What is "malavas"

The Malavas were an ancient Indian tribe settled in the present-day North-western Madhya Pradesh state in India, which is known as Malwa after them. They successfully maintained their tribal organisation till the time of Samudragupta. The era, which later became known as the Vikrama Samvat is associated with the Malavas. Initially it was mentioned as the Krita era and then as the Malava era. Most probably this era was mentioned as the Vikrama era for the first time in the Dholpur stone inscription of Chahmana Chandamahasena in 898 CE.