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A princely state is any state under the reign of a prince and is thus a principality taken in the broad sense. Prince, from the Latin root Princeps, is a general term for a Monarch, for a member of a monarch's or former monarch's family and is a A principality (or princedom) is a monarchical feudatory or Sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of Prince The term refers not only to sovereign nations ruled by monarchs but also to lower polities ruled by various high nobles (often vassals in a feudal system). Polity ( Greek: Πολιτεία or Πολίτευμα transliterated as Politeía or Políteuma) was originally a term used in Ancient Greece Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Such states may be sovereign or not and their reigning 'princes' may actually rule or be reduced in power, as under colonial indirect rule, sometimes becoming mere figureheads. Indirect rule is a type of European colonial Policy in which the traditional local power structure or at least part of it is incorporated into the colonial administrative structure

Specifically, the term "Princely States" (also called "Native States" or "Indian States") was used to refer to sovereign entities of British India that were not under the direct control of the British government but instead entered into treaties directly with the British monarch. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British

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Main use

In English, the term "princely state" generally refers to a historical native state of the British Empire under an autochthonous princely house, while the term principality is preferred for analogous western feudal units. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. A principality (or princedom) is a monarchical feudatory or Sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of Prince

Historically there were hundreds of native states in British India and in some other parts of the British Empire (mainly under the chartered British East India Company). For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or These states were mostly brought into the British colonial sphere of influence by the East India Company, and after 1858 formally under the British crown, which assumed the role of paramount ruler and the title of "Emperor of India" as political (not dynastic) self-declared heir to the Padshah i-Hind of the former Mughal dynasty. The term Paramount Ruler, or sometimes Paramount King, is a generic description though occasionally also used as an actual title for a number of rulers' position in relative Padishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah ( Persian پادشاه Pādeshāh) is a very prestigious The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most

Unlike the British Provinces of India such as Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Central Provinces, United Provinces, which were ruled directly by the British government, rulers of princely states had treaty arrangements directly with their personal suzerain, the British Monarch. The Provinces of India (also Provinces of British India) were administrative units of British rule in India, the predecessors to the modern-day states. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang The Bombay Presidency was a former province of British India. Madras Presidency, also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St The Central Provinces and Berar was a province of British India. Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U These treaties allowed a degree of local autonomy, and each state had its own laws, languages, holidays, ministers and princely ruler. Each was still under British protection and was thus essentially a vassal state. A vassal (also called feodary or fedary) in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudalism of Medieval Europe,

At the time of independence in 1947 a few hundred[1] such states existed in British India. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British 565 states were represented in a special chamber of the Indian legislative assembly called the Chamber of Princes. The Chamber of Princes was an institution established in 1921 by royal proclamation to provide a forum in which the rulers of the Indian Princely states could make contact with

Princely status and titles

The Indian rulers bore various titles — including Maharaja ("great king"), Badshah ("emperor"), Raja ("king"), Nawab ("governor"), Nizam, Wali, and many others. The word Mahārāja (also spelled maharajah) is Sanskrit for "great king" or " High king " (a Karmadharaya from mahānt Padishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah ( Persian پادشاه Pādeshāh) is a very prestigious For other uses see Raja (disambiguation and Rajah (disambiguation. A Nawab or Nawaab ( Urdu: نواب Hindi: नवाब was originally the Subedar (provincial governor or viceroy of a Nizam ( Urdu: نظام‌) a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk ( Urdu: نظام‌الملک) meaning Administrator of the Realm, was Wali (Arabic ولي, plural Awliya ' أولياء) is an Arabic word meaning trusted one or friend generally denoting Whatever the literal meaning and traditional prestige of the ruler's actual title, the British government translated them all as "prince," in order to avoid the implication that the native rulers could be "kings" with status equal to that of the British monarch.

