Datia princely state was a part of Bundelkhand Agency of Central India during the British rule. In 1947, Datia acceded into the dominion of India and later merged with Union of India. It became a part of new state of Vindhya Pradesh in 1950. In 1956 this state was amalgamated with certain other areas to form the state of Madhya Pradesh within the Union of India.

The Datia chiefs were the Bundela Rajouts of the Orchha house. In 1626 Bir Singh Deo of Orchha granted Datia to his son Bhagwan Rao. The original territory was considerably exceeded both by force of arms and grants from the Delhi emperor, till the state embraced most of the country between Chambal on the north and the Betwa and Sind in the east and west. Bhagwan Rao died in 1656 and was succeeded by his son Subha Karan who had served with distinction under the Mughal Emperor in Balkh and Badakshan during the expedition of 1646-53.

In the struggle between Aurangzeb and his brothers, he joined the future emperor and died in 1683. On the death of Ram Chandra, the fourth Raja (1706-33), a dispute about the succession was referred to Raja Udot Singh of Orchha. He decided in the favor of Indrajit, a great-grandson of Ram Chandra, and assisted him by arms to secure chiefship. Among others who had given support was Naune Sah Gujar whose son Madan Singh received as a reward the governorship of the fort of Samthar and the title of Rajdhar. A grant of five villages was made later to his son Devi Singh. The Marathas began to invade Bundelkhand during this period. The seventh Raja, Parichhat concluded a treaty with the British in 1804.

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