Skip to content
YearMaps
High & Late Middle Ages1085 CE – 1201 CEPeak: 217,539 km² (1196 CE)

Gahadavala Dynasty: Map & History

The Gahadavala dynasty, also known as Gahadavalas of Kannauj, was a Rajput dynasty that ruled parts of the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, during 11th and 12th centuries.

5.5
1085 CEDrag timeline:1196 CE1201 CE
1085 CE
1125 CE
1150 CE
1175 CE
1201 CE
Capital: Varanasi and KannaujPeak Extent: 217,539 km²Vector Attribution: Cliopatria (CC BY 4.0)Wikidata: Q1147823 ↗
W

Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium

Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry

Wikipedia: Gahadavala dynasty
Gahadavala dynasty historical cartography
Northern Indian dynasty (1072–1237)

The Gahadavala dynasty, also known as Gahadavalas of Kannauj, was a Rajput dynasty that ruled parts of the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, during 11th and 12th centuries. Their capital was located at Banaras in the Gangetic plains, and for a brief period, they also controlled Kannauj.

Capital / Seat
Varanasi and Kannauj
State Governance
Absolute Monarchy
Historical Religion
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism
Peak Territory
217,539 km²
Preceded By
Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, Kalachuris of Tripuri
Succeeded By
Ghurid dynasty, Delhi Sultanate
Content & infobox metadata adapted from Wikipedia (Gahadavala dynasty)

Modern Countries Once Part of Gahadavala Dynasty

At its mapped extent, Gahadavala Dynasty covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.

States and Provinces

Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.

Gahadavala Dynasty in Depth

History

By the last quarter of the 11th century, the north-central India was a troubled territory as a result of Ghaznavid raids and the lack of a strong imperial power. The Gurjara-Pratihara empire had ceased to exist. Their successors, such as the Paramaras and the Kalachuris, had declined in power. In these times of chaos, the first Gahadavala king Chandradeva brought stability to the region by establishing a strong government. The 1104 CE Bashai (or Basahi) inscription of his son Madanapala declares that he saved the distressed earth after the deaths of the Paramara Bhoja and the Kalachuri Karna.

Since the Kalachuris controlled the area around Varanasi before the Gahadavalas, it appears that Chandradeva captured this territory from them.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Gahadavala dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Gahadavala Dynasty: Key Facts

Key facts about Gahadavala Dynasty
Founded1089
Dissolved1197

Succeeded by

Facts from Wikidata Q1147823 (CC0).

Gahadavala Dynasty Map Over Time

Dated world maps on which Gahadavala Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.

Gahadavala Dynasty Timeline

Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion

1 Epochs
Territorial Apex1196 CE

Expansion to peak recorded area of 217,539 km² in 1196 CE.

Gahadavala Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Gahadavala Dynasty exist?

The Gahadavala Dynasty is dated to 1085 CE – 1201 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.

What was the capital of the Gahadavala Dynasty?

The capital of the Gahadavala Dynasty was Varanasi and Kannauj.

How large was the Gahadavala Dynasty at its peak?

At its peak in 1196 AD the Gahadavala Dynasty covered about 217,539 km².

How did the map of the Gahadavala Dynasty change over time?

The Gahadavala Dynasty appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1100 CE to 1200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.