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{{Short description|Early modern kingdom in North India (1721–1774)}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox former country
| native_name = Katehir
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Rohilkhand
| common_name = Rohilkhand =
| era =
| event_start = Conquests of Aonla and Barha by [[Ali Mohammed Khan]]
| date_start =
| year_start = 1721
| event_end = [[First Rohilla War]]
| date_end =
| year_end = 1774
| event_post =
| date_post =
| p1 = Mughal Empire
| flag_p1 = Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg
| p2 =
| flag_p2 =
| p3 =
| flag_p3 =
| p4 =
| flag_p4 =
| p5 =
| flag_p5 =
| p6 =
| flag_p6 =
| s1 = Oudh State
| s2 = Rampur State
| s3 =
| s4 =
| s5 =
| s6 =
| s7 =
| s8 =
| s9 =
| flag_s1 =
| flag_s2 =
| flag_s3 =
| flag_s4 =
| flag_s5 =
| flag_s6 =
| flag_s7 =
| flag_s8 =
| flag_s9 =
| image_flag = Flag of the Rampur State.svg
| flag_alt =
| flag_caption = Flag of the Rohilla
| image_coat =
| symbol_type =
| coat_alt =
| image_map = India Rohilkhand.png
| image_map_alt = Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Map contains most of India
| image_map_caption = Rohilkhand in India highlighted
| national_motto =
| national_anthem =
| capital = [[Aonla, Uttar Pradesh|Aonla]]
| common_languages = ;Official language
:[[Persian language|Persian]]
;Unofficial minority languages
: [[Urdu]], [[Pashto]], [[Brij Bhasha]]
| government_type = [[Rohilla dynasty|Absolute monarchy]]
| title_leader = Nawab
| leader1 = [[Ali Mohammed Khan]]
| year_leader1 = 1721–1748
| leader2 = [[Abdullah Khan of Rohilkhand|Abdullah Khan]]
| year_leader2 = 1748–1754
| leader3 = [[Saadullah Khan of Rohilkhand|Saadullah Khan]]
| year_leader3 = 1754–1764
| leader4 = [[Faizullah Khan]]
| year_leader4 = 1764–1774
| title_deputy = Regent of Rohilkhand
| deputy1 = [[Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech|Hafiz Rehmat Khan Barech]]
| year_deputy1 = 1748–1774
| deputy2 =
| year_deputy2 =
| legislature = Rohilla council
| house1 =
| type_house1 = State council
| stat_year1 = 1748
| religion = [[Islam]]
| area =
| area_km2 =
| area_sq_mi =
| area_footnote =
| population_estimate_rank =
| population_estimate_year = 1774
| population_census =
| population_census_year =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_density_rank =
| currency =
| footnotes =
| today =
}}

The '''Kingdom of Rohilkhand''' was a [[Petty kingdom|petty kingdom]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bandyopādhyāẏa |first1=Śekhara |title=From Plassey to Partition: A History of Modern India |date=2004 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=9788125025962 |page=30 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0oVra0ulQ3QC&dq=Kingdom+of+Rohilkhand&pg=PA30}}</ref> under nominal Mughal suzerainty, that rose under the declining [[Mughal Empire]] in 1721 and continued to exist until 1774 when it was defeated by Oudh. The British transformed its significantly reduced borders into the [[princely state]] of [[Rampur State|Rampur]]. [[Ali Mohammed Khan|Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan]] became the first [[Nawab]] of [[Rohilkhand]], having been previously elected as overlord by various Afghan chiefs at the age of fourteen. He would carve out the future kingdom from the collapsing [[Mughal Empire]] and go on to the found the [[Rohilla dynasty]]. The crown would go on being held by the Rohillas until the kingdom came to an end in 1774, and thereafter the same dynasty would rule over [[Rampur State|Rampur]].
[[File:IGI1908India1765a.jpg|thumb|Rohilkhand Territory in 1765.]]
Most of Rohilkhand's borders were established by [[Ali Mohammed Khan]] and largely came into existence as a check to the power of [[Oudh State]] and in that capacity, Nawab Ali Mohammed was supported by the Wazir al Mulk, [[Itimad-ad-Daula, Qamar-ud-Din Khan|Qamarudin Khan]]. Nonetheless, the state grew far more influential with its borders extending to the boundaries of Delhi and Agra. In 1757, the powerful Maratha Empire [[Battle of Delhi (1757)|defeated]] the Rohillas and Afghans near Delhi and [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib Khan]] was taken prisoner. In 1772, Rohillas were defeated by a larger Maratha force When they could not repay the debt, Nawab of Oudh invaded Rohilkhand in 1773. Most of the kingdom was annexed at the end of the [[First Rohilla War]] into Oudh, when the mismanagement of [[Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech|Hafiz Rehmat Khan]] along with the internal division of the Rohilla Confederation led to the weakening of central authority.<ref>War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740-1849</ref>