Some Hindu rulers used the title Thakur or its variant Thakore. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

More prestigious Hindu rulers -mostly existing before the Mughal Empire, or having split from such old states- often used the title "Raja," or a variant such as "Rana," "Rao," "Rawat" or "Rawal. For other uses see Raja (disambiguation and Rajah (disambiguation. " Also in this 'class' were several Thakur sahibs and a few particular titles, such as Sar Desai. Thakur, Thakore, Thakar, Thakrar, Thakhor etc is an Indian feudal and colonial title in Hindi

The most prestigious Hindu rulers usually had the prefix "maha" ("great", compare for example Grand duke) in their titles, as in Maharaja, Maharana, Maharao, etc. The state of Travancore-Cochin had queens regnant styled Maharani, generally the female forms applied only to spouses and widows, who could however act as regents. Travancore-Cochin or Thiru-Kochi is a former state of India. It was created on July 1 1949 by the merger of two former Princely List of current queens regnant A queen regnant (plural "queens regnant" is qualifying reference to a female Monarch possessing and exercising all of the monarchal The word Mahārāja (also spelled maharajah) is Sanskrit for "great king" or " High king " (a Karmadharaya from mahānt A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor

There were also compound titles, such as (Maha)rajadhiraj, Raj-i-rajgan, often relics from an elaborate system of hierarchical titles under the Mughal emperors. For example, the addition of the adjective Bahadur raised the status of the titleholder one level.

Furthermore most dynasties used a variety of additional titles, such as, mainly? in South India: Varma. Varma or Varman is an honorific title and surname Originally affixed to the names of Kshatriya rulers in India and South East Asia "Varma" (or "Varman" This should not be confused with various titles and suffixes not specific to princes but used by entire (sub)casts.

The Sikh princes concentrated at Punjab, usually adopted Hindu type titles when attaining princely rank; at a lower level Sardar was used. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c Sardar ( Persian: سردار) (Sɐrdar is a title of Persian origin used for military or political leaders

Muslim rulers almost all used the title "Nawab" (originally the title of an amovable governor under real Mughal rule, but soon tending to hereditary succession whenever Delhi/Agra lost effective control over the province) with the prominent exceptions of the Nizam of Hyderabad & Berar, the Wali/Khan of Kalat and the Wali of Swat. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. A Nawab or Nawaab ( Urdu: نواب Hindi: नवाब was originally the Subedar (provincial governor or viceroy of a Nizam ( Urdu: نظام‌) a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk ( Urdu: نظام‌الملک) meaning Administrator of the Realm, was Hyderābād and Berar (హైదరాబాదు حیدر آباد under the Nizams was the largest Princely state in the erstwhile Indian Empire Wali (Arabic ولي, plural Awliya ' أولياء) is an Arabic word meaning trusted one or friend generally denoting Kalat or Qalat ( Urdu: قلات was a princely state located in the centre of the modern province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The Wālis of Swat were the leaders of Swat, which was incorporated into NWFP, Pakistan in 1969. Other less usual titles included Darbar Sahib, Dewan, Jam, Mehtar (unique to Chitral) and Mir (from Emir). Darbar Sahib refers to the main hall within a Sikh Gurdwara. This hall is where the current and perpetual Guru of the Sikhs the Guru Granth Sahib is placed The originally Persian title of diwan (also quite commonly known as Dewan; also spelled -van) has at various points in the Islamic history, designated Chitral or Chatrāl (چترال is basically translated into "field" in the native language Khowar. Mir (Мир which can mean both Peace and World, and was the name given to peasant communes in pre-revolutionary Russia was a Soviet (and Emir ( Arabic: ar أمير;, female أميرة; emira;) ( Farsi and Urdu: امیر)

Precedence and prestige

However, the actual importance of a princely state cannot be read from the title of its ruler, which was usually granted (or at least recognised) as a favour, often in recognition for loyalty and services rendered historically by the Mughal emperor, and later by the British rulers succeeding it as paramount power (first the HEIC, de facto; later the British crown, and ultimately assuming the style Emperor of India as successor to the emperor of the abolished Mughal realm). The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or Although some titles were raised once or even repeatedly, there was no automatic updating when a state gained or lost real clout. In fact, princely titles were even awarded to holders of domains (mainly jagirs) and even zamindars (in principle tax collectors), which were not states at all. In Pakistan and India, a Jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond Zamindar ( Devanagari: ज़मींदार zamīndār, Urdu: زمیندار zamīndār, Eastern Nagari: জমিদার Various sources give significantly different numbers of states and domains of the various types. Even in general, the definition of titles and domains are clearly not well-established. There is also no strict relation between the levels of the titles and the classes of gun salutes, the real measure of precedence, but merely a growing percentage of higher titles in classes with more guns.

