohil · 9-gun

Princely state

Rajkot

1620–1948

Kathiawar — Jadeja · 9-gun

Princely state

Vadhwan (Wadhwan)

1630–1948

Kathiawar — Jhala · 9-gun

Princely state

Jafarabad (Jafrabad)

1650–1948

Kathiawar — Siddi

Princely state

Bajana, Chuda, Lakhtar, Muli, Patdi, Sayla, Vanod

—

Kathiawar — Jhalawar prant

Princely state

Bantva, Bagasra, Jetpur, Jasdan, Kotda Sangani

—

Kathiawar — Sorath prant

Princely state

Babra, Chok, Chotila, Jaliya, Khirasra, Vala

—

Kathiawar — smaller estates

Princely state

Kathiawar talukas (~200+ tiny estates)

—

Kathiawar — Halar, Gohelwar, Sorath, Jhalawar

Princely state

Palanpur

1373–1948

Banas Kantha — Nawab (Diwan) · 13-gun

Princely state

Radhanpur

1753–1948

Banas Kantha — Nawab · 11-gun

Princely state

Tharad, Wao (Vav), Santalpur, Suigaon, Warahi

—

Banas Kantha — Thakor states

Princely state

Idar

1257–1948

Mahi Kantha — Rathore · 15-gun

Princely state

Rajpipla

1340–1948

Rewa Kantha — Gohil · 13-gun

Princely state

Cambay (Khambhat)

1730–1948

Gujarat — Nawab · 11-gun

Princely state

Balasinor

1758–1948

Gujarat — Nawab (Babi) · 9-gun

Princely state

Bansda

1781–1948

Gujarat · 9-gun

Princely state

Baria (Devgadh Baria)

1729–1948

Rewa Kantha · 9-gun

Princely state

Chhota Udaipur

1743–1948

Rewa Kantha · 9-gun

Princely state

Danta

1500s–1948

Mahi Kantha — Parmar · 9-gun

Princely state

Dharampur

1262–1948

Surat Agency · 9-gun

Princely state

Lunavada

1225–1948

Rewa Kantha · 9-gun

Princely state

Sant (Santrampur)

1255–1948

Rewa Kantha · 9-gun

Princely state

Sachin

1791–1948

Surat — Nawab (Siddi) · 9-gun

Princely state

Pethapur, Mansa, Katosan, Varsoda, Vijaynagar

—

Mahi Kantha / Sabar Kantha

Princely state

Ambliara, Malpur, Mohanpur, Ilol, Bhalusna

—

Mahi Kantha minors

Princely state

Sangli

1782–1948

Deccan — Patwardhan · 9-gun

Princely state

Sawantwadi

1627–1948

Deccan — Raja Bahadur · 9-gun

Princely state

Aundh

1699–1948

Deccan — Pant Pratinidhi

Princely state

Akalkot

1708–1948

Deccan — Bhonsle

Princely state

Bhor

1697–1948

Deccan · 9-gun

Princely state

Janjira

1489–1948

Deccan — Nawab (Siddi) · 11-gun

Princely state

Jamkhandi, Jath, Mudhol, Ramdurg, Phaltan

—

Deccan States Agency

Princely state

Kurundvad (Sr. & Jr.), Miraj (Sr. & Jr.)

—

Deccan — Patwardhan houses

Princely state

Savanur, Surgana

—

Deccan States Agency

Princely state

Patiala

1763–1948

Punjab — premier Sikh (Phulkian) · 17-gun

Princely state

Nabha

1763–1948

Punjab — Sikh (Phulkian) · 13-gun

Princely state

Jind

1763–1948

Punjab — Sikh (Phulkian) · 13-gun

Princely state

Kapurthala

1772–1948

Punjab — Ahluwalia · 13-gun

Princely state

Faridkot

1763–1948

Punjab — Sikh (Phulkian) · 11-gun

Princely state

Malerkotla

1657–1948

Punjab — Nawab · 11-gun

Princely state

Kalsia

1763–1948

Punjab — Sikh

Princely state

Loharu

1806–1948

Punjab — Nawab · 9-gun

Princely state

Dujana, Pataudi

1806–1948

Punjab — Nawab (non-salute)

