Indian Princely States

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Before the Partition of India in 1947, hundreds of Princely States, also called Native States, existed in India which were not part of British India. These were the parts of the Indian subcontinent which had not been conquered or annexed by the British.

Things moved quickly after the partition of British India in 1947. By the end of 1949, all of the states except Sikkim had chosen to accede to one of the newly independent states of India or Pakistan or else had been annexed.

Outline

Main article: Princely state
For details of precedence between the states, see Salute state.

In principle, the princely states had internal autonomy, while by treaty the British had suzerainty and were responsible for their external affairs. In practice, while the states were indeed ruled by potentates with a variety of titles, such as Raja, Maharaja, Nawab, Khan or Nizam, the British had considerable influence.

By the time of the departure of the colonial power in 1947, only four of the largest of the states still had their own British Resident, a diplomatic title for advisors present in the states' capitals, while most of the others were grouped together into Agencies, such as the Central India Agency, the Deccan States Agency, and the Rajputana Agency.

From 1920, the states were represented in the Chamber of Princes, which held its meetings in New Delhi.

The most important states were ranked among the salute states.

By the Indian Independence Act 1947, the British gave up their suzerainty of the states and left each of them free to choose whether to join one of the newly independent countries of India and Pakistan. For a short time, some of the rulers explored the possibility of a federation of the states separate from either, but this came to nothing. Most of the states then decided to accede to India or to Pakistan, while others which held out for the possibility of independence were later annexed by India, such as Junagadh (1947-1948), Hyderabad on 18 September 1948, Bilaspur on 12 October 1948, and Bhopal on 1 May 1949. Dewan of Travancore chose to remain an independent country.

In Jammu and Kashmir, a state with a Muslim majority but a Hindu ruler, the Maharaja hoped to remain independent but acceded to India on 27 October 1947 at the outset of the invasion of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan - leading to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

On 31 March 1948, Kalat acceded to Pakistan, although the brother of the Khan led a rebellion against this decision.

The last remaining independent state, Sikkim, was incorporated into India on 16 May 1975, following a referendum in which people of Sikkim overwhelmingly voted for this.

Indian Princely States at the time of independence on August 15 1947

There have been various differences in organisation before, repeatedly quite significant, during the British Raj.

Individual residencies

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
In hyder1900a.png Hyderabad India Andhra Pradesh,Maharastra& Karnataka,India Asaf Jah VII
Jammu-Kashmir-flag.svg Jammu and Kashmir (partly) India Jammu and Kashmir,

Pakistan Azad Kashmir.

 H.H.Dr.Karan Singh
Flag of Kingdom of Travancore.svg Travancore (individual residency status under Madras Presidency) India Kerala and 3 taluks of Tamil Nadu, India Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, Maharaja of Travancore
Sikkimflag.svg Sikkim India Sikkim, India Palden Thondup Namgyal

Baluchistan Agency

Princely States of the Baluchistan Agency.

Princely State Now part of Last/Present Ruler
KalatFlag.gif Kalat Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan H.H. Ahmad Yar Khan
Flag of the State of Kharan.svg Kharan Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan Habibullah Khan
Flag of the State of Las Bela.svg Las Bela Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan
Flag of the State of Makran.svg Makran Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan Bai Khan Baloch Gikchi

Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency

Princely States of Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Akalkot flag.svg Akalkot India Maharashtra, India Shrimant Rani Sumitra Bai Raje Bhonsle, Rani Saheb of Akalkot
Aundh flag.svg Aundh India Maharashtra, India HH Meherban Shrimant Bhagwant Rao Shripat Rao, Pant Pratinidhi Of Aundh
Bhor flag.svg Bhor India Maharashtra, India Raja Shrimant Sir Raghunathrao Shankarrao Babasaheb Pandit Pant Sachiv
Janjira.svg Janjira India Maharashtra, India HH Nawab Sidi Muhammed Khan II Sidi Ahmad Khan, Nawab of Janjira
Jath flag.svg Jath India Maharashtra, India Lt. Shrimant Raja Vijaysinghrao Ramrao Babasaheb Dafle
Kolhapur flag.svg Kolhapur India Maharashtra, India HH Shrimant Rajashri Shahu II Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur
KIurundwadjr flag.svg Kurundwad India Maharashtra, India Meherban Raja Hariharrao Raghunathrao [Bapusaheb] Patwardhan, co-Raja of Kurundwad Jnr
Mudhol flag.svg Mudhol India Karnataka, India HH Shrimant Raja Bhairavsinhrao Malojirao Ghorpade II
Phaltan flag.svg Phaltan India Maharashtra, India Major HH Raja Bahadur Shrimant Ram raje Naik Nimbalkar
Sangli flag.svg Sangli India Maharashtra, India Capt. HH Shrimant Raja Saheb Sir Chintamanrao II Dhundirajrao Appasaheb Patwardhan
Flag of Imperial India.svg Sawantvadi India Maharashtra, India Bhonsale clan
Flag of Imperial India.svg Savanur India Karnataka, India Nawab of Savanur, Abdul Majid Khan II

Gwalior Residency

Princely States of the Gwalior Residency.

Princely State Now part of Last/Present Ruler
Gwalior flag.svg Gwalior India Madhya Pradesh, India George Jivajirao Scindia
Drapeau Benares.png Varanasi India Uttar Pradesh, India Kunwar Ananat Narayan Singh
Flag of Imperial India.svg Garha India Madhya Pradesh, India
Flag of Imperial India.svg Khaniyadhana India Madhya Pradesh, India
Flag of Imperial India.svg Rajgarh India Madhya Pradesh, India
Rampur flag.svg Rampur India Uttar Pradesh, India H.H. Nawab Syed Muhammad Kazim 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur

Madras Presidency

Princely States of the Madras Presidency.

Princely State Now part of Last/Present Ruler
Flag of the Kingdom of Cochin.svg Cochin India Kerala, India Kerala Varma
Drapeau Banganapalle.png Banganapalle India Andhra Pradesh, India H.H. Nawab Sayyid Fazl-i-'Ali Khan IV Bahadur, Nawab of Banganapalle
Pudukkottai flag.svg Pudukkottai India Tamil Nadu, India H.H. Raja Sri Brahadamba Das Raja Sri Rajagopala Tondiman Bahadur, Raja of Pudukkottai
Sandur flag.svg Sandur India Karnataka, India Shrimant Maharaj Shri Murarrao Yeshwantrao Ghorpade, Hindurao, Mamlukatmadar Senapati, Raja of Sandur
Flag of Mysore.svg Mysore India Karnataka, India Jayachamaraja Wodeyar

North-West Frontier

Princely States of the North-West Frontier.

Princely State Now part of Last/Present Ruler
Amb Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan Nawab Saeed Khan
Chitral Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan H.H. Mehtar Saif-ul-Mulk Nasir
Flag of the State of Dir.svg Dir Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan Muhammad Shah Khosru Khan
Flag of Imperial India.svg Phulra Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan Ata Muhammed Khan
Flag of Swat.svg Swat Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan Miangul Abdul-Haqq Jahanzib

States of the Punjab

States of the Punjab States Agency (Punjab).

