Former province of British India.
Now the northeastern portion of Uttar Pradesh state, it received its name from Ayodhya , the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala , which was nearly coextensive with modern Oudh. It was taken by Muslim invaders in the 12th century, became part of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, and was annexed by the British in 1856. In 1877 it was joined with Agra to form the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. After India's independence in 1947 it became part of Uttar Pradesh.