The gun-salute system was used to set unambiguously the precedence of the major rulers in the area in which the British East India Company was active, or generally of the states and their dynasties. Princely rulers were entitled to be saluted by the firing of an odd number of guns between three and 21, with a greater number of guns indicating greater prestige. (There were many minor rulers who were not entitled to any gun salutes, and as a rule the majority of gun-salute princes had at least nine, with numbers below that usually the prerogative of Arab coastal Sheikhs also under British protection. ) Generally, the number of guns remained the same for all successive rulers of a particular state, but individual princes were sometimes granted additional guns on a personal basis. Furthermore, rulers were sometimes granted additional gun salutes within their own territories only, constituting a semi-promotion.

While the states of all these rulers (about 120) were known as salute states, there were far more so-called non-salute states of lower prestige, and even more princes (in the broadest sense of the term) not even acknowledged as such. A Salute state was a Princely state (ie reigned by a native ruler of princely rank which the British colonial Paramount ruler has granted a Gun salute On the other hand, the dynasties of certain defunct states were allowed to keep their princely status — they were known as Political Pensioners. A political pensioner enjoys a Pension sui generis, awarded in chief of his political career or significance Though none of these princes were awarded gun salutes, princely titles in this category were recognised as among certain vassals of salute states, and were not even in direct relation with the paramount power.

After independence, the (Hindu) Maharana of Udaipur displaced the Nizam of Hyderabad as the most senior prince in India, and the style Highness was extended to all rulers entitled to 9-gun salutes. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Udaipur (उदयपुर is a city and a Municipal council in Udaipur district in Nizam ( Urdu: نظام‌) a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk ( Urdu: نظام‌الملک) meaning Administrator of the Realm, was When these dynasties had been integrated into the Indian Union they were promised continued privileges and an income, known as the Privy Purse, for their upkeep. In India, the Privy Purse was a grant given since 1947 to the rulers of the princely states of the Indian sub-continent as part of their terms of accession to the Subsequently, when the Indian government abolished the Privy Purse in 1971, the whole princely order ceased to exist under Indian law, although many families continue to retain their social prestige informally; some descendants are still prominent in regional or national politics, diplomacy, business and high society. In India, the Privy Purse was a grant given since 1947 to the rulers of the princely states of the Indian sub-continent as part of their terms of accession to the

At the time of Indian independence, only five rulers — the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Maharaja of Mysore, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, the Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda and the Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior — were entitled to a 21-gun salute. Hyderābād and Berar (హైదరాబాదు حیدر آباد under the Nizams was the largest Princely state in the erstwhile Indian Empire The Kingdom of Mysore/State of Mysore (ಮೈಸೂರು ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ was both a Kingdom (1399-1799 CE and a Princely state (1799-1947 ( Dogri: जम्मू और कश्मीर Urdu: جموں و کشمیر is the northernmost state of India. The Gaekwad or Gaikwad (once rendered as Guicowar, also given (incorrectly as Gaekwar) ( Gujarati: ગાયકવાડ; Marathi For the School in Gwalior India see Scindia School. For the Italian city see Sindia Italy. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Gwalior ( Hindi: ग्वालियर) is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India Five more rulers — the Nawab of Bhopal, the Maharaja Holkar of Indore, the Maharana of Udaipur, the Maharaja of Kolhapur and the Maharaja of Travancore — were entitled to 19-gun salutes. Bhopāl ( Hindi: भोपाल bʰoːpɑːl, Marathi -भोपाळ is a city in central India. The Holkar were a prominent Dhangar family who ruled as Rajas and later Maharajas of Indaur (better known as Indore) in Central India Indore ( Hindi: इंदौर/इन्दोर, Marathi - इंदूर, the largest city and the commercial capital of the central Indian state of WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Udaipur (उदयपुर is a city and a Municipal council in Udaipur district in WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kolhapur ( Marathi:कोल्हापूर is a city situated in the south west corner of Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or The most senior princely ruler was the (Muslim) Nizam of Hyderabad, who was entitled to the unique style Exalted Highness. Other princely rulers entitled to salutes of 11 guns (soon 9 guns too) or more were entitled to the style Highness. No special style was used by rulers entitled to lesser gun salutes.

