Indian history Β· Kings and empires Β· Master list

Great Kings, Queens and Maharajas of India: A Region-by-Region and Era-by-Era List of Dynasties and Rulers with Key Facts

Questions on kings and dynasties appear in every general studies paper, from SSC and state PSCs to Punjab Police and teaching exams. This master list arranges India's best-known rulers by period and region, with one-line facts for each. Where we have a detailed guide, the name links to it, so you can use this page as a revision map for the whole of Indian political history.

By PunjabExams Editorial Team Β· Updated 29 October 2026 Β· 8 min read Β· How we prepare guides

How to use this list

Each table gives the ruler, the dynasty or kingdom, the approximate period and the facts examiners ask most often. Learn one "anchor fact" per ruler first β€” a battle, a monument, a reform or a book β€” then add detail from the linked guides.

Ancient India (c. 600 BCE – 600 CE)

Ruler Dynasty / kingdom Period Remembered for
Bimbisara Haryanka, Magadha c. 544–492 BCE Capital Rajagriha; contemporary of the Buddha and Mahavira
Ajatashatru Haryanka c. 492–460 BCE First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha held in his reign
Mahapadma Nanda Nanda 4th century BCE Called "destroyer of all Kshatriyas"; huge army and treasury
Porus Paurava (Punjab) 326 BCE Fought Alexander at the Hydaspes β€” see Ancient Punjab
Chandragupta Maurya Maurya c. 321–297 BCE Founded the Mauryan Empire with Chanakya β€” see guide
Ashoka Maurya c. 268–232 BCE Kalinga War, Dhamma, edicts, Lion Capital β€” see guide
Kharavela Mahameghavahana, Kalinga 1st century BCE Hathigumpha inscription, Udayagiri (Odisha); Jain patron
Gautamiputra Satakarni Satavahana c. 106–130 CE Defeated the Shakas; Nasik inscription of his mother Gautami Balashri
Rudradaman I Western Kshatrapa (Shaka) c. 130–150 CE Junagadh inscription β€” first long inscription in Sanskrit
Kanishka Kushan c. 78 CE onwards Saka era, Fourth Buddhist Council, Gandhara art β€” see guide
Samudragupta Gupta c. 335–375 CE Prayag Prashasti; "Napoleon of India" β€” see Gupta guide
Chandragupta II Gupta c. 375–415 CE Defeated the Shakas; Fa-Hien's visit; Navaratnas tradition

Early medieval India (600–1200 CE)

Ruler Dynasty / kingdom Period Remembered for
Harshavardhana Pushyabhuti, Thanesar–Kannauj 606–647 Xuanzang, Banabhatta, Prayag assemblies β€” see guide
Pulakeshin II Chalukyas of Badami c. 610–642 Defeated Harsha; Aihole inscription β€” see guide
Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) Pallavas of Kanchi 600–668 Rock-cut temples; Narasimhavarman founded Mamallapuram, took Vatapi
Dantidurga; Krishna I Rashtrakuta 8th century Krishna I built the Kailasa temple, Ellora
Amoghavarsha I Rashtrakuta 814–878 Wrote the Kannada work Kavirajamarga; capital Manyakheta
Dharmapala Pala, Bengal c. 770–810 Founded Vikramashila university
Mihira Bhoja Gurjara-Pratihara c. 836–885 Arab writers praised his strong cavalry
Raja Raja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I Chola 985–1044 Brihadeeswara temple; Ganga and Srivijaya expeditions β€” see guide
Raja Bhoja Paramara, Malwa c. 1010–1055 Scholar-king; Bhojpur temple; city of Bhopal linked by tradition
Prithviraj Chauhan Chahamana, Ajmer–Delhi c. 1178–1192 Battles of Tarain β€” see guide
Jayapala Hindu Shahi late 10th century Defeated by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1001