Princely state

Suket

1211–1948

Punjab Hill States · 11-gun

Princely state

Chamba

550–1948

Punjab Hill States · 11-gun

Princely state

Mandi

1527–1948

Punjab Hill States · 11-gun

Princely state

Baghal, Baghat, Balsan, Bhajji, Beja, Darkoti, Dhami

—

Shimla Hill States

Princely state

Jubbal, Keonthal, Kumharsain, Kunihar, Kuthar

—

Shimla Hill States

Princely state

Mahlog, Mangal, Sangri, Tharoch, Koti, Ghund, Theog

—

Shimla Hill States

Princely state

Guler, Nurpur, Kutlehr, Datarpur, Siba, Jaswan

—

Kangra Hill States (Katoch cadets)

Princely state

Basohli, Bhadrawah, Chanehni, Jasrota, Kishtwar, Mankot

—

Jammu Hill States

Princely state

Mayurbhanj

c. 1400–1949

Orissa States · 9-gun

Princely state

Patna (Bolangir)

c. 1300–1948

Orissa States · 9-gun

Princely state

Kalahandi

c. 1005–1948

Orissa States · 9-gun

Princely state

Sonepur (Sonpur)

1650–1948

Orissa States · 9-gun

Princely state

Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Baudh, Bamra, Athmallik

—

Orissa States

Princely state

Athgarh, Baramba, Daspalla, Hindol, Khandpara

—

Orissa States

Princely state

Narsinghpur, Nayagarh, Nilgiri, Pal Lahara, Ranpur

—

Orissa States

Princely state

Rairakhol, Talcher, Tigiria, Bonai, Gangpur

—

Orissa / Chota Nagpur States

Princely state

Bastar

c. 1324–1948

Chhattisgarh States

Princely state

Surguja

c. 1613–1948

Chhattisgarh States — Maharaja Bahadur

Princely state

Raigarh

1625–1948

Chhattisgarh States

Princely state

Kanker, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Jashpur, Koriya

—

Chhattisgarh States

Princely state

Nandgaon, Sakti, Sarangarh, Chhuikhadan, Changbhakar

—

Chhattisgarh States

Princely state

Udaipur (Chhattisgarh)

—

Chhattisgarh States — Raja Bahadur

Princely state

Banganapalle

1665–1948

Madras States — Nawab · 9-gun

Princely state

Sandur

1713–1949

Madras States — Ghorpade

Princely state

Arakkal

c. 1545–1947

Madras States — Kerala (Muslim) · 7-gun

Princely state

Cooch Behar

1587–1949

Bengal frontier — Koch · 13-gun

Princely state

Sikkim

1642–1975

Himalayan — Chogyal · 15-gun

Princely state

Tripura

1400s–1949

NE frontier — Manikya · 13-gun

Princely state

Manipur

33 CE (trad.)–1949

NE frontier — Meitei · 11-gun

Princely state

Tehri Garhwal

1815–1949

Himalayan — Panwar · 11-gun

Princely state

Kharan, Las Bela, Makran

—

Baluchistan Agency

Princely state

Khairpur

1783–1955

Sind — Talpur · 15-gun

Princely state

Chitral

14th c.–1969

NW Frontier · 11-gun

Princely state

Dir, Swat, Amb, Phulra

—

NW Frontier / Hazara

Princely state

Hunza, Nagar, Yasin

—

Gilgit region

Princely state

Jhansi

1769–1853

Bundelkhand — annexed (Doctrine of Lapse)

Princely state

Satara

1707–1848

Deccan — Maratha, annexed 1848

Princely state

Nagpur

1730–1853

Central India — Bhonsle, annexed

Princely state

Kittur

18th c.–1824

Karnataka — Rani Chennamma

Princely state

Sambalpur, Jaitpur, Baghat (lapsed)

1849–54

States lapsed to the Company

Princely state
XIII

The Modern Republic

1947 – Present1

The dissolution of monarchy and the union that replaced it — the princely states integrated between 1947 and 1949.

† A census of attested polities of the Indian subcontinent, compiled from standard dynasty and princely-state references. Boundaries, dates and successions vary by source and are contested at the margins; the smallest estates and stateless chiefdoms are grouped or noted as such rather than enumerated in full. Corrections and additions welcome at theindosphere@gmail.com.