The
family claims descent from the Bhatti founder of
Jaisalmer, Jaisal. His third son Rai Hem, left the family
domains after the usual quarrel and carved out a small
principality for himself around Bhatinda and Bhatner. His
successor in the fourth degree, Khiwa, fell on hard times
ad was forced to move to Kot Ladwa, where he married a
girl from the Jat Basehra caste, against the clan
traditions of the Rajputs. Thereafter many quarrels
ensued between his descendants at the Bhattis. The
Mughals appointed his descendant Mehraj in 1526. This
office became hereditary amongst his descendants until
Phul, the Sikh ancestor of the dynasty, which came to
rule over Patiala, Jind and Nabha.
SALUTE:
17-guns.
ARMS: Ermine, a target sable
bossed or; in chief saltirewise two daggers gules
hilted of the third, in base a sword of the like tincture
and a musket proper, in saltire. Crest: An
elephant. Supporters: A lion and bay horse, each
ensigned with an annulet argent. Motto:
"Phularka Kirana Prabha" (Of the sun Phul, the
rays are glorious). Lambrequins: Argent andsable.
STYLES & TITLES:
The
ruling prince: Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia,
Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj
Rajeshwar 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja (personal
name) Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans
Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, with the style ofHis Highness.
The consorts of the ruling prince ("Class A"):
Maharani Sri (personal name) Sahiba and (family
name or clan) Sri Maharani Sahib-ji, with the style
of Her Highness.
The morganatic consorts of the ruling prince ("Class
B"): Maharani Sri (personal name) Sahiba and
(family name or clan) Sri Maharani Sahib-ji.
The Heir Apparent: Sri Yuvraj Sahib-ji.
The consort of the Heir Apparent: Sri Yuvrani Sahib-ji.
The younger sons of the ruling prince, by senior wives,
at birth: Maharajkumar Sri (personal name) Singh.
The younger sons of the ruling prince, by senior wives,
on attaining majority: Rajadhiraj Sri (personal name)
Singh.
The sons of the ruling prince, by secondary wives and
concubines, at birth: Rajkumar Sri (personal name)
Singh.
The sons of the ruling prince, by secondary wives and
concubines, on attaining majority *: Raja Sri (personal
name) Singh.
The daughters of the ruling prince, by senior wives:
Maharajkumari Bibiji (personal name)
Kaur/Kumari-ji Sahiba.
The daughters of the ruling prince, by secondary wives
and concubines: Rajkumari Bibaji (personal name)
Sahiba.
The daughters-in-law of the ruling prince: Rani (personal
name) Sahiba.
The sons of the Heir Apparent: Yuvrajkumar Sri (personal
name) Singh.
The other grandsons of a ruling prince, in the male line:
Rajkumar Sri (personal name) Singh.
The daughters of the Heir Apparent: Yuvrajkumari Bibaji (personal
name) Kaur/Kumari-ji Sahiba.
The other granddaughters of a ruling prince, in the male
line: Rajkumari Bibaji (personal name)
Kaur/Kumari-ji Sahiba.
*Prior to the reign of Maharaja Bhupender Singh, the
usual title conferred on such sons was Rao Raja.
RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture, but limited
to the legitimate male issue of Sikh mothers.
ORDERS &
DECORATIONS:
See separate page, link below.
GLOSSARY: Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia:
Favoured son of the English nation. Mansur-i-Zaman: Victorious of the Age. Amir ul-Umara: commander/prince of the nobility. Maharajadhiraja: great prince of princes. Raj Rajeshwar: superior prince. Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan: ornament of
the Bhatti clan. Maharaja-i-Rajgan: Great Prince amongst Princes.
SOURCES:
Sirdar
Attar Singh, Chief of Bhuddour. The House of Phool, Being
a Genealogical Table of the Family of the Cis Sutledge
Chiefs of the Punjab. September 1872 (BL 85/14000 R 23).
Bhagat Singh. A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication
Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1993.
G.L. Chopra. Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. 3
Volumes. Superintendent of Government Printing, Lahore,
1940.
Major W.L. Conran and H.D. Craik. Chiefs and Families of
Note in the Punjab. 3 Volumes. Government of the Punjab,
Lahore, 1910-1911.
Duleep Singh Papers, India Office Records (MSS. Eur.
E337), Oriental and India Office Collection, British
Library, London.
Sir Lepel Henry Griffin. The Panjab Chiefs: Historical
and Biographical Notices of the Principal Families in the
Territories Under the Panjab Government. Lahore, 1865.
Sir Lepel Henry Griffin & Charles Francis Massy (ed).
The Panjab chiefs : historical and biographical notices
of the principal families in the Lahore and Rawalpindi
divisions of the Panjab. Civil and Military Gazette
Press, Lahore, 1890.
S. Ranga Iyer. Diary of Late Maharaja of Nabha. Indian
Daily Telegraph, Lucknow, 1924.
List of Ruling Princes and Chiefs, Leading Men and
Principal Officials. Punjab States Agency. Manager of
Publications, Delhi, 1938.
Memoranda of Information regarding certain Native Chiefs.
Volume II, Madras, Bengal, North-West Provinces, Punjab.
IOR (L/PS/20/F76/2), Oriental & India Office
Collection, British Library, St Pancras, London.
Kirpal Singh. Life of Maharaja Ala Singh of Patiala and
His Time, Based on original sources. Sikh History
Research Department, Khalsa College, Amritsar, 1954.
Nahar Singh. Raja-i-Rajgan Maharaja Amar Singh of
Patiala, etc. Lahore, 1935.
K. Natwar Singh. The Magnificient Maharaja. Harper
Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 1998.
Northern India Who's Who. Lahore, Punjab, 1942.
SPECIAL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Father
Lawrence Ober, SJ.
Hanuwant Singh.
Raja Dr. Mrigender Singh.
Pardeep Kumar
Rajkumari Bibaji Ramneetinder Kaur.
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: