Following is a list of rulers of Malwa since the Janapada kingdoms:

Bhil dynasty (1400 – 1113 BCE)

Bhil queen Doshra was allegedly the ruler of Malwa state comprising a large portion of the present-day western and central Madhya Pradesh, and parts of south-eastern Rajasthan and northern Maharashtra, whose ansestors had ruled Malwa for 289 years.^[1]

Malava dynasty (c. 1113 – 840 BCE)

• King Aswapati and his queen was Malavi (Malwa named after Malavi), their descendants dynasty first ruled Malwa.^[2][3][4]

Dhanna Bhil dynasty (c. 840 – 400 BCE)

Bhil King Dhanna and his descendants dynasty ruled Malwa before feudatories to Malavas until 400s BCE.

. The descendants of Raja Dhanna Bhil challenged the ruler of Delhi in 730 BC. The last ruler of the Bhil dynasty was Putraaj.^[5][6]

Malwa under Magadha dynasties

Haryanka dynasty (c. 544 – 413 BCE)

Rulers-

Shishunaga dynasty (c. 413 – 345 BCE)

Rulers-

Nanda Empire (c. 345 – 322 BCE)

Rulers-

Maurya Empire (c. 322 – 185 BCE)

Rulers-

Ruler		Reign	Notes
Chandragupta Maurya		322–297 BCE	Founder of first Indian united empire.
Bindusara		297–273 BCE	Known for his foreign diplomacy and crushed of Vidarbh revolt.
Ashoka		268–232 BCE	Greatest 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 BCE	Grandson of Ashoka.
Samprati		224–215 BCE	Brother of Dasharatha.
Shalishuka		215–202 BCE
Devavarman		202–195 BCE
Shatadhanvan		195–187 BCE	The Mauryan Empire had shrunk by the time of his reign
Brihadratha		187–184 BCE	Assassinated by his Commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.

Shunga Empire (c. 185 – 73 BCE)

Rulers-

Malwa under Andhra-Satavahana Empire (c. 100 BCE – 200 CE)

Himanshu Prabha Ray provides the following chronology, based on archaeological and numismatic evidence:^[7]

• Simuka (before 100 BCE)
• Kanha (100–70 BCE)
• Satakarni I (70–60 BCE)
• Satakarni II (50–25 BCE)
• Kshatrapa interregnum with vassal Satavahana kings like Hāla
  • Nahapana (54-100 CE)
• Gautamiputra Satakarni (86–110 CE)
• Pulumavi (110–138 CE)
• Vashishtiputra Satakarni (138–145 CE)
• Shiva Shri Pulumavi (145–152 CE)
• Shiva Skanda Satakarni (145–152 CE)
• Yajna Shri Satakarni (152–181 CE)
• Vijaya Satakarni (until 200s CE)

Malwa under Kushan Empire (c. 1 – 375 CE)

Ruler		Reign	Notes
Heraios		1–30	King or clan chief of the Kushans. Founder of the dynasty.
Kujula Kadphises		30–80	United the Yuezhi confederation during the 1st century, and became the first Kushan emperor.
Vima Takto Soter Megas		80–90	Alias The Great Saviour. His empire covered northwestern Gandhara and greater Bactria towards China, where Kushan presence has been asserted in the Tarim Basin. Under his reign, embassies were also sent to the Chinese court.
Vima Kadphises		90–127	The first great Kushan emperor. He introduced gold coinage, in addition to the existing copper and silver coinage. Most of the gold seems to have been obtained through trade with the Roman Empire.
Kanishka I the Great		127–144	Came to rule an empire in Bactria extending to Pataliputra on the Gangetic plain. His conquests and patronage of Buddhism played an important role in the development of the Silk Road, and in the transmission of Mahayana Buddhism from Gandhara across the Karakoram range to China.
Huvishka		144–191	His rule was a period of retrenchment and consolidation for the Empire.
Vasudeva I		191–232	He was the last great Kushan emperor, and the end of his rule coincides with the invasion of the Sassanians as far as northwestern India, and the establishment of the Indo-Sassanians or Kushanshahs from around 240.
Kanishka II		232–245	It is likely he lost part of his empire to the Kushano-Sassanians.
Vashishka		245–250
Kanishka III		250–275
Vasudeva II		275–310
Chhu		310–325
Vasudeva III		c.300?	Kings whose existence is uncertain.
Vasudeva IV
Vasudeva V
Shaka Kushan/Shaka I		325–350
Kipunada		350–375	May have been a subject of Samudragupta from Gupta Empire.

