Dholpur state

Dhaulpur State or Dholpur State, was an independent kingdom from 1805 to 1818 and a princely state under British suzerainty from 1818 to 1949 in eastern Rajasthan. It was founded by Rana Kirat Singh, the ruler of Gohad, in 1805 AD. Dholpur State was a salute state entitled to a 15 gun-salute.^[1] The state was merged into the Union of India in April 1949 and Udai Bhan Singh was the last ruling Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur.^[2][3]

Dholpur State
1805–1949
Flag Coat of arms
Dholpur State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India
Capital	Dholpur
Government
• Type	Sovereign monarchy (1805–1818) Princely state (1818–1947) Constitutional monarchy (1947–1949)
Maharaj Rana
• 1805–1835	Kirat Singh (first)
• 1911–1949	Udai Bhan Singh (last)
History
• Established	1805
• Independence of India	1949
Preceded by Succeeded by Maratha Empire Matsya Union
Today part of	India  · Rajasthan

History

Maharaj Rana Bhagwant Singh in 1870.

Kesarbagh palace, the mansion of the former ruler of the erstwhile Dholpur State in Dholpur, now Dholpur Military School

Dholpur State, located in present-day Dholpur district of Rajasthan, was established due to British political intervention in Rajputana during the early 19th century. Initially, the region was under the control of the Scindias of Gwalior. However, after their defeat by the British East India Company at the Battle of Laswari in September 1803, the British took over the area.

To create a buffer between the Kingdom of Bikaner and the Marathas, who often allied against them, the British supported the Jats led by Rana Kirat Singh. Jats helped the britishers to reclaim the Gohad region from the Scindias. As part of an agreement, Rana Kirat Singh was given control of Dholpur, while the British took over Gohad. Thus, Dholpur State was formed, and Rana Kirat Singh was declared its ruler in 1805.^[4]

The last ruler of Dholpur signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union on 7 April 1949 and the state was merged in Matsya Union.^[5]

Vasundhara Raje, former chief minister of Rajasthan, was a member of the erstwhile ruling family of Dholpur as she was married to Hemant Singh, the last titular Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur before getting divorced.

Rulers

• Kirat Singh (1803 – 1805)
• Pohap Singh (1836 – 1836)
• Bhagwant Singh (1836 – 1873)
• Nihal Singh (1873 – 1901)
• Ram Singh (1901 – 1911)
• Udai Bhan Singh (1911 – 1954)
• Hemant Singh (titular ruler) (1954 – 1971)

Gohad coins

See also

• Gohad State—For early history of Dholpur rulers