Sambalpur is one of the ancient places of India, with recorded settlements in the prehistoric age.
There are prehistoric artifacts discovered that point to this.
Some historians identify it to the city of "Sambalaka"  mentioned in the 2nd century Roman text "Geographia, an ancient atlas and a treatise Cartography" by Ptolemy.
It is mentioned that the city produces diamonds.
In the 4th century CE, Gupta emperor conquered the territory of "Dakshina Koshala", comprising roughly present day Sambalpur, Vilaspur, and Raipur.
Later in early 6th century CE Chalukya king Pulakesin II is said to have conquered south Kosala by defeating the then Panduvamsi king Balarjuna Sivagupta.
The next dynasty to rule South Kosala was the Sombvamsi dynasty.
 Somavamshi King Janamajaya-I Mahabhavagupta (Circa 882–922 CE ) consolidated the eastern part of Kosala comprising the modern undivided Sambalpur and Bolangir districts and established matrimonial relationship with the Bhauma-Kara dynasty ruling over the coastal modern Odisha.
After Uddyotakeshari(c.
1040–1065 C.E.), the Somavamshi kingdom declined gradually.
The dynasty lost its territories to the Nagas in the north-west, and the Gangas in the south.
After decline of Somvamshis the area came under Telugu Chodas for a short period.
The last Telugu Choda king of south Kosala was Somesvara III who was defeated by Kalachuri king Jajalladeva-I around 1119 CE.
The kalachuris had an intermittent conflict with Ganga Dynasty of Utkala (Present day coastal Odisha).
Ultimately Kalachuris lost the SambalPur Sonepur region to Gangas during reign of Anangabhima Deva-III
(1211–1238 C.E.).
The Ganga kingdom ruled Sambalpur region for 2 more centuries.
However they faced aggression of the Bengal sultanate from north and Vijayanagara and Bahmani empires of south.
This incessant struggles weakened the Ganga hold on Sambalpur .
Ultimately Ramai Deva, a Chauhan Rajput from North India founded Chauhan rule in western Orissa.

Sambalpur came under the Bhonsle of Nagpur when the Maratha conquered Sambalpur in 1800.
After the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817, the British Government returned Sambalpur to the Chauhan king, Jayant Singh, but his authority over the other princely states was taken out.

In January 1896, Hindi was made official language of Sambalpur, by abolishing Odia language, which after violent protests by people was reinstated again.
During the partition of Bengal in 1905 Sambalpur and the adjacent Odia-speaking tracts were amalgamated with the Odisha Division under Bengal Presidency.
Bengal's Odisha division became part of the new province of Bihar and Odisha in 1912, and in April 1936 became the separate province of Odisha, with addition of Undivided Ganjam and Koraput districts from Madras Presidency.
After Indian Independence on 15 August 1947, Odisha became an Indian state.
The rulers of the princely states of Western Odisha acceded to the Government of India in January 1948 and became part of Odisha state.

From 1825 to 1827, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert (1785–1853), later Lieutenant General Sir Walter Gilbert, 1st Baronet, G.C.B., was the political agent for the South West Frontier with headquarters at Sambalpur.
He made a few paintings during his stay at Sambalpur by an unknown artist which are currently with the British Library and Victoria and Albert Museum.
Sambalpur is one of the ancient places of India, with recorded settlements in the prehistoric age. There are prehistoric artifacts discovered that point to this. Some historians identify it to the city of "Sambalaka"  mentioned in the 2nd century Roman text "Geographia, an ancient atlas and a treatise Cartography" by Ptolemy. It is mentioned that the city produces diamonds. In the 4th century CE, Gupta emperor conquered the territory of "Dakshina Koshala", comprising roughly present day Sambalpur, Vilaspur, and Raipur. Later in early 6th century CE Chalukya king Pulakesin II is said to have conquered south Kosala by defeating the then Panduvamsi king Balarjuna Sivagupta. The next dynasty to rule South Kosala was the Sombvamsi dynasty.  Somavamshi King Janamajaya-I Mahabhavagupta (Circa 882–922 CE ) consolidated the eastern part of Kosala comprising the modern undivided Sambalpur and Bolangir districts and established matrimonial relationship with the Bhauma-Kara dynasty ruling over the coastal modern Odisha. After Uddyotakeshari(c. 1040–1065 C.E.), the Somavamshi kingdom declined gradually. The dynasty lost its territories to the Nagas in the north-west, and the Gangas in the south. After decline of Somvamshis the area came under Telugu Chodas for a short period. The last Telugu Choda king of south Kosala was Somesvara III who was defeated by Kalachuri king Jajalladeva-I around 1119 CE. The kalachuris had an intermittent conflict with Ganga Dynasty of Utkala (Present day coastal Odisha). Ultimately Kalachuris lost the SambalPur Sonepur region to Gangas during reign of Anangabhima Deva-III
(1211–1238 C.E.). The Ganga kingdom ruled Sambalpur region for 2 more centuries. However they faced aggression of the Bengal sultanate from north and Vijayanagara and Bahmani empires of south. This incessant struggles weakened the Ganga hold on Sambalpur . Ultimately Ramai Deva, a Chauhan Rajput from North India founded Chauhan rule in western Orissa.
Sambalpur came under the Bhonsle of Nagpur when the Maratha conquered Sambalpur in 1800. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817, the British Government returned Sambalpur to the Chauhan king, Jayant Singh, but his authority over the other princely states was taken out.
In January 1896, Hindi was made official language of Sambalpur, by abolishing Odia language, which after violent protests by people was reinstated again. During the partition of Bengal in 1905 Sambalpur and the adjacent Odia-speaking tracts were amalgamated with the Odisha Division under Bengal Presidency. Bengal's Odisha division became part of the new province of Bihar and Odisha in 1912, and in April 1936 became the separate province of Odisha, with addition of Undivided Ganjam and Koraput districts from Madras Presidency. After Indian Independence on 15 August 1947, Odisha became an Indian state. The rulers of the princely states of Western Odisha acceded to the Government of India in January 1948 and became part of Odisha state.
From 1825 to 1827, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert (1785–1853), later Lieutenant General Sir Walter Gilbert, 1st Baronet, G.C.B., was the political agent for the South West Frontier with headquarters at Sambalpur. He made a few paintings during his stay at Sambalpur by an unknown artist which are currently with the British Library and Victoria and Albert Museum.
Sambalpur