<P> In Palamu district, the old fort in the plains, was built by the King of Raksel Rajput Dynasty . However, it was during the reign of King Medini Ray (1662--1674), who ruled for thirteen years from 1662 to 1674 from Medininagar in Palamau, the old fort was rebuilt into a defensive structure . Ray was a Chero king . His rule extended to areas in South Gaya and Hazaribagh . He attacked Navratangarh (33 miles (53 km) from Ranchi) and defeated the Maharaja of Chhotanagpur . With war bounty he constructed the lower fort close to Satbarwa, and this fort became famous in the history of the district . </P> <P> Following the death of Medini Ray there was rivalry within the royal family of the Chero dynasty which ultimately lead to its downfall; this was engineered by the ministers and advisers in the court . In 1765, the region came under the control of the British East India Company . Chitrajeet Rai's nephew Gopal Rai betrayed him and facilitated the Patna Council of the British East India Company to attack the fort . When the new fort was attacked by Captain Camac on 28 January 1771, the Chero soldiers fought valiantly but had to retreat to the old fort on account of water shortage . This facilitated the British army to occupy the new fort located on a hill without any struggle . This location was strategic and enabled the British to mount canon supported attacks on the old fort . The Cheros fought valiantly with their own canons but the old fort was besieged by the British on 19 March 1771 . The fort was finally occupied by the British in 1772 . </P> <P> The Princly states in Chota Nagpur Plateau, came within the sphere of influence of the Maratha Empire, but they became tributary states of British India as a result of the Anglo - Maratha Wars known as Chota Nagpur Tributary States . The Cheros and Kharwars again rebelled against the British in 1882 but the attack was repulsed . </P> <P> The subjugation and colonisation of Jharkhand region by the British East India Company resulted in spontaneous resistance from the local people . Almost one hundred years before India's First War of Independence (1857), Adivasis of Jharkhand were already beginning what would become a series of repeated revolts against the British colonial rule. They continue to be one of the most dominant families of Ranchi and adjoining districts . </P>

When was the history of jharkhand believed to have begun