Nagaraj15 at 19:19, 11 April 2026

2026-04-11T19:19:41Z

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{{Short description|Medieval Rajput kingdom in India (1156–1947)}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
| native_name =
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Jaisalmer
| common_name = Jaisalmer
| nation =
| status_text =
| era =
| year_start = 1156
| date_start =
| event_start =
| year_end = 1947
| date_end =
| event_end = [[Independence of India]]
| event1 =
| date_event1 =
| p1 = Chahamanas of Shakambhari{{!}}Kingdom of Sambhar
| s1 = India{{!}}Indian Union
| flag_p1 =
| flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg
| image_flag = Jaisalmer Flag.svg
| image_coat = COA of Jaisalmer State.svg
| image_map = {{Rajputana 1525 CE|center||{{Annotation|66|84|[[File:Long Rectangle (plain).png|36px]]}}||none}}
| image_map_caption = {{center|Location of Jaisalmer within [[Rajputana]] circa 1525, with neighbouring polities.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=147, map XIV.4 (a) |isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=186 |access-date=24 January 2023 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225003445/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=186 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| image_map2 = {{multiple image| align = center| perrow = 1| total_width = 300| caption_align = center| border= infobox
| image1 = Jailsalmer within Rajputana.jpg
| caption1 = Jailsalmer State (orange) within Rajputana (yellow), 1909.
}}
| stat_area1 = 41600
| stat_year1 = 1931
| stat_pop1 = 76,255
| today = [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]
| footnotes = Coat of arms based on ''The Princely Armory.'' Publ. by The Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing. Calcutta. 1877
| demonym =
| capital =
}}

The '''Kingdom of Jaisalmer''' was a kingdom in the far-western part of present-day [[Rajasthan]], India, from the mid-12th century CE until 1947. In 1156 CE, [[Rawal Jaisal]] moved his capital from [[Lodhruva]] to [[Jaisalmer]] because the former was vulnerable to attacks from Turko-Afghan and Baloch tribes. The descendants of Jaisal continued to exercise absolute control over Jaisalmer until 1818 CE, when a treaty of [[subsidiary alliance]] with the [[British East India Company]] bringing under British protection and sphere of influence. Known as the Maharawal, the native ruler of the princely state was entitled to a 15-gun salute.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V24_392.gif |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 24, p. 386. |access-date=20 February 2021 |archive-date=24 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124130413/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V24_392.gif |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:One Rupee coin of 1756, from the Princely state of Jaisalmer, minted during the reign of Ranjit Singh, photographed from a personal collection, May 7, 2024.jpg|thumb|One Rupee coin of 1756, from the Princely state of Jaisalmer, minted during the reign of Ranjit Singh.]][[File:Asia 800ad.jpg|thumb|The Bhati kingdom, marked as Multan in 800 CE]]The Bhatis of [[Jaisalmer]] belonged to the [[Bhati]] dynasty, a [[Yaduvanshi Rajput|Yaduvanshi]] clan of [[Rajput]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |first1=Mohammad |last1=Habib |first2=Khaliq Ahmad |last2=Nizami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WzARcgAACAAJ |title=A Comprehensive History of India |volume=5 |publisher=People’s Publishing House |location=New Delhi |year=1970 |page=838}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kothiyal|2016|pp=18, 55–60, 70}} They reportedly originated in [[Mathura]] through a common ancestor named [[Rao Bhati]], who is claimed to be a descendant of [[Pradyumna]].{{Sfn|Lethbridge|1900|p=112}}{{Sfn|Bond|Wright|2006|p=325}} According to the seventeenth-century ''[[Nainsi ri Khyat]]'', the Bhatis after losing Mathura moved to [[Bhatner]] in [[Lakhi Jungle (jungle)|Lakhi Jungle]], and from there to other locations in [[Western India|western]] and [[Northwest India|northwestern India]] including [[Rajasthan]] and [[Punjab]]. Rao Bhati conquered and annexed territories from 14 princes in Punjab, including the area of what is now modern-day [[Lahore]].<ref>Yadav, J. N. Singh (1992). ''Yādavas Through The Ages (From Ancient Period to Date)'' (in 2 Vol.), Delhi: Sharada Publishing House, {{ISBN|978-81-85616-03-2}}, pp. 68–71</ref>{{Sfn|Bond|Wright|2006}} He is also credited with establishing the modern town of [[Bathinda]] in the Lakhi Jungle area in the 3rd century.{{Sfn|Lethbridge|1900|p=112}}According to [[Satish Chandra (historian)|Satish Chandra]], the [[Hindu Shahis]] of Afghanistan made an alliance with the Bhati rulers of [[Multan]], because they wanted to end the slave raids made by the Turkic ruler of [[Ghazni]], however the alliance was defeated by [[Alp-Tegin]] in 977 CE.<ref>Medieval India 1206-1526 part one, pg.17 by Satish Chandra</ref>

In 1156, [[Rawal Jaisal]] moved his capital from [[Lodhruva]] to [[Jaisalmer]] and the state took its name from this new capital.

