The Royal Family of Sailana are a junior branch of the great Rathore house, cadets of the Royal House of Jodhpur. The state owes its origins to the jagir created for Raja Jai Singhji, younger son of Raja Keshri Singhji of Ratlam, in 1716. He subsequently conquered or annexed further territories in the region and established himself as an independent ruler in 1731. The name Sailana derives from the new capital he founded by that name in 1736.
The new principality did not remain independent very long and fell under Maratha control within a few years. The whole area came under the ultimate suzerainty of the Scindias at Ujjain and Gwalior. After the British conquest of Malwa, Raja Lakshman Singh signed a treaty of protection with the HEIC in 1819, and tributary payments to Gwalior were finally ended in 1860. In 1867 the principality ranked as an eleven-gun state. For some time afterwards the Ratlam state continued to hold certain rights over customs dues within the state, and participated on the occasion of a ruler's installation, but these rights were relinquished in 1887.
Gradual reforms were introduced over the coming years, with particular attention being paid to education and the provision of vernacular educational facilities. By 1947, education and medical aid were provided free of charge, the local municipality was placed on a democratic footing and the judiciary and executive made independent of each other. Although the economy was primarily agricultural, some limited industrialisation included oil mills, and iron and steel works.
The Raja acceded to the Dominion of India in 1947 and joined his fellow rulers in the establishment of the Madhya Bharat Union in 1948.
DYNASTY:
Rathore clan of Rajputs.
SALUTE:
11-guns (1867).
ARMS: Gules, a falcon close argent within a bordure tenne. Helmet: argent. Crest: A leopard's head erased sable on a wreath. Supporters: Boars argent. Motto: "Nabhayam Ishat-Mahadasritam" (In the protection of the great, there is not the least fear) or on a riband tenne. Lambrequins: Gules and argent.
FLAG:
A red triangular flag with the arms in colour in the centre.
STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Raja Shreeman (personalname) Singhji Bahadur, Raja of Sailana, with the style of HisHighness.
The consort of the ruling prince: Shrimati Rani (personalname) Baiji Sahiba, Rani of Sailana, with the style of HerHighness.
The Heir Apparent: Yuvraj Shreeman Sahib Maharajkumar (personalname) Singhji Sahib.
The brothers of the ruling prince: Shreeman Maharaj (personalname) Singhji Sahib.
The sisters-in-law of the ruling prince: Shrimati Rani (personalname) Sahiba.
The sons and grandsons of the ruling prince, during the lifetime of their father: Shreeman Maharaj Kunwar (personalname) Singhji Sahib.
The grandsons of the ruling prince, during the lifetime of their father: Shreeman Rajkumar (personalname) Singhji Sahib.
The daughters of the ruling prince: Shrimati Rajkumari Bapu (personalname) Kanwarji Sahiba.
The granddaughters of the ruling prince: Shrimati Rajkumari Bapu Bhanwar (personalname) Kanwarji Sahiba.
ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
None known.
RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture, with the right of adoption by the recognised head of the family on the failure of natural male heirs.
SOURCES:
C.U. Aitchison. A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Vols. IV and V Containing The Treaties, &c., Relating to the Central India Agency. Part I-Central India and the Mediatized Chiefs & Part II-Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. Revised and continued up to the 1st June 1906 By the Authority of the Foreign Department. Superintendent Government Printing, India. Calcutta, 1909.
Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. Burke's Peerage Ltd, London, 1900-1959.
Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. Odhams Press Ltd, London, 1900-1959.
Captain C.E. Luard, MA, IA (compiler). Western States (Malwa) Gazetteer, Volume V. The Central India State Gazetteer Series, Byculla, Bombay, 1908.
Major C. Eckford Luard, IA, MA (compiler). Chiefs and Leading Families in Central India. Government of India, Calcutta, 1916.
Manual of Titles, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh [Corrected up to September 30, 1931]. Published by Authority, The Superintendent, Printing and Stationery, United Provinces, Allahabad, 1932.
Memoranda on The Indian States 1940 (Corrected up to the 1st January 1940). Manager of Publication, Government of India, Delhi, 1940.
Rulers, Leading Families and Officials in the States of Central India, Fifth Edition. Manager of Publications, Delhi, 1935.
H.R. Nevill (ed.). Manual of Titles, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. Sixth Edition. The Superintendent, Printing and Stationery, United Provinces, Allahabad, 1908.
Souvenir History of the Sailana State. Published by Authority, Bombay, 1912.
Thacker's Indian Directory, Thacker's Press & Directories, Ltd., Calcutta 1863-1956.
A. Vadivelu, The Ruling Chiefs, Nobles & Zamindars of India. G.C. Loganadham Bros., Madras, 1915.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Maharaj Bishwajeet Singh Rathore, of Dhampur.
Aditya Sinhji Jhala.
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