== Origin ==
[[Ali Mohammed Khan]] was an enterprising soldier who established the kingdom of Rohilkhand. [[Rohillas]] are [[Afghans]] who migrated to north India during the 17th and 18th centuries. However, the [[Rohilla dynasty]] descended from Nawab Ali Muhammed Khan, who was a [[Jat Muslim|Jat]]<ref name="Irvine 1971 p.118">{{cite book | last=Irvine | first=W. | title=Later Mughal | publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri | year=1971 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ak5oFjTys8MC | access-date=30 July 2022 | page=118 | quote= Once Daud was sent against the village of Bankauli, in pargana Chaumahla, with which his employer was at feud. Along with the plunder taken on this occasion Daud obtained possession of a Jat boy seven or eight years of age, whom he caused to be circumcised and then adopted under the name of Ali Muhammad Khan.}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite book | last=Ḥusain | first=M. | author2=Pakistan Historical Society | title=A History of the Freedom Movement: 1707–1831 | publisher=Pakistan Historical Society | series=A History of the Freedom Movement: Being the Story of Muslim Struggle for the Freedom of Hind-Pakistan, 1707–1947 | year=1957 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mo-GvHjoH-cC | access-date=30 July 2022 | page=304 | quote= Amongst other prisoners he obtained a young Jat boy of eight years . Daud took a fancy to him and adopted him as his son and named him ' Ali Muhammad Khan.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Gommans |first=Jos J. L.|author-link=Jos Gommans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-2TH8UYeAaoC&dq=most+of+the+contemporary+sources+call+him+a+jat+or+ahir&pg=PA120 |title=The Rise of the Indo-Afghan Empire: c. 1710–1780 |date=1995 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-10109-8 |language=en|page=120|quote="Most of the contemporary sources, however, call him a Jat or an Ahir."}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Strachey |first=Sir John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D5Q5AQAAIAAJ&dq=This+remarkable+chief+was+not+Afghan+by+birth+but+a+Hindu&pg=PA11 |title=Hastings and the Rohilla War |date=1892 |publisher=Clarendon Press |language=en|page=11|quote="...this remarkable chief was not an Afghan by birth, but a Hindu, a Jat by caste."}}</ref> boy of age eight when he was adopted by the chief of the [[Barech|Barech tribe]], Sardar Daud Khan Rohilla.<ref name=":3"/> Daud Khan was the son Shah Alam, who belonged to the [[Barech]] tribe. After his murder by the Raja of Kumaon, Ali Mohammed rose as the 14-year-old leader of his foster father's militia.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Playne |first1=Somerset |title=Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey |date=1921–1922 |isbn=812061965X |page=357|publisher=Asian Educational Services }}</ref> Due to the role he played in the establishment of [[Rohilkhand]] and in the general history of Rohillas, he gained recognition as a Rohilla chief, although he was not Afghan by birth.<ref name=":1"/> In the 19th century, descendants of Ali Mohammed Khan, specifically the [[Nawabs of Rampur]], started claiming that he was a [[Barha dynasty|Barha Sayyid]] and began using the title of Sayyid. However, they could not present any [[pedigree chart|pedigree]] or valid historical proof in the support of this claim.<ref name=":2"/> The Nawabs even sought service of a prominent religious leader of Rampur, Najmul Ghani for establishing ancestry from [[Ali]], which was widely rejected.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Srivastava |first=Ashirbadi Lal |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.81116/2015.81116.The-First-Two-Nawabs-Of-Oudh_djvu.txt&ved=2ahUKEwiWle26ns78AhW7QaQEHZw3DsoQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw01vuR-nUCSSqDiBQ5VLkVH |access-date=17 January 2023 |title=The First Two Nawabs Of Oudh|page=103|quote="Contemporary Persian authorities say that Ali Muhammad Khan was of Jat parents . See Gulistan . 7; Abdulka . " rim, 88b, Ashob, 424; Siyar . II 480. A partisan attempt has, however, been made in morden times to prove that he was a Sayyid. Najmul Ghani of Rampur has invented a false pedigree of the Khan, tracing it to Muhammad. The Maulvi's discussion is altogether unconvincing and thoroughly ridiculous. His object is to prove that the present ruler of Rampur is a Sayyid."}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Silver Rupee of the Rohilkhand Kingdom, minted in Qasba Panipat, struck in the name of Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, with having "saya-e-fazle elah" couplet, Swastika and Parasol marks.jpg|thumb|Silver Rupee from the Kingdom of Rohilkhand, minted in Qasba Panipat, struck in the name of Mughal emperor [[Shah Alam II]], with having "saya-e-fazle elah" couplet, Swastika and Parasol marks.]]
With the death of [[Aurangzeb]] and subsequent collapse of administration under the emperor [[Muhammad Shah]], Mughal Authority in the area collapsed, Rohilla immigration increased, although there were descendants of Pathans long domiciled in India. The Mughal authority was further weakened by [[Nader Shah's invasion of India]], allowing Ali Muhammad Khan to extend his power. The Rohillas began to emerge as a mixture of old domiciled Indian [[Pathans of Uttar Pradesh|Pathan]] families, Indian converts to Islam and new adventurers from the northwest, who were in the process of developing a real or fictive kinship based on newly forged marriage alliances.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tGTd9KKwKVwC&dq=country-born+rohilla&pg=PA23 |title= The Kingdom of Afghanistan: A Historical Sketch|author= G.P. Tate |date=2001 |page=23|publisher= Asian Educational Services|isbn= 9788120615861}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xfo3AAAAIAAJ&dq=pedigree+pathan&pg=PA120 |title= Rulers, Townsmen and Bazaars: North Indian Society in the Age of British Expansion, 1770–1870 |author= C. A. Bayly |date=1988 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=120|isbn= 9780521310543 }}</ref>

