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JODHPUR
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BRIEF HISTORY
- The royal house belongs to the Rathore clan of Rajputs, descendants of the Rashtrakuta solar dynasty who ruled in the Deccan during the 8th century AD. They ruled as vassals of the Gahadwala dynasty at Kanauj for fourteen centuries, before expulsion from that place by Shahb ud-din in 1194. Shivaji [Sihoji], also said to be a grandson or nephew of Jai Chand [Jayachandra], the last Gahadwala ruler of Kanauj, went on pilgrimage to Dwarka. Halting at Pali, in Marwar, he befriended some local Brahmins and freed them from bands of marauders. They asked him to settle there with his family. His descendants grew in power and extended their domains, until Chanda, ninth in descent from Shivaji, acquired Mandor, the chief town of Marwar from the Parihar chief in 1382. Jodhpur city was founded by Chanda's grandson, Jodha, in 1459. Rao Jodhaji had fourteen sons and twenty-three brothers, from whom descend the principal rulers and nobles of Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kishangarh, Rutlam, Sitamau, Idar, Ahmednagar and Jhabua. No dynasty is more greatly represented amongst the ruling and noble houses of India. Marriages were also contracted between the Jodhpur ruling house and the Timurid Mughal dynasty in Delhi. This powerful alliance provided the Mughals with a formidable Rajput fighting force, and the Jodhpuris with security in their territories, influence, power and titles. They were one of the first Rajput families to be promoted to the rank of Maharaja. However, the increasing power of the Mahrathas during the seventeenth century threatened the independence of the state. Heavy tributes and periodic punitive expeditions were exacted on the Rajput rulers. Jodhpur suffered less than most but was threatened nevertheless. This prompted overtures to the enemies of the Mahrathas, the British, and vice versa. After several abortive attempts at an alliance, treaty relations were eventually established on 6th January 1818. Thereafter, the Jodhpuri house became one of the staunchest allies of the Crown. Their military forces serving in China, Tibet, and Afghanistan and the major theatres of both world wars. The Maharajas themselves, frequently lead their armies in the field, in person. The state acceded to the Dominion of India 14th August 1947, some nifty political negotiations at the eleventh hour securing vital concessions on water resources and other matters. Maharaja Shri Hanwant Singhji joined with other Rajput states to form the Rajasthan Union on 13th March 1949. Today, despite the de-recognition of his titles by the government in Delhi, the Maharaja continues to hold an honoured place in the affections of his people.
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SALUTE:
17-Guns.
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ARMS:
Barry of five tenne, argent, gules, or, and vert a falcon rising proper; over all on a canton of the fourth, three ears of barley proper. Helmet: argent. Crest: A demi-leopard sable. Supporters: Falcons rising proper. Motto: "Rina Banka Rathor" (In arms none surpass the Rathor) or on a riband of sky-blue. Lambrequins: or and vert.
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FLAG:
Rectangular flag of 5 equal horizontal stripes of pink, white, red, saffron and green (top to bottom), overall a falcon standing on the bottom stripe with wings slightly raised.
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STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Raj Rajeshwar Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Hindustan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Shri (personal name) Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Jodhpur, with the style of His Highness.
The consort of the ruling prince: Maharani Shri (personal name) Baiji Sahiba, Maharani of Jodhpur, with the style of Her Highness.
The Heir Apparent: Yuvraj Shri Maharajkumar (personal name) Singhji Sahib.
The consort of the Heir Apparent: Yuvrani Shri (personal name) Sahiba.
The younger sons of the ruling prince, by a Maharani, during the lifetime of their fathers: Maharajkumar Shri (personal name) Singhji Sahib.
The consort of a Maharajkumar: Rani Shri (personal name).
The younger sons of the ruling prince, by a Maharani, after the death of their fathers: Maharaj Shri *(personal name) Singhji Sahib.
The consort of a Maharaj: Rani (personal name).
The daughters of the ruling prince, by a Maharani: Maharajkumari Shri (personal name) Baiji Lall Sahiba.
