The Gahadwala dynasty emerged as prominent rulers in northern India during the decline of the Gurjara-Pratiharas in the late 11th century CE. The dynasty was founded by Chandradeva, who conquered territories including Kashi and Ayodhya. His son Madanpal faced attacks from Turkish armies. Govindachandra, Madanpal's son, greatly expanded the empire through imperialistic conquests of neighboring kingdoms. However, the dynasty went into a decline after Jaichandra's defeat and death in battle against Muhammad Ghori in 1194 CE, which ended their rule over much of northern India.

1. Gahadwals
By
Prachi Virag Sontakke

2. Introduction
• Decline of Gurjar Pratiharas.
• Attacks of Turks & ensuing chaos
• Many dynasties spring to
prominence in north India
Gahadwalas one of them.
• Probably served Kalchuris initially.
• First known king = Yashovigraha
• Founder: Chandradeva

3. Origin of Gahadwals
• Various names: गहड़वाल गाहड़वाल, गहरवार
• Sarnath inscription of Kumaradevi : Gahadwalas were Kshatriyas.
• Neither related to Suryavamsha nor Chandravamsha
• Do not claim legendary ancestry
• Origin not talked about in literature also.
• Some relate them with Rashtrakutas, others with Rathores
• Not enough proof for aforesaid associations.

4. Sources
• Basahi inscription
• Banaras inscription of Kumardevi
• Rahan inscription
• Paali inscription
• Kamauli inscription
• Laarinscription
• A Gahadwal inscription from
Gangaikondacholapuram
• Coins, Art & Architectural
remains
• Excavated sites
• Krityakalpataru by Laxmidhar
• Rambhamanjari by Nayachandra
• Kumarpalabhupalcharit by
Jaisinghsoori
• Rajatarangini by Kalhana
• Prithvirajraso by Chandrabardai
• Prabandhachintamani by
Merutunga
• Prabandhakosha by Rajshekhar

12. Chandradeva (c.1089-1104CE)
• S/O Mahichandra
• Real founder of Gahadwals
• Known from his 4 inscriptions.
• Titles: Parambhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parmeshwar, Srichandradeva
• Kashi-Ayodhya = Early territories
• Later acquired Kannauj
• Not clear from whom.

13. Imperialistic career
• Chandravati inscription: Defeated Narpati, Gajapati,Giripati, Trishankupati.
• Narpati + Gajapati = Titles of Kalchuris.
• Defeated Kalchuri king = Yashahkarna.
• Giripati ? , Trishankupati ?
• Basahi Inscription: Won Kashi, Kushika (Kanyakubja), Uttarkosal (Ayodhya),
Indrasthaniya (Delhi-Indraprastha).
• Inscription: Chandradeva sent his armies to east.
• Ramcharita: Chandra deva was defeated by Pala samant Bhimayashasa
• Unable to extend eastwards.

14. Madanpal (c.1104-1114CE)
• S/O Chandradeva
• Inscriptions: To make land donations, Madanpal took permission of his queen, priest and some
ministers.
• Why?
• May be was ill & administration under a guardian committee.
• Tabkaat-e-Nasiri: Army of Sultan Masood III crossed Ganga & raided areas which were hitherto not
attacked even by Gaznavi.
• Muslim sources: King Malhi was captured.
• Malhi = Madanpal
• S/O Madanpal, Govindachandra had to toil hard for release of his father.
• Rahan inscription + Krityakalpataru: Struggle of Govindachandra with Turks + Victory over Palas.

