Gahadavala Dynasty

(r. 1089–1194) Northern Indian dynasty
whose core region was the western and
central parts of the Gangetic plain. The
Gahadavalas were a short-lived and
transitional dynasty who filled a political vacuum during the tumultuous years
following the turn of the first millennium.
During this period the Gangetic plain
was plagued by political instability and
was regularly subjected to Muslim raids.
The Gahadavalas supplanted the
Rashtrakutas, whom they conquered in
1089, and consolidated their power
through the middle Ganges basin. In
1194 the Gahadavalas were defeated by
the Ghurids, an Afghani Muslim dynasty.
Following their defeat, most of the
Gahadavala territory became part of the
Ghurid empire.