The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

Ruler Dynasty Period Remembered for
Qutb-ud-din Aibak Mamluk (Slave) 1206–1210 Began the Qutb Minar; died at Lahore playing polo
Iltutmish Mamluk 1211–1236 Silver tanka and copper jital; iqta system; completed Qutb Minar
Razia Sultan Mamluk 1236–1240 First and only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate
Balban Mamluk 1266–1287 Theory of kingship; sijda and paibos; Iron and Blood policy
Alauddin Khalji Khalji 1296–1316 Market control, Siri, Malik Kafur β€” see guide
Muhammad bin Tughlaq Tughlaq 1325–1351 Shifted capital to Daulatabad; token currency
Firoz Shah Tughlaq Tughlaq 1351–1388 Canals, new towns (Hisar, Firozabad); moved Ashokan pillars to Delhi
Sikandar Lodi Lodi 1489–1517 Founded Agra (1504)
Ibrahim Lodi Lodi 1517–1526 Defeated by Babur at Panipat (1526)

Regional kingdoms (14th–18th century)

Ruler Kingdom Period Remembered for
Harihara I and Bukka I Vijayanagara (Sangama) from 1336 Founded Vijayanagara
Krishnadevaraya Vijayanagara (Tuluva) 1509–1529 Amuktamalyada; Ashtadiggajas β€” see guide
Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah Bahmani from 1347 Founded the Bahmani Sultanate
Mahmud Gawan Bahmani (minister) 15th century Madrasa at Bidar
Rana Kumbha Sisodia, Mewar 1433–1468 Vijay Stambh, Chittor; Kumbhalgarh fort
Rana Sanga Sisodia, Mewar 1508–1528 Fought Babur at Khanwa (1527)
Maharana Pratap Sisodia, Mewar 1572–1597 Haldighati (1576) β€” see guide
Rani Durgavati Gondwana (Garha-Katanga) d. 1564 Died fighting Akbar's general Asaf Khan
Chand Bibi Ahmadnagar / Bijapur d. 1599 Defended Ahmadnagar against Akbar's forces (1595)
Ibrahim Adil Shah II Bijapur 1580–1627 Kitab-i-Nauras in Dakhani
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah Golconda 1580–1612 Founded Hyderabad; built the Charminar (1591)
Lachit Borphukan Ahom kingdom (general) 1671 Defeated the Mughals at Saraighat; National Defence Academy's best cadet medal named after him
Rani Abbakka Chowta Ullal, Karnataka 16th century Resisted the Portuguese

The Mughal emperors (1526–1857)

Emperor Period Remembered for
Babur 1526–1530 Panipat (1526), Khanwa (1527); memoir Baburnama (Turki)
Humayun 1530–1540, 1555–1556 Lost to Sher Shah Suri at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540); regained throne 1555
Sher Shah Suri (Sur dynasty) 1540–1545 Rupiya coin; Grand Trunk Road; Rohtas fort; tomb at Sasaram
Akbar 1556–1605 Mansabdari; Sulh-i-Kul β€” see guide
Jahangir 1605–1627 Chain of justice; Sir Thomas Roe; Nur Jahan
Shah Jahan 1628–1658 Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid; Shahjahanabad
Aurangzeb 1658–1707 Largest extent of the empire; Bibi ka Maqbara; reimposed jizya (1679)
Bahadur Shah Zafar 1837–1857 Last Mughal emperor; exiled to Rangoon after 1857

The Marathas

Ruler Period Remembered for
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 1674–1680 (crowned) Swarajya, Ashtapradhan β€” see guide
Sambhaji 1680–1689 Executed by Aurangzeb
Tarabai 1700–1707 (regent) Led resistance after Rajaram's death
Shahu 1707–1749 Appointed the Peshwas
Baji Rao I Peshwa 1720–1740 Palkhed, raid on Delhi β€” see guide
Ahilyabai Holkar Indore, 1767–1795 Rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath temple (1780) and many ghats; capital Maheshwar
Mahadji Shinde Gwalior Restored Shah Alam II to Delhi (1771); dominated north India