15. Govindachandra (c.1114-1154CE)
• Greaatest king of Gahadwal dynasty
• S/O Madanpal and Rahaladevi
• Experience as a Yuvaraj: Led army against Palas & probably Hammir.
• Patron of scholars.
• Mahasandhivigrahika = Lakshmidhar
• Titles: Asvapati Narpati Gajapati Rajtryadhipati, Parambhattaraka
Maharajadhiraja Parmeshwar, Vividhvidyavicharavaachaspati

16. Policies for extension of empire
Imperialistic
Defensive
Diplomatic
alliances

17. Imperialistic conquests: Saryupar
• Regions south of Ghaghra: Taken control by Chandradeva-Madanpal
• Regions north of Ghaghra = Saryupaar : Taken by Govindachandra.
• Paali inscription: Conquest of Navarajyagaja.
• Navarajyagaja = Gorakhpur ?
• Taken from whom ??
• Laar inscription: Govindachandra’s agrahara donation in Saryupar.

18. Imperialistic conquests: Western & Central Bihar
• Contemporary Pala king = Rampala, Madanpala
• Pala power on wane.
• Govindachandra attacked and acquired Pala regions.
• Land donation inscriptions of Govindachandra from western & central
Bihar.
• Laar donatory inscription: Issued from Laar in Mungyer.
• Boundary of his empire reached till Patna-Mungyer

19. Imperialistic conquests: Kalchuris
• Contemporary Kalchuri king = Yashahkarna, Gayakarna
• Govindachandra’s inscription: Donation of 2 villages which
were earlier under Yashahkarna Kalchuri.
• Govindachandra’s title Asvapati narpati Gajapati
Rajtryadhipati
• Govindachandra copied Seated Laxmi type coins of
Yashahkarna
• Earlier Govindachandra’s coins were of Bull-Horserider type
Govindachandra
defeated
Kalchuris.

20. Imperialistic conquests: Parmaras
• Contemporary Parmara kings = Narvarma & Yashovarma
• Rambhamanjari: Govindachandra won Dasharn.
• Dasharn = Eastern Malwa = Under Parmaras
• Received the news of birth of his grandson when he won Dasharn and
so named him Jaichandra.

21. Imperialistic conquests: Chandellas
• Contemporary Chandella kings: Jaivarma, Prithvivarma &
Madanvarma
• Nimai Bose: Many inscriptions speak about conflict with Chandellas
• Probably came in conflict with Chandella enroute to Dasharn
• Defeated king = Madanvarma

22. Diplomacy: Matrimonial alliance & Defensive Policy
• Friendship with Palas & their feudatories: Married into a family related to Pala
king Rampal.
• Later when Palas became weak, Govindachandra ditched this friendly ties with
Palas.
• Govindachandra saw a window of opportunity: Took Mungyer & Patna
• Kalchuris of Tummain, initially a feudatory of Kalchuris of Dahal; Now friends of
Govindachandra.
• Inscription of Chandella king Madanvarma: Out of fear, king of Kannauj
maintained friendly relations with Madanpal.

23. Diplomatic-Cultural relations
• Prabandhachintamani: Chaulukya king Jaisimhasiddhraja sent a messenger to the
Gahadwala court.
• Kumarpalbhupalacharita: Kumarpal,the Chaulkya king sent his messenger to Kashi.
• Rajatarangini: Kashmir king Jaisimha friends with Kanyakubja king.
• Srikanthacharita: Kashmir king organised an assembly in which a representative of
Govindchandra also participated.
• A Gangaikondacholapuram inscription: Cultural relations with Chola king Kulottunga I
• H.C.Rai Chaudhary: Cholas and Gahadwalas became friends against common threat of
Kalchuris.

24. Succession after Govindachandra
• 3 sons
• Aasfotachandradeva: Died
• Rajyapaldeva: Died
• Natural death of two successors or foul play??
• Vijaychandra: became king

25. Vijayachandra (c.1155-1161CE)
• Prithvirajraso: Vijayachandra defeated Somvamshi king of Cuttak who was then forced to
marry his daughter with Vijayachnadra’s son-Jaichandra.
• Claim not authentic as king mentioned by Chandrabardai was not contemporary of
Vijaychandra
• Chandrabardai: Vijayachandra also defeated Anangpal of Delhi and Bhim II of Anhilwada
and attacked many kingdoms across Vindhyas.
• Bhim II was not contemporary of Vijaypala.
• Kamauli inscription: Defeated Hammir’s armies.
• Hammir = Some commander/official of Khusarushah of Lahore.
• No info in Muslim sources regarding this victory.

