The monarchs of Punjab were the rulers of various kingdoms and republics of the Punjab beginning with the Vedic period and ending after the British empire. Much of native Punjab during the ancient period was ruled by various Tribal republics, such as the Yaudheyas, Madra, Trigarta, Audumbara, Oxydrakoi, Malloi and Gandhara with their leaders and monarchs being largely unknown.
The Ancient Period of Punjab saw the earliest known monarchs date back to the Vedic period. During the early to mid-6th century BCE, Taxila was ruled by King Pukkusati, who was a contemporary of the Achaemenid rulers. However, details regarding subsequent monarchs remain largely unrecorded until the Macedonian invasion of Punjab in the 5th century BCE. Following the death of Alexander the Great, monarchical power shifted to the Mauryan Empire in the 4th century BCE. In the 2nd century BCE, the Indo-Greek kings took over, followed by the Indo-Scythians and Indo-Parthians in the 1st century BCE. These dynasties ruled alongside native dynasties such as the Apracharajas. By the time of Apollonius’ travels through Punjab, power had largely returned to native rulers. The Kushan Empire's monarchs ruled Punjab, but by the 3rd century CE, control passed to the Gadahara and Shilada dynasties. Their rule was eventually disrupted by the Hunnic invasions in the 4th century CE.
The medieval period of Punjab saw the Eastern Punjab come under the rule of the Vardhana dynasty in the 7th century CE, while the Western Punjab was governed by the Taank Kingdom. By the 8th century, the Chach dynasty of Aror was ruling most of the Western Punjab. In the 9th century, the Hindu Shahi dynasty emerged as the rulers, until the Ghaznavids assumed monarchical control in the 11th century. Power then shifted to the Ghorid dynasty, until Muhammad Ghori 's assassination by the House of the Khokhars, paving the way for the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century.
The early modern period in the 16th century saw the rise of the Mughal Empire, which incorporated Punjab, though governance in the region was largely managed by various Sikh misls. Later, Adina Beg emerged as the ruler of Punjab. Following his death, the Sikh Empire consolidated power, ruling the region until the British conquest. During British rule, Punjab was divided into multiple territories, with certain regions governed by princely states.
Pauravas
Porus (before 326 BC, probably 338 BC – between 321 and 315 BC)
Macedonian Empire (326 – 316 BC)
+NameReignSuccessionLife detailsAlexander III "the Great"326 – 323(3 years)Son of Philip II356 – 10/11 June 323(aged 33)Conquered the entirety of the Persian Empire; died of illness at Babylon
Maurya Empire (322 – 184 BC)
RulerReignNotesChandragupta Maurya322–297 BCE Founder of first Indian united empire. Bindusara 297–273 BCEKnown for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbha revolt.Ashoka 268–232 BCEGreatest emperor of dynasty. His son Kunala was blinded and died before his father. Ashoka was succeeded by his grandson. Also known for Kalinga War victory.Dasharatha Maurya 232–224 BCEGrandson of Ashoka.Samprati224–215 BCEBrother of Dasharatha.Shalishuka215–202 BCEDevavarman202–195 BCEShatadhanvan195–187 BCE The Mauryan Empire had shrunk by the time of his reignBrihadratha187–184 BCE Assassinated by his Commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.
