Early History
History of the fort is permanently linked to the former kingdom of Gwalior, ruled by several Rajput kings. The earliest dating of the fort as found in the publication of the Government of India on Gwalior, which hints its marks of 525 AD in a Sun temple, which is said to have been built by the Hun (Huna) emperor Mihirakula (Sveta Huna ruler in 510 AD during the reign of Huns in India).
The Chaturbhuj temple (dedicated to a four armed Hindu god, a Vishnu) temple, on the way to the fort is dated to 875 AD which has close identity with the Teli-Ka-Mandir, which is also dated to the 8th century.
Kacchawa Pal Dynasty
Historical research tells that the construction time of the fort is 727 AD (legend claims it as 275 AD) by a local chieftain of the area named Surya Sena Kacchawa, who was a local ruler of a village called Sihonia some 20 kilometers from the mountain where the fort stands today. On a hunting expedition the Kacchawa Thakur Surajsen met a hermit called Sage Gwalip who gave him water and told him of a cure for his diseases from the water of a reservoir nearby which is called Surajkund (meaning sun tank) now.
1. King ‘Suraj Pal’ ruled 36 years, his son
2. Rasak pal one year and his son
3. Narhar Pal ruled 11 years and died in a hunting expedition. Narhar Pal raised the Mahadev Temple and founded Narhar Tela village. He was followed by
4. ‘Amar Pal’ and he by his son
5. ‘Bheem Pal’ who raised the Bheemeshwar Mahadev Temple. Bheem Pal ruled 36 years followed by
6. Gang Pal who ruled 21 years, he built the famous gangola lake. His son
7. Raj Pal ruled 10 years followed by
8. Bhoj Pal who ruled some 9 years and built the famous shrine of Chaturbhuj Rai, a manifestation of Lord Krishna. It is famous as it is built on single stone. Bhoj Pal was followed by his son
9. Padam Pal who ruled 9 years. He built the famous Lakshmi-Narayan Shrine. He was succeed by
10. Anang Pal, who as legend says met Gwalip Sage who was responsible for the fortunes of his family. Gwalip sage gave him knowledge to forge Gold from ordinary metals and in his times 5 tola Gold Coins were circulated. He left the state to
11. Indra Pal who ruled only 3 years and was notorious ruler. He was succeeded by
12. Jeet Pal who ruled 14 years, he constructed Jeet Durga Temple. After him
13. Basant Pal ruled 17 years followed by
14. Dhund Pal who ruled 11 years,
15. Lakshman Pal followed him and ruled only 4 years. His son
16. Nahar Pal who ruled 2 years. He was followed by
17. Bhandar Pal who raised the fort of Bhander and ruled 11 years. He was followed by his son
18. Ajaz Pal who ruled 9 years. Followed by the long list of illustrious rulers:
19.Aspa 20.Sees Pal 21.Bhoj Pal 22.JBhairone Pal 23.Gunpat Pal 24.Chaura Sookh Pal 25. Gaoo Munt Pal 26.Nagish Pal 27.Budh Pal 28.Madh Pal 29.Bir Pal 30.Kant Pal 31.Keerat Pal 32.Danee Pal 33.Bhip Pal 34.HamirTal 35.Chatar Pal 36.Bhomindra Pal 37.Dheer Pal 38.Nagendra Pal 39.Sudh Pal 40.Sindhoo Pal 41.Madhoo Pal 42.Over Pal 43.Budnu Pal 44.Jay Pal 45.Sandhan Pal 46.Balbhadra Pal 47.Gundharap Pak 48.Saij Pal 49.Devendra Pal 50.Ramchandra Pal 51.Dhondar Pal 52.Saromand Pal 53.Pardaman Pal 54.Rasak Pal 55.Deepak Pal 56.Anant Pal 57.Gaj Pal 58.Jugdeesh Pal 59.Gunjee Pal 60.Ram Deve Pal 61.Seewani Pal 62.Hirchand Pal 63.Birakh Pal 64.Tilak Pal 65.Bijay Pal 66.Dhander Pal 67.Nain Pal 68.Herlaik Pal 69.Pratap Rudra Pal 70.Kaisar Pal 71.Asad Pal 72.Indra Pal 73.Maun Pal 74.Karam Pal 75.Esar Pal 76.Mon Pal 77.Sagar Pal 78.Bishambar Pal 79.Ratan Pal 80.Dhore Pal 81.Budha Pal
From Suraj Pal the founder of the dynasty to Budha Pal the last on the above list there had been eighty four 84 kings who reigned during a period of nine hundred and eighty nine (989) years under the patronymic of Pal, a solid proof of the long continued peace enjoyed by India under her indigenous sovereigns. The son of Budha Pal rejoiced in the name of Tej Karan and the time had now arrived for the prophecy of the Saint Gwalpa, who had said that lineage of Suraj Pal would continue as long they used the patronym ‘PAL’.
