almost 52 years, extended his power to over 52 districts, including the twin-townships of Garha-Katanga. He started administering the region from here, thus the name Garha-Mandla. He was the longest reigning monarch and his period is believed to be the golden era in the history of Garha-Mandla region. A large number of projects of public interest were undertaken during his reign. His daughter-in-law was the famous Rani Durgavati who ruled from Singaurgarh fort in Sangrampur. During the reign of his minor grandson VeerNarayan (ruled by Queen-Mother Rani Durgavati c. 1550-1564 CE), Khwaja Abdul Majeed Harawi bearing the title 'Asaf-Khan or Commander' as viceroy of Kara Manikpur, conquered the Garha-Mandla principality. In this battle of Narrai in 1564 CE, the Gond Queen-Mother Rani Durgavati made supreme sacrifice, along with her prime minister Adhar Simha Kayastha and others. Initially, 'Asaf-Khan' or Commander of Mughal Emperor Akbar's forces, held Garha-Mandla as an independent chief but eventually submitted to the Mughal emperor Akbar. After Raja Sangramsahi, the next most illustrious king was Raja Hridaysahi (ruled c. 1652-1704 CE) who, coincidentally, also ruled for almost 52 years. He ruled the Garha-Mandla region from Chauragarh fort but later moved the capital to Ramnagar in c. 1652 CE and then back to Mandla fort in c. 1698 CE for strategic reasons. Most of the waterbodies (lakes, reservoirs, stepwells, dams, wells) are from his time. The last Gond ruler who ruled efficiently was Nizamsahi (ruled c. 1753-1780 CE) after whom the Gond kingdom collapsed and the Maratha took over.
• The Marathas.
The Mughal Empire, however, enjoyed little more than a nominal supremacy; and the Gond-administrators of Garha-Mandla maintained a practical independence from Raja Hridaysahi onwards. The scenario remained so until their subjugation by the Maratha governors of Sagar in c. 1781 CE. They called it Jabbalgarh. In c. 1798 CE, the