[[File:Rawal Jaisal Singh, the founder and first ruler of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer.jpg|thumb|[[Rawal Jaisal]], founder of [[Jaisalmer Fort]].]]

[[File:Jaisalmer_forteresse.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2.5|[[Jaisalmer Fort]], built in 1156 AD by the [[Rajput]] Rawal (ruler) [[Rawal Jaisal|Jaisal]].]]

Around 1299 CE, Rawal Jait Singh I faced a long siege by [[Alauddin Khalji]] of [[Delhi Sultanate]], who is said to have been provoked by a Bhati raid on his treasure caravan. By the end of the siege, facing certain defeat, the Bhati Rajput women committed '[[Jauhar]]', and the male warriors under the command of Mularaja met their fatal end in battle with the Sultan's forces. For a few years after the successful siege, the fort remained under the sway of [[Delhi Sultanate]], before being eventually reoccupied by some surviving Bhatis.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Rima Hooja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqd1RAAACAAJ|title=A HISTORY OF RAJASTHAN (PB)|date=2006|isbn=978-81-291-1501-0|pages=368}}</ref>

In 1541 CE, Rawal Lunakaran also fought [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Humayun]] when the latter attacked the fort on his way to [[Ajmer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2709/stories/20100507270906400.htm|title=Fort full of life|website=www.frontline.in|access-date=2017-12-11|archive-date=5 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105034432/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2709/stories/20100507270906400.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He also offered his daughter in marriage to emperor [[Akbar]]. Mughals controlled the fort until 1762.<ref name=Verma>{{cite book|title=Forts of India|last=Verma|first=Amrit|year=2003|publisher=The Director, Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|pages=21–23|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-230-1002-8}}</ref>

The treaty between the [[East India Company]] and Mulraj on 12 December 1818 allowed the Mulraj to retain control of the fort and provided for protection from invasion. After the death of Mulraj in 1820, his grandson Gaj Singh inherited control of the fort.<ref name=Verma/>

===Modern history (Princely state of Jaisalmer)===
On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a [[British protectorate]] in the [[Rajputana Agency]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_A-J.html |title=Princely States of India |access-date=14 August 2018 |archive-date=20 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520133316/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_A-J.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RajGz">{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.71381 |title=Provincial Gazetteers Of India: Rajputana |publisher=Government of India |date=2018-08-14}}</ref>

[[File:Jaisalmer_and_Neighbours.svg|thumb|Map of Jaisalmer State with the [[Thikana|duchies]] of Satto, Pithala, Loharki, Lakhmana, Didhu, Kanod, Tota, Bhadariya, and Nachna]]

Traditionally, in the Middle Ages, the main source of income for the kingdom was levies on [[Caravan (travellers)|caravan]]s, but the economy was heavily affected when [[Bombay]] emerged as a major port and sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. Maharawal Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh attempted to turn around the economic decline but the dramatic reduction in trade impoverished the kingdom. A severe [[drought]] and the resulting [[famine]] from 1895 to 1900, during the reign of Maharawal Salivahan Singh, only made matters worse by causing widespread loss of the livestock that the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom relied upon.

The attempts of Maharawal Jawahir Singh (1914–1949) at modernization were also not entirely successful in turning the kingdom's economy around, and the drylands of Jaisalmer remained backward compared with other regions of [[Rajputana]], especially the neighbouring state of [[Jodhpur State|Jodhpur]]. Nonetheless, the extensive water storage and supply, sanitation, and health infrastructures developed in the 1930s by the prime minister Dewan Bahadur Brijmohan Nath Zutshi provided significant relief during the severe droughts of 1941 and 1951. Maharawal During 1930–1947, Jawahir Singh and his ministers also promoted technical education and the academic disciplines of civil and mechanical engineering in the state.

After the departure of the British from India in 1947, the Maharawal signed an [[Instrument of Accession]] to the new [[Dominion of India|Union of India]], while retaining some internal autonomy until the 1950s.