===Ali Mohammed Khan ===
{{main|Ali Mohammed Khan}}
A man of ability and courage, Ali Mohammed Khan attracted many adventurers by his great reputation and arose as the most powerful man in Katehir. Ali Muhammad Khan distinguished himself by helping in suppressing the rebellion of the powerful Indian Muslim [[Sadaat-e-Bara|Barah Sayyids]], who were formerly de facto rulers of the [[Mughal Empire]],<ref>{{Cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=25MbAQAAIAAJ&dq=sayyid+barha+rural&pg=PA68 |title= The Imperial Gazetteer of India: Volume 10 |page=68 |author= William Wilson Hunter |date=1885 |publisher=the University of California }}</ref> and who had under their chief Saifudddin Barha put the Mughal governor Marhamat Khan and all of his followers to death.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9jaXsOc-tEC&dq=saif+ali+jansath&pg=PA605 |title= Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account of the North-Western Provinces of India: 3.:Meerut division part 2 {{*}} Volume 3 |page= 605 |date= 1876 |author= Edwin Thomas Atkinson |publisher= National Central Library of Florence }}</ref> As a reward Ali Muhammad Khan was given the title of Nawab by Muhammad Shah in 1737. He gained favour with the lower rungs of society and by the invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 he further strengthened his position attractinga large swath of afghans who took employment with him. For the subsequent five years, his authority was left unchallenged. {{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 1745 a quarrel arose between Ali Mohammed and Safdar Jang the Subedar of Oudh. Retainers of Ali Mohammed seized the property of servants belonging to Safdar Jang. Safdar Jang who was already jealous at the growing power of Ali Mohammad went to the Emperor Muhammad Shah, and through him ordered the return of the confiscated property as well as the arrest of the Rohillas in-charge of the confiscation. After the refusal of Ali Mohammed, Safdar Jang led an Imperial expedition together with the Emperor present in person and after being deserted by his men Ali Mohammed was captured and taken to Delhi.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

