starting from the period between the 9th and 12th centuries, copper was smelted in many parts of old singhbhum district. it is believed that many immigrants entered singhbhum from manbhum in the 14th century or earlier. when the hos entered old singhbhum, they overcame the bhuiyas, who were then inhabitants of the forest country. in the latter half of the eighteenth century, the hos fought several wars against the rajas of the chota nagpur states and mayurbhanj to retain their independence. as far as is known, the muslims left them alone. although the area was formally claimed to be a part of the mughal empire, neither the mughals nor the marathas, who were active in the surrounding areas during the decline of the mughals, ventured into the area.