1698 - 1715 Rao Shri
Pragmulji I Sahib, Rao of Cutch, third son of Rao
Rayadhanji II Sahib, Rao of Cutch, educ.
privately. He feigned illness and seized the capital
while his brothers and nephew were attending to the
funeral rites of his father. Dispossessed his nephew,
Haloji, and his elder brother, Ravoji, and ascended the gadi,
1698. Alienated all his brothers and many of his
clansmen, who refused to acknowledge his rule and who
administered their lands independently. m.
several wives. He d. at Bhuj, 1715, having had
issue, including five sons:
1) Rao
Shri Ghodji I Sahib, Rao of Cutch - see below.
2) Kumar
Shri Niranji Pragmulji Sahib, of Godhra.
3) Kumar
Shri Sagramji Pragmulji Sahib, of Katadia.
4) Kumar
Shri Karanji Pragmulji Sahib, of Mankuva.
1715 - 1719 Rao
Shri Ghodji I Sahib, Rao of Cutch, son of Rao Shri
Pragmalji I Sahib, Rao of Cutch, educ. privately.
Assisted his father in his conspiracy to wrest the throne
from the rightful heir in 1698. Succeeded on the death of
his father, 1715. m. several wives. He d.
at Bhuj, 1719, having had issue, including five sons:
1) Rao
Shri Daisulji I Sahib, Rao of Cutch - see below.
2) Kumar
Shri Raisinhji Ghodji Sahib [Rayabhji], of
Khakhar.
3) Kumar
Shri Jiwansinhji Ghodji [Jivanji], of Rattadia.
He left issue.
4) Kumar
Shri Hajoji Ghodji Sahib, of Patri. He left
issue.
3) Kumar
Shri Umroji Ghodji Sahib, of Gajod. He left
issue.
1719 - 1752 Rao
Shri Daisulji I Sahib, Rao of Cutch, son of Rao Shri
Ghodji I Sahib, Rao of Cutch, educ. privately.
Succeeded on the death of his father, 1719. Constructed
the Fort of Bhuj in 1719, after seeing-off Mozim Beg, who
attempted to levy tribute on behalf of the Emperor.
Succeeded again when another army under Kesar Khan
attacked Nalia and attempted to do the same in 1721. He
oversaw the defeat of a third Mughal army under the
command of the Viceroy, Sher Buland Khan, by Devkaran
Seth, in 1723-1730. Fortified the towns of Anjar, Mundra
nd Rapar, in order to deter further attacks on his
dominions. Seized and imprisoned by his elder son, who
then assumed ruling powers in his name, 1741. m.
several wives, including (a) Waghela Rani Shri Ma
Kunverba Sahib. He d. in confinement, at Bhuj,
1752, having had issue, two sons:
1) Kumar
Shri Lakhpatsinhji Daisulji Sahib, who succeeded
as H.H. Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri
Lakhpatji Sahib, Rao of Cutch (s/o Ma
Kunverba) - see below.
1752 - 1760 H.H.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Lakhpatji Sahib
Bahadur, Rao of Cutch. b. at Bhuj, 1717, as
Daisulji, elder son of Rao Shri Daisulji I Sahib, Rao of
Cutch, elder son of Rao Shri Ghodji I Sahib, Rao of
Cutch, by his wife, Waghela Rani Shri Ma Kunverba Sahib, educ.
privately. Seized and imprisoned his father and assumed
effective power, 1741. Succeeded as Rao on his father's
death, 1752. Granted the titles of Maharajadhiraj,
and Mirza by Emperor Alamgir II in 1757, and Maharao
Shri from Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan. The
first of his race to introduce a durbar and Mughal state
ceremonial into his court. A learned and curious
individual, he became fascinated by accounts of Ramsingh
Malam travels in Europe. This prompted the Maharao to
establish a foundry, the silk industry, clock manufacture
and glass works, thereby laying the foundations for the
high reputation for mechanical skill amongst Cutchi
craftsmen. A learned scholar with a great interest in
Vraj, he founded a famous school to spread knowledge of
that language. m. nine wives including (a) Jhaliji
Rani Shri Ra Kunverba Sahib. m. (b) Jhaliji Rani
Shri Ratnaji Kunwarba Sahib, younger daughter of H.H.
