Jodhpur State

Jodhpur State
जोधपुर रियासत
Princely State of British India
1250–1949
Flag Coat of arms
Jodhpur State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India
History
  Established 1250
  Independence of India 1949
Area
  1931 93,424 km2 (36,071 sq mi)
Population
  1931 2,125,000 
Density 22.7 /km2  (58.9 /sq mi)
Today part of Rajasthan, India
Sardar Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur (c. 1900)
An old soldier who had been at the service of the Maharaja in the Daulat Khanat yard
Map of Rajputana Agency, of which State of Jodhpur was a part
Portrait of Naubat Khan Kalawant (A Jodhpur Prince) by Ustad Mansur, Mughal School, towards 1600.British Museum London
Posthumous Portrait of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Marwar, 1762. Brooklyn Museum.
Maharaja Jaswant Singh II of Marwar, ca. 1880. Attributed to Narsingh. The Brooklyn Museum.
Maharaja Jai Singh of Amber and Maharaja Gaj Singh of Marwar - Folio from the Amber Album, circa 1630 Painting

Jodhpur State was a princely state in the Marwar region from 1250 to 1949. Its capital was the city of Jodhpur since 1450.

Covering an area of 90,554 km2 (34,963 sq mi), Jodhpur State was the largest state under the Rajputana Agency. Its last ruler signed the accession to join the Indian Union on 7 April 1949 and the state was formally dissolved on 1 November 1956.[1]

History

The rulers of the Indian princely state of Jodhpur were of an ancient dynasty established in the 8th century. However, the dynasty's fortunes were made by Rao Jodha, first of the rulers of the Rathore dynasty in Jodhpur in 1459.

The state was incorporated into the Mughal Empire after the death of Chandrasen Rathore, during the reign of the Emperor Akbar. During the late 17th century it was under the strict control of the Emperor Aurangzeb, but the ruling house of Rathore was allowed to remain semi-autonomous in their territory. The British had no role in the state's affairs until the 1830s, when the Raja at that time, Man Singh, entered into a subsidiary alliance, after which the Rajas of Marwar (or Jodhpur) continued as rulers of a princely state.

Following Indian independence in 1947 Maharaja Hanwant Singh, the last ruler of Jodhpur state, delayed signing the Instrument of Accession to India. He even briefly considered acceding to Pakistan, for Jodhpur shared a border with the new nation and he had been personally given assurance of access to sea ports in Pakistan by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Finally, he agreed to the accession of his state to the new Dominion of India, but not before a last-minute dramatic scene.[2][3]

Rulers of Jodhpur

Rulers 1459–1947

Name Reign Began Reign Ended
1 Rao Jodha - Founder of Jodhpur and the 15th head of the Rathore clan. 12 May 1459 6 April 1489
2 Rao Satal - Died from wounds after saving 140 women from Afghan raiders. 6 April 1489 March 1492
3 Rao Suja March 1492 2 October 1515
4 Rao Biram Singhson of Bagha 2 October 1515 8 November 1515
5 Rao Ganga - Assisted Rana Sanga in his campaigns against the Sultans of India. 8 November 1515 9 May 1532
6 Rao Maldeo – Successfully repelled the invasions of Sher Shah Suri. Called as one of the most potent rulers of Hindustan by Ferishta. 9 May 1532 7 November 1562
7 Rao Chandra SenLost his territories in wars with the Mughals 7 November 1562 1565
8 Raja Udai Singh Mota Rajarestored by the Mughals with the title 'Raja' as a vassal 4 August 1583 11 July 1595
9 Sawai Raja Suraj-Mal 11 July 1595 7 September 1619
10 Maharaja Gaj Singh I – To be the first to take the title 'Maharaja' by himself 7 September 1619 6 May 1638
11 Maharaja Jaswant Singh- Fought Aurangzeb in Battle of Dharmatpur. 6 May 1638 28 November 1678?
12 Raja Rai Singh – Son of Raja Amar Singh 1659 1659
13 Maharaja Ajit Singh - Became Maharaja of Marwar after 25 years of war with Aurangzeb. Durgadas Rathore played a key role in the war. 19 February 1679 24 June 1724
14 Raja Indra Singh – Installed in opposition to Maharaja Ajit Singh by Emperor Aurangzeb but unpopluar with people of Marwar 9 June 1679 4 August 1679
15 Maharaja Abhai Singh- Defeated Sarbuland Khan and occupied all of Gujarat for a short time. 24 June 1724 18 June 1749
16 Maharaja Ram SinghFirst Reign 18 June 1749 July 1751
17 Maharaja Bakht Singh- A great warrior and general, he led the Marwari forces against Sarbuland Khan and defeated him. In the Battle of Gangwana he defeated a combined army of Mughals and Kachwahas. July 1751 21 September 1752
18 Maharaja Vijay Singh – First Reign 21 September 1752 31 January 1753
19 Maharaja Ram SinghSecond Reign 31 January 1753 September 1772
20 Maharaja Vijay SinghSecond Reign - Was defeated by Mahadji Scindia and forced to surrender the fort and city of Ajmer. September 1772 17 July 1793
21 Maharaja Bhim Singh 17 July 1793 19 October 1803
22

Ł

Maharaja Man Singh - Entered into treaty relations with the British on 6 January 1818. 19 October 1803 4 September 1843
23 Maharaja Sir Takht SinghNot in the direct line, but a great-great-great grandson of Ajit Singh. Formerly Regent of Ahmednagar. 4 September 1843 13 February 1873
24 Maharaja Sir Jaswant Singh IIKaisar-i-Hind 13 February 1873 11 October 1895
25 Maharaja Sir Sardar SinghColonel in the British Indian Army 11 October 1895 20 March 1911
26 Maharaja Sir Sumair SinghColonel in the British Indian Army 20 March 1911 3 October 1918
27 Maharaja Sir Umaid SinghLieutenant-General in the British Indian Army 3 October 1918 9 June 1947
28 Maharaja Sir Hanwant SinghRuler of Marwar (Jodhpur) - 9 June 1947 15 August 1947
29 Maharaj Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur - Present
View of Jodhpur palace, most of which is now converted into a deluxe hotel

Thikanas

Jiliya or Abhaypura was a Princely Thikana of the State of Jodhpur.

See also

References

  1. William Barton, The princes of India. Delhi 1983
  2. How did Maharaja of Jodhpur get convinced to be part of Independent India instead of Pakistan?
  3. Ramachandra Guha, India after Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy. HarperCollins, 2007

Coordinates: 26°28′N 73°02′E / 26.467°N 73.033°E / 26.467; 73.033

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