It ruled over Western Odisha and Eastern Chhattisgarh in central-eastern India prior to the Maratha occupation in 1800 AD.

Sambalpur State was founded in the mid-16th century by Balarama Deva,[1] a Rajput from Chauhan dynasty and younger brother of Patna State's ruler Raja Narsingh Deva.

[4] The Sambalpur kings favoured Sarangarh State owing to the readiness of its rulers to help their kingdom during military campaigns.

After the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817 the British Government returned Sambalpur to the Chauhan king, Jayant Singh, but his authority over its eighteen vassal states was withdrawn.

In 1858 when Sambalpur was put under British administration it initially became part of the Cuttack division of the Bengal Presidency, but was transferred to the Central Provinces in 1862.