He was treated honourably and respectfully by the Emperor, in large part due to his influence among his adherent who were still at large. The necessity to consulate Ali Mohammed led to his appointment as Governor of Sirhind (the area between Jummuna and Sutlej).{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 1748 the invasion by Ahmed Shah Abidali allowed Ali Mohammed the opportunity to return to Katehir and re-establish his rule. Upon his return, he was rejoined by most of his former men and soon he was virtually independent in his control of Rohilkhand. To ensure loyalty almost all positions of power were given to Afghan and several like [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib-ud-Daula]] received land grants.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Strachey |first1=Sir John |title=Hastings and the Rohilla War |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.33013 |date=1892 |publisher=Clarendon Press, Oxford University |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.33013/page/n40 10]–14}}</ref>

=== Rohilla Council ===
{{main|Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech}}
On his death-bed Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan made the previously humble and lowly Rohilla, [[Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech|Hafiz Rehmat Khan]] as Guardian of Rohilkhand until his sons reached majority. Ali Mohammad's cousin Dunde Khan was made Commander-in-chief, Niamut Khan and Silabat Khan were entrusted with the General Administration. Futte Khan who was Ali's favourite retainer was made Khanfaman, while Sirdar Khan was made Bakshi or Paymaster. All of these men were granted districts to rule over as a trust until the majority of his Ali Muhammad children but these trusts were quickly usurped by most of these men upon the death of the Nawab.<ref name="Nawab Rohilkhand"/>

Ali Mohammad's capital was Aolna, in the district of Bareilly. After his death in 1749, Rehmat Khan became the 'Hafiz' or chief guardian of his sons during their minority. Ali Mohammad left six sons, Faizullah Khan and Abdullah Khan being elder sons. Before his death, he made arrangements to divide the Kingdom among them and asked Rehmat Khan to make solemn assurance and swore upon Koran to observe the promise.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Strachey |first1=Sir John |title=Hastings and the Rohilla War |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.33013 |date=1892 |publisher=Clarendon Press, Oxford University |page=15}}</ref> However in 1754, Hafiz Rehmat resolved no longer to regard the pledges and appropriated to themselves most valuable portions of Rohilkhand. The larger share was taken by Hafiz Rehmat and he virtually became the ruler. Smaller districts were assigned to Faizullah Khan and Abdullah Khan, elder sons of Ali Mohammad, and to several influential chiefs.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Strachey |first1=Sir John |title=Hastings and the Rohilla War |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.33013 |date=1892 |publisher=Clarendon Press, Oxford University |page=}}</ref> This led to a confederation-like structure of government with the Nawab of Rohilkhand at its head and the Rohilla Chiefs in charge of their own Rohilla States answering to him especially in regards to military engagements.

Although the council carried out to an extent its purpose, especially in the form of [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib-ad-Daula]] who often went to great lengths in securing Rohilkhand's safety and Futtee Khan who remained loyal to the royal family. Ultimately Rehmat Khan and Dundi Khan's machinations won out and Ali Mohammed Khan's children were in large part sidelined in the new government.<ref name="Nawab Rohilkhand">{{cite book |last1=Hamilton |first1=Charles |title=An Historical Relation of the origin, progress and final dissolution of the Rohilla Afghans in the northern provinces of Hindostan |pages=90–92}}</ref> Hafiz Rehmat died in 1774 Rohilla War and Faizullah Khan, eldest surviving son in the war became the newly acknowledged head. He signed a treaty where he retained his former territory in Rampur. Thus, The Rohilla State of Rampur was established by [[Nawab Faizullah Khan]] on 7 October 1774 in the presence of British Commander Colonel Champion, and remained a pliant state under British protection thereafter.

