Ancient period

Ashokan inscriptions: Major Rock Edicts 1 to 14.

With the rise of Chandragupta Maurya, the region came under the complete control of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka governed this area as a prince, imperial throne c. 272 BCE. he made it one of the major seats of his government. The Edicts of Ashoka inscribed on three large boulders near Mansehra record fourteen of Ashoka's edicts, presenting aspects of the emperor's dharma or righteous law. These represent some of the earliest evidence of deciphered writing in the subcontinent, dating to middle of the third century BCE, and are written from right to left in the Kharosthi script.^[5]

The region was briefly and nominally controlled by many foreign rulers, including the Indo-Parthians, Indo-Scythians, and Kushans, who promoted Dharmic religions throughout Central and South Asia. The region reached its height under the Buddhist ruler Kanishka the Great.

During the period,Buddhist art and architecture flourished in the area.^[6]

Medieval period (500-1190 CE)

With the decline of the imperial Guptas, the Hindu Shahis came to rule the area. The Hindu Shahis built two massive forts in the northern edges of the region. The forts were later renamed as "Kafirkots" (forts of the infidel). These Hindu Shahi forts were known for high towers and steep defensive walls. The Hindus also built many Hindu temples around the area, however, much of them are now in rubble. The Hindu Shahis remained in control of the area until their defeat by the Ghaznavids in the year 1001.^[6]

Modern period (1190-2000s CE)

Pakhli Sultanate (1190-1399):

This area was conquered by Sultan Pakhal Swati in 1190 who established the rule by driving out the Bambas and Ghakars rulers of this area.^[7] It remained part of Sultanate of Swat also known as Pakhli Sultanate until 1399.

Pakhli Sarkar(1399-1703):

The Timiurids attacked this side of Swat Sultanate in 1370 and established their Sarkar here. The Timiurids gave Sarkar to their subjects called Hazara Turks or Karluk Turks after whom the name of Hazara Division is derived. They ruled until 1703. The last ruler was Sultan Mehmood Khurd. This Sultanate is referred as Pakhli Sarkar in Mughal documents because this area was taken from Sultan Pakhal Swati's Sultanate so the name continued on by Turks.

2nd Invasion of Swatis in 1703:

Swati's Sultanate of Swat was ended in 1519 after being defeated by Yousafzais. Swatis were finding a area to live peacefully again. In 1703, Swatis under the leadership of Syed Jalal Baba conquered Pakhli and ousted Turks. Saadaat Khan Swati was chosen as Chief of Swati tribe and the whole Pakhli was equally divided among the 3 clans of Swatis. At that time Pakhli was composed of the all areas of today's District Mansehra and District Battagram.

Pakhli State(1768-1818):

Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded the region with Timur Shah Durrani. Under Durrani Rule, the Chief of Swati tribe Saadaat Khan Swati was chosen as 1st Chief of Pakhli^[8].^[9] Durrani rule was interrupted by the Maratha Empire's under Raghunathrao, who drove out the Afghans,^[10] Following the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmad Shah Durrani defeated the Marathas and recaptured Lahore, Sikh forces occupied the region after the Durranis withdrew. The Durranis invaded two more times, while the Sikhs would re-occupy the region after both invasions.^[9]

Sikh Rule(1818-1831)

The fall of the Durrani Empire made way for the Sikhs to rise to power under Ranjit Singh. The Sikhs gained control of the area in 1818 by defeating Habibullah Khan Swati I who was the 2nd and last ruler of Pakhli State. The town of Pakhli which is now called Mansehra was founded by Mahan Singh Mirpuri, a Sikh governor.^[11][12] There were popular uprisings against Sikh rule, but these uprisings failed and the Sikhs remained in power until 1849 when the area came under British rule.^{[12][13][14][15]}