Karauli State Explained

Conventional Long Name:	Karauli State
Common Name:	Karauli
Nation:	British India
Subdivision:	Princely State
Year Start:	1348
Year End:	1949
Event End:	Indian independence
S1:	Matsya Union
Flag S1:	Flag of India.svg
Image Map Caption:	Karauli State (orange) within Rajputana (yellow), in the Imperial Gazetteer of India (1909)
Stat Area1:	3216
Stat Year1:	1931
Stat Pop1:	140,525
Today:	India Rajasthan

Karauli State was a princely state in the north eastern edge of modern day Rajasthan, India from 1348 to 1949. It is located in the cultural Braj region. Karauli city was the capital while Mandrayal or Mandrail was another important town.

History

The rulers of Karauli belonged to the Jadaun clan of Rajputs belonging to the Chandravanshi (Lunar) descent.^[1]

^[2] The founder of the dynasty was Raja Vijaypal who came from Mathura and founded the fort of Bayana in 1040. Vijaypal also came into conflict with the Ghaznavid tribes during his reign. Raja Timanpal (r.1093-1159) was an important ruler of the dynasty, he extended his domain by conquering the territories of modern day Dang, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Gurgaon, Mathura, Agra and Gwalior. Raja Arjunpal founded Karauli in the year 1348. Sultan Mahmud Khilji of the Malwa Sultanate invaded and captured Karauli in 1454 which led the kingdom into a decline. The rulers of Karauli shifted to Untagarh and ruled a small territory. During Mughal Emperor Akbar's reign Raja Gopaldas of Karauli got back his ancestral capital of Karauli.^[3]

British era

For his loyalty to the British Empire, Madan Pal was made a Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India.^[4] The salute of honour, to which the Chiefs of Karauli were entitled, was also enhanced from 15 to 17 in appreciation of the loyal services of Raja Madan Pal, who was also decorated with a rich dress of honour.^{[5] [6]}

The state under Maharaja Ganesh Pal Dev acceded to the Dominion of India on 4 August 1947.^[7] Karauli later merged with the Union of India and became part of the state of Rajasthan.

See also

• Political integration of India
• Rajputana Agency

External links

• Revenue Stamps of the Princely State of Karauli Exhibit by Jiří Černý

26.3°N 77.23°W

Notes and References

1. Book: Lethbridge, Sir Roper . The Golden Book of India. A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. With an Appendix for Ceylon . S. Low, Marston & Company . 1900 . 132 . English.
2. Book: Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath . Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste System and the Bearing of the Sects Towards Each Other and Towards Other Religious Systems . 1896 . Thacker, Spink . 136 . en.
3. Book: Mohammad Habib, Khaliq Ahmad Nizami. A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF INDIA VOL.5. PEOPLE’S PUBLISHING HOUSE, NEW DELHI. 1970. 838–839. Like the Bhatis of Jaisalmer, the chiefs of Karauli also belonged to the Yadava clan of Rajputs. This Yadava dynasty of Karauli began with Vijaypala. He migrated from Mathura and settled in the hilly region of eastern Rajasthan, where he laid the foundation of the fort and the capital of Vijayamandirgarh in 1040. This fort was later known as Bayana. The Khyata writers refer to his conflict with the Turkish invaders from Ghazni, Tawanpala (1093-1159), son of Vijaypal, was a powerful king of this dynasty, constructing the fort of Tawangarh. He extended his kingdom by bringing within it the major parts of Dang, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Gudgaon, Mathura, Agra and Gwalior..
4. Book: Gaur, D. D. . Constitutional Development of Eastern Rajputana States . Usha Publishing House, 1978 . 1978 . 18.
5. Book: Mehta, Markand Nandshankar . The Hind Rajasthan, Or, The Annals of the Native States of India, Volume 1 . Usha, 1985 . 1985 . 332–334.
6. Book: Rajasthan [district Gazetteers].: Sawai Madhopur ]. Printed at Government Central Press, 1981 . 1981 . 40–42.
7. "Instrument of Accession of Karauli State (Rajputana)". Karauli State- Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement signed between H.H. Maharaja Ganesh Pal Deo Bahadur Yadukul Chandra Bhal, Ruler of Karauli State and the Dominion of India. New Delhi: States Department, Government of India. 1947. pp. 2–3, 5. Retrieved 31 January 2023-- via National Archives of India.