Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/170

 Shivpur-Baroda.

SHIVPUR-BARODA is a jahagir under the Gwalior state, and lies in the Shivpur district. The family of the Rajas of Shivpur-Baroda is very ancient and traces its descent from the Gaurs,- the ancient rulers of Bengal. Maharaja Tilokchand was one of the most celebrated kings of this dynasty, and was married to the sister of Raja Bhartrihari, King of Ujjain. In 1280 A.D. one of his descendants, Raja Bachh Raj, came to Ajmer and showed his bravery and exploits to the Hindu Emperor of Delhi, Raja Prithwi Raj Chawan, who appreciated them by conferring lands in inam, including the territory lying between the rivers Parvati and Kunti, and by giving his daughter in marriage to him.

Raja Gopal Das, ninth in descent, rose to prominence in the time of Humayun and was given the command of his Imperial forces. He won the battle of Thatta Bhakkar by his own prowess, and received a marisab of seven thousand and other honours. Emperor Shaha Jahan favoured Raja Manohar Das with a sanad of Shivpur- Baroda, with twelve hundred villages for its support. The jahagir of Shivpur was enjoyed by his descendants till 1809 A. D., when Raja Radhika Das was forcibly driven away by Daulat Rao Sindhia, and the estate was assigned to his General Jean Baptiste Filose. Radhika Das was allowed to retain a portion of his estate and to live at Baroda, a town about 12 miles south of Shivpur. Raja Balwant Singh succeeded his father and managed his jahagir till his death, which took place in 1865 A.D. He was succeeded by his son. Raja Bijai Singh, who is the present ruler of Shivpur- Baroda. He has been managing his affairs with credit and has two sons, who have received a good education.

The area of this estate is 308 square miles containing 37,443 inhabitants. The income is estimated to be about 45,000 Rupees per annum.