Patiala State

Family background

The Patiala ruling family ultimately claimed origins from Bhatti Rajputs of Jaisalmer in the 12th century.^[6] At some point, their ancestors moved from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to Phul in Punjab.^[6] Between 1526–1560, the ancestral family of the later Patiala rulers was headed by chaudhary Bariam.^[3] In 1560, custodianship over the family was then led by Mehraj, who was followed by Pukko.^[3] Pukko was followed by Mohan, who led the family until 1618.^[3] From 1618 onwards, the family was led by Kala.^[3] Kala was succeeded by Phul Sidhu-Brar.^[3] Phul headed the family until 1652, being succeeded by Rama Chand.^[3]

In 1696, Guru Gobind Singh is believed to have blessed the family, having issued a hukamnama edict on 2 August 1696 addressed to Rama Chand and Tiloka Chand of the family urging them to visit the guru's court and bring with them men and horses.^[6] The Sikh guru also gifted Rama and Tiloka a battle-standard and eleven weapons, which is seen as bestowing a special accord onto the family.^[6] In 1702, Rama and Tiloka underwent the pahul ceremony at Damdama Sahib, with their Khalsa baptism being conducted by Guru Gobind Singh himself.^[6] Thus-after, the family started appending the Singh title to their name.^[6] Out of the six sons of Rama, two of them also appended their name with Singh (with one of these two being Ala Singh).^[6] Rama Chand was succeeded as head of the family by Ala Singh in 1714.^[3][6]

Founding and territorial evolution

The locality of Patiala was founded by sardar Ala Singh in 1752.^[3] In 1761, the Afghans defeated the forces of Ala Singh at Barnala.^[6] Ala Singh was captured by the Afghans and taken to Ahmad Shah Abdali.^[6] The Afghans demanded a four lakh rupee ransom to secure Ala Singh's release.^[6] Ala Singh was a vassal of the Afghans.^[3] Patiala State was founded by Ala Singh as a chiefship slightly later in March 1762 after Ahmad Shah Abdali bestowed Ala Singh with the raja title, gifting him with a robe-of-honour, nagadas (war drums), and an embrace.^[6] In 1763, after the Battle of Sirhind, the Sikh Confederation partitioned the Sirhind area and gave the territory to Ala Singh.^[2][3] The areas in Sirhind, along with Ala Singh's other conquered territories, formed the initial territories of the Patiala state.^[7] Also in 1763, Ala Singh constructed a mud-fortress around a mound, known as the Qila Mubarak (meaning "blessed fort").^[6] Ala Singh established the rules for the right of succession based on primogeniture.^[6]

Ala Singh's successor, Amar Singh, took-on the Raja-i-Rajagan Bahadur title in 1767.^[3] Patiala State became a British protectorate in 1809.^[3] Patiala State continued to expand during the rule of Ala Singh's two successors, Raja-Rajgan Amar Singh and Maharaja Sahib Singh (the first ruler to hold the title of Maharaja); however, the next major expansion of Patiala State's territory occurred during and after 1814, under Karam Singh.^[8][3] For Karam Singh's support during the Anglo-Nepalese War, which took place between 1814 and 1816, the British Empire awarded him territory in the hill states, extending Patiala State's territory to areas in what is now Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla and Chail.^[8][9] After the First Anglo-Sikh war, which took place between 1845 and 1846, the state expanded again when, in return for its support during the war, the British Empire confiscated land from Nabha State and rewarded it to Patiala State.^[8]

After 1857 and during the rule of Narinder Singh, Patiala State's territory was expanded for the final time.^[8] Narinder Singh's services and the support to the British Empire resulted in Patiala State gaining sovereign rights in the Narunal division of Jhajjar, in modern Haryana, and he purchased the taluka of Khamanu.^[8] Narinder Singh was also granted administrative jurisdiction over Bhadaur and the annual revenue from the area.^[8]

British suzerainty

In 1809, Patiala State entered into an alliance with the British Empire, whereby the state was given internal autonomy with certain restrictions, and the rulers of Patiala state recognised the British Empire as their suzerains.^[8][3] During the British Raj, the rulers of Patiala State were entitled to a 17-gun salute and held precedence over every other princely state in the Punjab Province.^[2]

Independence and abolition

In 1947, Yadavindra Singh, the last Maharaja of Patiala, agreed to the accession of Patiala State into the independent Dominion of India.^[10][11] Members and descendants of the Patiala royal family maintained their princely titles until they were abolished in India in 1971 through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India. Patiala State's historical territory is in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Raja

• 29 March 1762 – 22 August 1765: Ala Singh (b. 1691 – d. 1765)^[3][6]
• 22 August 1765 – 1767: Amar Singh (b. 1748 – d. 1781)^[3]

Raja-e-Rajgan

• 1767 – 5 February 1781: Amar Singh (s.a.)^[3]
  • 1771 – 1774: Himmat Singh (Pretender; died 1774)^[3]
• February 1781 – 1813: Sahib Singh (b. 1774 – d. 1813)^[3]
  • 1781 – 1790: Dewan Nandu Mal (Regent)^[3]

Maharaja

• 26 March 1813 – 23 December 1845: Karam Singh (b. 1797 – d. 1845)^[3]
  • 26 March 1813 – 1823: Maharani Aus Kaur (f) – Regent (b. 1772 – d. af.1823)^[3]
• 23 Dec 1845 – 13 November 1862: Narinder Singh (b. 1823 – d. 1862) (from 25 June 1861 Sir Narendra Singh)^[3]
• 13 November 1862 – 14 April 1876: Mahendra Singh (b. 1852 – d. 1876) (from 28 May 1870 Sir Mahendra Singh)^[3]
  • 13 Nov 1862 – 26 February 1870: Jagdish Singh (Regent, chairman of regency council)^[3]
• 14 Apr 1876 – 9 November 1900: Rajinder Singh (b. 1872 – d. 1900) (from 21 May 1898 Sir Rajendra Singh)^[3]
  • 14 April 1876 – October 1890: Sir Deva Singh (Regent) (b. 1834 – d. 1890) (chairman of regency council)^[3]
• 9 November 1900 – 23 March 1938: Bhupinder Singh (b. 1891 – d. 1938) (from 12 December 1911 Sir Bhupindra^[3]Singh)
  • 9 November 1900 – 3 November 1910: Sardar Gurmukh Singh – (Regent, chairman of regency council)^[3]
• 23 Mar 1938 – 15 August 1947: Yadavindra Singh (b. 1913 – d. 1974) (from 1 January 1942 Sir Yadavindra Singh)^[3]