Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/79

 Kotah.

l/'OTAH is an offshoot of the State of Bundi. Jaitsi, one of the descendants 1 V of the rulers of Bundi, encountered a band of Koteah Bhils in a ravine on the banks of the river Chambal. The place where he killed them was walled by his son and named Kotah after the Bhils who had been destroyed by his father. Kotah came into existence as a separate State in 1625 A.D. on account of its having been granted by Shah Jahan along with 360 townships yielding a revenue of two lacs of Rupees to Maclho Singh, a scion of the Bundi family.

Bhim Singh, the fourth in descent from Jagat Singh, was permitted by the Mogul Emperor to style himself 'Maharao.' He was succeeded by his eldest son Arjun Singh in 1719 A.D., who in turn was followed by his son Durjan Sal in 1724 A.D. During his rule Esan Singh of Amber attacked Kotah but was repulsed. It was in this campaign that Foujdar Zahm Singh, who shaped and moulded the destinies of the State for over half a century, came into prominence. Durjan Sal added several tracts to his dominions. Having had no issue he adopted the eldest son of his cousin Ajit Singh who came to the gadi in 1756 A.D. Ajit Singh died after a short rule and Chhatar Sal, the adopted son of Durjan Sal, was proclaimed Maharao in 1759 A.D.

Chhatar Sal died childless in 1765 A.D. and was succeeded by his brother Guman Singh, in whose time the Mahrattas attacked Kotah. Zahm Singh succeeded in sending away the Mahrattas by paying them six lacs of rupees. Guman Singh died in 1776 A.D. and before his death had declared Zalim Singh as Regent during the minority of his son, Umed Singh. During the reign of Maharao Umed Singh, the administration of the State was carried on by the Regent in his name. Zalim Singh was known for his justice and uprightness. Ir was under him that for the first time in the history of Kotah a settled form of government was introduced. European arms -and methods of drill were adopted, and a definite land revenue system was introduced in the State which has very materially contributed to its prosperity. His contact with the British began in 1804A.D., and in 1817 A.D. a treaty was concluded by which Kotah was placed under British protection. By a supplementary article in the treaty Zalim Singh got ihe administration vested in himself and his heirs in regular succession and perpetuity.

Zalim Singh helped the British against the Pendharees and was awarded for his services the four districts he ad hitherto rented from Holkar. He declined to take them in his own name, but incorporated them with the State. Maharao Umed Singh died in 1819 A.D. and was succeeded by his son Kishor Singh, during whose time troubles arose out of the arrangement by which the principality was vested in one person and the actual administration in another. The Maharao claimed independence of the Regent. The British Government refused to recognise this. The people sided with the Maharao. The Regent called in British troops for his help. The Maharao was defeated at Mogral and went away in disgust to Nathdwara in Mewar. After a few years a reconciliation was effected with the Regent and the Maharao returned to Kotah. Zalim Singh, 'the Machiavelli of Rajasthan,' died in 1824 A.D. and was succeeded by his son Madho Singh, who was notoriously unfit for the post. He