Rajput Princely States

Imperial entities of India
Imperial entities of India
A princely state, also called native state (legally, under the British) or Indian state (for those states on the subcontinent), was a nominally sovereign monarchy under a local or regional ruler in a subsidiary alliance with a greater power. Though the history of the princely states of the subcontinent dates from at least the classical period of Indian history, the predominant usage of the term princely state specifically refers to a semi-sovereign principality on the Indian subcontinent during the British Raj that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by a local ruler under a form of indirect rule. Before the Partition of India in 1947, multiple Rajput and non-Rajput Princely States existed in India which were not part of British India. These were the parts of the Indian subcontinent which had not been conquered or annexed by the British but were subject to subsidiary alliances. In principle, the princely states had internal autonomy, while by treaty the British Crown had suzerainty and was responsible for the states’ external affairs. In practice, while the states were indeed ruled by potentates with a variety of titles, such as Chhatrapati, Maharaja, Raja, Raje, Deshmukh, Nawab, Baig, Khan, Nizam,Mirza or specially Jam for Jadeja/Samma.
Name Dynasty
Ajaigarh Bundela
Ali Rajpur Rathore
Alidhra Kathi Kshatriya
Alipura Parihar
Alwar Kachwaha
Ambliara Songara Chauhan
Anandpur Kathi Kshatriya
Bagasara Wala
Baghal Parmar
Baghat Parmar
Bakrol Gohil
Balsan Parmar
Bamra Gangabasi
Bangahal Chandrabansi
Banka Pahari Bundela
Bansda Solanki
Banswara Sisodia
Baraundha Raghuvanshi
Baria Khichi Chauhan
Baroda Gaekwad
Barwala Wala
Barwani Sisodia
Bashahr
Bastar Bhanj
Beja Tanwar
Beri Parmar
Bhadarwa Baghela
Bhadawar Bhadoria
Bhaddaiyan Raj Chauhan
Bhadrawah Chandrabansi
Bhadwa Jadeja
Bhajji Pal
Bhavnagar Gohil
Bhayavadar Wala
Bihat Bundela
Bijawar Bundela
Bikaner Rathore
Bilaspur Chandel
Bilkha Wala
Bonai Rathore
Bundi Hada Chauhan
Chamba Mushana
Changbhakar Chauhan
Charkhari Bundela
Chhaliar Maharaulji
Chhatarpur Parmar
Chhota Udaipur Khichi Chauhan
Chital Wala
Chorangala Khichi Chauhan
Chotila Khachar
Chuda Jhala
Cooch Behar Narayan
Dangarwa Dabhi
Danta Parmar
Darkoti Kachwaha
Daspalla Bhanj
Datarpur Katoch
Datia Bundela
Dedhrota Jhala
Delath Suryavanshi
Dewas Junior Parmar
Dewas Senior Parmar
Dhadi Sisodia
Dhami Chauhan
Dhar Parmar
Dharampur Sisodia
Dhenkanal Bhuyavamsha
Dhrangadhra Jhala
Dhrol Jadeja
Dungarpur Sisodia
Gad Boriad Khichi Chauhan
Gangpur Parmar
Garrauli Bundela
Gondal Jadeja
Guler Katoch
Gwalior Scindia
Hadala-Bagasara Wala
Hapa Parmar
Hindol
Idar Rathore
Indore Holkar
Jaipur Kachwaha
Jaisalmer Bhati
Jalia Devani Jadeja
Jambugodha Parmar
Jammu Jamwal
Jammu And Kashmir Jamwal
Jamnia Songara Chauhan
Jasdan Kathi Kshatriya
Jashpur Chauhan
Jaso Bundela
Jaswan Katoch
Jetpur Wala
Jhabua Rathore
Jhalawar Jhala
Jigni Bundela
Jobat Rathore
Jodhpur Rathore
Jubbal Rathore
Kachhi Baroda Rathore
Kalahandi Naagvanshi
Kangra Katoch
Kanker Chandra
Karaudia Chauhan
Karauli Jadon
Kathiwada Jadon
Kawardha Raj Gond
Keonjhar Kachwaha
Keonthal Chandrabansi
Khairagarh Naagvanshi
Khandpara Baghela
Khaneti Parihar
Kharedi Jadeja
Khari-Bagasara Wala
Kharsawan Rathore
Khijadia Wala
Khilchipur Khichi Chauhan
Khirasra Jadeja
Kishangarh Rathore
Kolhapur Bhonsle
Korea Chauhan
Kotah Hada Chauhan
Kotda Sangani Jadeja
Kothi Baghela
Kotkhai Suryavanshi
Krishaniya Esates Suryavanshi
Kumharsain Parihar
Kunihar Raghuvansi
Kushalgarh Rathore
Kutch Jadeja
Kuthar
Lakhtar Jhala
Lathi Gohil
Limbdi Jhala
Lunawada Solanki
Maheshpur Raj Suryavanshi
Mahilog Suryavanshi
Maihar Kachwaha
Makrai Raj Gond
Malpur Rathore
Mandi Chandrabansi
Mandwa Khichi Chauhan
Mangal Sen
Mansa Chavda
Mayurbhanj Bhanj
Mohanpur Parmar
Morvi Jadeja
Mudhol Bhonsle
Muli Parmar
Multhan Rathore
Mysore Wadiyar
Nagar Untari Suryavanshi
Nagod Parihar
Nagpur Bhonsle
Nalagarh Chandel
Narsinghgarh Parmar
Narsinghpur
Nasvadi Solanki
Nawanagar Jadeja
Nayagarh Baghela
Nilgiri Bhanj
Nimkhera Chauhan
Nurpur Tanwar
Orchha Bundela
Pal Lahara Suryavanshi
Palasni Parmar
Palitana Gohil
Panna Bundela
Patna Chauhan
Pethapur Baghela
Phaltan Parmar
Piploda Dodiya Rajput
Porbandar Jethwa
Pratapgarh Sisodia
Punadra Jhala
Raigarh Raj Gond
Rairakhol Rathore
Rajgarh Parmar
Rajgarh Chauhan
Rajkot Jadeja
Rajpipla Gohil
Ranasan Parmar
Ranka Gor
Ranpur
Ratlam Rathore
Rawingarh Rathore
Rewah Baghela
Sailana Rathore
Sakti Raj Gond
Samthar Badgujjar
Sanala Wala
Sandur Ghorpade
Sangri
Sanjeli Chauhan
Sant Parmar
Sarangarh Raj Gond
Sarila Bundela
Satara Bhonsle
Sathamba Solanki
Savantvadi Bhonsle
Sayla Jhala
Seraikella Rathore
Shahpura Sisodia
Siba Katoch
Sirmur Bhati
Sirohi Deora Chauhan
Sitamau Rathore
Sohawal Baghela
Sonepur Chauhan
Sudasna Parmar
Surgana Parmar
Surguja Raksel
Talcher Kachwaha
Tanjore Bhonsle
Tehri Garhwal Parmar
Thana Devli Wala
Tharad Baghela
Tharoch Sisodia
Tigiria
Tori Fatehpur Bundela
Tulsipur Chauhan
Udaipur Sisodia
Udaipur Raksel
Vadia Kathi
Vala Gohil
Varsoda Chavda
Vijaynagar Rathore
Virpur Jadeja
Wadagam Parmar
Wadhwan Jhala
Wankaner Jhala

