Cambay State Khambhat State | |||||||||
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Vassal state of Maratha Confederacy (1757 - 1803) Princely State of British Raj | |||||||||
1730–1948 | |||||||||
![]() Cambay State in modern state of Gujarat | |||||||||
Capital | Khambhat | ||||||||
Area | |||||||||
• 1901 | 906 km2 (350 sq mi) | ||||||||
Population | |||||||||
• 1901 | 75,122 | ||||||||
Government | |||||||||
• Motto | "Dar Babi Farhat" ("This Is the Gate of Joy") | ||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Established | 1730 | ||||||||
1948 | |||||||||
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incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cambay". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. | This article
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 10 June 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.
Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi also known as Chin Qilich Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah and Nizam I, was the first Nizam of Hyderabad. He was married to the daughter of a Syed nobleman of Gulbarga. He began his career as a favourite of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who made him a general. Following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Asaf Jah refused to favour any one of Aurangzeb's warring sons and as such remained neutral. When Aurangzeb's third son Bahadur Shah ultimately emerged victorious, Asaf Jah was rotated as governor of multiple Mughal provinces until 1714, when he was created Viceroy of the Deccan with authority over six Mughal provinces in southern India from 1714 to 1719. From 1719 onwards he was involved in combating the intrigues of the Sayyid Brothers. From 1720 to 1722 he helped the new Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah eliminate the Sayyed brothers and was rewarded by being elevated to the grand viziership from 1722 to 1724.
Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah was the thirteenth Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748. He was son of Khujista Akhtar, the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. After being chosen by the Sayyid Brothers of Barha, he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, under their strict supervision.
Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State. Nizam is a shortened form of Niẓām ul-Mulk, which means Administrator of the Realm, and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I when he was appointed Viceroy of the Deccan by the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar. In addition to being the Mughal Viceroy (Naib) of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I was also the premier courtier of the Mughal Empire until 1724, when he established the independent monarchy of Hyderabad and adopted the title "Nizam of Hyderabad".
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Shuja-ud-Daula was the third Nawab of Oudh and the Vizier of Delhi from 5 October 1754 to 26 January 1775.
Ahmad Shah Bahadur, also known as Mirza Ahmad Shah or Mujahid-ud-Din Ahmad Shah Ghazi, was the fourteenth Mughal emperor, born to Emperor Muhammad Shah. He succeeded his father to the throne in 1748, at the age of 22. When Ahmed Shah Bahadur came to power, the Mughal Empire started to decline. Furthermore, his administrative weakness eventually led to the rise of the usurping Imad-ul-Mulk.
Shah Alam II, also known by his birth name Ali Gohar, or Ali Gauhar, was the seventeenth Mughal emperor and the son of Alamgir II. Shah Alam II became the emperor of a crumbling Mughal Empire. His power was so depleted during his reign that it led to a saying in the Persian language, Sultanat-e-Shah Alam, Az Dilli ta Palam, meaning, 'The empire of Shah Alam is from Delhi to Palam', Palam being a suburb of Delhi.
Paigah family was a noble family from the former Hyderabad State. The family maintained their own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry troops.
Mirza Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah II was the 5th Nizam of Hyderabad State between 1762 and 1803. He was born on 7 March 1734 as fourth son to Asaf Jah I and Umda Begum. His official name is Asaf Jah II, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Nizam 'Ali Khan Siddiqi, Fateh Jang, Sipah Salar, Nawab Subedar of the Deccan. Sawānih-i-Deccan, a Persian work compiled by Munim Khan, a military commander during the era of Asaf Jah II gave more insight about administration of Asaf Jahis.
Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III, was the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad, India from 1803 to 1829. He was born in Chowmahalla Palace in the Khilwath, the second son of Asaf Jah II and Tahniat un-nisa Begum.
Alivardi Khan was the fourth Nawab of Bengal from 1740 to 1756. He toppled the Nasiri dynasty of Nawabs by defeating Sarfaraz Khan in 1740 and assumed power himself.
The Nawab of Awadh or Nawab of Oudh was the title of the rulers of Kingdom of Awadh in northern India during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Nawabs of Awadh belonged to an Iranian dynasty of Sayyid origin from Nishapur, Iran. In 1724, Nawab Sa'adat Khan established the Kingdom of Awadh with their capital in Faizabad and Lucknow.
