Ratlam State

Ratlam State
रत्लाम रियासत
Princely State of British India
1652–1948 →
Flag Coat of arms
Ratlam State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India
History
 • Established 1652
 • Independence of India 1948
Area
 • 1901 1,795 km2 (693 sq mi)
Population
 • 1901 83,773 
Density 46.7 /km2  (120.9 /sq mi)
Today part of Madhya Pradesh, India
Painting of Padam Singh, the Raja of Ratlam (1773 - 1800)
Sajjan Singh, the Maharaja of Ratlam, riding with Lt. Gen. Rimington and Sir Partab Singh. Linghem, France, 28 July 1915

Ratlam State[1] was a princely state in India, part of the Malwa Agency of Central India during the British Raj.

The state's capital was Ratlam town in modern Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh. Ratlam was originally a huge state, but the then ruler Ratan Singh opposed Auranzeb in the Battle of Dharmatpur and was killed after a brave fight. The state was then reduced and the title of Maharaja was eventually stripped away; the title was later restored by the British during Maharaja Sajjan Singh's rule. On 5 January 1819 Ratlam State became a British protectorate.[2]

History

The state was founded in 1652. The first Ruler was Maharaja Ratan Singh who married 12 wives, among them Maharani Sukhroopde Kanwar Shekhawat Ji Sahiba, daughter of Kunwar Purshottam Das of Jhajhar (Shekhawati) in Rajasthan. She committed sati in 1658. Still shree ji maharaj natwar singh of ratlam from his family living in Jaipur. The State had an area of 1795 km2, which was closely interlaced with the territory of the princely State of Sailana. In 1901, the state had a population of 83,773; the town of Ratlam had a population of 36,321. The state enjoyed an estimated revenue of £34,000 and paid a tribute of £2,850. The town was a junction on the Rajputana-Malwa Railway, and was an important trade centre, especially of opium.[3]

Ratlam was initially held by its chiefs in vassalage to the Sindhia rulers of Gwalior State, but on 5 January 1819 it became a British protectorate, following which an arrangement was made by which the Sindhia engaged never to send any troops into the country or to interfere with the internal administration.[3] In 1861 the tribute was assigned to the British government in part as payment of the Gwalior contingent.[3]

The state's last ruler signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union on 15 June 1948.

Rulers

The rulers belonged to the Ratanot Rathore line to which the rajas of Sailana State and Sitamau State also belonged.

Rajas

Date of ReignRajas of RatlamNote
1652–1658Ratan Singh (d.1658)
1695–1706Chhatrasal (d. 1712)personal style Maharaja
1706–Feb 1716Keshri Singh (d. 1716)

He was killed and his throne was usurped by his younger brother Pratap Singh.

Feb 1716–1716Pratap Singh (d. 1716)

He was killed by his nephew Jai Singh.

1716–1743Man Singh (d. 1743)

He divided his state with his younger brother Jai Singh, who became the first raja of Sailana State.

1743–1773Prithvi Singh (d. 1773)
1773–1800Padam Singh (b. 17?? – d. 1800)
1800–1825Parbat Singh (d. 1825)
1825–29 Aug 1857Balwant Singh (b. 1814 – d. 1857)
1825–c.1832BorthwickRegent
29 Aug 1857 – 27 Jan 1864Bhairon Singh (b. 1839 – d. 1864)
27 Jan 1864 – 20 Jan 1893Ranjit Singh (b. 1860 – d. 1893)from 15 Feb 1887, Sir Ranjit Singh
27 Jan 1864 – 1 Jan 1880Khan Bahadur Mir Shahamat AliRegent
20 Jan 1893 – 1 Jan 1921Sajjan Singh (b. 1880 – d. 1947)
20 Jan 1893 – 15 Dec 1898Khan Bahadur Cursetji Rustamji (b. 18?? – d. 1903)Regent

Maharajas

Date of ReignMaharajas of Ratlam
1 Jan 1921 – 3 Feb 1947Sajjan Singh (s.a.)
3 Feb 1947 – 15 Aug 1947Lokendra Singh (b. 1927 – d. 1991)
1991Raja Raghuveer Singh

See also

References

  1. ↑ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 240.
  2. ↑ Princely States of India
  3. 1 2 3 Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ratlam". Encyclopædia Britannica. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 918.

Coordinates: 23°19′N 75°04′E / 23.32°N 75.07°E / 23.32; 75.07

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