Jethwa

The Jethwa are the oldest Rajput ruling clan of the Saurashtra peninsula, and likely heirs of the Saindhavas, the eighth-century naval kings of Ghumli who styled themselves masters of the western sea. Their own bardic genealogy traces the clan to Jethi-dhwaja of the line of Hanuman, whose image they bore on their arms. Entering from Sindh and Kutch, they founded Morvi around 900 and controlled much of western and northern Kathiawar at the time of Mahmud of Ghazni.

Sangaji defeated the Vaghela chief Virdhavala in 1125 and took the title rana. Driven out of Morvi in 1193, the Jethwas made Ghumli their capital, where they built the twelfth-century Navlakha sun temple and Vikia stepwell.

In 1313 Rana Bhanji, after whom Bhanvad is named, lost Ghumli and moved the seat to Ranpur. Later capitals included Chhaya and finally Porbandar, from 1685.