Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/89

 Rewa.

REWA is a treaty State in Baghelkhand Agency, Central India. Its Chiefs are Bagel or Vaghel Rajputs descended from the Solanki clan which ruled over Gujrath from the eighth to the thirteenth century. Veerdhaval, the ruling prince of the province of Gujrath, had two sons, Sukha Deo, and Vyaghra Deo also called Beeag Deo, of whom the latter left his house in 580 A.D. and went into Northern India in quest of fortune, where he made himself master of the fort of Murpha near the modern Kalinjar. Gradually he extended his dominions on all sides, and, before his death, became master of most of the territory between Kalpee and Chandalgarh. Beeag Deo died in 615 A.D. and was succeeded by his son Karan Deo.

Karan Deo was a prince full of spirit and ambition. He added to his possessions a large portion of what at present constitutes Rewa and called it Bagelkhand. He married the daughter of the Raja of Mandala, and obtained the famous fort of Bandhugarh as a dowry. Here he removed his court. The period between this Chief's rule and that of Beerbhan Deo is more or less uneventful. During the reign of Beerbhan Deo, the Mogul Emperor Humayun was forced by Sher Khan the Afgan to fly from Delhi. The Mogul Emperor took refuge in Umarkote, in Sindh. The Begum of the unfortunate Emperor, known as Choli Begum in Baghelkhand, was in a distressing condition and had to take rest in the vicinity of Bandhugarh. Beerbhan Deo did all he could to make her comfortable, and generously offered her shelter. She expressed her anxiety to join her husband, whereupon Beerbhan Deo sent her to Umarkote under a strong escort, regardless of incurring the displeasure of the Afgan. Humayun was naturally pleased with the hospitality and kindness shown to his consort. Akbar, the Mogul Emperor of immortal fame, was the son born at Umarkote, who looked upon Beerbhan Deo with feelings of gratefulness.

The third ruler from Beerbhan was Vikramaditya Singh who came to the throne in 1618 A.D. and, although, it is said, he founded the town of Rewa at the confluence of the Vichchia and Bihar, yet, in all probability, he added palaces and other buildings to the already existing town.

It was during the reign of Jai Singh Deo that British influence was first established in Rewa in 1809A.D., in connexion with the extirpation of the Pendharees. Although Jai Singh Deo was a soldier, he lacked administrative tact, and, as a consequence, there was great disorder and discontent in the State; and, but for the timely aid of the British, an open rebellion would have broken out. Jai Singh Deo abdicated the throne in favour of his eldest son Vishwanath Singh in 1813 A.D. This Chief entrusted the State to his eldest son Raghuraj Singh in 1843 A.D. and went about visiting holy places.

Raghuraj Singh faithfully assisted the British Government during the Mutiny of 1857 A.D. for which the parganas of Shohagpur and Amarkantak, which had been seized by the Mahrattas in the beginning of the century, were restored to him. In 1 864 A.D. he was made a K. C. S. I. and his salute of 1 7 guns was increased to 1 9. He died in 1880 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Raman Singh, who was only three years of age at the time. During his minority the State was, as has generally