Karauli State

Karauli State
करौली रियासत
Princely State of British India
1348–1949 →
Flag Coat of arms
Karauli State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India
History
 • Established 1348
 • Indian independence 1949
Area
 • 1931 3,216 km2 (1,242 sq mi)
Population
 • 1931 140,525 
Density 43.7 /km2  (113.2 /sq mi)
Today part of Rajasthan, India
Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "article name needed". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
View of Timan Garh Fort in former Karauli State. Its foundations are said to have been built in the 2 century AD.

Karauli State[1] was a princely state in India from 1348 to 1949. It was located in the Braj region. The main village in Karauli district is Mandrayal or Mandrail.

Geography

The state had an area of 3,178 km2 (1,227 sq mi). In 1901, the population of the state was 156,786, and that of the town was 23,482. Millets, the staple food of the people, was the main agricultural produce. As of the early 20th century, there were no major industries; a little weaving, dyeing, wood-turning and stone cutting constituted the notable cottage industries. Most goods, as also salt, sugar, cotton, buffaloes and bullocks, were imported; rice and goats comprised the main exports.

History

The predecessor state of the princely state of Karauli, the Kingdom of Mathura, was founded about 995 by Raja Bijai Pal a Yaduvanshi Rajput ruler.[2] Historical data point to Arjun Deo as the founder of the Karauli State in 1348. The capital was successively in the towns of Mathura, Dwarika, Bayana, Timan Garh, Andher Kotla, Mandrayal, U'ntgir and Bahadurpur.

In 1535 Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged the fort of Chittor, upon which Humayun himself started to fight against him. Rani Karnawati, the widow of Rana Sanga, was ruling Chittor as regent. She also tried to be friendly with the Mughals and sent a Rakhi to Humayun, but Humayun did not arrive in time. If he would have arrived in time and helped Karnawati, perhaps it would have been Sisodias as their close allies. However, Kachwahas became the first allies of Mughals in Rajputana. Bharmal's policy towards Mughals was merely an extension of his brother's policy.

Bharmal's eldest brother Raja Puranmal died at the Battle of Mandrail in 1534, while helping Humayun to recapture the fort of Bayana. He had a son named Surajmal or Sooja. But he was not recognized as king and his younger brother Raja Bhim Singh ascended to the throne of Amber. Bhim Singh was succeeded by his son Raja Ratan Singh and Raja Bharmal succeeded him in 1548.

British Raj

During the 18th century Karauli was under the Maratha Empire until the Marathas were defeated by the British. In 1817, Karauli's ruler signed a treaty with the East India Company and became a British protectorate, the status was maintained till the independence of India in 1947.

After India's independence in 1947, the state under Maharaja Ganesh Pal Deo acceded to the Dominion of India on 7 April 1949; Karauli later merged with the Union of India and became part of the state of Rajasthan.

Rulers

The rulers of the state bore the title 'Maharaja'. Karauli was ruled by Jadubansi Rajputs.[3][4]

Maharajas

See also

References

  1. ↑ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 15, p. 26.
  2. ↑ An ethnographical hand-book for the N.-W. provinces and Oudh By William Crooke
  3. ↑ Rajput Provinces of India - Karauli State (Princely State)
  4. ↑ Princely States of India


Coordinates: 26°18′N 77°14′E / 26.3°N 77.23°E / 26.3; 77.23

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