[The Importance of Valabhi.] The discovery of its lost site; the natural but mistaken identification of its rulers with the famous eighth and ninth century (A.D. 753-972) Balharas of Málkhet in the East Dakhan; [318] the tracing to Valabhi of the Rána of Udepur in Mewád the head of the Sesodias or Gohils the most exalted of Hindu families [319]; and in later times the wealth of Valabhi copperplates have combined to make the Valabhis one of the best known of Gujarát dynasties. Except the complete genealogy, covering the 250 years from the beginning of the sixth to the middle of the eighth century, little is known of Valabhi or its chiefs. The origin of the city and of its rulers, the extent of their sway, and the cause and date of their overthrow are all uncertain. The unfitness of the site, the want of reservoirs or other stone remains, the uncertainty when its rulers gained an independent position, the fact that only one of them claimed the title Chakravarti or All Ruler are hardly consistent with any far-reaching authority. Add to this the continuance of Maitraka or Mer power in North Káthiáváda, the separateness though perhaps dependence of Sauráshtra even in the time of Valabhi's greatest power, [320] the rare mention of Valabhi in contemporary Gujarát grants, [321] and the absence of trustworthy reference in the accounts of the Arab raids of the seventh or eighth centuries tend to raise a doubt whether, except perhaps during the ten years ending 650, Valabhi was ever of more than local importance. [Valabhi and the Gehlots.] In connection with the pride of the Sesodias or Gohils of Mewád in their Valabhi origin [322] the question who were the Valabhis has a special interest. The text shows that Pandit Bhagvánlál was of opinion the Valabhis were Gurjjaras. The text also notes that the Pandit believed they reached south-east Káthiáváda by sea from near Broach and that if they did not come to Broach from Málwa at least the early rulers obtained (A.D. 520 and 526) investiture from the Málwa kings. Apart from the doubtful evidence of an early second to fifth century Bála or Valabhi three considerations weigh against the theory that the Valabhis entered Gujarát from Málwa in the sixth century. First their acceptance of the Gupta era and of the Gupta currency raises the presumption that the Valabhis were in Káthiáváda during Gupta ascendancy (A.D. 440-480): Second that the Sesodias trace their pedigree through Valabhi to an earlier settlement at Dhánk in south-west Káthiáváda and that the Válas of Dhánk still hold the place of heads of the Válas of Káthiáváda: And Third that both Sesodias and Válas trace their origin to Kanaksen a second century North Indian immigrant into Káthiáváda combine to raise the presumption that the Válas were in Káthiáváda before the historical founding of Valabhi in A.D. 526 [323] and that the city took its name from its founders the Válas or Bálas.