Following the decline of the Gupta Empire, Bhaṭārka, the military governor of the Saurashtra region, founded the Maitraka dynasty in 475.

Guhasena (r. 556–570) stopped recognising the suzerainty of the emperor of Magadha and his son, Dharasena II started using the sovereign title of Maharajadhiraja.

[5][6] According to the Eran inscription of Gupta Empire ruler Bhanugupta (new revised translation published in 1981),[7] Bhanugupta and his chieftain or noble Goparaja participated in a battle against the "Maittras" in 510 CE, thought to be the Maitrakas (the reading being without full certainty, but "as good as certain" according to the authors).

During his rule, Yashodharman of the Kingdom of Malwa had defeated Harisena of the Ujjain, as well as the Huna king Mihirakula (in 528 CE).

[9][10] Kalpa Sutra, the Jain text, was compiled probably during the reign of Dhruvasena, 980 or 993 years after the death (Nirvana) of Mahavira.

Kalpa Sutra mentions that the public reading of it started at Anandapura (Vadnagar) to relieve Dhruvasena from the grief of the death of his son.

[11] Based on his grants, it known that his kingdom extended from Dwarika to Valabhi, whole Saurashtra peninsula and as far as Vadnagar in the north.

[14] Guhasena stopped using the term Paramabhattaraka Padanudhyata along his name like his predecessors, which denotes the cessation of displaying of the nominal allegiance to Magadha.

One independent grant dated 574 CE made by Garulaka king Simhaditya is also found at Palitana along with him.

The Śatruñjaya Máhátmya has a prophetic account of one Śíláditya who will be a propagator of religion in Vikrama Saṃvat 477 (420 CE).

Although no reliance can be placed on the date still his second name Dharmáditya gives support to his identification with the Śíláditya of the Máhátmya.

[10][18] Based on Manju-Sri-Mula-Kalpa and his grants, it is known that his rule extended from Malwa to the oceans of Kutch in western India.

The one of his grant, to a temple of Śiva, has for its Dútaka the illustrious Kharagraha apparently the brother and successor of the king.

He had made grants to sun temple and Buddhist monks show that he tolerated and respected Buddhism also.

The Śatruñjaya Máhátmya, though exaggerated, mentions that he had expelled some Buddhists from his kingdom sympathetic to his rival Harṣa.

He is praised in accounts of Hiuen Tsang as a "monarch of great administrative ability and of rare kindness and compassion".

[23][21] Virdi copperplate grant (616 CE) of Kharagraha I proves that his territories included Ujjain which is mentioned as "victorious camp".

Chapala mentioned in Manju-Sri-Mula-Kalpa as a successor of Śilāditya must be Dharasena III according to Virji while Jayaswal consider him as Kharagraha.

[24] After death of Dharasena III, he was succeeded by his younger brother Dhruvasena II also known as Balāditya, the "rising son".

[26][27] His rule extended to Ratlam, a town west of Ujjain so whole modern central and north Gujarat were under the Maitrakas.

Sanjan plate of 733 CE informs that Rashtrakuta Indra I had forcefully married Chalukya princess Bhvanaga at Kaira (Kheda) so the region must be under them then.

[36] The Navsari plate of Avanijanashraya Pulakeshin mentions that the Tajjika (Arabs) had destroyed the Kachchelas (of Kutch), Saindhavas, Surastra, Chavotkata (Chavdas), Mauryas and Gurjaras (of Lata) and proceeded towards the Deccan.

Pulakeshin was awarded the titles of Dakshinapatha Svadharna, the solid pillar of the Deccan, Anivartaka-nivartayitr, the Repeller of the Unrepellable and Avanijanashraya, the refuge of the people.

He probably had tried to recover Malwa as one of his grant (760 CE) is made from military camp at Godraka (Godhra).

As he had issued a grant from Anandpura (Vadnagar), it is assumed that he was on expansion again taking advantage of the prevailing situation in Rastrakutas and was in a struggle with the Pratiharas.

[44] The governors of Girinagar (Girnar) and Vamanasthali (Vanthli) became independent and established their own dynasty on the fall of Vallabhi.

[47] The copper plate inscriptions of Maitrakas mentions religious edifices, Brahmanical as well as Buddhist.

At the time of destruction of Vallabhi, the images of Chandraprabha, Adinatha, Parshwanatha and Mahavira were transferred to safer places.

Other extant temples include the temple groups at Khimeshwara, Shrinagar, Nandeshwara, Balej, Bhansara, Odadar; and the shrines at Bokhira, Chhaya, Visavada, Kuchadi, Ranavav, Tukada, Akhodar, Kalavad, Bhanvad, Pasthar, and Porbandar.

[1] It reads, Rájño Mahákshatrapasa Bhatárakasa Mahesara–Śrí BhaṭṭárakasaorRájño, Mahákshatrapasa Bhatarakasa Mahesara Śrí Śarvva BhaṭṭárakasaTranslation: "[This is a coin] of the illustrious the Shaivaite, Bhattaraka, the great king; the great Kshtrapa; the Lord and the devotee of Maheshwara.