Chand dynasty
Chand dynasty Kurmanchal | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11th century–1790 CE | |||||||||||||||
| Status | Sovereign state | ||||||||||||||
| Capital | Baijnath (600–1200) Champawat (1200–1563) Almora (1563–1791) | ||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Kumaoni, Sanskrit | ||||||||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||
| Raja (King) | |||||||||||||||
• 700 CE – 721 CE (legendary) | Som Chand (legendary) | ||||||||||||||
• 1374–1419 CE | Garur Gyan Chand | ||||||||||||||
• 1488–1503 CE | Kirti Chand | ||||||||||||||
• 1560–1568 CE | Balo Kalyan Chand | ||||||||||||||
• 1638–1678 CE | Baz Bahadur Chand | ||||||||||||||
• 1788–1790 CE | Mahendra Chand | ||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||
• Established | 11th century | ||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1790 CE | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Today part of | India Nepal | ||||||||||||||
The Chand dynasty was a kingdom that ruled the Kumaon area in present-day Uttarakhand state of India, after the decline of the Katyuri kingdom. At times, their rule also extended to the western parts of present-day Nepal. Somchand established the dynasty, establishing his capital at Rajbunga in present-day Champawat.
The traditional genealogical lists of the Chand dynasty date their founder's ascension to as early as the 7th century, but historical evidence suggests that the Chand rule began only in the early 11th century. Their rule ended in 1790, when Bahadur Shah of Nepal invaded the region, forcing the last king - Mahendra Chand - to flee.