Far East Kingdoms

Bikaner (Rajputana) (India)

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The name of Rajputana is the old form of today's modern Indian state of Rajasthan. It borders Pakistan in the north-west, and the Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the south, south-east, east, and north respectively.

It is the land of the Kshatriya-warrior Rajputs (with other communities including Meenas, Gujars, Brahmins, Jats, Yadavs, Bhils, Bishnois, and Ahirs). The Rajputs derive their name from their state: Rajputana literally means the 'land of the princes' (with 'raj' meaning 'king' and 'put' meaning 'son'). The modern capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur.

Those Rajput kingdoms which emerged following the break-up of the Thaneshwar empire in the sixth century AD included Ajmer (one of the most important early Rajput states), Alwar, Banswara, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Dholpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhalawar, Karauli, Kishangad, Kotah, Marwar, Mewar (Udaipur - the senior Rajput kingdom), Pratapgarh, Tonk, and Taranga, with that list not even being exhaustive.

All were eventually conquered by the Moghuls but, during the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth, Rajputana acted as an agency under the British Raj. It was formed of a group of kingdoms which owed allegiance to the British crown, but which were autonomous enough to run their own administration.

Bikaner was established in the later part of the fifteenth century, enjoying the peak of its ascendancy in the sixteenth century. It was located in the north-west of modern India. The Rajputs were Hindu warrior clans, with the word 'rajput' itself literally meaning 'the son of the king', with the people being known for their valour.

This particular state was centred around the city of Bikaner, with its territory lying in the north-west of the modern state of Rajasthan. It was a region of wilderness until Rao Bika established a city there in the late fifteenth century.

Please note that the History Files does not regularly monitor changes in modern heads of state or their representatives. Get in touch here if this section requires updating.

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(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha and Peter Kessler, with additional information by Siddharth Singh Rathore of the Bikaner royal family, from Maharana Pratap, Bhawan Singh Rana (containing a list of rulers of Mewar), and from External Links: India History Blogspot (formerly full of information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha but now seemingly emptied).)

1465 - 1504

Born 1438. Of the Jodhpur Rathore clan. Founder of Bikaner.

1465

Rao Bika is a member of the Rathore clan and is the son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur. Following a disagreement with his father he leaves Jodhpur to found the city of Bikaner after building on the site his fort of Rati Ghati. He ends a rivalry between his clan and the Bati clan by marrying the daughter of their ruler.

The fort of Mehran Garh dominated the territory which was held by the Rathores of Marwar and Jodhpur in north-western India

When refused the family heirlooms by his brothers (the sandalwood throne of 'Pugal', plus an umbrella, a sword, and a horse), he marches to Fort Mehrangarh and subdues those brothers. He does not harm them but simply regains what he sees as being his rightful property.

During his reign he also subdues the Jats, Pathans, Bilochis, and Kyamkhanis, annexing each of their territories to his kingdom. He eventually dies at his fort.

1504 - 1505

Son. Lost control over some of his nobles.

1505 - 1526

Rao Lunkaranji succeeds Naroji and immediately sets about subduing the rebel nobles. He later defeats a Moghul army under Prince Kamran, but dies in battle against the nawab of Narnaul.

1505 - 1526

Brother. Married the daughter of the ruler of Mewar.

1526 - 1542

Son.

Jait Singhji defeats the Bidwats, Chahals, and Johiyas, and expands the kingdom's territory by taking portions of Marwar. He is subsequently killed in battle by Marwar's forces under Rao Maldev.

The principality's namesake, Bikaner fort, was founded by Rao Bika at the same time as he founded the kingdom in the later part of the sixteenth century as an offshoot of the Rathore clan of Jodhpur

1542 - 1571

Son.

Kalyan Singh is forced to flee his kingdom by the forces of Marwar, but he soon recovers it from Rao Maldev thanks to the help of Sher Shah of the Suris. He also resists an onslaught by the Moghul emperor, Akbar.

by 1570

Moghul Emperor Akbar gains the submission of Bikaner, along with equivalent submissions by the defeated or cowed Rajputs of Bundi, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur.

1571 - 1611

Son. Subdued Jodhpur. Died in the Deccan at Burhanpur.

Raj Singh marries the princess of Jaisalmer, and later becomes Emperor Akbar's general. His own daughter is married to Prince Salim, son of Akbar (and later the Moghul Emperor Jehangir).

1611

On his deathbed, Raj Singh passes over his rightful heir, Dalpat, in favour of his younger brother, Sur Singh. Dalpat rebels against this decision by declaring himself king.

Rajasthan's famous Thar Desert, which is also referred to as the 'Great Indian Desert', today forms part of the India-Pakistan border, lying essentially between Bikaner and Jodhpur

1611 - 1614

Son. Usurped the throne. Commander in Moghul army.

1614

Sur Singh takes his brother prisoner and seizes his throne. Dalpat Singh is killed at Ajmer while trying to escape from captivity.

1614 - 1631

Brother. Regained his rightful throne.

1631 - 1669

Son. Deposed.

