| Conventional Long Name: | Gohad State |
| Common Name: | Gohad |
| Era: | Medieval India |
| Year Start: | 1505 |
| Year End: | 1805 |
| Common Languages: | Hindi |
| Title Leader: | Maharaj Rana |
| Event End: | Gohad annexed by Gwalior |
| P1: | Delhi Sultanate |
| S1: | Gwalior State |
| Flag P1: | Delhi Sultanate Flag.svg |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Gwalior (State).svg |
| Image Map Caption: | Gohad near north side of Gwalior |
| Today: | India Madhya Pradesh |
| Leader2: | Kirat Singh |
| Year Leader2: | 1803–1805 (last) |
| Capital: | Gohad |
Gohad State or Kingdom of Gohad was a Jat kingdom in India.[1] It was established by Jat King Singhadev II in 1505. The state was ruled by Jats.[2]
The royal family of Gohad traces its origin to Punjab, from there the Malav-vanshi Dhaliwal (original gotra of Gohad rulers) Jats migrated to Agra and later their first Raja conquered territories in Bairat (south of Alwar), he was Rana Jai Singh who reigned in the 12th century and was an ally of Tomar king Anangpal of Delhi.[3] After a century, Rana Jai Singh's successor Rana Palun Singh helped Prithivraj Chahmana and martyred fighting with his force. Rana Birhanpal, successor of Palun Singh settled at Bamrauli, near Agra in 1195 AD. It is from this place that the family derives its surname (Bamraulia). His descendants ruled there till 1367 AD. Rana Birhanpal's eight descendant Rana Ratanpal joined the Tomar ruler at Gwalior and helped him to win over Muslim forces in 1375.[4]
Rana Sujan Deo/ Singhadev II, fifth in descent from Rana Ratanpal conquered Gohad and adjacent territories in 1505. His Rana title was acknowledged by Sikander Lodhi. From there, his descendants ruled the Northern Madhya Pradesh or Northern Malwa, which extended to 56 mahals or districts and attained a revenue of 66 lakh rupees per annum under Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana (1702–56), the thirteenth Jat ruler of Gohad. He expanded his kingdom and became an important ruler in the centre of the Indian subcontinent and became the overlord of the whole Trans-Chambal region and succeeded in capturing the historic fort of Gwalior in the 1750s.[5]
Later, Maharaj Bhim Singh passed away due to the treacherous conspiracy of Marathas under Vitthal Shivdeo. Burning with resentment against Sindhia, Bhim Singh's nephew & successor Maharaj Rana Chhatar Singh seized Gwalior Fort in 1761.[6] Six years later, Peshwa Raghunath Rao of Maratha confederacy besieged Gohad. He couldn't win over Maharaj Chhatar and had to uplift the siege after attaining a major loss of money and troops and he was stuck under debt; also open revolt broke out in his army camps.[7] Maharaja defeated Marathas in many battles. Another attack on Gohad city was made by Faujdar Melsarao Appa of Bhilsa and Amba Ingle in 1778, the Maratha army was defeated by Jats.[8]
Marathas again decided to attack Gohad Jat kingdom in early 1780 and tried to occupy fortresses (garhis) near Gohad region. These attacks were led by Amba Ingle and Khanderao Hari. Chhatar Singh, in order to subdue Maratha forces, attacked the Maratha forces and a battle was fought 10 km before Gwalior, which resulted in Jats gaining an upper hand in the campaign. Marathas forces fled after hearing the incoming support of British army and thus, the Jats won over the Marathas.[9]
Later, in the same year, Maharaja Chhatar Singh Rana invaded Lahar state of Kachwaha Rajputs. He defeated them and added Lahar and adjacent territories in his kingdom with the help of Capt. Popham.[10]
Rana Chhatar Singh planned to recapture Gwalior. He sent a detachment under Ch. Brajraj Singh, the battle was fought b/w Jats and Marathas (under Peshwa Raghunath Rao) on the riverside of Swarna-Rekha. Chaudhary Brajraj became a martyr during this battle, but the Jats were able to win Gwalior Fort. After this victory, a yagna was performed by Maharaj Rana and gifted 4000 cows and took no. of steps for the wellbeing of native residents. He also established the cenotaph (chattri) of the late Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana near present-day Bhim-taal in Gwalior fort.[11]
Maharaja Chhatar Singh handed over the administration of Gwalior fort to his younger queen. Later, jealous of the success of Jat Raja, Mahadaji Sindhia planned an attack to conquer Gwalior. In 1782, he besieged Gwalior and bribed one of Maharani's trusted guards & prepared him to depart from Jat Raja along with 2000 troops. Seeing no scope of victory, Maharani committed Jauhar on 27 February 1783 and Marathas occupied the fort. The place is still renowned as Jauhar-kund in Gwalior Fort.[12]