Western Saka dynasty (c. 119 – 395 CE)

• Nahapana (119–124)
• Chastana (124)
• Jayadaman (124–130)
• Rudradaman I (130–170)
• Damajadasri I (170–175)
• Jivadaman (175–199)
• Rudrasimha I (175–188)

Abhira interregnum-

• Isvaradatta (188–191)

Restored Satraps-

• Rudrasimha I (restored) (191–197)
• Jivadaman (197–199)
• Rudrasena I (200–222)
• Samghadaman (222–223)
• Damasena (223–232)
• Damajadasri II (232–239)
• Viradaman (234–238)
• Yasodaman I (239)
• Vijayasena (239–250)
• Damajadasri III (251–255)
• Rudrasena II (255–277)
• Visvasimha (277–282)
• Bhratadarman (282–295)
• Visvasena (293–304)
• Rudrasimha II (304–317)
• Yasodaman II (317–332)
• Rudradaman II (332–348)
• Rudrasena III (348–380)
• Simhasena (380–382)
• Rudrasena IV (382–388)
• Rudrasimha III (388–395)

Bharshiva dynasty (Nagas of Padmavati) (c. 175 – 325 CE)

• Vrisha-naga

(Possibly ruled at Vidisha in the late 2nd Century).

• Vrishabha or Vrisha-bhava

(May also be the name of a distinct king who succeeded Vrisha-naga).

• Bhima-naga (210–230 CE)

(Probably the first king to rule from Padmavati)

• Skanda-naga
• Vasu-naga
• Brihaspati-naga
• Vibhu-naga
• Ravi-naga
• Bhava-naga
• Prabhakara-naga
• Deva-naga
• Vyaghra-naga
• Ganapati-naga

Malwa under Gupta Empire (c. 335 – 550 CE)

List of complete Gupt rulers-

Ruler		Reign	Notes
Sri-Gupta I		240–290	Founder of the dynasty.
Ghatotkacha		290–319
Chandra-Gupta I		319–335	His title Maharajadhiraja ("king of great kings") suggests that he was the first emperor of the dynasty. It is not certain how he turned his small ancestral kingdom into an empire, although a widely accepted theory among modern historians is that his marriage to the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi helped him extend his political power.
Samudra-Gupta		335–375	Defeated several kings of northern India, and annexed their territories to his empire. He also marched along the south-eastern coast of India, advancing as far as the Pallava kingdom. In addition, he subjugated several frontier kingdoms and tribal oligarchies. His empire extended from Ravi River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to central India in the south-west; several rulers along the south-eastern coast were his tributaries.
Kacha		4th-century	Rival brother/king, possibly an usurper, there are coins who attest him as ruler; possibly identical with Samudra-Gupta.
Rama-Gupta		375–380
Chandra-Gupta II Vikramaditya		380–415	Continued the expansionist policy of his father Samudragupta: historical evidence suggests that he defeated the Western Kshatrapas, and extended the Gupta empire from the Indus River in the west to the Bengal region in the east, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to the Narmada River in the south.
Kumara-Gupta I		415–455	He seems to have maintained control of his inherited territory, which extended from Gujarat in the west to Bengal region in the east.
Skanda-Gupta		455–467	It is stated that he restored the fallen fortunes of the Gupta family, which has led to suggestions that during his predecessor's last years, the Empire may have suffered reverses, possibly against the Pushyamitras or the Hunas. He is generally considered the last of the great Gupta Emperors.
Puru-Gupta		467–472
Kumara-Gupta II Kramaditya		472–479
Buddha-Gupta		479–496	He had close ties with the rulers of Kannauj and together they sought to run the Alchon Huns (Hunas) out of the fertile plains of Northern India.
Narasimha-Gupta Baladitya		496–530
Kumara-Gupta III		530–540
Vishnu-Gupta Candraditya		540–550
Bhanu-Gupta		?	A lesser-known king with uncertain position in the list.

Aulikara Empire of Dashapura (c. 300 – 560 CE)

Rulers of First Aulikara dynasty-

• Jayavarma
• Simhavarma
• Naravarma
• Vishvavarma
• Bandhuvarma

Rulers of Second Aulikara dynasty-

• Drumavardhana
• Jayavardhana
• Ajitavardhana
• Vibhishanavardhana
• Rajyavardhana
• Prakashadharma
• Yashodharman (c. 515–545 CE)

Harsha Empire (c. 606–647 CE)

• Harshavardhana (606–647), unified Northern India and ruled it for over 40 years, he was the last non-Muslim emperor to rule a unified Northern India.

Pratihara Empire (c. 725 – 1036 CE)

• Nagabhata I (725–756), last ruler
• Kakustha (756–765)
• Devaraja (765–778)
• Vatsaraja (778–805)
• Nagabhata II (800–833)
• Ramabhadra (833–836)
• Mihira Bhoja (836–890), greatest ruler
• Mahendrapala I (890–910)
• Bhoja II (910–913)
• Mahipala I (913–944)
• Mahendrapala II (944–948)
• Devpala (948–954)
• Vinaykpala (954–955)
• Mahipala II (955–956)
• Vijaypala II (956–960)
• Rajapala (960–1018)
• Trilochanpala (1018–1027)
• Jasapala (Yashpala) (1024–1036), last ruler

Paramara dynasty of Malwa (c. 800 – 1305 CE)

According to historical Kailash Chand Jain, "Knowledge of the early Paramara rulers from Upendra to Vairisimha is scanty; there are no records, and they are known only from later sources."^[8]

