Maharaja of Patiala
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The Maharaja of Patiala was a maharaja in India and the ruler of the princely state of Patiala in Punjab. The first Maharaja of Patiala was Sardar Ala Singh (1695-1765), who was granted the title by Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan in 1764. The first maharaja did not enjoy his new rank for long, and died on 22 August 1765.
The most famous Maharaja of Patiala was Bhupinder Singh (12 October 1891 – 23 March 1938). He is perhaps best known for his extravagance, and for being a cricketer. Two of his sons, Yuvraj of Patiala and Raja Bhalindra Singh, both played first-class cricket. Yuvraj played in one Test for India, in 1934.
Yuvraj (also known as Yadavendrasingh) became the maharaja on 23 March 1938. He was to be the last maharaja, agreeing to the incorporation of Patiala into the newly independent India on 5 May 1948, becoming Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union.