Shri Shaktimant Jhaladap Mahamandleshwar Maharana Shri
Raj Jaswantsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharana Raj Sahib of
Halvad. He d. at Bhuj, 1761 having had issue, four
sons and a daughter:
1)
Maharajkumar Shri Ghodjisinhji Lakhpatji, Yuvraj
Sahib of Cutch, who succeeded as Maharajadhiraj
Mirza Maharao Shri Ghodji II Sahib Bahadur, Rao
of Cutch (s/o Ra Kunverba) - see below.
2)
Maharaj Shri Mansinhji Lakhpatji Sahib, of
Dunjapur (s/o Ra Kunverba).
3)
Maharaj Shri KansinhjiLakhpatji Sahib [Khanji],
of Khanpar.
4)
Maharaj Shri Sabalsinhji Lakhpatji Sahib
[Sabalji], of Khirasra.
1)
Maharajkumari Bai Shri Dhan Kunwarba Sahib [H.H.
Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Dhan
Kunwarba Sahib Gaekwad]. m. 1760, as his
tenth wife (morganatic), H.H. Shrimant Maharaja
Damajirao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher
Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda (d. at Patan,
after the battle of Panipat, 18th
August 1768), third son of Shrimant Sardar
Pilajirao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher
Bahadur, of Sonagad, by his fifth and morganatic
wife, Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Munnoo Bai
Sahib Gaekwad - see India (Baroda).
1761 - 1778 H.H.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Ghodji II Sahib
Bahadur, Rao of Cutch. b. at Bhuj, 1734, as
Ghodjisinhji Lakhpatj, eldest son of H.H. Maharajadhiraj
Mirza Maharao Shri Lakhpatji Sahib Bahadur, Rao of Cutch,
by his wife, the Jhala Rani Ra Kunverba Sahib, educ.
privately. Succeeded on the death of his father, 1761.
After falling out with his minister, Punja Seth, he faced
two invasions by Ghulam Shah Kalhora of Sind, who
plundered and burnt the country. Retired to Mandvi,
abandoning state affairs, after being humiliated by a
band of Sidis, who had temporarily confined him in his
palace. He faced two further invasions by the successors
of Ghulam Shah, finally defeating them in 1775. m.
ten wives including (a) H.H. Jhaliji Rani Shri Raj
Kunverba Sahib. m. (b) H.H. Rani Shri Immaba
Sahib. m. (c) at Dhrangadhra, 1771, H.H. Jhaliji
Rani Shri Adiba Sahib, eldest daughter of H.H. Shri
Shaktimant Jhaladap Mahamandleshwar Maharana Shri Raj
Gajsinhji II [Bhabhoji] Raisinhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharana
Raj Sahib of Halvad, by his wife, H.H. Raniji Ba Shri
Jijiba Kunwarba Sahib, sometime Maharani Regent of
Dhrangadhra, daughter of the Thakore Sahib of Varsoda, in
Maha Kanthia. m. (d) H.H. Jhaliji Rani Shri Raj
Sahib. He d. at Bhuj, 1778 having had issue,
including two sons:
1) H.H.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Raja Sawai Shri Rayadhanji
II Sahib Bahadur, Rao of Cutch (s/o Raj
Kunverba) - see below.
2)
Maharaj Shri Prithvirajsinhji Ghodji Sahib
[Bhaiji Bava], who succeeded as H.H.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Prithvirajji
Sahib Bahadurb, Rao of Cutch (s/o Immaba)
- see below.
1778 - 1786 H.H.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Raja Sawai Shri Rayadhanji II Sahib
Bahadur, Rao of Cutch (first time) - see below.
1786 - 1801 H.H.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Prithvirajji Sahib
Bahadur, Rao of Cutch, younger son of H.H. Maharajadhiraj
Mirza Maharao Shri Ghodaji II Lakhpatji Sahib Bahadur,
Rao of Cutch, by his wife, H.H. Rani Shri Immaba Sahib, educ.
privately. Succeeded as a minor after the deposition of
his elder brother, 1786. Reigned under a council of
regency headed by Meghji Seth. Temporarily deposed in the
confusion that followed his brother's escape from
confinement. Restored after Fateh Muhammad Notiar took
control of affairs. He d. suddenly, at Bhuj, 1801,
having had issue, an only son:
a)
Kumar Shri …sinhji Sahib. He d.
young, a few weeks after his father.