The Paramara rulers mentioned in the various inscriptions and literary sources include:

• Paramara (early ruler)
• Upendra Krishnraja (late 8 to early 9th century CE)
• Vairisimha (I) (early 9th century CE)
• Siyaka (I) (mid of 9th century CE)
• Vakpati (I) (late 9th or early 10th century CE)
• Vairisimha (II) (middle 10th century CE)
• Siyaka (II) (940–972 CE)
• Vakpati (II) alias Munja (972–990 CE)
• Sindhuraja (990–1010 CE)
• Bhoja (1010–1055 CE), greatest ruler of dynasty
• Jayasimha I (1055–1070 CE)
• Udayaditya (1070–1086 CE)
• Lakshmadeva (1086–1094 CE)
• Naravarman (1094–1130 CE)
• Yashovarman (1133–1142 CE)
• Jayavarman I (1142–1143 CE)
• Interregnum from (1143 to 1175 CE) under an usurper named 'Ballala' and later the Solanki king Kumarapala
• Vindhyavarman (1175–1194 CE)
• Subhatavarman (1194–1209 CE)
• Arjunavarman I (1210–1215 CE)
• Devapala (1218–1239 CE)
• Jaitugideva (1239–1255 CE)
• Jayavarman II (1255–1274 CE)
• Arjunavarman II (1274–1285 CE)
• Bhoja II (1285–1303 CE)
• Mahalakadeva (1303–1305 CE), (after his death dynasty was ended in Malwa region)

Malwa Sultanate rule

Ghorids

• Dilawar Khan (1390–1405)
• Alp Khan Hushang (1405–1435)
• Mahmud Khalji (1435–1436)

Khiljis

• Mahmud Shah I (1436–1469)
• Ghiyath Shah (1469–1500)
• Nasr Shah (1500–1511)
• Muhamud Shah II (1511–1531)

Qadirid

• Qadir Shah (1535–1542)

Shuja'at Khani

• Miyan Bayezid Baz Bahadur (1555–1562)

Mughal rule

• Mughals ruled Malwa from (1562–1720 CE)

Malwa under Maratha Empire (c. 1713 – 1948 CE)

Territory under Maratha control in 1760 (yellow)

Peshwas region (c. 1713 – 1858 CE)

Technically they were not monarchs, but hereditary prime ministers, though in fact they ruled instead of the Chhatrapati (Maratha emperor) after death of Chattrapati Shahu, and were hegemon of the Maratha confederation.

• Balaji Vishwanath (1713–2 April 1720) (b. 1660, died 2 April 1720)
• Peshwa Bajirao I (17 April 1720 – 28 April 1740) (b. 18 August 1700, died 28 April 1740)
• Balaji Bajirao (4 July 1740 – 23 June 1761) (b. 8 December 1721, d. 23 June 1761)
• Madhavrao Ballal (1761–18 November 1772) (b. 16 February 1745, d. 18 November 1772)
• Narayanrao Bajirao (13 Dec 1772–30 August 1773) (b. 10 August 1755, d. 30 August 1773)
• Raghunath Rao Bajirao (5 Dec 1773–1774) (b. 18 August 1734, d. 11 December 1783)
• Sawai Madhavrao (1774–27 October 1795) (b. 18 April 1774, d. 27 October 1795)
• Baji Rao II (6 Dec 1796–3 June 1818) (d. 28 January 1851)
• Nana Sahib (1 July 1857 – 1858) (b. 19 May 1825, d. 24 September 1859)

Dhar State (c. 1730 – 1947 CE)

Holkar rulers of Indore (c. 1731 – 1948 CE)

• Malharrao Holkar (I) (r. 2 November 1731 – 19 May 1766)
• Malharrao Khanderao Holkar (r. 23 August 1766 – 5 April 1767)
• Ahilyadevi Holkar (r. 5 April 1767 – 13 August 1795)
• Tukojirao Holkar (I) (r. 13 August 1795 – 29 January 1797)
• Kashirao Tukojirao Holkar (r. 29 January 1797 – 1798)
• Yashwantrao Holkar (I) (r. 1798–27 November 1811)
• Malharrao Yashwantrao Holkar II (r. November 1811–27 October 1833)
• Martandrao Malharrao Holkar (r. 17 January 1834 – 2 February 1834)
• Harirao Vitthojirao Holkar (r. 17 April 1834 – 24 October 1843)
• Khanderao Harirao Holkar II (r. 13 November 1843 – 17 February 1844)
• Tukojirao Gandharebhau Holkar II (r. 27 June 1844 – 17 June 1886)
• Shivajirao Tukojirao Holkar (r. 17 June 1886 – 31 January 1903)
• Tukojirao Shivajirao Holkar III (r. 31 January 1903 – 26 February 1926)
• Yashwantrao Holkar II (r. 26 February 1926 – 1961)

British Colonial rule

• British ruled Malwa from (1858–1948 CE)