==== Rohilla States ====
The weakening of the central government led to the formation of around a dozen Rohilla states. Four of these states were created during the division of Rohilkhand at the request of the [[Durrani Empire|Afghan emperor]], [[Ahmed-Shah-Abdali|Ahmed Shah Abidali]], for the sons of [[Ali Mohammed Khan|Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan]]:
#Badaun ([[Abdullah Khan of Rohilkhand|Nawab Abdullah Khan]])
#Moradabad ([[Saadullah Khan of Rohilkhand|Nawab Saadullah Khan]])
#Rampur ([[Faizullah Khan|Nawab Faizullah Khan]])
#Bareilly ([[Muhammad Yar Khan of Bareilly|Nawab Muhammad Yar Khan]])

Many Rohilla chiefs also became independent after 1748. Notable Rohilla chieftaincies included:
#Najibabad ([[Najib ad-Dawlah|Nawab Najib ad Daula]])
#Farrukhabad ([[Muhammad Khan Bangash]])
#Pilibhit ([[Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech|Hafiz Rehmat Khan]])

===First Rohilla War===
{{main|First Rohilla War}}

Rohillas had sought assistance from the [[Nawab of Oudh]] [[Shuja-ud-Daula]] in 1772 to expel the [[Maratha Empire]] from [[Rohilkhand]]. However, they could not pay their debt back and in 1773, the Nawab decided to annexe their country. He appealed to [[Warren Hastings]] for assistance, which was given in return for a sum of forty [[lakh]]s of rupees.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} The Rohillas under [[Hafiz Rahmat Ali Khan]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/sasia/crafts1820/introduc.html |title=Introduction to the Eleven Illustrations of Ghulam Yahya |access-date=10 October 2007 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608011910/http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/sasia/crafts1820/introduc.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> were defeated by Colonel [[Alexander Champion (East India Company officer)|Alexander Champion]] on 23 April 1774 at the [[Battle of Miranpur Katra]]. The decisive battle, in which Hafiz Rahmat Khan died, caused the Rohillas to flee to the mountains near Loll Dong. Rohilkhand fell to Awadh, was plundered and occupied. The majority of the Rohillas left. A Rohilla state under British protection was set up in [[Rampur, Uttar Pradesh|Rampur]], and [[Faizullah Khan]] managed to become its Nawab. The kingdom of Rohilkhand was abolished, and afterwards became part of [[Oudh State]].

==List of Nawabs==

{| class="wikitable"
! style="background-color:#F0DC82" | Nawab
! style="background-color:#F0DC82" | Relation with previous Nawab
! style="background-color:#F0DC82" | Rule
|-
|colspan=4 align="center"| ''Formation of Kingdom of Rohilkhand''
|-
|align="center"| [[Ali Mohammed Khan|Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan]] 
|align="center"| Founder 
|align="center"| 1721–1748
|-
|- style="background:lightgreen"
|align="center"| [[Abdullah Khan of Rohilkhand|Nawab Abdullah Khan]] 
|align="center"| Son
|align="center"|1748–1754
|-
|- style="background:lightgreen"
|align="center"|[[Saadullah Khan of Rohilkhand|Nawab Saadullah Khan]] 
|align="center"| Brother
|align="center"|1754–1764
|-
|- style="background:lightgreen"
|align="center"|[[Faizullah Khan|Nawab Faizullah Khan]] 
|align="center"| Brother
|align="center"|1764–1774
|-
|colspan=4 align="center"| ''Conquest by Oudh. Green row signifies the regency of [[Hafiz Rahmat Ali Khan]]''.
|}

== Demographics ==
There was an unusually large proportion of Muslim converts who represented a quarter of the population while the majority of the inhabitants were Hindu.<ref name="Hastings and the Rohilla War">{{cite book |last1=Strachey |first1=Sir John |title=Hastings and the Rohilla War |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.33013 |date=1892 |publisher=Clarendon Press, Oxford University |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.33013/page/n40 10]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:States and territories established in 1721]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1774]]
[[Category:Rohilkhand]]
[[Category:Rohilla]]
[[Category:Rampur, Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Muslim period in the Indian subcontinent]]
[[Category:Vassal and tributary states of the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Kingdom of Rohilkhand]]

Kingdom of Rohilkhand - Revision history

Viji at 10:11, 29 April 2026