==List of rulers==

=== Rawals ===

*[[Rawal Jaisal|Rawal Jaisal Singh]] (1153–1168), official founder of the kingdom
*Rawal Shalivahan Singh II (1168–1200)
*Rawal Bijal Singh (1200–1200)
*Rawal Kailan Singh (1200–1219)
*Rawal Chachak Dev Singh (1219–1241)
*Rawal Karan Singh I (1241–1271)
*Rawal Lakhan Sen (1271–1275)
*Rawal Punpal Singh (1275–1276)
*Rawal Jait Singh I (1276–1294)
*Rawal Mulraj Singh I (1294–1295)
*Rawal Durjan Sal (Duda) (1295–1306)
*Rawal Gharsi Singh (1306–1335)
*Rawal Kehar Singh II (1335–1402)
*Rawal Lachman Singh (1402–1436)
*Rawal Bersi Singh (1436–1448)
*Rawal Chachak Dev Singh II (1448–1457)
*Rawal Devidas Singh (1457–1497)
*Rawal Jait Singh II (1497–1530)
*Rawal Karan Singh II (1530–1530)
*Rawal Lunkaran Singh (1530–1551)
*Rawal Maldev Singh (1551–1562)
*Rawal Harraj Singh (1562–1578)
*Rawal Bhim Singh (1578–1624)
*Rawal Kalyan Das (1624–1634)
*Rawal Manohar Das (1634–1648)
*Rawal Ramchandra Dev (1648–1651)
*Rawal Sabal Singh (1651–1661)

=== Maharawals ===
*Maharawal Amar Singh of Jaisalmer (1661–1702)
*Maharawal Jaswant Singh of Jaisalmer (1702–1708)
*Maharawal Budh Singh (1708–1722)
*Maharawal Akhai Singh (1722–1762)
*Maharawal Mulraj Singh II (1762–1820)
*Maharawal Gaj Singh (1820–1846)
*Maharawal Ranjit Singh (1846–1864)
*HH Maharawal Sir [[Bairi Sal (ruler)|Bairi Sal]] (1864–1891)
*HH Maharawal Sir [[Shalivahan Singh|Shalivahan Singh III]] (1891 –1914)
*HH Maharawal Sir [[Jawahir Singh]] (1914–1949), last ruler of the state.
*HH Maharawal [[Girdhar Singh]] (1949–1950), he was instrumental in merging his former state with [[Rajasthan]] [[Rajputana Agency|Union]] in the year 1949 forming Greater Rajasthan in 1950.

=== Titular rulers ===

* Maharawal [[Raghunath Singh of Jaisalmer|Raghunath Singh]] (1950–1982) [[Government of India]] [[Amendment of the Constitution of India|abolished]] his right to the Privy Purse, hereditary titles and other privileges in 1971.
* Maharawal [[Brijraj Singh Bhati|Brijraj Singh]] (1982–2020)
* Maharawal [[Chaitanya Raj Singh]] (since 2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chaitanya Raj Singh becomes the 44th Maharawal of Jaisalmer |url=https://firstindia.co.in/news/rajasthan/chaitanya-raj-singh-becomes-the-44th-maharawal-of-jaisalmer |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=firstindia.co.in |language=en}}</ref>

=== Dewans ===

*List of [[Dewans]] (chief ministers)

# Mohata Nathmal (1885–1890)
# Thakur kado singh (1890-1895)
# Mehta Jagjiwan (1895–1903)
# Thakur Kushal Singh (acting) (1890?–1900)
# Rawatmal Purohit Khetrapalia (acting) (1900–1909)
# Lakshmi Das Sapat (1909–1911)
# Mohammed Niyaz Ali Kazi (1911–1912)
# Murarji Rooji (1912–1930)
# M.L. Khosala
# Pandit Jamana Lal
# Munshi Nand Kishore
# Lala Rakhpat Raj
# P.K. Shurugula
# Brij Mohan Nath Zutshi
# Anand Swaroop
# Onkar Singh
# Lakhpat Rai Sikund (1940–1942)

==In popular culture ==

* '''''Jaisalmer ka Gundaraj''''' (lit. '''''Atrocious rule of Jaisalmer [king]'''''), by the [[Sagarmal Gopa]] (1900–46) - a [[freedom fighter]] and patriot from Jaisalmer district.<ref name="Saxena1971">{{cite book|author=K. S. Saxena|title=The Political Movements and Awakening in Rajasthan: 1857 to 1947|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wUoMAAAAIAAJ|year=1971|publisher=S. Chand}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of princely states of British India (by region)]]
* [[List of princely states of British India (alphabetical)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Jaisalmer |volume=15 |page=129 |short=1}}

{{Princely states of India}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|26.92|N|70.9|E|region:IN-GU_type:city_source:kolossus-cawiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Princely states of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Jaisalmer district]]
[[Category:12th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:1156 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:1947 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:States under the Rajputana Agency]]

Kingdom of Jaisalmer - Revision history

Nagaraj15 at 19:19, 11 April 2026