| Native Name: | Khambhat State |
| Conventional Long Name: | Cambay State |
| Nation: | British Raj |
| Subdivision: | Vassal state of Maratha Confederacy (1757 - 1803) Princely State |
| Year Start: | 1730 |
| Year End: | 1948 |
| Event End: | Indian independence |
| P1: | Mughal Empire |
| S1: | India |
| Flag S1: | Flag of India.svg |
| Image Map Caption: | Cambay State in modern state of Gujarat |
| Motto: | "Dar Babi Farhat ("This Is the Gate of Joy") |
| Stat Area1: | 906 |
| Stat Year1: | 1901 |
| Stat Pop1: | 75,122 |
| Capital: | Khambhat |
Khambhat state or Cambay state was a princely state in India during the British Raj. The city of Khambhat in present-day Gujarat was its capital. The state was bounded in the north by the Kaira district and in the south by the Gulf of Khambhat.
Cambay was the only state in the Kaira Agency of the Gujarat division of the Bombay Presidency, which merged into the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency in 1937.
Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs had established the State of Cambay. Cambay was invaded in 1730 by the penultimate Mughal governor of Gujarat, Mirza Ja‘far Mu’min Khan I, the last of the Mughal governors of Gujarat, at the time of the dismemberment of Mughal rule in India. In 1742 Mirza Ja‘far Mu’min Khan I defeated his brother-in-law Nizam Khan, governor of Khambhat, and established himself in his place.
After taking possession of the town in April 1753, Raghunathrao advanced to Sorath and, upon his return, extracted a substantial tribute from the Nawab of Cambay. Leaving a deputy in Ahmedabad, Raghunathrao's forces marched against the same chief in 1754 but were unable to collect any tribute on this occasion. As the Nawab had strengthened his position and expanded his territories, the Peshwa's deputy led a second campaign against him, only to be defeated and taken prisoner. Despite securing the deputy's release, the Peshwa's representative continued to press for tribute arrears, ultimately securing a future payment agreement before retreating to the Deccan. Seizing this opportunity, the Nawab fortified his army and captured Ahmedabad from the Maratha garrison. However, by April 1757, Damaji and Khande Rao Gaikwad, along with the Peshwa's agent Sadashiv, besieged the city, compelling the Nawab to surrender after ratifying his proposed conditions. Sayajirao, Damaji's son, was stationed in Ahmedabad, while Sadashiv appointed a deputy and moved to Surat. Following the partition treaty of 1751, Sayaji joined Sadashiv to allocate the tribute shares. In the subsequent year, Maratha troops aided the Raja of Cutch in an expedition against Tatta in Sind. Sadashiv lent the Nawab of Cambay money on behalf of the Peshwa to settle army pay arrears. However, a year later, the Maratha army demanded two years' arrears of tribute, totaling Rs. 20,000, which the Nawab managed to pay, prompting the Marathas to move southwards.[1]
In 1780, Cambay was taken by the British Army, led by General Goddard Richards, but it was restored to the Marathas in 1783. Finally it was ceded to the British by the Peshwa after the Treaty of Bassein in 1803.[2] Cambay became a British protectorate in 1817. The state was provided with a railway in 1901.[3] Cambay's last ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union on 10June 1948.[4]
The traders and the merchants reached here from across the world. Cambay was known for its cotton and silk cloths. Cambay was one of India's most active trade center since the 14th century (Source: Ibn Battuta). After 200 years, Duarte Barbosa described Cambay as an important commercial center with carpets, and other textile goods in Mughal established industries.[5]
The rulers of the state bore the title of 'Nawab' and had the privilege of an 11-gun salute.[6]
The rulers were titled 'Maharaja'. They had the right to an 11 gun salute.
Cambay State Council with S Parmar have been entrusted with the erstwhile princely state of Cambay.