Princely State Now part of Last/Present Ruler
Bahawalpur.svg Bahawalpur Pakistan Punjab, Pakistan H.H. Sadeq Mohammad Khan V
Sangli flag.svg Bilaspur India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H. Raja Kirti Chand, Raja of Bilaspur
Faridkot flag.svg Faridkot India Punjab, India Lt. H.H. Farzand-i-Sadaat Nishan Hazrat-i-Kaisar-i-Hind Raja Bharat Indar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur, Raja of Faridkot
Flag of Imperial India.svg Jind India Haryana, India H.H. Maharaja Satbir Singh ["Prince Sunny"], Maharaja of Jind''
Flag of Imperial India.svg Kangra India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H. Raja Aditya Dev Chand Katoch
Flag of Imperial India.svg Kalsia India Haryana, India Raja HIMMAT SHER SINGH Sahib Bahadur
Kapurthala flag.svg Kapurthala India Punjab, India Brig. H.H. Maharaja Sri Sukhjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala
Flag of Imperial India.svg Loharu India Haryana, India H.H. Nawab Mirza Alauddin Ahmad Khan II (alias Parvez Mirza), Nawab of Loharu
Flag of Imperial India.svg Malerkotla India Punjab, India
Mandi flag.svg Mandi India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H. Raja Sri Ashokpal Sen, Raja of Mandi
Nabha flag.svg Nabha State India Punjab, India H.H. Maharaja Hanuwant Singh Malvinder Bahadur, Maharaja of Nabha
Patiala flag.svg Patiala India Punjab, India Capt. H.H. Maharajadhiraj Shri Amarinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
Flag of Imperial India.svg Sirmur India Himachal Pradesh, India Lt. H.H. Maharaja RAJENDRA PRAKASH Bahadur
Suket flag.svg Suket/ Surendernagar India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H. Raja Hari Sen, Raja of Suket"
Flag of Imperial India.svg Siba India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H.Raja Dr. Ashok K. Thakur
Tehga.svg Tehri Garhwal India Uttarakhand, India H.H. Maharaja Manujendra Shah Sahib Bahadur

States of the Rajasthan Agency

States of the Rajputana Agency.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Alwar flag.svg Alwar India Rajasthan, India HH Maharaja Tej Singh
Banswara flag.svg Banswara India Rajasthan, India H.H. Rai Rayan Mahimahendra Maharajadhiraj Maharawalji Sahib Shri Jagmalji II Sahib Bahadur, Naresh Rajya, Maharawal of Banswara.
Bikaner.svg Bikaner India Rajasthan, India H.H. Sri Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Narendra Sawai Maharaja Shiromani Ravi Raj Singhji Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner and Head of the Royal House of Bikaner.
Flag of Bharatpur.svg Bharatpur India Rajasthan, India Maharaja Suraj Mal, Jawahar Singh, Maharaja Randhir Singh, Maharaja Baldeo Singh, Maharaja Balwant Singh, Maharaja Jaswant Singh, Maharaja Ram Singh, Maharaja Kishan Singh.
Bundi.svg Bundi India Rajasthan, India Col. HH Maharao Raja Shri BAHADUR SINGHJI Bahadur
Dholpur flag.svg Dholpur India Rajasthan, India Rana Kirat Singh, Rana Pohap Singh, Rana Bhagwant Singh, Rana Nihal Singh, Rana Ram Singh, Rana Udaybhanu Singh.
Flag of Dungarp.svg Dungarpur India Rajasthan, India H.H. Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Mahipal Singhji II Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur.
Flag of Jaipur.svg Jaipur India Rajasthan, India Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II
Jaisalmer.svg Jaisalmer India Rajasthan, India HH Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Sir JAWAHIR SINGH Bahadur
Jhalawar.svg Jhalawar India Rajasthan, India H. Maharajadhiraj Maharaj Rana Shri Chandrajit Singh Dev Bahadur, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar.
Jodhpur.svg Jodhpur India Rajasthan, India H.H. Raj Rajeshwar Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Hindustan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Shri Gaj Singhji II Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Jodhpur.
Karauli.PNG Karauli India Rajasthan, India HH Maharaja Shri GANESH PAL Deo Bahadur Yadakul Chandra Bhal
Kishangarh.svg Kishangarh India Rajasthan, India HH Umdae Rajhae Buland Makan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja SUMER SINGHJI Bahadur
Kotah.svg Kotah India Rajasthan, India HH Maharao Shri BHIM SINGH II Bahadur
Flag of Imperial India.svg Kushalgarh India Rajasthan, India Rao HARENDRA SINGH
Partabgarh.svg Pratabgarh India Rajasthan, India Raja AJIT PRATAP SINGH
Flag of Jaipur.svg Patan - Torawati India Rajasthan, India Rao Bir Bikram Singh Tanwar
Shahpura.svg Shahpura India Rajasthan, India HH Rajadhiraj SUDERSHAN SINGH
Sirohi.svg Sirohi India Rajasthan, India
Tonk.svg Tonk India Rajasthan, India Nawab Muhammad Faruq Ali Khan
Mewar.svg Mewar India Rajasthan, India Maharana Sir Bhupal Singh
Flag of Imperial India.svg Lawa India Rajasthan, India
Karauli.PNG Vallabhpur India Rajasthan, India