1646

Differences have arisen between the king of Golconda and the Moghul governor of the Deccan, Emperor Shah Jahan's son, Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb's own son is Prince Muhammed, and it is he who is deputed to attack Golconda. He is aided by Anup Singh, son of Raja Karan Singh, with them capturing the fort of Golconda.

1658

A war of succession erupts when Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan falls ill. With Karan Singh as one of his supporters, Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shukoh in battle using a mixture of guile and bravery and subsequently seizes power.

Karan Singh's later reward is to be deposed by Aurangzeb under the charge of dereliction of duty at Attock. He is exiled to Aurangabad in the Deccan where he dies.

The Taj Mahal was built for Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal, but he himself was later laid to rest there following his death in 1666

1669 - 1698

Son. Died at Adoni in Deccan.

1698 - 1700

Son. Succeeded aged 9. Died of smallpox at Adoni.

1700 - 1736

Brother? Succeeded aged 10. Broke off ties with Moghuls.

Sujan Singh assists Emperor Aurangzeb in the Deccan, and successfully wards off attacks from Jodhpur and Nagaur. Once it becomes clear that Moghul power is fading, Sujan Singh breaks off ties (and throws off Moghul control).

1736 - 1745

Son.

1739

Wars against Marwar are triggered when Abhai Singh of Marwar attacks Bikaner. The capital is saved through the intervention of Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur, although Zorawar Singh has to quell rebellions by his own nobles.

1745 - 1787

Nephew and adopted son.

1745

Maharaja Gaj Singh makes peace with Marwar against the wishes of his own nobles. He is also the first of his line of kings in Bikaner to mint his own coins.

The Hawa Mahal, or 'Palace of the Winds' is located in Jaipur, having been built in 1799 during the reign of Mirza Raja Sawai Pratap Singh

1787

Son. Reigned for 13 days.

1787

Son. Succeeded aged 6. Died same year (killed by uncle?).

1788 - 1828

Uncle, and regent during Pratap's short reign.

Surat Singh's reign is one of mixed fortunes. He resolves border disputes with Jaipur, and concedes the payment of indemnity to the Marathas after their attack, incurring huge debts in the process. He later applies for British protection after an internal rebellion.

1828 - 1851

Son.

1839

Narendra Ratan Singh supplies camels to the British forces which are based in India during their Afghan campaign in which they are involved in the First Anglo-Afghan War.

1844 - 1845

The British in India annexe Sindh in 1844, and the Sikhs attack British divisions at Ferozepur. The First Anglo-Sikh War is triggered in 1845. The Sikhs fight well, but eventually succumb to the disciplined British army following betrayals by some of their Dogra generals. Narendra Ratan Singh supplies help to the British for this campaign.

The First Afghan War (1839-1842) pitted British forces in India against the multiple clans and factions of Afghanistan - elements of the British forces are shown here at Urghundee

1851 - 1872

Son.

1857 - 1858

The Indian Mutiny (or Great Sepoy Rebellion) against British rule erupts among East India Company native army units at Meerut, near Delhi but, after some hard fighting in places, it is suppressed with Sardar Singh providing support. The British Parliament places India under the direct control of the empire's British Viceroys.

1872 - 1887

Adopted son. Succeeded aged 18. No heir.

Dungar Singh is the first of the kings of Bikaner to introduce electricity to Rajasthan. he also sets up a police force, a hospital, and a modernised administrative system.

1887 - 1943

Brother. Succeeded aged 7.

Sir Ganga Singh accompanies the British army in its campaign into China. He later proves to be an excellent administrator like his brother, and ushers in an economic revolution which comes complete with judicial system, banking system, a boosted infrastructure, and public utility works.

The 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot took part in the storming of Amoy in 1841 as part of Britain's First Opium War against China, one of several colonial campaigns to be undertaken by Britain during this busy mid-nineteenth century period

1943 - 1950

Son. Born 1902. Acceded to the Indian union.

1948 - 1949

India achieves independence from Britain and begins the process of taking control of the princely states. Mewar is one of the first of those states to merge with the new dominion. Later in 1949 a total of twenty-two princely states of Rajasthan merge to form the 'Union of Greater Rajasthan', acknowledging as their head the maharana of Udaipur in Mewar.

1950 - 1988

Son. Born 1924.

1956

The state of Rajasthan comes into being on 1 November 1956. The Rajasthan rulers give up their sovereignty but continue to enjoy privy purses in exchange for that handover of power.

1970 - 1971

The Indian parliament in 1970 decides to abolish the institution of royalty, and in the following year the rulers of the former princely states are de-recognised, with their privy purses and titles being snatched away from them.

Maharana Bhopal Singh of Udaipur (Mewar) who held his title between 1930 and 1955, during some of India's most turbulent times in its history

1988 - 2003

Son. Born 1946.

2003 - 2022

Cousin. Died 12 April 2022. Title fell vacant.

2022

When Maharaja Raviraj Singh passes away on 12 April 2022 there are no close relatives to be crowned due to a lack of offspring, direct nephews, or even close cousins and their own offspring.

The closest male line relatives are his sixth cousins and their sons, while Raviraj Singh's father, a first cousin of the late Maharaja Narendra Singh, is Chandra Shekhar Singh whose own health is poor. The title is in effect vacant and is unlikely to be refilled.