As paramount ruler, and successor to the Mughals, the British King-Emperor of India, for whom the style of Majesty was reserved, was entitled to an 'imperial' 101-gun salute — in the European tradition also the number of guns fired to announce the birth of a (male) heir to the throne. Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin Maiestas, meaning Greatness.

All princely rulers were eligible to be appointed to certain British orders of chivalry associated with India, The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India and The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire. The article is about the order of chivalry known as "Star of India" The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of Chivalry founded by Victoria in 1878 Even women could be appointed as "Knights" (instead of Dames) of these orders. Rulers entitled to 21-gun and 19-gun salutes were normally appointed to the highest rank possible (Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India).

Many Indian princes served in the British army (as others in local guard or police forces), often rising to the high official ranks; some even served while on the throne. Many of these were appointed as ADC etc. An aide-de-camp ( French for camp assistant) is a personal assistant secretary or Adjutant to a person of high rank usually a senior military officer , either to the ruling prince of their own house (in the case of relatives of such rulers) or indeed to the British King-Emperor. Many also saw action, both on the subcontinent and on other fronts, during both World Wars.

It was also not unusual for members of princely houses to be appointed to various colonial offices, often far from their native state, or to enter the diplomatic corps.

The doctrine of lapse

A controversial aspect of Company rule was the doctrine of lapse, a policy under which lands whose feudal ruler had died (or otherwise become unfit to rule) without a heir would become directly controlled by the company. The Doctrine of Lapse was an Annexation policy devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General of India between 1848 and This policy went counter to Indian tradition where unlike Europe it was far more the accepted norm for a ruler to appoint his own heir.

The doctrine of lapse was pursued most vigorously by the Governor-General Sir James Ramsay, 10th Earl (later 1st Marquess) of Dalhousie. James Andrew Broun-Ramsay 1st Marquess of Dalhousie, KT, PC ( April 22 1812 &ndash December 19 1860) was a British Dalhousie annexed seven states, including the Maratha states of Nagpur, Jhansi, Satara and Awadh (Oudh), whose Nawabs he had accused of misrule. The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day Nāgpur ( Marathi: नागपुर is the largest city in central India (2001 Census and the second capital of the state of Maharashtra. Jhansi ( Urdu: جھانسی Hindi: झांसी Marathi:झाशी is a city of Uttar Pradesh state of northern India. For the Moth Genus, see Satara (moth. Satara (Marathiसातारा is a Town located in the For the Oudh tree see Agarwood. Awadh ( Hindi: अवध Urdu: اودھ) also known in various British historical texts as Oudh Resentment over the annexation of these states turned to indignation when the heirlooms of the Maharajas of Nagpur were auctioned off in Calcutta. Dalhousie's actions contributed to the rising discontent amongst the upper castes which played a large part in the outbreak of the Indian rebellion of 1857. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, The last Mughal Padshah (emperor), whom many of the mutineers saw as a figurehead to rally around, was deposed following its suppression.

In response to the unpopularity of the doctrine, it was discontinued with the end of company rule and the formation of the Indian Empire, and no further states were absorbed in such a way. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British

Colonial governance

By the beginning of the 20th century, the four largest states — Hyderabad, Mysore, Jammu and Kashmir, and Baroda — were directly under the authority of the Governor-General of India, in the person of a British Resident. The Kingdom of Mysore/State of Mysore (ಮೈಸೂರು ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ was both a Kingdom (1399-1799 CE and a Princely state (1799-1947 Baroda (बडोदरा was one of the Residencies of British India. The Governor-General of India (or from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India) was the head of the British administration in India, and A Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a state official of certain representative -diplomatic and/or colonial- types required to take up permanent residency abroad officially Two agencies, Rajputana Agency and Central India Agency, oversaw 20 and 148 princely states, respectively. Rājputāna, also called Rājwār was the name of present Rājasthān state the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area before its formation in 1949 CE The Central India Agency was a political unit of British India, which covered the northern half of present-day Madhya Pradesh state The remaining princely states had political officers, or Agents, who answered to the administrators of India's provinces. Five princely states were then under the authority of Madras, 354 under Bombay, 26 of Bengal, 2 under Assam, 34 under Punjab, 15 under Central Provinces and Berar and 2 under United Provinces. Madras Presidency, also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St The Bombay Presidency was a former province of British India. The Bengal Presidency originally comprising east and west Bengal was a colonial region of British India, which comprised undivided Bengal which is present day Bangladesh Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Punjab Province may refer to Punjab (Pakistan current province in Pakistan Punjab (India former province in India The Central Provinces and Berar was a province of British India. Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U

