The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c29.19

v2.c29.19

In the present state of our knowledge no connected history of the Kalacuris of this early period is possible;¹ but it seems probable that they were deprived of most of their southern provinces by the steady pressure of the Caḷukyas of Badami, while the invasion of the Gurjara-Pratīhāras from their bases in the Punjab and Rajputana probably drove them out from Malwa sometime in the 7th and the 8th centuries A.D.² Possibly also their power after this was confined to the provinces around the upper waters of the Narbada and Bundelkhand. But the rapid rise of the Gurjara-Pratīhāra empire probably drove them across the Bhanrer and the Kaimur hills into the northern districts of the Central Provinces. The Barah grant of Bhojadeva shows that the Pratīhāras were already in possession of the Kālañjara-*viṣaya* in 836 A.D.³ These repeated misfortunes seem to have caused a dispersal of the tribe. While one section of the line remained in the C.P., other sections appear to have dispersed to various parts of India. Some of them accepted service as *condottieri* under the Deccani and the Northern Indian kings. It was no doubt from one of these families, settled in the south, that the Kalacuris of Kalyani⁴ were descended. In the north also at least one branch appears to have accepted service under the Gurjara-Pratīhāras.⁵ It is difficult to define the exact relationship of the Kalacuris of C.P. with the great Pratīhāra emperors; but it is certain that some of the earlier members at least maintained amicable relations with them. It was only after the gradual decline and downfall of the Gurjara-Pratīhāras that the Kalacuris once again succeeded in making their power felt in North Indian history.