Gun Salutes

A salute state was a princely state under the British Raj during the time of British rule which had been granted a gun salute by the British Crown (as paramount ruler); i.e., the protocolary privilege for its ruler to be greeted—originally by Royal Navy ships, later also on land—with a number of cannon shots, in graduations of two salutes from three to 21, as recognition of the state’s relative status. The gun-salute system of recognition was first instituted during the time of the East India Company in the late 18th century, and was continued under direct Crown rule from 1858.
Salutes Provinces
21 Baroda, Gwalior, Jammu And Kashmir, Mysore
19 Indore, Kolhapur, Udaipur
17 Bikaner, Bundi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Karauli, Kotah, Kutch, Rewah
15 Alwar, Banswara, Datia, Dewas Senior, Dhar, Dungarpur, Idar, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh, Orchha, Pratapgarh, Sirohi
13 Bhavnagar, Cooch Behar, Dhrangadhra, Jhalawar, Nawanagar, Porbandar, Rajpipla, Ratlam
11 Ajaigarh, Ali Rajpur, Barwani, Bijawar, Bilaspur, Chamba, Charkhari, Chhatarpur, Gondal, Jhabua, Mandi, Morvi, Narsinghgarh, Panna, Rajgarh, Sailana, Samthar, Sirmur, Sitamau, Tehri Garhwal, Wankaner
9 Bansda, Baria, Chhota Udaipur, Danta, Dharampur, Dhrol, Kalahandi, Khilchipur, Limbdi, Lunawada, Maihar, Mayurbhanj, Mudhol, Nagod, Palitana, Patna, Rajkot, Sant, Savantvadi, Shahpura, Sonepur, Wadhwan

