Dholpur State

Summary

Dhaulpur State or Dholpur State, historically known as the Kingdom of Dholpur, was a kingdom of eastern Rajasthan, India, which was founded in AD 1806 by a Jat ruler Rana Kirat Singh of Gohad.[1][2][3] After 1818, the state was placed under the authority of British India's Jatwara. The Ranas ruled the state until the independence of India in 1947, when the kingdom was merged with the Union of India.

Dholpur State
धौलपुर रियासत
Princely State of British India
1806–1949
Flag of Dholpur
Flag
Coat of arms of Dholpur
Coat of arms

Dholpur State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India
CapitalDholpur
Area 
• 1901
3,038 km2 (1,173 sq mi)
Population 
• 1901
250,000
Government
 • TypeSovereign monarchy (1806–1818)
Princely state (1818–1947)
Constitutional monarchy (1947–1949)
Maharaj Rana 
• 1806–1835
Kirat Singh (first)
• 1911–1949
Udaybhanu Singh (last)
History 
• Established
1806
1949
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Maratha Empire
Matsya Union
Today part ofIndia
 · Rajasthan
Maharaj Rana of Dholpur Sir Bhagwant Singh in 1870.
Kesarbagh palace, the mansion of the former ruler of the erstwhile Dholpur State in Dholpur, now Dholpur Military School

The princely state of Dholpur was located in the present-day state of Rajasthan. The state had an area of 3,038 km2 (1,173 sq mi), and an estimated revenue of Rs.9,60,000.[4]

The former chief minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, was a member of the erstwhile ruling family of Dholpur as she was married to Maharaja Hemant Singh before getting divorced.

History edit

Very little is known of the early history of the state. According to tradition a predecessor state was established as Dhavalapura. In 1505 neighboring Gohad State of Rana Jats was founded and between 1740 and 1756 Gohad occupied Gwalior Fort. From 1761 to 1775 Dholpur was annexed to Bharatpur State and between 1782 and December 1805 Dholpur was again annexed by Gwalior. On 10 January 1806 Dholpur became a British protectorate and in the same year the Ruler of Gohad merged Gohad into Dholpur.[5][6]

The last ruler of Dholpur signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union on 7 April 1949 and the state was merged in Matsya Union.[7]

Rulers edit

The rulers of the state were Jats and were styled Maharaja Rana from 1806 onwards.[5] They were entitled to a 15-gun salute.

Present Maharaj edit

Rana Dushyant Singh is the king of Dholpur and presently a fourth-time Member of Parliament

Rulers of Gohad (title Rana) edit

  • 1699 – 1713: Gaj Singh (d. 1713)
  • 1713 – 1717: Jaswant Singh (d. 1717)
  • 1717 – 1756: Bhim Singh Rana (d. 1756)
  • 1756 – 1757: Girdhar Pratap Singh (d. 1757)
  • 1757 – 1784: Chhatar Singh (d. 1788) (personal style Maharaj Rana from 1771)
  • 1784 – 1804: Interregnum
  • 1804 – 1806: Kirat Singh (b. 1763 – d. 1836)

Rulers of Dholpur (title Maharaja Rana) edit

  • 1806 – 21 April 1836: Kirat Singh (s.a.)
  • 1836 – Dec 1836: Pohap Singh (d. 1836)
  • Dec 1836 – 7 February 1873: Bhagwant Singh (b. 1824 – d. 1873) (from 2 June 1869, Sir Bhagwant Singh)
  • 7 Feb 1873 – 20 July 1901: Nihal Singh (b. 1863 – d. 1901)
  • 7 Feb 1873 – 1884: Maharani Sateha Devi (b. 1845 – d. 1888) Bhawa (f) – Regent
  • 20 Jul 1901 – 29 March 1911: Ram Singh (b. 1883 – d. 1911) (from 1 January 1909, Sir Ram Singh)
  • 20 Jul 1901 – Mar 1905: .... – Regent
  • 29 Mar 1911 – 15 August 1947: Udai Bhan Singh (b. 1893 – d. 1954) (from 1 January 1918, Sir Udai Bhan Singh)
  • 29 Mar 1911 – 9 October 1913: .... – Regent

The descendants of Maharaj Udai Bhan Singh and Maharaj Nihal Singh are still carrying on their family legacy.

  • Maharaja Rana Dushyant Singh ji S/o Maharaj Hemant Singh and Vasundhra Raje Scindia, is the Maharaj Rana of Dholpur
  • Yuvraj Vinayak Pratap Singh is the son of Maharaj Dushyant Singh and Niharika raje the Princess of Samthar

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ John Zubrzycki (2012). The Mysterious Mr Jacob. Random House India. p. 3. ISBN 9788184003369.
  2. ^ "Dholpur: History and Places".
  3. ^ "Dholpur online".
  4. ^ "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 11, page 324 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library".
  5. ^ a b Princely States
  6. ^ Gazetteer of India, v. 11, p. 323.
  7. ^ "Dholpur Princely State (15 gun salute)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2014.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Dholpur State at Wikimedia Commons
  • Genealogy of the rulers of Dholpur
  • Princely States of India A-J

26°42′N 77°54′E / 26.7°N 77.9°E / 26.7; 77.9