Indian Dynasties at a Glance: Founder, Last Ruler, Longest Reign & Era-wise Comparison (BPSC–UPSC Focused Notes)

1. Gurjar–Pratihara Dynasty

Era: Early Medieval India (8th–11th Century)

• Founder: Nagabhata I
• Last Ruler: Yashpala (1036 CE)
• Longest Reign: Bhoja I (Mihir Bhoja) → ~49 years (836–885 CE)
• Dynasty Duration: ~300 years

🔹 Highlight: North India की सबसे शक्तिशाली early medieval dynasty

2. Rashtrakuta Dynasty

Era: Early Medieval India (8th–10th Century)

• Founder: Dantidurga
• Last Ruler: Indra IV (982 CE)
• Longest Reign: Amoghavarsha I → ~64 years (814–878 CE)
• Dynasty Duration: ~250 years

🔹 Highlight:One of the longest-reigning individual rulers in Indian history

3. Rajput Dynasties (Tomaras & Chauhans)

Era: Early Medieval India (12th Century)

Tomaras

• Founder: Not clearly known
• Last Ruler: Ananga Pala
• Longest Rule: Ananga Pala
• Duration: ~150 years

Chauhans

• Founder: Early Chauhans
• Last Ruler: Prithviraj Chauhan (1192)
• Longest Rule: Prithviraj Chauhan
• Duration: ~27 years (Delhi phase)

4. Slave Dynasty (Mamluk)

Era: Medieval India (13th Century)

• Founder: Qutb-ud-Din Aibak
• Last Ruler: Muiz-ud-din Qaiqabad (1290)
• Longest Reign: Iltutmish → ~25 years
• Dynasty Duration: ~84 years

🔹 Highlight: First Muslim dynasty of Delhi Sultanate

5. Khilji Dynasty

Era: Medieval India (Late 13th–Early 14th Century)

• Founder: Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji
• Last Ruler: Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah
• Longest Reign: Ala-ud-din Khilji → ~20 years
• Dynasty Duration: ~30 years

🔹 Highlight: Market control & price regulation

6. Tughlaq Dynasty

Era: Medieval India (14th–Early 15th Century)

• Founder: Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
• Last Ruler: Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (1412)
• Longest Reign: Firoz Shah Tughlaq → ~37 years
• Dynasty Duration: ~92 years
  
  

  Ruler	Reign
  Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq (Ghazi Malik)	1320 – 1325
  Muhammad bin Tughluq	1325 – 1351
  Firoz Shah Tughluq	1351 – 1388
  Mahmud Nasir-ud-din	1393 – 1394
  Nusrat Shah Tughluq	1394 – 1399
  Nasir-ud-din Mahmud	1399 – 1412

7. Bahmani Sultanate

Era: Medieval Deccan (14th–15th Century)

• Founder: Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah
• Last Ruler: Mahmud Shah IV (weak phase)
• Longest Reign: Feroz Shah Bahmani → ~25 years
• Dynasty Duration: ~180 years

🔹 Highlight: Foundation of Deccan Muslim states

8. Sayyid Dynasty

Era: Late Medieval India (15th Century)

• Founder: Khizr Khan
• Last Ruler: Alam Shah
• Longest Reign: Mubarak Shah → ~13 years
• Dynasty Duration: ~37 years
  
  

  Ruler	Reign
  Khizr Khan	1414 – 1421
  Mubarak Shah	1421 – 1434
  Muhammad Shah	1434 – 1443
  Alam Shah	1443 – 1451

9. Lodi Dynasty

Era: Late Medieval India (15th–16th Century)

• Founder: Bahlol Lodi
• Last Ruler: Ibrahim Lodi (1526)
• Longest Reign: Bahlol Lodi → ~38 years[ the longest of the Delhi Sultans]
• Dynasty Duration: ~75 years

🔹 Highlight: Last Delhi Sultanate dynasty

10. Chola Dynasty

Era: Early–High Medieval South India (9th–13th Century)

• Founder: Vijayalaya Chola
• Last Ruler: Rajendra III (1279)
• Longest Reign: Kulothunga III → ~40 years
• Dynasty Duration: ~430 years ✅

🔹 Highlight:

👉 Longest-lasting dynasty of medieval India

11. Yadava (Sevuna) Dynasty

Era: Medieval Deccan (12th–14th Century)

• Founder: Bhillama V
• Last Ruler: Sankara Deva
• Longest Reign: Singhana → ~37 years
• Dynasty Duration: ~135 years
  

  Ruler	Reign
  Bhillama V	1175 – 1190
  Jaitrapala	1191 – 1210
  Singhana	1210 – 1247
  Krishna	1247 – 1260
  Mahadeva	1260 – 1271
  Ramachandra Deva	1271 – 1309
  Sankara Deva	1309 – 1312

12. Peshwas (Maratha Empire)

Era: Modern India (18th–19th Century)

• Founder: Balaji Vishwanath
• Last Peshwa: Baji Rao II (1818)
• Longest Reign: Madhav Rao II → ~22 years
• Institution Duration: ~105 years
  
  

  Peshwa	Period
  Balaji Vishwanath	1713 – 1720
  Baji Rao I	1720 – 1740
  Balaji Bajirao	1740 – 1761
  Madhav Rao I	1761 – 1772
  Narayan Rao	1772 – 1773
  Raghunath Rao	1773 – 1774
  Madhav Rao II	1774 – 1796
  Baji Rao II	1796 – 1802
  Amrut Rao	1802 – 1803
  Baji Rao II (restored)	1803 – 1818
  Nana Sahib (Pretender)	1851 – 1857

13. Later Mughals

Era: Modern India (18th–19th Century)

• Founder (Later phase): Bahadur Shah I
• Last Emperor: Bahadur Shah II (1857)
• Longest Reign: Muhammad Shah → ~29 years
• Duration: ~150 years
  

  Emperor	Reign
  Bahadur Shah I	1707 – 1712
  Jahandar Shah	1712
  Farrukh Siyar	1713 – 1719
  Shah Jahan II	1719
  Muhammad Shah	1719 – 1748
  Ahmad Shah	1748 – 1754
  Alamgir II	1754 – 1759
  Shah Jahan III	1759 – 1760
  Shah Alam II	1760 – 1806
  Akbar Shah II	1806 – 1837
  Bahadur Shah II	1837 – 1857