In Hinduism, kingship was a monarchy institution guided by the religious laws of Hinduism, with corresponding complex and hierarchical structure. Hindu monarchies headed by Hindu kings were widespread in South Asia since about 1500 BC.[1] Hindu monarchies went into slow decline in medieval times, with most gone by the end of the 17th century, although the last one, the Kingdom of Nepal, dissolved only in 2008.[2]
The notable Hindu empires in India included the Guptas (c. 320–550 AD), the Cholas in Tamil Nadu (c. 848–1279 AD), and the Vijayanagara Empire (c. 1336–1646 AD).[2] At different points in time, Hindu kingdoms had existed in Southeast Asia on the territories of the modern Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.[3]