Kingdom of Malwa (350–625)

The Kingdom of Malwa was a monarchy in Central India during the Classical Era and the Early Mediaeval Era. It was established by Jayavarman in 350 and ruled by the Aulikara dynasty and the Kalachuri dynasty until 625 when it was annexed by King Harsha of Kannauj.

The Kingdom of Avanti of ancient India had been based in the region where the Kingdom of Malwa later came up. The Kingdom of Avanti was conquered by Indo-Scythia in 61 BC. Following this, the region was ruled by the Malava republic. During the period, the region's name gradually changed to Malava or Malwa. In 350 AD, Jayavarman established the Kingdom of Malwa in region and founded the House of Aulikara. Yashodharman, the King of Malwa between 515 and 545 AD significantly expanded the kingdom and conquered the territories of Huns. Following his death, Krishnaraja became the King of Malwa and founded the House of Kalachuri in 550 AD.

The Kingdom of Malwa was conquered and ruled by Harsha, the Emperor of Kannauj between 625 and 647 AD. The Gurjara Empire conquered the region in 755 AD but was later conquered by the Rashtrakutas during the Kannauj Wars. Hereafter it formed a part of the Rashtrakuta Empire until it regained its independence in 948 under the House of Paramara until it was conquered by the Delhi Sultanate in 1305. In 1401, the governor of Malwa declared his independence and established the Sultanate of Malwa under the House of Khalji which reigned till its conquest by Akbar, the Shahenshah of Hindustan in 1562.

House of Aulikara (350–530)
The region where the Kingdom of Malwa was established had earlier been part of the Malava republic. The Malavas had been a tribe from northwestern India who conquered and established their rule over the Malwa region sometime after the fall of the Kingdom of Avanti (61 BC). They formed an oligarchic republic and maintained their rule over Malwa until 350 AD. Jayavarman, a Malava chief, deposed the republican government and established the Kingdom of Malwa and the House of Aulikara. Taking advantage of the confusion created during the reign of Rudrasena III, the Saka Satrap of Gujarat for thirteen years, from 351 to 364 AD, Jayavarman seized the territory near Mandsor from the Sakas. In 423 AD, Viswavarman accepted the suzerainty of Kumaragupta I, the Emperor of Magadha. In 467 AD, following the succession crisis after the death of Emperor Skandagupta of Magadha, Prabhakara became an independent monarch.

Further north, the First Hunnic War began in 496 between the Hunnic Empire and the Magadha Empire and the Huns conquered parts of Central and Northwest India by 510. However, in 515 during the reign of Yashodharman, the Kingdom of Malwa joined the War in aid of Magadha and managed to defeat the Huns. The Hunnic King Toramana died from war injuries after a battle with the Magadhan Emperor Narasimhagupta.

In 520, the Second Hunnic War began after the son of Tomara, Mihirakula, King of the Huns invaded the Magadhan Empire once more and occupied and sacked Patliputra, the Magadhan capital. Following this, Malwa formed an alliance with the Kingdom of Thanesar and in 528, defeated the Hunnic Empire.

House of Kalachuri (530–625)
In 530 AD, Yashodharman died without any heirs. Seeing this Krishnaraja seized power and became the King of Malwa and established the House of Kalachuri. His son, Shankaragana (r. 575–600) conquered parts of the Magadhan Empire. Shankaragana's son, Buddharaja (r. 600–625) was defeated by Chalukyas and lost southern territories and was ultimately defeated and conquered by the Kannauj Empire  under Harsha.

Aftermath
Harsha of the Kannauj Empire conquered Malwa around 625 of which it remained a part until his death 647. Following this the history of Malwa is mostly unknown. In 756 AD, the Gurjara Empire conquered Malwa. In 786, the Rashtrakuta Empire conquered the region from the Gurjaras. During this period, Malwa was made a vassal kingdom under the House of Paramara. In 947 AD, Siyaka, the ruler of Malwa and vassal of the Rashtrakuta Empire declared his independence.