The rule of Gwalior state was then duly transferred to Pratihar family
Pratihar Rulers at Gwalior
The following is list of Pratihar rulers at Gwalior:
- Pramal Dev/Salam Dev
- Bikram Dev
- Ratan Dev
- Shobhang Dev
- Narsinh Dev
- Pramal Dev
Muslim Conquest
In 1023 AD Mahmud of Ghazni attacked to capture the fort but was repulsed. In 1196 AD, after a long siege, Qutubuddin Aibak the first Sultan of India took over the fort but he lost it in 1211 AD. It was reconquered in 1231 AD by Sultan Iltumish, the slave dynasty ruler of Delhi. When Timurlane invaded Delhi and created anarchy in the region, Narasingh Rao, a Hindu chieftain captured the fort. The fort eventually went to Sikander Khan who continued for some time.
Then came the rule of Tomars.
Tomar Rulers
There were two Rajput brothers of the Tanwar clan of Rajputs named Parmal Deva(Veer Singh)and Adhar Deva from the village of Esamamola situated in the Perganna of Dandrolee. Sikandar Khan was much pleased with their conduct as evinced by their devotion to their duty. He permitted them to make any request which would be at once granted. They related their story which purported to be that they had always been true to their salt but were unable to serve the State diligently so long as their children were wandering in the jungle for want of a decent home. They concluded their recital in the true Rajput fashion with a request that Gwalior might be given to them as a place of residence for their families.
The Sultan commanded them to be present at the Durbar the next day when their petition would be granted without any further solicitation on their part. The Emperor however assured them of his good will towards them and when at the appointed hour the two brothers stood at a respectful distance from the Audience Hall the Sultan proving as good as his word summoned them both to his presence and gave them Gwalior as an Inam (Reward).
- Vir Singh(Or Pramal Dev) or Bir Sing Deo AD 1375 (1432 V.S.). a Zamindar of Dandroli, captured fort from a Sayyid King of Gwalior.
- Uddhharan Dev, Brother of VirSingh Dev, ruled for some time.
- Lakshman dev Tomar
- Viramdev AD 1400 (1457 V.S.) s/o Virsingh Dev.
- Ganapati Dev Tomar AD 1419
- Dugarendra (Dungar) Singh AD 1424, consolidated Gwalior as a major power of central India. Built the Ganesha Pole.
- Kirti Singh Tomar AD 1454 , Fought with Rana Kumbha of Mewar against Muhommadan Kings of Malwa (Mehmood Khilji).
- Mangal Dev was yougner son of Kirti Singh and had and estate of 120 villages in Dhodri and Amba of Tomargarh, he tried to recapture Gwalior after the fall of Tomars in AD 1516.
- Kalyanmalla Tomar AD 1479
- ‘[Man Singh Tomar] AD 1486, Musician and father of Dhrupat Gharana. greatest of the Tomar Kings of Gwalior.
- Vikramaditya Tomar AD 1516, AD 1518- Ibrahim Lodhi captured Fort Gwalior.
- Ramshah Tomar AD 1526, Ousted from Gwalior, fought at Haldighati with Maharana Pratap.
- Salivahan Tomar – AD 1576 fought at Haldighati for Maharan Pratap.
