Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/61



IKANER is the second largest State in Rajputana. It was founded by Bika, a Rathod Rajput, the sixth son of Rao Jodha, chief of Jodhapur (Marwar). He is said to have been born in 1439 A. D. Twenty'six years later, accompanied by his uncle Kandhal, his brother Bida, and others of less repute, Bika started forth to acquire a dominion for himself and conquered the country now known as Bikaner. In 1485 A.D. he built the small fort at Koramdesar, while the building of the city of Bikaner itself was not begun till 1488 A.D. Bika died in l504 A.D., and his successors gradually extended and consolidated their possessions until in 1541 A.D. Maldeo, chief of Jodhapur (Marwar), invaded the country, slew the Rao Jet Singh, captured the fort and the capital, and possessed himself of about half the territory. The fort was, however, retaken by Bikaner troops in 1544 A.D.; and in the same year, Kalyan Singh, son and successor of Jet Singh, joined the Imperial army near Delhi, marched with it to Ajmer, and was present at the battle near that city, in which Maldeo was defeated. This is the first mention of intercourse between the Bikaner State and the Emperors of Delhi.

In 1570 A.D. Kalyan Singh and his son Rai Singh waited on Akbar at Nagor (in Marwar) where "the loyalty and sincerity of both father and son being manifest, the Emperor married Kalyan Singh's daughter." Rai Singh succeeded his father in 1571 A.D. and ruled for forty years. The next chief of note was Karan Singh (1631-69 A.D.), who in the contest between the sons of Shah Jahan for the Imperial throne, threw in his lot with Aurangzeb. Karan Singh's eldest son, Anup Singh (1669-98 A.D.), served the Mogul Emperor with distinction in the Deccan, took a prominent part in the capture of Golconda, and was made a Maharaja—a title since held by his successors.

Throughout the eighteenth century there was constant fighting between Bikaner and Jodhapur, and much land was alternately lost and won. In 1788 A.D. Surat Singh succeeded to the chiefship, and twenty years later, the eighth invasion of Bikaner was undertaken by Jodhapur. Between 1 809-1813 A.D., Surat Singh, whose extortions knew no bounds, and whose cruelty kept pace with his avarice, plundered, fined, and murdered his Thakurs, with the result that in 1815 A.D. there was more or less a general rebellion. The ousted Thakurs recovered their estates, ravaged the country, and defied the Durbar. Amir Khan appeared on the scene in 1816 A.D. and with his assistance the insurrection had become so serious that the Maharaja again asked for British aid. A treaty was concluded on March 9, 1818 A.D. and the British troops entered the State, captured twelve forts, restored them to the Durbar, and suppressed the insurgents. Surat Singh died in 1828 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Ratan Singh, who in violation of his treaty engagements invaded Jaisalmer to revenge some injuries committed by the subjects of the latter. Jaisalmer had prepared an army to repel the invasion and both parties had applied to the neighbouring States for assistance, when the British Government interfered, and through the arbitration of the Maharana of Udaipur the dispute was settled.

In 1842 A.D. the Maharaja supplied to the British 200 camels for the Afgan expedition; in 1844 A.D. he agreed to a reduced scale of duties on goods on transit through his country, and assisted the British Government in both the Sikh campaigns.