Indo-Greeks (200 – 20 BC)
Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kings, their coins, territories and chronologyBased on Bopearachchi (1991)O. Bopearachchi, "Monnaies gréco-bactriennes et indo-grecques, Catalogue raisonné", Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, 1991, p. 453Greco-Bactrian kingsIndo-Greek kings Territories/dates West Bactria East Bactria Paropamisade Arachosia Gandhara Western Punjab Eastern PunjabMathura 200–190 BCDemetrius I190–185 BCEuthydemus II190–180 BCAgathoclesPantaleon185–170 BCAntimachus I180–160 BCApollodotus I175–170 BCDemetrius II160–155 BCAntimachus II170–145 BCEucratides155–130 BCYuezhi occupation,loss of Ai-KhanoumEucratides IIPlatoHeliocles IMenander I130–120 BCYuezhi occupationZoilos IAgathokleiaYavanarajyainscription120–110 BCLysiasStrato I110–100 BCAntialcidasHeliokles II100 BCPolyxenosDemetrius III100–95 BCPhiloxenus95–90 BCDiomedesAmyntasEpander90 BCTheophilosPeukolaosThraso90–85 BCNiciasMenander IIArtemidoros90–70 BCHermaeusArchebiusYuezhi occupationMaues (Indo-Scythian)75–70 BCTelephosApollodotus II65–55 BCHippostratosDionysios55–35 BCAzes I (Indo-Scythian)Zoilos II55–35 BCApollophanes25 BC – AD 10Strato II and Strato IIIZoilos III/ BhadayasaRajuvula (Indo-Scythian)
Northern Satraps
Ruler Image Title Approx. dates Mentions Hagamasha Satrap 1st century BCE In the archaeological excavations of Sonkh, near Mathura, the earliest coins of the Kshatrapa levels were those of Hagamasha. Hagana Satrap 1st century BCE Rajuvula Great Satrap early 1st century BCE Bhadayasa Satrap 1st century CE Possible successor of Rajuvula in Eastern Punjab Sodasa Satrap 1st century CE Son of Rajuvula in Mathura Kharapallana Great Satrap c. CE 130 Great Satrap for Kushan ruler Kanishka I Vanaspara Satrap c. CE 130 Satrap for Kushan ruler Kanishka I
Indo-Parthians (15 BC – 50 AD)
Gondophares I (c. 19 – 46) Coin Abdagases I (first years AD – mid-1st century AD) Coin Gondophares IV Sases, (mid-1st century AD)
Kushan Empire (50 – 350 AD)
Kujula Kadphises () Vima Takto (), alias Soter Megas or "Great Saviour." Vima Kadphises () First great Kushan Emperor Kanishka the Great (127 – ) Huvishka () Vasudeva I () Last great Kushan Emperor Kanishka II ( – 247) Vashishka ( – 267) "Little Kushans"; Kanishka III ( – 270) Vasudeva II ( – 300) Mahi ( – 305)The Glorious History of Kushana Empire, Adesh Katariya, 2012, p.69 Shaka ( – 335) Kipunada ( – 350)
Huns (390 – 550 AD)
Kidarite Huns (390 - 455 AD)
Yosadac.335 CE(Unknown)fl. 388/400 Varhran (II)fl. c. 425 Gobozikofl. c. 450
Alchon Huns (470 – 550 AD)
Toramana (c. 470 – 515 CE) Mihirakula (c. 515 – 540 CE) Toramana II (c. 530 – 550 CE)
Taank Kingdom (550 – 822)
The Taanks (Takkas) were people from a variety of clans forming a kingdom. The rulers of the kingdom are only known from sources of chronicles and minted coins. During this rule (630 AD), Lahore was said to have been visited by the Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang. He described it as a great Brahmin city.
Note: Not listed chronologically.
Ratapat Bahurpal Sahajpal Madanpal
Brahmin dynasty (632 – 712)
Chach () Chandar () Dāhir ( from Alor)
Hindu Shahi Kingdom (822 – 1026)
RulerReignNotesKallarc. 843 CE Founder of the Hindu Shahi dynasty Samantac. 850 CELalliyac. 880 CEShifted capital to Udabhanda and defeated the Saffarid dynastyToramanac. 903 CEBhimadevac. 921 CEAlliance with the Lohara dynasty and defeated the Samanid EmpireJayapalac. 964 CEResisted the Ghaznavids but committed suicide via SatiAnandapalac. 1002 CEConquered Lahore but unsuccessfully resisted the GhaznavidsTrilocanapalac. 1010 CEBhimapalac. 1021 CE Last Hindu Shahi monarch
Emirate of Multan (855 – 1010)
Munnabih dynasty (855 – 959) Muhammad Munabbih III (855 – 864) Asad Qureshi (892 – early 900s, probably 918) Hassan II (late 800s) Ahmed II (late 800s – early 900s) Munabbih I (912 – 913) Muhammad Munabbih IV (913 – 920) Munabbih II (920 – 930) Fahad Munabbih (930 – 940) Harun Munabbih (940 – 959)
Lodi dynasty (959 – 1010) Jalam bin Shayban (959 – 985) Hamid ibn Shayban (985 – 997) Nasr ibn Hamid (997 – ??) Abul Fateh Daud ibn Nasr (?? – 1010)