Province of Sindh

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Khayrpur Flag.svg Khairpur Pakistan Sindh, Pakistan H.H. George Ali Murad Khan

Gujarat States Agency and Baroda Residency

Districts of Gujarat
Laxmi Vilas Palace, Baroda

States of Central India Agency

Map of British India, 1909
Subhash Marg, Indore
Bhil tribe girls in Jhabua
Orchha Palace, Madhya Pradesh

States of the Eastern States Agency

Ujjayanta Palace in Tripura
Palace in Cooch Behar
The 19th century Ujjayanta Palace, now used as the meeting place of Tripura's State Legislative Assembly
Girivilas Palace in Sarangarh

Alphabetical list of former British India's princely states

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Geographical and administrative assigning is indicative, as various names and borders have changed significantly, even entities (provinces, principalities) split, merged, renamed et cetera.

Furthermore, criteria of statehood (used for inclusion) differ between sources.

In some cases, several name variations or completely different names are included.

A

B

C

D

F

  • Faridkot in PEPSU - Hereditary salute of 11-guns

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

  • Orchha in Madhya Pradesh - Hereditary salute of 15-guns
  • Oudh = Awadh Political Pensioner - ?salute
  • Orai

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

Z

Further reading

  • The Relationship Between the Indian Princely States and the Indian Central Government, 1921-1933, by Harry Dunseth Wood. Published by University of Chicago, 1951.
  • The Paramount Power and the Princely States of India, 1858-1881, by Ajit K. Neogy. Published by K. P. Bagchi, 1974.
  • Rajahs and Prajas: An Indian Princely State, Then and Now, by S. Devadas Pillai. Published by Popular Prakashan, 1976.
  • Princely States and the Paramount Power, 1858-1876: A Study on the Nature of Political Relationship Between the British Government and the Indian State, by Mihir Kumar Ray. Rajesh Publications, 1981.
  • Documents and Speeches on the Indian Princely States, by Adrian Sever. Published by B.R. Pub. Corp., 1985.
  • The Late Pre-colonial Background to the Indian Princely States, by Richard B Barnett. Published by Centre for South Asian Studies, University of Punjab, 1988.
  • Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Indian Princely States, by Tony McClenaghan. Published by Spantech & Lancer, 1996. ISBN 1897829191.
  • British Policy Towards Princely States of India: Seminar Entitled "British Policy Towards North Indian Princely States" : Selected Papers, by R P Vyas. Published by Rajasthan-Vidya Prakashan, 1992.
  • The Princely States of India: A Chronological Checklist of Their Rulers, by David P. Henige. Published by Borgo Press, 1997. ISBN 0893703257.
  • Constitutional Development in the Indian Princely States, by Ranjana Kaul. Published by UBS Publishers Distributors, 1998. ISBN 8125905111.
  • The Maharaja & the Princely States of India, by Sharada Dwivedi. Published by Lustre Press, 1999. ISBN 8174360816.
  • Illustrated Encyclopaedia & Who's who of Princely States in Indian Sub-continent, by J. C. Dua. Published by Kaveri Books, 2000. ISBN 8174790365.
  • The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled or Decorated, of the Indian Empire, by Sir Roper Lethbridge. Adamant Media Corporation, 2001. ISBN 1402193289.
  • True Tales of British India & the Princely States: & The Princely States, by Michael Wise. Published by In Print, 1993. ISBN 1873047061.
  • Princely States of India: A Guide to Chronology and Rulers, by David P. Henige. Published by Orchid Press, 2006. ISBN 9745240494.
  • India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism, by Waltraud Ernst, Biswamoy Pati. Published by Routledge, 2007. ISBN 0415415411.

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