In the early 1930s, most of the princely states under the authority of India's provinces were organised into new agencies, answerable to the Governor-general, on the model of the Central India - and Rajputana agencies: the Eastern States Agency, Punjab States Agency, Baluchistan Agency, Deccan States Agency, Madras States Agency and the Northwest Frontier States Agency. The Eastern States Agency was an administrative unit of British India. The Punjab States Agency was an administrative unit of British India. The Baluchistan Agency was one of the Agencies of British India. The Deccan States Agency was an administrative unit of British India. The Madras States Agency was an administrative unit of British India. North-West Frontier States Agency was one of the Agencies of British India. The Baroda residency was combined with the princely states of northern Bombay Presidency into the Baroda, Western States and Gujarat Agency. Gwalior was separated from the Central India Agency and placed under its own Resident, and the states of Rampur and Benares, formerly under the authority of the United Provinces, were placed under the Gwalior Residency in 1936. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Gwalior ( Hindi: ग्वालियर) is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Rampur ( Hindi: रामपुर Pashto / Urdu: رام پور) is a city Varanasi ( Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, pronunciation) also commonly known as Benares ( or Banaras (बनारस Gwalior Residency was a political charge in British India, which existed from 1782 until Indian Independence in 1947 The princely states of Sandur and Banganapalle in Mysore Presidency were transferred to the authority of the Mysore Resident in 1939. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Banganapalle (also Banagana Palli) is a town in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India

Accession

After independence in 1947, the princely states were forced to accede — and thus sign away their political autonomy — either to the secular, mainly Hindu dominion of India or the majority Islamic dominion of Pakistan (consisting of West Pakistan and East Pakistan; the latter would later break away as Bangladesh). A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and West Pakistan was the popular and sometimes official (1955&ndash1970 name of the western wing of Pakistan until 1971 when the eastern wing became independent East Pakistan ( Bengali: পূর্ব পাকিস্তান Purbo Pakistan, Urdu: مشرقی پاکستان Mashriqi Pakistan) was ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially The accession was to be chosen by its ruling Prince, not by the population, akin to the 16th century European principle of cuius regio eius religio. Cuius regio eius religio is a phrase in Latin that means "Whose region his Religion " Most acceded peacefully, except for four: Junagadh, Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura. See Junagarh for disambiguation Junagadh is a city and a Municipal corporation, the headquarters of Junagadh district Hyderābād and Berar (హైదరాబాదు حیدر آباد under the Nizams was the largest Princely state in the erstwhile Indian Empire ( Dogri: जम्मू और कश्मीर Urdu: جموں و کشمیر is the northernmost state of India. ( Bengali script: ত্রিপুরা is a state in North-East India.

Junagadh, the largest state in the Kathiawar peninsula (now in Gujarat), was a princely state with a Muslim ruler over a Hindu majority. See Junagarh for disambiguation Junagadh is a city and a Municipal corporation, the headquarters of Junagadh district Kathiawar or Kathiawad ( Gujarati: કાઠીયાવાડ; kaʈʰijaʋaɽ is a Peninsula in western India. It had originally announced to join Pakistan by its Nawab. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and A Nawab or Nawaab ( Urdu: نواب Hindi: नवाब was originally the Subedar (provincial governor or viceroy of a He was traveling in Pakistan's capital Karachi to sign the treaty of accession when the Indian Army, with the support of Junagadh's Hindu majority, took over control of the state. (ڪراچي) is the largest city in Pakistan. It is the world's second largest city proper behind Mumbai in terms of population which exceeds 10 million The Indian Army (Bharatiya Thalsena भारतीय थाल्सेना is one of the armed forces of India and has the responsibility for land-based The Nawab fled into exile and the Indian-appointed Prime Minister of the state announced its merger with India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