Ghaznavid Empire (1010 – 1186)
# Laqab Personal Name Reign Succession right Notes 1 Yamin ad-Dawlah Abu QasimRight-hand man of the State Mahmud 1010–1030 first son of Sabuktigin 2 Jalal ad-DawlahDignity of the State Muhammad 10301st reign second son of Mahmud 3 Shihab ad-DawlahStar of the State Masud I 1030–1041 first son of Mahmud Was overthrown, imprisoned and executed, following the battle of Dandanaqan — Jalal ad-DawlahDignity of the State Muhammad 10412nd reign second son of Mahmud Raised to the throne following the removal of Masud I. 4 Shihab ad-DawlahStar of the State Mawdud 1041–1048 son of Masud I Defeated Muhammad at the battle of Nangrahar and gained the throne. 5 ? Masud II 1048 son of Mawdud 6 Baha ad-DawlahSplendor of the State Ali 1048–1049 son of Masud I 7 Izz ad-DawlahGlory of the State Abd al-Rashid 1049–1052 fifth son of Mahmud 8 Qiwam ad-DawlahSupport of the State Toghrul 1052–1053 Turkish mamluk general Usurped the Ghaznavid throne after massacring Abd al-Rashid and eleven other Ghaznavid princes. 9 Jamal ad-DawlahBeauty of the state Farrukh-Zad 1053–1059 son of Masud I 10 Zahir ad-DawlahHelp of the State Ibrahim 1059–1099 son of Masud I 13 Ala ad-DawlahBlessing of the State Mas'ūd III 1099–1115 son of Ibrahim 11 Kamal ad-DawlahPerfection of the State Shir-Zad 1115–1116 son of Masud III Murdered by his younger brother Arslan ibn Mas'ud. 12 Sultan ad-DawlahSultan of the state Arslan-Shah 1116–1117 son of Masud III Took the throne from his older brother Shirzad, but faced a rebellion from his other brother Bahram Shah, who was supported by the sultan of the Great Seljuq Empire, Ahmad Sanjar. 13 Yamin ad-DawlahRight-hand man of the state Bahram Shah 1117–1157 son of Masud III Under Bahram-Shah, the Ghaznavid empire became a tributary of the Great Seljuq Empire. Bahram was assisted by Ahmad Sanjar, sultan of the Great Seljuq empire, in securing his throne. 14 Muizz ad-DawlahHonor of the State Khusrau Shah 1157–1160 son of Bahram-Shah 15 Taj ad-DawlahCrown of the state Khusrau Malik 1160–1186 son of Khusrau-Shah
Ghurid Empire (1186 – 1206)
Coinage Titular Name(s) Personal Name Reign Sultan Shahāb-ud-din Muhammad Ghori Mu'izz al-Din Muhammad1173–1206
Delhi Sultanate (1206 – 1526)
Mamluk dynasty (1206 – 1290)
S/NName of rulerBirth DateDeath DateBeginning of reignEnd of reignNotes1Qutbuddin Aibak115014 November 121025 June 1206 14 November 12102Aram ShahunknownJune 1211December 1210June 1211Son of Aibak3Iltutmishunknown30 April 1236June 1211 30 April 1236Son-in-law of Aibak4Ruknuddin Firuz (Firuz I)unknown19 November 1236April/May 1236November 1236Son of Iltutmish5Razia Sultanunknown15 October 1240November 1236 20 April 1240Daughter of Iltutmish6Muiz ud din Bahram9 July 121215 May 1242May 1240 15 May 1242Son of Iltutmish7Ala-ud-Din Masud Shahunknown10 June 1246May 1242 10 June 1246Son of Ruknuddin Firuz8Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (Mahmud I)1229 or 123018 February 126610 June 1246 18 February 1266Grandson of Iltutmish9Ghiyas ud din Balban12161287February 1266 1287Turkish noble in the court of Iltutmish10Muiz ud din Qaiqabad12691 February 12901287 1 February 1290Grandson of Balban11Shamsuddin Kayumars1285/128713 June 12901 February 129013 June 1290Son of Qaiqabad
Khalji dynasty (1290 – 1320)
S/NNameBirth dateDeath dateBeginning of reignEnd of reignNotes12Jalal-ud-din Khalji (Firuz II)122019 July 129613 June 1290 19 July 1296 –Ruknuddin Ibrahimunknownafter 1296July 1296 November 1296Son of Jalal-ud-din Khalji. He ruled for a short time, not always indicating his names on the lists.13Alauddin Khaljic. 12664 January 1316November 1296 4 January 1316Nephew of Jalal-ud-din Khalji14Shihabuddin Omar1310 or 1311April 13165 January 1316 April 1316Son of Alauddin Khalji15Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah12999 July 132014 April 1316 1 May 1320Son of Alauddin Khalji
Outside of the dynasties (1320)
S/NNameBirth dateDeath dateBeginning of reignEnd of reignNotes16Khusrau Khanunknown132010 July 13205 September 1320He ruled for a short time, not founding a dynasty.
Tughluq dynasty (1320 – 1414)