Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/159

 Panna.

THE Panna chiefs are Bundela Rajputs descended from the Orchha house. After the revolt and subsequent death of Raja Jujhar Singh of Orchha in 1635 A.D.. the whole of Bundelkhand was plunged into anarchy. Taking advantage of this state of affairs, Champat Raj, a grandson of Udit Singh, the brother of Madhukar of Orchha. commenced harassing the Moguls in every possible way, and finally established himself as the recognised leader of the Bundela cause. He is supposed to be the founder of the Bundela power in Bundelkhand. He fell into disfavour of Aurangzeb. the Emperor of Delhi, and committed suicide in order to' escape capture and dishonour.

His son, Chhatra Sal, though only a youth, carried on his father's work, and acting more systematically, rapidly acquired possession of the territory east of the Dhasan river, even extending his operations into the country round Gwalior and Eastern Malwa. By 1671 A.D. he was virtually ruler of all Bundelkhand. His dominions extended from Banda in the north to Jubbulpur in the south, and from Rewa in the east to the Betwa river in the west. Orchha and Datia, however, were held by other chiefs of the same clan. Chhatra Sal's first capital was Kalinjar, always the key to this region from the earliest days. After he had consolidated his power, he moved, in 1675 A.D., to Panna, which at various periods shared with Chhatrapur and Jaitpur the honour of being his residence. The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 A.D. gave him increased opportunities for strengthening his position, of which he took every advantage. In 1729 A.D. Emperor Mahammad Shah sent Mahammad Khan Bangash into Bundelkhand to check his growing power; and Chhatra Sal was driven from Jaitpur. Reduced to extremities, he appealed for assistance to Peshwa Bajirao I, who at once responded, and Mahammad Khan Bangash, after a siege of 6 months, was expelled by the allies from Jaitpur. In 1731 A.D. Chhatra Sal divided his vast possessions. The largest share valued at 39 lacs annually, which included Panna, fell to Hirde Sah, his eldest son; the second, in Sagour district, valued at 32 lacs, was granted to the Peshwa in return of his services; the third, including Jaitpur, valued at 31 lacs, went to his third son, Jagat Raj, while numerous smaller grants were made to other vassals. Chhatra Sal died about 1732 A.D. at the age of eighty-nine, leaving 22 legitimate and 30 illegitimate sons, whose descendants now hold Panna, Charkhari, Ajaigarh, Bijawar, Sari la, Jaso, Jigni and Lugasi.

Hirde Sah, the eldest son of Maharaja Chhatra Sal, succeeded his father as the ruler of Bundelkhand in 1732 A.D. He established his capital at Panna, and the State may be said to reckon its existence as a separate chiefship from this date. He died in 1739 A.D. and was succeeded by Sabha Singh, in whose time the famous diamond mines were first worked. He was followed by Aman Singh ( 1752-58 A.D.), Hindupat ( 1758-77 A.D. ) and Anirudha (1777-79 A.D.). The last named ruler being a minor, the State was left in charge of Beni Hazuri and Khemraj Chaube. The jealousies of these two officers plunged the State into a civil war, which resulted in the reduction of the area of Panna State and creation of three new States, Maihar, Paldeo and Chhatarpur. Ultimately Dhokal Singh was able to establish himself on the gadi in 1785 A.D. During his rule, Bundelkhand became an easy prey to the Gosain leader.