In Hyderabad, a similar fate befell the Nizam, a Muslim dynasty which had been the highest in rank since the abolition of the Mughals at Delhi and the Kingdom of Oudh. Hyderābād and Berar (హైదరాబాదు حیدر آباد under the Nizams was the largest Princely state in the erstwhile Indian Empire Nizam ( Urdu: نظام‌) a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk ( Urdu: نظام‌الملک) meaning Administrator of the Realm, was The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most He had intended to stay independent if not allowed to accede to Pakistan (and, thus, form a landlocked Muslim enclave in India). There followed much political wrangling, which was inconclusive. As a result, the Nizam announced that Hyderabad would remain an independent state. However, the Indian Army invaded and took control of the area before the Nizam was murdered in a coup. A few weeks later, the Indian Prime Minister announced its merger into India.

Jammu and Kashmir had a Muslim majority but was ruled by a Hindu(Dogra) Raja. ( Dogri: जम्मू और कश्मीर Urdu: جموں و کشمیر is the northernmost state of India. The legislative assembly issued one statement that represented the will of the Muslim people: “After carefully considering the position, the conference has arrived at the conclusion that accession of the State to Pakistan is absolutely necessary in view of the geographic, economic, linguistic, cultural and religious conditions…It is therefore necessary that the State should accede to Pakistan. " The Hindu maharaja, Hari Singh, resisted, wanting to remain independent with (possibly) US protection. However, M. A. Jinnah, creator and Governor-General of Pakistan, included Kashmir in his concept of Pakistan. The British-controlled Gilgit Scouts staged a rebellion in the Northern Areas and this region merged with Pakistan. The Tribals Kabailis of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan attacked Kashmir proper. With independence no longer an alternative, the Maharaja of Kashmir now turned to India, signing the instrument of accession. India sent forces into Kashmir soon after. After pushing back the Kabailis, Indian Prime Minister Nehru took the matter to the UN, insisting that Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India was legal. The United Nations Security Council refused his request, and instead passed Resolution 47 on 21 April 1948, declaring Kashmir an international disputed area and demanding that its people be given the choice of either joining Pakistan or India through plebiscite. However as of 2007 India has refused to honor the UN resolution and the plebiscite has not taken place. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. This has led to one of the longest territorial disputes in the world, with India and Pakistan fighting 4 wars over the territory in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir from The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of Skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between India and Pakistan. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a major military conflict between India and Pakistan. The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July

Tripura remained an independent kingdom after the Partition of India, until it joined India 2 years later under the Tripura Merger Agreement in the middle of an armed rebellion. ( Bengali script: ত্রিপুরা is a state in North-East India. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, The State of Tipra was one of the ancient princely states of the world

Post-independence

India

On accession by a princely state, its territories and administrations merged into the Union of India. The rulers of the princely states were allowed to retain their hereditary titles and official residences. Depending upon their size, importance and revenue they were also allowed to retain additional properties and given privy purses (in compensation of the state's revenue which now would go the new Union). On abolition of the privy purse (and the right to the hereditary titles) by the government in 1975 the princely states ceased to exist as recognised political entities. In India, the Privy Purse was a grant given since 1947 to the rulers of the princely states of the Indian sub-continent as part of their terms of accession to the

His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali Azim Jah, the Prince of Arcot, is the only royal in India who was not affected by the abolition of privy purses. A Nawab or Nawaab ( Urdu: نواب Hindi: नवाब was originally the Subedar (provincial governor or viceroy of a Nawabs of the Carnatic (also referred to as the Nawabs of Arcot) ruled the Carnatic region of South India between about 1690 and 1801 In the order of precedence, he enjoys the rank of cabinet minister of the state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India.