1778 - 1786 and 1801 -
1813 H.H. Maharajadhiraj Mirza Raja Sawai Shri Rayadhanji
II Sahib Bahadur, Rao of Cutch. b. at Bhuj, 1763,
elder son of H.H. Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri
Ghodji II Sahib Bahadur , Rao of Cutch, by his wife, H.H.
the Jhala Rani Bai Shri Raj Kunverba Sahib, educ.
privately. Succeeded on the death of his father 1778. He
began to show signs of madness, at one point even
becoming something of an Islamic zealot. Great
indignation mounted amongst his officers and subjects
when he attempted the forcible conversion of Hindus.
Arrested by Meghji Seth of Anjar and deposed in favour of
his younger brother 1786. Escaped after being freed by
the regency council from physical confinement, causing
much confusion and mayhem in the state. Placed in
confinement again until released and restored, after the
death of his brother in 1801. Confined and released or
escaped several time. The HEIC entered into two treaties
with the state, one with the Wazir Fateh Muhammad
and another with the Diwan Hansraj, 26th
October 1809. m. ten wives including (a) H.H.
Sodhiji Rani Surruba Kunverba Sahib, of the Soda family
of Nawanagar state. m. (b) H.H. Rani Jithi
Kunverba Sahib. He d. at Bhuj, 30th
October 1813, having had issue, a son and a daughter:
1)
Maharajkumar Shri Mansinhji Rayadhanji, Yuvraj
Sahib of Cutch, who succeeded as Maharajadhiraj
Mirza Maharao Shri Bharmulji II Sahib Bahadur,
Rao of Cutch (natural son) - see below.
1)
Maharajkumari Bai Shri Kesharbai Sahib [H.H.
Nawab Kesharbai Begum Sahiba]. b. at Bhuj,
ca. 1796. m. at Junagadh, September 1820,
as his first wife, H.H. Nawab Bahadur Khanji II
Sahib Bahadur, Nawab of Junagadh (b. 30th
May 1795; d. 26th May 1840),
eldest son of H.H. Nawab Hamid Khanji I Sahib
Bahadur, Nawab of Junagadh, by his wife, Ba Shri
Rajkunverba Sahib. She d. at Junagadh, ca.
1825, having had issue, one son - see India
(Junagadh).
1813 - 1819 H.H.
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Bharmulji II Sahib
Bahadur, Rao of Cutch. b. at Bhuj, 1798, as Kumar
Shri Mansinhji Sahib, natural son of H.H. Maharajadhiraj
Mirza Raja Sawai Shri Rayadhanji II Sahib Bahadur, Rao of
Cutch, educ. privately. Chosen as successor to his
late father, by Ibrahim and Husain Miyan, 6th
November 1813. Ascended the gadi, 13th
January 1814. Reigned under the control of the Miyan
brothers until placed in control of affairs by Shibraj,
son of the late Diwan Hansraj. Dismissed the government
agent and supported an attack by Vagad bandits on the
British camp. Compelled to accept a British Resident at
his court after his defeat by a joint force composed of
British and Gaekwad troops from Baroda. Angered his
Jadeja relatives by his murder of Ladhubha and his
encroachments on their lands and rights, prompting them
to join the British in deposing him in favour of his only
son, 25th March 1819. Placed in confinement
but released in 1830. m. five wives including (a)
H.H. Sodhiji Rani Shri Tajuba Sahib, of the Soda family
of Nawanagar state. He d. at Aina Mahal, Bhuj,
1846, having had issue, an only son:
1)
Maharajkumar Shri Daisalsinhji Bharmulji, Yuvraj
Sahib of Cutch, who succeeded as Maharajadhiraj
Mirza Maharao Shri Daisulji II Sahib Bahadur, Rao
of Cutch (s/o Taju) - see below.
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