Far East Kingdoms

Bundi (Rajputana) (India)

India All Modern States Burma / Myanmar China South-East Asia Thailand

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, while the earliest Rajput kingdom was at Kannauj in today's Uttar Pradesh.

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.

Bundi was located in the north-west of modern India, centred around the city of Bundi. The Rajputs were Hindu warrior clans, and the word 'rajput' itself literally means 'the son of the king', with the people being known for their valour. Bundi was ruled by the Hada Chauhan royal dynasty which derived its name from a Meena king named Bunda Meena. The kingdom was later taken from the Meenas by Rao Deva Hara in 1342.

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.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha and Peter Kessler, with additional information by Siddharth Singh Rathore (grandson of Major Maharaj Udai Singh of Bikaner (Ridi) of the erstwhile 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).)

1342 - 1343

Founded of the kingdom. Closely aligned with Sisodiya Rajputs.

1342

Rao Deva of the Hada Chauhan dynasty founds the princely state of Bundi by taking the Bunda-ka-Nal region from the local Meena chieftain, Jaita Meena. The city and state derive their name from the former Meena ruler, Bunda Meena.

Bundi Palace, which is situated adjacent to Fort Taragarh, was built during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

1343 - 1384

Son.

1384 - 1400

Son.

1400 - 1415

Son.

1415 - 1470

Son.

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.

1470 - 1491

Son. Exiled by his younger brothers who converted to Islam.

1491 - 1527

Son. Recovered his father's kingdom.

1527 - 1531

Son.

1531 - 1544

Son.

1544 - 1585

Great-uncle. First of the rajas.

by 1570

The Moghul emperor, Akbar, gains the submission of Bundi, along with the other Rajputs of Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur. In Bundi's case, Surjan Singh surrenders Ranthambore fort to Akbar. He had been governing it on behalf of the Sisodiyas of Mewar but with this act he becomes a Moghul vassal and is rewarded with extra territory.

When Humayun died in an accident in Delhi, Akbar was just fourteen years of age, but Bairam Khan immediately installed him on the Mughal throne, in 1556

1585 - 1608

Son. Gained the title of raja from the Moghuls.

1608 - 1632

Son.

1605 - 1615

Emperor Jahangir continues the Moghul campaigns against Mewar, but when the emperor's son, Prince Karan Singh, rebels against his father with the support of twenty-two Rajput kings, Ratan Singh remains loyal to Jahangir and helps to defeat the rebellious prince.

1632 - 1658

Son.

1658

Chatra Singh is made governor of Delhi by Prince Dara Shikoh (the son of Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan), but he dies fighting against Shah Jahan's successor, Aurangzeb.

1658 - 1682

Son.

Bhao Singh fights against Emperor Aurangzeb but is later reconciled with him, becoming a Moghul vassal. He subsequently fights in the Deccan against the growing power of the Marathas.

Founder of the Maratha empire, Shivaji Maharaj, who was turned into a figurehead of anti-Mughal resistance when he was murdered on 3 April 1680

1682 - 1696

Son of Bhao Singh's adopted son, Kishen Singh. Aged 15.

Anirudh Singh serves Aurangzeb in the Deccan. He is later transferred to the north-west under Prince Muazzam, where he dies. His successors are briefly expelled from the kingdom before it can be regained by Dalel Singh.

1696

Churaman of the Jat kingdom of Bharatpur is determined to clear Jat lands of the Moghuls. He builds up an army and even constructs a fort at Thoon (near Agra). A large number of Jats gather under his leadership, including Khemkaran Sogaria, a Jat chieftain of the Sogaria clan.

He also generates additional funds by raiding the regions of Bundi and Kota. He soon wrests Sinsini and Amber from the Moghuls, and in the process forms a powerful regional kingdom.

Amer or Amber, capital of the kingdom of the same name, was founded by the Meena king, Ralun Singh, but was captured during his lifetime by the Kachwaha Rajputs

1696 - 1735

Son. Exiled by Jaipur forces of Jai Singh II (his brother-in-law).

1735 - 1749

Adopted son (from Raja Salim Singh Hada of Karwar).

1749 - 1770

Son of Rao Budh Singh.

1770 - 1804

Son. Credited with assassinating Rana Ari Singh II of Mewar.

1804 - 1821

Son. Enlisted British protection against the Marathas.

1821 - 1889

Son. Popular reformist. Col James Todd was regent & guardian.

1889 - 1927

Son. Made KCSI & GCSI and supported Britain in WWI.

1927 - 1945

Brother. Honorary aide de camp to King George VI.

1945 - 1977

Adopted son. Served British Army in WWII. Military Cross.

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 the princely 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.

Mewar's capital at the fort of Chittor was the scene of a good many sixteenth century battles for control of the region

1956

The state of Rajasthan comes into being on 1 November 1956, incorporating the Rajput states within its borders. The Rajasthan rulers give up their sovereignty but enjoy privy purses.

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.

1977 - 2010

Son. Born 1939. Died without a direct heir.

2010 - 2022

When Rao Raja Ranjit Singh passes away in 2010 after serving as the head of the Bundi royal family since 1977, there are no close relatives to be crowned due to a lack of offspring. A false claim of inheritance is made in 2022 by supporters of Brigadier Bhupesh Singh Hada. That is quickly refused and negated.

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

The maharao of Kotah (chief seat of the Hada dynasty), the maharaja of Alwar (maternal grandson of the late Ranjit Singh), and the maharaj of Kapren (paternal nephew and closest blood relative of the late Ranjit Singh) all release statements in favour of one Vanshwardhan Singh.

2022 - Present

Son. Born 1987. Agreed successor with general Rajput support.