The sons of a Maharaj during the lifetime of their father: Rajkumar Shri (personal name) Singhji.
The consort of a Rajkumar: Kanwarani (personal name).
The daughters of a Maharaj: Rajkumari (personal name) Baisa.
The grandsons of a Maharaj during the lifetime of their grandfather: Bhanwar Shri (personal name) Singhji.
The consort of a Bhanwar: Bhanwarani (personal name).
The grand-daughters of a Maharaj during the lifetime of their grandfather: Bhanwar Baisa (personal name).
The sons of the ruling prince by a paswan: Rao Raja Shri (personal name) Singhji.
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*Until the reign of Maharaja Umaid Singhji, the title of Maharaj was inheritable by all legitimate males, in the male line, for three generations. The title was then extended to seven generations, in conformity with Rajput marriage customs. Their sons are styled Rajkumar during their father's lifetime, and Maharaj afterwards. The eighth generation and beyond, inherit the title of Thakur, through the eldest son, and Kumar Shri through the younger sons.
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RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture, by the issue of Rajput mothers only.
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ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
One Order is thought to have been created but no information is available in any published sources.
Jodhpur Police Medal: instituted by Maharaja Umaid Singhji and awarded to officers and other ranks of the Jodhpur State Police in two divisions (1. “for bravery”, and 2. “for meritorious service”).
Jodhpur Great War Service Medal: instituted by Maharaja Shri Umaid Singhji in 1919 to recognise the services of the Jodhpur Imperial Service Troops during the Great War, on the Western Front and the Middle East. Awarded in two classes, a silver medal for officers and bronze for other ranks.
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Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Raj Tilak Medal.
- Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Raj Tilak Medal: instituted by Maharaja Shri Hanwant Singhji to commemorate his installation on 21st June 1947. Awarded in two classes, a silver and a bronze medal.
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SOURCES:
- A descriptive List of Farmans, Manshurs and Nishans Addressed by the Imperial Mughals to the Princes of Rajasthan. Directorate of Archives, Govt. of Rajasthan, Bikaner, 1962.
Lewis Bentham Bowring. Bowring Collection. MSS. Eur. G.38, Oriental India Office Collection, British Library, London.
Burke’s Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage. Burke’s Peerage Limited, London, 1900-1959.
Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana (The Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages in Rajputana and Ajmer). Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1894, 1903, 1912, 1916 and 1935.
Correspondence Respecting the Adoption and Succession to the Ahmednuggur Chiefship. Government of India Foreign Department. Foreign Office Press, Calcutta, 1866.
Mahamahopadhyaya Kaviraja Shyamal Das. “The Mother of Jahangir”, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Part I, No. II, 1888. Pp. 71-75.
Alexander Kinloch Forbes. Ras-Mala, Hindu Annals of Western India, with particular reference to Gujarat. Heritage Publishers. New Delhi, 1973.
Dhananajaya Singh. The House of Marwar. Roli Books Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 1994.
Ann Morrow. Highness, The Maharajas of India, Grafton Books, London 1986.
Thacker’s Indian Directory, Thacker’s Press & Directories, Ltd, Calcutta 1863-1956.
Copyright©Christopher Buyers
SPECIAL ASKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Deepak Aggarwal.
Abhijit Malwade, Mumbai, India.
Father Lawrence Ober, SJ.
Maharaj Chandra Shekhar Singh, of Raoti.
Rajkumar Jagat Singhji.
Rajkumar Maghendra Singh Rathore.
Kanwar Sujjan Singh, Delhi, India.
Rajkumar Shri Suryaveer Singhji.
- Copyright©Christopher Buyers
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- Copyright©Christopher Buyers
- I would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have changes, corrections or additions to contribute. If you do, please be kind enough to send me an e-mail using the contact details at: Copyright©Christopher Buyers
- Copyright©Christopher Buyers
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Copyright©Christopher Buyers, July 2001 - April 2024