Hafiz Rahmat Khan was the Regent of Rohilkhand in North India, from 1749 to 1774. He was a Pashtun by background, ruling over Rohillas. Hafiz Rahmat Khan had served honorably throughout the reign of three Mughal Emperors: Ahmad Shah Bahadur, Alamgir II and Shah Alam II. He was also a mentor of Prince Mirza Jawan Bakht.
Feroze Jung III or Nizam Shahabuddin Muhammad Feroz Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi also known by his sobriquet Imad-ul-Mulk, was the grand vizier of the Mughal Empire when it was under Maratha suzerainty, making them the de facto rulers.
Shahzada Mirza Jawan Bakht Bahadur was a Mughal prince and the eldest son of Emperor Shah Alam II and the grandson of Emperor Alamgir II. He was born in 1749 at the Red Fort, Delhi. Jawan Bakht was a very influential Timurid Prince of the Mughal Empire and he also briefly served as the Heir-apparent of the Mughal Empire. He traced his family line back over five hundred years to Chagatai Khan, the second son of Genghis Khan.
The Gujarat Subah was a province (subah) of the Mughal Empire, encompassing the Gujarat region. The region first fell under Mughal control in 1573, when the Mughal emperor Akbar defeated the Gujarat Sultanate under Muzaffar Shah III.
The Mughal Empire's province Gujarat was managed by the viceroys appointed by the emperors. The emperor Farrukhsiyar was deposed by influential Sayad brothers in 1719. He was succeeded by the short reigns of Rafi ud-Darajat and Shah Jahan II. Finally Muhammad Shah was raised to the throne by them. To make peace with powerful vassal, he appointed Ajítsingh of Márwár as a viceroy. The Maratha incursions continued and Píláji Gáikwár established himself at Songad near southern border of Gujarat. Ajit Singh had appointed Anopsingh Bhandari as his deputy. For helping to depose the influential Sayad brothers, Haidar Kúli Khán was appointed the next viceroy. People discontent with Anopsingh rejoiced his appointment but he tried to make himself free so he was recalled. Nizám-ul-Mulk took over who had to face the Maratha incursion again. The Marathas taking advantage of weakening Mughal Empire started extracting tribute from Gujarat regularly. The next viceroy Sarbuland Khan came in conflict with the Marathas whose generals were first defeated at Kapadvanj and again at Aras. The infighting in Marathas later stalled their advances. The imperial troops was sent by the emperor to help. Finally the Marathas were defeated at Sojitra and Kapadvanj and pushed back from their inroads in Gujarat. In subsequent years, the Marathas attacked Vadnagar and later captured Baroda, Dabhoi and Champaner. The growing power of Marathas in the southern Gujarat can not be contained.
The Mughal Empire's province Gujarat was managed by the viceroys appointed by the emperors. The emperor Muhammad Shah (1719–1748) died in 1748 and he was succeeded by his son Ahmad Shah Bahadur. He appointed Vakhatsingh, brother of Mahárája Abheysingh of Marwar as a viceroy but he never took a charge. Sensing opportunity in weakening Mughal power, the Marathas and the Mughal nobles started plotting to establish themselves in Gujarat. The Maratha houses, Gaikwar and Peshwa, engaged in a struggle and finally brokered a peace. Jawan Mard Khan, who was in charge of Ahmedabad, had to surrender to them after a long siege. Thus the Marathas established themselves firmly in Gujarat in 1752. In 1754, Ahmad Shah Bahadur was deposed and Alamgir II came to power on the Mughal throne.
The Mughal Empire's province Gujarat was under attack of the Marathas since last half century. The chief Maratha houses, Gaikwar and Peshwa had made peace with each other and driven out the Mughal nobles under the emperor Alamgir II. One such noble, Momin Khan, had countered their advances and recovered Ahmedabad in 1756 lost to the Marathas few years ago. After a long siege, Ahmedabad fell again in hands of the Marathas. The Marathas levied tributes across Gujarat. In 1759, the English of the British East India Company captured Surat. Sadashiv Ramchandra was appointed as a viceroy by Peshwa in 1760 followed by Apa Ganesh in 1761. Following defeat of Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), the nobles briefly recovered towns from the Marathas but soon had to surrender. Thus the Marathas firmly established themselves in Gujarat.
The Battle of Balapur marked a civil conflict among Mughal leaders, triggered by the uprising of the Sayyid Brothers. This uprising led to a decline in the status of other Mughal leaders.