Sikh rulers and Punjab

Ruler Period Remembered for
Banda Singh Bahadur 1709–1716 First Sikh rule; Sirhind; Lohgarh β€” see guide
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia 18th century Dal Khalsa leader; "Sultan-ul-Qaum"
Maharaja Ranjit Singh 1801–1839 "Sher-e-Punjab"; Sikh Empire β€” see guide
Maharaja Duleep Singh 1843–1849 Last Sikh ruler; Koh-i-Noor β€” see guide
Baba Ala Singh Patiala, 18th century Founded Patiala β€” see Princely states

The 18th century and the British era

Ruler State Period Remembered for
Sawai Jai Singh II Amber/Jaipur 1699–1743 Founded Jaipur; Jantar Mantar β€” see guide
Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I Hyderabad from 1724 Founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty
Siraj-ud-Daulah Bengal 1756–1757 Lost at Plassey β€” see guide
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan Mysore 1761–1799 Anglo-Mysore Wars β€” see guide
Rani Velu Nachiyar Sivaganga 1780s Regained her kingdom from the Company in 1780
Kittur Rani Chennamma Kittur, Karnataka 1824 Fought the Company over the right of adoption
Gulab Singh Jammu and Kashmir 1846–1857 Founded the Dogra state
Rani Lakshmibai Jhansi 1853–1858 1857 revolt β€” see guide
Begum Hazrat Mahal Awadh 1857–58 Led the revolt at Lucknow
Sayajirao Gaekwad III Baroda 1875–1939 Compulsory education; Ambedkar's scholarship β€” see guide
Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV Mysore 1902–1940 Krishna Raja Sagar dam; Mysore University (1916) β€” Gandhi called him "Rajarishi"
Shahu Maharaj Kolhapur 1894–1922 Reservation in government jobs for backward classes (1902)
Maharaja Hari Singh Jammu and Kashmir 1925–1949 Instrument of Accession β€” see guide

Key points to remember

Practice questions

  1. Q1. Who was the first and only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

    • (a) Nur Jahan
    • (b) Razia Sultan
    • (c) Chand Bibi
    • (d) Rani Durgavati
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Razia Sultan β€” Razia Sultan ruled from 1236 to 1240.

  2. Q2. The Kailasa temple at Ellora was built by:

    • (a) Pulakeshin II
    • (b) Krishna I (Rashtrakuta)
    • (c) Narasimhavarman I
    • (d) Raja Raja Chola I
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Krishna I (Rashtrakuta) β€” The Rashtrakuta king Krishna I built it in the 8th century.

  3. Q3. Which ruler founded the city of Agra in 1504?

    • (a) Babur
    • (b) Sikandar Lodi
    • (c) Akbar
    • (d) Sher Shah Suri
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Sikandar Lodi β€” Sikandar Lodi founded Agra.

  4. Q4. The Battle of Saraighat (1671) was won by:

    • (a) Shivaji
    • (b) Lachit Borphukan
    • (c) Chhatrasal
    • (d) Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Lachit Borphukan β€” The Ahom general Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughals.

  5. Q5. Which ruler introduced reservation in government jobs for backward classes in 1902?

    • (a) Sayajirao Gaekwad III
    • (b) Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur
    • (c) Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV
    • (d) Maharaja Hari Singh
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur β€” Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur reserved 50% of posts in 1902.

  6. Q6. The Charminar was built by:

    • (a) Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
    • (b) Ibrahim Adil Shah II
    • (c) Aurangzeb
    • (d) Asaf Jah I
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah β€” He built it in 1591 in his new city, Hyderabad.

Frequently asked questions

Which Indian king is called the 'Napoleon of India'?

Samudragupta, a title given by historian V. A. Smith.

Who was the last Mughal emperor?

Bahadur Shah Zafar, exiled to Rangoon after the Revolt of 1857.

Who was the last ruler of the Sikh Empire?

Maharaja Duleep Singh, whose kingdom was annexed by the British in 1849.

Official sources

Rules, dates and figures can change. Always check the latest official notification or government release before relying on a detail.

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