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Jayachandra Maharaja's Portrait Painted on Canvas
by Raja Ravi Varma
The royal house belongs to the Rathore clan of Rajputs, descendants
of the Rashtrakuta solar dynasty who ruled in the Deccan during
the 8th century AD. They ruled as vassals of the Gahadwala dynasty
at Kanauj for fourteen centuries, before expulsion from that place
by Shahb ud-din in 1194. Shivaji [Sihoji], also said to be a grandson
or nephew of Jai Chand [Jayachandra], the last Gahadwala ruler of
Kanauj, went on pilgrimage to Dwarka. Halting at Pali, in Marwar,
he befriended some local Brahmins and freed them from bands of marauders.
They asked him to settle there with his family. His descendants
grew in power and extended their domains, until Chanda, ninth in
descent from Shivaji, acquired Mandor, the chief town of Marwar
from the Parihar chief in 1382. Jodhpur city was founded by Chanda's
grandson, Jodha, in 1459. Rao Jodhaji had fourteen sons and twenty-three
brothers, from whom descend the principal rulers and nobles of Jodhpur,
Bikaner, Kishangarh, Rutlam, Sitamau, Idar, Ahmednagar and Jhabua.
No dynasty is more greatly represented amongst the ruling and noble
houses of India. Marriages were also contracted between the Jodhpur
ruling house and the Timurid Mughal dynasty in Delhi. This powerful
alliance provided the Mughals with a formidable Rajput fighting
force, and the Jodhpuris with security in their territories, influence,
power and titles. They were one of the first Rajput families to
be promoted to the rank of Maharaja. However, the increasing power
of the Mahrathas during the seventeenth century threatened the independence
of the state. Heavy tributes and periodic punitive expeditions were
exacted on the Rajput rulers. Jodhpur suffered less than most but
was threatened nevertheless. This prompted overtures to the enemies
of the Mahrathas, the British, and vice versa. After several abortive
attempts at an alliance, treaty relations were eventually established
on 6th January 1818. Thereafter, the Jodhpuri house became one of
the staunchest allies of the Crown. Their military forces serving
in China, Tibet, and Afghanistan and the major theatres of both
world wars. The Maharajas themselves, frequently lead their armies
in the field, in person. The state acceded to the Dominion of India
14th August 1947, some nifty political negotiations at the eleventh
hour securing vital concessions on water resources and other matters.
Maharaja Shri Hanwant Singhji joined with other Rajput states to
form the Rajasthan Union on 13th March 1949. Today, despite the
de-recognition of his titles by the government in Delhi, the Maharaja
continues to hold an honoured place in the affections of his people
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