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 BHOPAL.

404

Bhoj and the neighbouring country. The Bhopal family have always manifested an amicable feeling towards the British Government. In 1778, when General Goddard made his bold march across India, the State of Bhopal was the only Indian power which showed

authorit}" in

itself

friendly;

and

in

1809,

when

another

British

expedition,

commanded by General Close, appeared in that part of India, the Nawab of Bhopal earnestly, but in vain, petitioned to be received under British protection. The Nawab then allied himself with the Pindaris, and made a most gallant defence against the attempts of Sindhia and Raghuji Bhonsla to crush him

by the intervention of the



their efforts

were

finally

British power.

In 1817, at the commencement of the Pindari war, the British Government formed a

restrained

It was chiefly by the aid of the Pindaris had been able to defy the attacks of Sindhia and the Raja of Nagpur; but his connection with these freebooters was distasteful to the Nawab, and only tolerated on account of his inability to control them. A treaty was made in 1818, by which the British Government and the Nawab agreed to guaranteed his possession of the State furnish a contingent of 600 horse and 400 infantry, and received five Districts in Mdlwa as a reward for his services, and to enable him to maintain the contingent. The Nawab soon afterwards met his death from a pistol accidentally discharged by a child. His nephew, an infant, was thereupon declared his successor, and betrothed to the infant daughter of the deceased prince. But the widow of the Nawab, the Kudsia Begam, wdshed to keep the State in her own hands, even after the declared heir had resigned his claim to the State and to the hand of the Nawab’s daughter, Sikandar Begam, in favour of his brother

close alliance with Bhopal. that Bhopal



Jahangir After

Muhammad. much dissension,

lasting

through

several

years,

Jahdngir

Muhammad

was restored to power in 1837 by the mediation of the British Government, and installed as Nawdb. On his death in his widow, Sikandar Begam, was by who ruled he succeeded 1844, She made a name for herself by Bhopal until her death in 1868. faithful services to the Government of India during the Mutiny, and by the ability which she displayed in the management of the State. She was succeeded by the present ruler, Shah Jahan Begam, who is no unworthy successor, and is distinguished by the same loyalty to Her first husband died in 1867, leaving her one the British Crown. After her husband’s death, Shah daughter, Sultdn Jahan Begam. Jahan, following the footsteps of her mother, threw aside the restrictions of the fardah, conducted business with vigour, and was always accessible.

In

recognition of her high administrative qualities

and

her loyalty, she received in 1872 the honour of the Grand Cross of the Star of India.

In 1871 she contracted a second marriage with