Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/99

 Dholpur.

THE family of the Ranas of Dholpur goes back to the eleventh century, when in 1068 A.D. Jai Singh is said to have acquired lands near Bairat, to the south of Alwar. He was a loyal and faithful adherent of Anang Rao Pawar, Emperor of Delhi, who gave him the title of 'Rana', and the right to use the royal umbrella and the chowri or yak-tail.

Palan Singh, a century later, transferred his allegiance on the fall of the Tuars to Prithi Raj Chohan, and was slain at his side in 1175 A.D. in the raid which he made in order to carry off Sanyogita, Princess of Kanauj. His son, Birhan Pal, settled in 1195 A.D. at Bamrolia, near Agra. From this place the family takes its present name, and there it remained until 1367 A.D. when it was turned out by the Mahomedan Subhedar of Agra. Rana Ratan Pal, the eighth from Birhan Pal, who went to Bamrolia, recrossed the Chambal river to Gwalior, and joined the Tuar Chieftain.

Sugan Dev, the fifth from Ratan Pal, was formally invested, after a successful expedition by Raja Man Singh of Gwalior with the kingdom of Gohad, of which he became Rana in 1505 A.D. This position was confirmed by Sikandar Lodi. At Gohad these Jat Ranas remained for eleven generations, and held fifty-six mahals or districts, with a revenue of 66 lacs. In 1761 A.D. Rana Bhim Singh became possessed of Gwalior, which he held for six years. The Mahrattas took it, but after the conclusion by Maharana Chattar Pal of a treaty with the British Government under Warren Hastings, it was again retaken.

Treachery on the part of the Rana ended in his losing Gohad and Gwalior to Sindhia. Gwalior fell by the treachery of the garrison, and the Rani of Chattar Pal blew herself up with her followers. Kirat Singh, the son of Chattar Pal, was home- less for nineteen years, but was restored by the British Government in 1803 A.D. to the greater part of Gohad. In 1805 this was given up to Sindhia, and the smaller territory of Dholpur, Bari, and Rajkhera was made over to the Rana in exchange.

The feud between the houses of Sindhia and Dholpur was only abandoned in 1875 A.D. when Maharaja Jayaji Rao Sindhia visited Maharaja Nihal Singh at Dholpur and made friendship with him.

The Chief, Bhagwant Singh, was loyal to the British Goverment in 1 857 A.D. On his death in 1870 A.D. his grandson, Maharaj Rana Nihal Singh succeeded him. He was born in 1863 A.D. and died in 1901 A.D. He was succeeded by his son Maharaj Rana Ram Singh, who too did not live long to rule over Dholpur. He died recently and his minor son has succeeded him.

The area of Dholpur is 1,154 square miles, and the population 2,71,496 and the State revenue Rs. 8,44,197. The administration of Dholpur is under the management of a Council of Regency, which is supervised by a British officer.

The Rana is entitled to a salute of 15 guns.