Agencies

By the time of the departure of the British in 1947, only four of the largest of the states still had their own British Resident, a diplomatic title for advisors present in the states’ capitals, while most of the others were grouped together into Agencies, such as the Central India Agency, the Deccan States Agency, Rajputana Agency, etc. Eastern States Agencies was a political office of the Bengal Presidency of the British Indian Empire and consisted of Orissa States Agency, Chhattisgarh States Agency and Bengal States Agency. Baroda and Gujarat States Agency was a political agency of British India, managing the relations of the British government of the Bombay Presidency with a collection of princely states. Mahi Kantha was a political agency within the Gujarat Division of Bombay Presidency. The Rajputana Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire dealing with a collection of states northwestern India, under the political charge of an Agent reporting directly to the Governor-General of India and residing at Mount Abu in the Aravalli Range. For administrative purposes Rajputana Agency (Area 330,330 km2) was subdivided into nine groups of states, consisting of three residencies and six agencies:
  • Mewar Residency (Area 12,691mi2), with headquarters at Udaipur, dealt with Mewar State (Udaipur).
  • Western Rajputana States Agency, which included the states of Banswara, Dungarpur and Pratapgarh. This agency was part of Mewar Residency until 1906, when it was separated.
  • Jaipur Residency (Area 15,579mi2), with headquarters at Jaipur, dealt with the states of Jaipur and Kishangarh, as well as the estate of Lawa.
  • Western Rajputana States Residency (Area 34,963mi2), with its headquarters at Jodhpur, dealt with the states of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Sirohi.
  • Bikaner Agency (Area 23,311mi2), with headquarters at Bikaner, dealt with the state of Bikaner.
  • Alwar Agency, with headquarters at Alwar, dealt with the state of Alwar.
  • Eastern Rajputana States Agency, with headquarters at Bharatpur, dealt with the states of Bharatpur, Dholpur, and Karauli.
  • Haraoti-Tonk Agency, with headquarters at Deoli, dealt with the states of Tonk, Bundi and Shahpura.
  • Kotah-Jhalawar Agency, with headquarters at Kota, dealt with the states of Kota and Jhalawar.
All of the states had Hindu Rajput rulers, except Tonk, which had a Muslim ruler, and Bharatpur State and Dholpur State, which had Jat rulers.
Agency Provinces
Bengal States Agency Cooch Behar, Mayurbhanj
Central India Agency Ajaigarh, Ali Rajpur, Alipura, Banka Pahari, Baraundha, Barwani, Bijawar, Charkhari, Chhatarpur, Datia, Dewas Junior, Dewas Senior, Dhar, Indore, Jaso, Jobat, Khilchipur, Kothi, Maihar, Makrai, Nagod, Narsinghgarh, Orchha, Panna, Piploda, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Rewah, Sailana, Sohawal, Tori Fatehpur
Chhattisgarh States Agency Bastar, Changbhakar, Jashpur, Kalahandi, Kanker, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Korea, Patna, Raigarh, Sakti, Sarangarh, Surguja, Udaipur
Deccan States Agency Kolhapur, Mudhol, Phaltan, Savantvadi
Gujarat States Agency Ambliara, Bakrol, Bansda, Baroda, Chhota Udaipur, Dhrangadhra, Idar, Kutch, Lakhtar, Limbdi, Lunawada, Muli, Nawanagar, Rajpipla, Sanjeli, Sant, Surgana, Tharad, Vijaynagar, Wankaner
Gwalior Residency Gwalior
Individual residency Jammu And Kashmir, Mysore
Kathiawar Agency Bhavnagar, Dhrol, Gondal, Morbi, Porbandar, Rajkot, Wadhwan
Madras Presidency Sandur
Mahi Kantha Agency Malpur, Mansa, Mohanpur, Pethapur, Punadra, Ranasan, Sudasna, Varsoda
Orissa States Agency Bamra, Bonai, Daspalla, Dhenkanal, Gangpur, Hindol, Keonjhar, Khandpara, Kharsawan, Narsinghpur, Nayagarh, Nilgiri, Pal Lahara, Rairakhol, Ranpur, Seraikella, Sonepur, Talcher, Tigiria
Punjab States Agency Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Siba, Sirmur, Tehri Garhwal
Rajputana Agency Alwar, Banswara, Bikaner, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Karauli, Kishangarh, Kotah, Kushalgarh, Pratapgarh, Shahpura, Sirohi, Udaipur