26. Defeats
• Seizing opportunity during Hammir’s attack, Sen king Lakshaman Sena
attacked & defeated king of Kashi Vijaychandra.
• But no loss in Gahadwala territory.
• Bijoliya inscription: Vigrahraj IV Veesaldeva occupied Delhi & Hansi.
• Delhi + Hansi = Under Tomars who accepted Gahadwala sovereignty.

27. Jaichandra (c.1170-1194CE)
• S/O Vijaychandra & Chandralekhadevi
• Before his accession, functioned as a Yuvaraj for 2 years
• Received a stable kingdom in succession.
• Lacked political far sightedness which proved fatal not only to him but for
whole India.

28. Jaichandra and Chandellas
• Rambhamanjari: Jaichandra defeated Chandella king Madanvarma
• Claim not authentic as king Madanvarma was not contemporary of
Vijaychandra
• Probably, Jaichandra attacked Madanvavrma, during this father
Vijaychandra’s reign.
• Prithvirajraso: Jaichnadra helped Chandella King Parmardin against
Prithviraj Chahman.

29. Jaichandra & Senas
• Conflict between Gahadwalas and Senas to acquire Bihar
• Prabandhakosha: Inconclusive battle between Jaichandra and Sena king Lakshman Sena.
• Till Jaichandra, Senas were not successful in getting hold in Bihar.
• Jaichandra’s inscriptions from parts of Bihar prove his control.
• Sena inscriptions: Lakshman Sena defeated Kashiraj and established victory pillars in
Kashi and Prayag.
• Probably, this victory was made after Jaichandra was defeated and killed by Mehmood
Gori.

30. Jaichandra and Chahmanas of
Shakambhari
• Numerous legends in texts and folklore.
• Prithvirajraso: Digvijay celebration of
Jaichandra…Rajasuya Yajna & Sanyogita’s
swayamvar...Prithviraj not invited...Abduction of
Sanyogita by Prithviraj
• Repeated in Ain-e-Akbari, Prithivajvijay.
• Prithvirajprabandha: Upon hearing of death of
Prithviraj III, Jaichandra celebrated Diwali in his capital
• Historicity of legends dubious.

32. Attack of Shihabuddin Gori: Battle at Chandawar
• Jaichandra very confident of his mighty army
consisting of 10 lakh foot soldiers and 700 elephants
• Rambhamanjari + Purushpareeksha: Jaichandra had
defeated Gori earlier quite a few times.
• Possible that in initial rounds, Jaichandra got some
success.
• 1194CE: Gori attacked with full might.
• Muslim sources: An arrow hit Jaichandra’s eye & he fell
down from his mount.
• Jaichandra killed and his army defeated.
• In their killing & looting spree, the victorious army
didn’t even leave women and children.
• Looted Asni fort where Jaichandra’s treasury was
stationed.
• Got so much wealth that eyes got tired of seeing it.
• Went further and plundered Benaras.

33. Decline of Gahadwals
• Death of Jaichandra & defeat of Gahadwals in Battle at Chandawar
• A sudden powerful blow to Gahadwal prestige and power.
• Aim of Muslim attackers = Looting-Amassing wealth
• Didn’t acquire defeated areas.
• Inscription of Harishchandra (S/O Jaichandra) from Jaunpur: Calls him Parambhattaraka Maharajadhiraja
Parmeshwar Paramamaheshwar Asvapati Gajapati Narpati Rajtrayadhipati Vividhvidyavicharavachaspati
• Gahadval king still ruling independently.
• Belkhara inscription: Vijaykarna accepting sovereignty of Kanyakubja king
• Till 1197-98CE, Harishchandra ruled in area around Jaunpur-Varanasi-Mirzapur.
• No info about Gahadwal dynasty after this date.