The Nawab hails from a family that traces its lineage back to the second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattāb. The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah Umar (a=عمر بن الخطاب|t=`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c 581-83 CE &ndash 7 November, 644) also known as Umar the Great or Omar the Great The title 'Prince of Arcot', uniquely using the European style prince, was conferred on his ancestor by the British government in 1870 after the post of Nawab of the Carnatic (a title granted by the Mughal emperor) was abolished. Nawabs of the Carnatic (also referred to as the Nawabs of Arcot) ruled the Carnatic region of South India between about 1690 and 1801 Nawabs of the Carnatic (also referred to as the Nawabs of Arcot) ruled the Carnatic region of South India between about 1690 and 1801

Former states sometimes still maintain and observe their ceremonies, forms of address etc. either as family traditions or as popular folk-customs. For example, processions during the popular Gangaur festival in Jaipur begin, as per tradition, from the City Palace, which remains the private residence of its former royal family. Gangaur is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Jaipur ( Hindi: जयपुर also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India.

Devgadh Baria is one of the princely states in western India which is planned on European town planning principles along with controlled architectural character at selected junctions in the town. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Devgadh Baria (sometimes Devgadbaria or just Baria) is a Municipality in The town is surrounded by about 250 mt high hills on three sides which dominate its skyline.

Pakistan

In present-day Pakistan's tribal region in the North-West Frontier Province, the princely frontier states were maintained till 1971 when all states were abolished by merger into the republic, and all princely titles being abolished in 1972. The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP ( Urdu: śimāl maġribī sarhadī sūba) is the smallest of the four main provinces of Pakistan. Post independence, a new hereditary salute had been granted in 1966 by President Ayub Khan this being 15 guns for the Wali of Swat, ruler of one of the last princely states to be created (1926). Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan ( Urdu / Pashto: محمد ايوب خان GCMG, MBE, HJ, NPk, ( May 14 The Wālis of Swat were the leaders of Swat, which was incorporated into NWFP, Pakistan in 1969. Before Swat was granted a gun salute, there were already four other Gun-Salute States in Pakistan: Bahawalpur, Kalat, Khairpur and Chitral. Bahawalpur (also Bhawalpur or Bhawulpore) (بہاولپور is the capital city of Bahawalpur District located in, Punjab Pakistan Kalat or Qalat ( Urdu: قلات was a princely state located in the centre of the modern province of Balochistan, Pakistan. Khairpur or Khayrpur may refer to Khairpur Pakistan Khayrpur (princely state, a former subdivision of Pakistan extant 1775&ndash1955 Chitral (or Chitrāl ریاست چترال was a former Princely state of Pakistan and British India which ceased to exist in 1969 A few lesser ranking non-salute states also acceded to Pakistan including Dir, Hunza, Kharan, Nagar, and Amb. Dir was a small former Princely state located in the modern North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan. Hunza ( Urdu: ہنزہ was a former Princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, which existed until 1974 The State of Kharan was an autonomous Princely state in India (later Pakistan) located in the southwest of modern Pakistan Nagar ( Urdu: ریاست نگر was a Princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, which existed until 1974 Amb was a Princely state in what is today the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Abstraction is made here of Kashmir which was under a Maharaja and is disputed and divided with India.

Contributions

The princely states and their royal families have made many contributions to India, before independence and since, in diverse fields. They were the ones to have established the game of cricket in India, culminating in the famous tour of England in the 1930s under the captainship of the Maharajkumar (i. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries e. prince of the blood) of Vizianagaram (Vizzy). Lieutenant Colonel Sir Vijayananda Gajapathi Raju (28 December 1905 – 2 December 1965 better known as the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram or Vizzy Another legendary cricketer was Ranjitsinhji, Jam Saheb (a specific ruler's title) of Nawanagar (Jamnagar). Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji Jadeja, Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar ( 10 September 1872 &ndash 2 April 1933

The Gwalior state provided crucial financial support to Jamshedji Tata's Steel venture in its early years. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Gwalior ( Hindi: ग्वालियर) is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata ( March 3, 1839 - May 19, 1904) was a pioneer in the field of modern Industry Tata Steel, formerly known as TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited) is the world's 5th largest and India's largest steel company with an annual crude steel Today, many former royals continue family and military traditions as officers in the armed forces, while others are leading politicians.

Other princely states

See also

Sources and references

References

  1. ^ various sources give significantly different numbers, depending on various criteria and probably incomplete listing
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