Jaswan

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Jaswan State
Princely State
1170 CE–1849 CE
Detail of the main, continuous tract of territory of Jaswan (Jaswal) from a map of the various Hill States of the Punjab Hills region, copied in 1852.jpg
Detail of Jaswan (Jaswal) from a map of the various Hill States of the Punjab Hills region, copied in 1852
History 
 Foundation of the state
1170 CE
 Annexation by the Sikh Empire
1849 CE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Flag of Kangra state.png Kangra State
Sikh Empire Sikh Empire flag.svg
Today part of Una, Himachal Pradesh, India

Jaswan was a precolonial Indian state in modern-day Himachal Pradesh, commanded by the Jaswal Rajput clan. [1] It was founded in 1170 AD by Raja Purab Chand, a cadet of the Katoch lineage, ancient royal family of Kangra. [1]

Contents

History

Early history

According to legend Jaswan state was founded in 1170 CE by Raja Purab Chand from the Kangra royal family. [1]

Sikh Empire and British Raj

Painting of Raja Abhiraj Singh of Jaswan State, attributed to the Nainsukh familial atelier, circa 19th century Painting of Raja Abhiraj Singh of Jaswan State, attributed to the Nainsukh familial atelier, circa 19th century.jpg
Painting of Raja Abhiraj Singh of Jaswan State, attributed to the Nainsukh familial atelier, circa 19th century

In 1815, Maharaja Ranjit Singh ordered all his available forces to assemble at Sialkot. The raja of Jaswan, Ummed Singh (1800–1849), failed to obey the summons and was fined a sum beyond his means. The raja was forced to relinquish his state to the Sikh emperor, and accepted a jagir of 21 villages and 12,000 Rs per annum. In 1848, he joined the Sikh in an unsuccessful revolt against the British. His palaces were plundered and razed to the ground, and his territory annexed in 1849. [2] He was stripped of his title and exiled to Almora, where he died a year later. [3]

In 1877, the jagir in Jaswan, along with several other former properties in Rajpura and Amb, was restored to Ummed's grandson Ran Singh (b. 1833), who also later acquired the jagir of Ramkot in Jammu upon marriage to a granddaughter of Maharaja Gulab Singh. [3]

The titles claimed by the princes, however, were still denied any recognition until Raghunath Singh (b. 1852) was granted the title of raja due to his Katoch lineage and marriages to two of the daughters of Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir. The title could not be passed on through inheritance, and he could not administer his jagir. Raghunath Singh died in 1918, after which Lachman Singh succeeded him. [3]

List of rulers

NamePortraitReignReferences
Rajas:
Purab Chand1170 – ? [1]
Unknown intermediary rulers
Govind Chandc.1550–1575 [2]
Bikram Chandc.1575–c.1580 [2]
Anirudh Chandc.1580–c.1600 [2]
Samir Chandc.1600–c.1630 [2]
Man Singhc.1630–c.1660 [2]
Ajab Singhc.1660–c.1690 [2]
Ram Singhc.1690–c.1720 [2]
Ajit Singh Detail of Raja Ajit Singh of Jaswan State, from a painting of Raja Ajit Singh of Jaswan State seated with his brother Mian Jaghar Singh, Kangra, ca.1760 (cropped).jpg c.1720–c.1750 [2]
Jaghar Singh Detail of Mian Jaghar Singh of Jaswan State, from a painting of Raja Ajit Singh of Jaswan State seated with his brother Mian Jaghar Singh, Kangra, ca.1760 (cropped).jpg c.1750–c.1765 [2]
Abhiraj Singh [note 1] Seated portrait of Raja Abhiraj Singh Jaswal of Jaswan State, Kangra, ca.1760-70.jpg c.1765–c.1770 [2]
Jagrup Singh Painting of Raja Jagrup Singh of Jaswan State, Kangra, ca.1770.png c.1770–1774 [2]
Prit Singh Detail of Raja Prit Singh of Jaswan State, from a painting of Raja Tegh Chand of Kangra State smoking with Raja Prit Singh of Jaswan State, Kangra, 1774 (cropped).jpg 1774–1782 [2]
Umed Singh Raja Jaswal Umed Singh of Jaswan (reigned 1782-1854) LACMA M.74.102.2.jpg 1782–1815 [2]
Annexation by the Sikh Empire 1815 [2]
Jagirdars
Umed Singh Raja Jaswal Umed Singh of Jaswan (reigned 1782-1854) LACMA M.74.102.2.jpg 1815–1849 [2]
Annexation by the British 1849 [2]
Titular
Umed Singh Raja Jaswal Umed Singh of Jaswan (reigned 1782-1854) LACMA M.74.102.2.jpg 1849–1854 [2]
Jai Singh1854–1856 [2]
Ran Singh1856–1892 [2]
Raghunath Singh1892–1918 [2]
Lachman Singh1918 – ? [3]

Notes

  1. Also known as 'Abhirai Singh'.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jerath, Ashok (1998). Dogra Legends of Art and Culture. Indus Publishing Company. pp. 20–22. ISBN   978-8173870828 . Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Archer, William G. (1973). "Painting in Jaswan". Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting. Vol. 1: Text. Sotheby Parke Bernet (London and New York) / Oxford University Press (Delhi). pp. 221–223.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "History of Una". National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 13 September 2019.

30°29′02″N76°35′38″E / 30.484°N 76.594°E / 30.484; 76.594