Mr.B.B. Lal has discovered implements of Paleolithic age in Gwalior. Many cave paintings of the Middle Stone Age have also been found in the area. Pottery of Iron Age has been excavated in Gwalior and adjoining areas. Old name of Gwalior is Gopadri or Gopgiri. In the Mahabharta Gopalkaksh has been mentioned as the place of victory of Bhima. Probably Gopalkaksh is same Gopadri.

During the later period of 2^nd Century a new dynasty called Nagvans (vans means clan) took roots in Vidisha-Gwalior region. Vrashnath was the founder of the Nagvans. A coin has been found of this ruler in Vidisha during Veshnagar excavations.

Bhimnag was the next ruler of this clan who shifted it's capital from Vidisha to Padmavati (modern Pawaya near Gwalior). Coins of descendant of Bhimnag, Skandnag, Vashunag, and Vrahaspatinag have been found in Pawaya. According to a pillar inscription found in Allahbad, Samudragupta had defeated last ruler of Nagvans, Ganpatinag.

Pawaya is some 68 kms from Gwalior. The life-size statue of Chaksha Manibhadra has been found here. The Parmars built the fort and the nearby Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo temple, which are the main attractions of Pawaya.

Beginning of legendary Gwalior fort found it's roots in the 5^th Century during the rule of a Kachhwaha Rajput prince, Suraj Sen.

It is believed that Gwalior was also under the rule of Mihir Bhoj (836-882 AD). In the 10^th Century, second ruler of Kachapghat Rajvans, Vrajdaman had taken over Gwalior after defeating king of Kannauz. Mangleraj and Kirtiraj were the subsequent rulers of Gwalior.

In 1021 AD Mahmud of Gazni attacked on Gwalior. One of his lieutenants Malik Bahauddin Tughluq won Gwalior fort after lot of hard work.

Medieval

In 1195-96 AD Mohammad Ghauri on Gwalior and it's ruler Sallachan accepted the supreme command of Mohammad Ghauri so Ghauri allowed him to be the ruler of Gwalior. Later on Qutbuddin Aibak appointed Iltutmish as it's Kiledar (In-charge of Fort).

Iltutmish was the most famous ruler of Slave dynasty who, after winning Sindh in 1228 AD, expanded his empire by taking over Mandu, Gwalior, Malwa and Ujjain. Later on various rulers of Slave and Tughlaq dynasty ruled here.

During the later period of 14^nd Century Tomar clan took advantage of weak position of Islamic rulers, and Vir Singh Dev established Tomars as rulers of Gwalior. Udhwaraddev, Vikramdev, Dungrandra singh were the subsequent rulers of Gwalior.

Dungrandra singh is famous for his support for Jain Dharma (Religion). Kirti singh, Kalyanmal and Man singh were the descendants of Dungrandra singh. Tomars ruled Gwalior from AD 1486 to AD 1526.

The most famous of its kings was Man Singh Tomar who rebuilt many important parts of Gwalior fort. Ibrahim Lodhi had defeated son of Man singh, Vikramaditya. Vikramaditya was killed in the first battle of Panipat. Thereafter Gwalior was mostly a part of the Mughal Empire.

Babur has given beautiful description of Gwalior in his autobiography "Babarnama".

Modern

During the third battle of Panipat, 1761, Maratha Empire received a severe jolt. Jat ruler Lokandra singh took over Gwalior after the battle of Panipat. Yet again in 1765 an able Scindhia ruler Mahadji scindhia regained Gwalior. Dulatrao (1794-1827) was successor who in 1810 shifted capital from Ujjain to Gwalior.

Soldiers of Morar cantonment took part in the first freedom struggle of India. On 14^th June 1857 soldiers cut off the communication between Gwalior and Shivpuri. Frightened Maharaja Scindhia sent British and his family members to Agra.

Rani (Queen) of Jhansi, Laxmibai came to Gwalior when general Huroz of British army defeated Laxmibai in Kalpi. Maharaja Scindhia of Gwalior betrayed Laxmibai. He gave her a weak horse. Sensing something fishy Laxmibai decided to leave Gwalior. She laid down her life, while fighting British, on 18^th June 1858.

After merging Gwalior, Indore, Malwa and other small states, Madhya Bharat State was formed in April 1948, during the meeting of rulers of Madhya Bharat in Delhi. On May 28, 1948 Pt.Jawahar Lal Nehru inaugurated this State and Jiwajirao Scindhia took oath as the chief of the State.

Present Madhya Pradesh was formed on 1^st November 1956 after merging Madhya Bharat, Vindhya, Bhopal and MahaKoshal. Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla was the first chief minister of the State.

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