Khanzadas of Mewat

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Mewat
1372–1527
Location of Mewat within Rajputana circa 1525, with neighbouring polities. [1]
Capital Alwar
Religion
Sunni Islam
GovernmentTributary to the Delhi Sultanate
(1372-1427)
Independent Monarchy (1427-1527)
Raja  
• 1372
Raja Bahadur Nahar Khan(first)
• 1527
Hasan Khan Mewati (last)
Historical era Middle Ages
• Established
1372
• Disestablished
1527

The Mewat State was a sovereign kingdom ruled by the Khanzadas of Mewat. They were a ruling dynasty of Muslim Rajputs from Rajputana who had their capital at Alwar. The Khanzadas were Muslim Rajputs who descended from Raja Sonpar Pal who was a Rajput who converted to Islam during the period of the Delhi Sultanate in India. [2] [3]

Contents

History

In 1372, Firuz Shah Tughlaq granted the Lordship of Mewat to Raja Nahar Khan, (who was formerly known as Raja Sonpar Pal, of Kotla). Raja Nahar Khan established a hereditary polity in Mewat and proclaimed the title of Wali-e-Mewat. Later his descendants affirmed their own sovereignty in Mewat. They ruled Mewat till 1527.

Distant view of Alwar fort from the city Alwarfort.jpg
Distant view of Alwar fort from the city
View of city of Alwar from Bala Quila. City of Alwar from bala quila.jpg
View of city of Alwar from Bala Quila.
A passage at the Hill Fort, Kesroli. A passage at the Hill Fort, Kesroli.jpg
A passage at the Hill Fort, Kesroli.

Downfall

The last Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat was Hasan Khan Mewati, who died in the Battle of Khanwa. Following this battle, Mewat was integrated into the Mughal Empire and the Khanzadas became a part of the Mughal nobility.[ citation needed ]

Rulers of Mewat

The Khanzada Rajputs rulers of Mewat State adopted the title "Wali-e-Mewat". The title was later changed to "Shah-e-Mewat" by Hasan Khan Mewati in 1505.

Lineage
Rulers of Mewat StateReign
1st Raja Nahar Khan, f.k.a Raja Sonpar Pal - the founder of Mewat state and the progenitor of Khanzada Rajputs 1372–1402
2ndRaja Khanzada Bahadur Khan - founded Bahadurpur in 1406.1402–1412
3rdRaja Khanzada Akleem Khan 1412–1417
4thRaja Khanzada Feroz Khan - founded Ferozepur Jhirka in 1419.1417–1422
5thRaja Khanzada Jalal Khan 1422–1443
6thRaja Khanzada Ahmad Khan 1443–1468
7thRaja Khanzada Zakaria Khan 1468–1485
8thRaja Khanzada Alawal Khan - won Bala Quila from Nikumbh Rajputs to stop the practice of human sacrifice.1485–1504
9thRaja Khanzada Hasan Khan Mewati - The last Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat.1504–1527

Descendants

In the following centuries, the Khanzadas were reduced to the status of zamindars. Many continued to serve in the Alwar State Forces and British Indian Army. the Gorwal gotra of the Meos seem to be a tributary to the Khanzada Rajputs, however this is unclear. [4] However, the Chowdhurys' of Tijara and Nawabs of Shahabad, Alwar remained important Khanzadas strongholds.

Among them Nawab Feroz Khan of Shahabad, Alwar and Khan Bahadur Fateh Naseeb Khan of Tijara, Alwar achieved Imperial chivalry ranks.

After the Partition of India, majority Khanzadas of Mewat migrated to Pakistan following the religious violence in India in 1947, and settled in these Districts: Karachi, Hederabad, Nawabshah, Larakana, Kasur, Faisalabad and Narowal. [5]

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Wali-e-Mewat Raja Khanzada Bahadur Khan was the Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat. He succeeded as Wali-e-Mewat after the death of his father Raja Nahar Khan Mewati in 1402.

Wali-e-Mewat Raja Khanzada Feroz Khan, Bahadur, son of Khanzada Bahadur Khan, was the Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat State from 1417 till 1422. He succeeded his brother Akleem Khan as Wali-e-Mewat in 1417. Feroz Khan, proved to be an effective and popular ruler due to introduction of administrative reforms. He founded Ferozepur Jhirka in 1419.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khanzada Jalal Khan</span> Wali-e-Mewat

Fateh-Ud-Duniya-Wa-Ud Din Wali-e-Mewat Raja Khanzada Jalal Khan Bahadur a.k.a. Jallu Khan, son of Khanzada Feroz Khan, was the Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat State from 1422 to 1443. He succeeded his father as Wali-e-Mewat in 1422.

Wali-e-Mewat Raja Khanzada Alawal Khan, Bahadur, son of Khanzada Zakaria Khan Mewati, was the Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat from 1485 till 1504. He was succeeded by his son Hasan Khan Mewati as Wali-e-Mewat in 1504. In 1492 he won Bala Quila from Nikumbh Rajputs to stop the practice of human sacrifice. It is also believed that the city of Alwar is named after him.

Malik Alaudin Khan was the son of Raja Nahar Khan and the jagirdar of Tijara. He was a Khanzada Rajput. In 1402, his father Nahar Khan was killed in an ambush for embracing Islam by his Hindu relative Raja Thakur Jhamo Singh of Kishangarh. Alaudin Khan avenged his father by killing his maternal relative Jhamo Singh in the same year. Malik Alaudin Khan ruled Tijara and Alwar on behalf of the Mewat State. He renewed the construction of the Alwar fort.

Firuz Khan Mewati was the first Nawab of Shahabad, Alwar and a Commandant in Mughal Army. He was a close confidant and trusted aide of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah I. He belonged to a Khanzada Muslim Rajput family which ruled the region of Mewat. He was a descendant of Raja Nahar Khan, who was a Rajput ruler of Mewat State in 14th century. Due to his loyal service in Mughal Army, he was granted the Jagir of Simbli by Emperor Bahadur Shah I in 1710.

References

  1. ↑ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 147, map XIV.4 (a). ISBN   0226742210.
  2. ↑ Bharadwaj, Suraj (2016). State Formation in Mewat Relationship of the Khanzadas with the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal State, and Other Regional Potentates. Oxford University Press. p. 11. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "Meo Rajput by Sardar Azeemullah Khan Meo". www.jadeed.store. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Meo Rajput by Sardar Azeemullah Khan Meo". www.jadeed.store. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Meo Rajput by Sardar Azeemullah Khan Meo". www.jadeed.store. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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