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Kingdom of Rohilkhand Katehir | |||||||||||
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1721–1774 | |||||||||||
Flag of the Rohilla | |||||||||||
![]() Rohilkhand in India highlighted | |||||||||||
Capital | Aonla | ||||||||||
Common languages |
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Religion | Islam | ||||||||||
Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||||
Nawab | |||||||||||
• 1721–1748 | Ali Mohammed Khan | ||||||||||
• 1748–1754 | Abdullah Khan | ||||||||||
• 1754–1764 | Saadullah Khan | ||||||||||
• 1764–1774 | Faizullah Khan | ||||||||||
Regent of Rohilkhand | |||||||||||
• 1748–1774 | Hafiz Rehmat Khan Barech | ||||||||||
Legislature | Rohilla council | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
• Conquests of Aonla and Barha by Ali Mohammed Khan | 1721 | ||||||||||
1774 | |||||||||||
Area | |||||||||||
• Total | 12,000 sq mi (31,000 km2) [1] | ||||||||||
Population | |||||||||||
• 1774 estimate | 6 million [1] | ||||||||||
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The Kingdom of Rohilkhand was a late modern Indian kingdom under nominal Mughal suzerainty, that rose under the declining Mughal Empire in 1721 and continued to exist until 1774 when it was defeated by Oudh the British transformed its significantly reduced borders into the princely state of Rampur. Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan became the first Nawab of Rohilkhand, having been previously elected as overlord by various Afghan chiefs at the age of fourteen. He would carve out the future kingdom from the collapsing Mughal Empire and go on to the found the Rohilla dynasty. The crown would go on being held by the Rohillas until the kingdom came to an end in 1774, and thereafter the same dynasty would rule over Rampur.
Most of Rohilkhand's borders were established by Ali Mohammed Khan and largely came into existence as a check to the power of Oudh State and in that capacity, Nawab Ali Mohammed was supported by the Wazir al Mulk, Qamarudin Khan. Nonetheless, the state grew far more influential with its borders extending to the boundaries of Delhi and Agra. In 1757, the powerful Maratha Empire defeated the Rohillas and Afghans near Delhi and Najib Khan was taken prisoner. In 1772, Rohillas defeated a much larger Maratha force with aid of Nawab of Oudh. However, when they could not repay the debt, Nawab of Oudh invaded Rohilkhand in 1773. Most of the kingdom was annexed at the end of the First Rohilla War into Oudh, when the mismanagement of Hafiz Rehmat Khan along with the internal division of the Rohilla Confederation led to the weakening of central authority. [2]
Ali Mohammed Khan was an enterprising soldier who established the kingdom of Rohilkhand. Rohillas are Afghans who migrated to north India during the 17th and 18th centuries. However, the Rohilla dynasty descended from Nawab Ali Muhammed Khan, who was a Jat [3] [4] [5] [6] boy of age eight when he was adopted by the chief of the Barech tribe, Sardar Daud Khan Rohilla. [4] Daud Khan was the son Shah Alam, who belonged to the Barech tribe. After his murder by the Raja of Kumaon, Ali Mohammed rose as the 14-year-old leader of his foster father's militia. [7] Due to the role he played in the establishment of Rohilkhand and in the general history of Rohillas, he gained recognition as a Rohilla chief, although he was not Afghan by birth. [6] In the 19th century, descendants of Ali Mohammed Khan, specifically the Nawabs of Rampur, started claiming that he was a Barha Sayyid and began using the title of Sayyid. However, they could not present any pedigree or valid historical proof in the support of this claim. [5] The Nawabs even sought service of a prominent religious leader of Rampur, Najmul Ghani for establishing ancestry from Ali, which was widely rejected. [8]
The ancient name for Rohilkhand was Katehir. The name Rohilkhand was applied in the middle of the eighteenth century when it fell into the hands of the Rohilla Dynasty started by Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Bahadur Rohilla. Although the term Rohilla was previously used by Afghans who arrived in India. [9]
Located on the Eastern side of the Ganges, Rohilkhand lies over much of the plain that eventually leads to Oudh. There is no natural barrier between Oudh and Rohilkhand and both share a damp climate due to their locality next to the Himalayan Mountain range. Both also have more luxuriant vegetation than the surrounding areas, and were much known for the greater abundance of wood. The visibility of the snowy Himalayan Mountain tops gave an overall pleasant aspect to the territory.
Immediately below the mountains, there was a forest consisting of sand and boulders without any river running through it but instead the water would be absorbed and would appear about 10–12 miles later towards the end of the forest. This forest of Bhabar, no longer exists in present times but previously it led up to a swamp where the water would reappear at the surface. This swamp with its tall reeds was famous for its Tigers as well as its seasonal fevers. It was known as Tarai and crucially it formed a place of refuge for the people of Rohilkhand during times of invasion. Tarai extends for a breadth of 10 miles and during the era of the Kingdom of Rohilkhand it was better cultivated, especially as it formed a valuable retreat for the people. It was often used as a source of shelter by the rulers of Rohilkhand especially as the terrain made it difficult for an enemy army to pursue.
During winter months, the cessation of floods from the rainy season cease, and subsequent fordability of the Ganges opened Rohilkhand to foreign attack, often in the form of their arch-enemies the Marathas.
At the time of its annexation, Rohilkhand represented an area of 12,000 square miles, with a population of 6 million people. It extended from Haridwar to Oudh. [10]
With the death of Aurangzeb and subsequent collapse of administration under the emperor Muhammad Shah, Mughal Authority in the area collapsed, Rohilla immigration increased, although there were descendents of Pathans long domiciled in India. The Mughal authority was further weakened by Nader Shah's invasion of India, allowing Ali Muhammad Khan to extend his power. The Rohillas began to emerge as a mixture of old domiciled Indian Pathan families, Indian converts to Islam and new adventurers from the northwest, who were in the process of developing a real or fictive kinship based on newly forged marriage alliances. [11] [12]
A man of ability and courage, Ali Mohammed Khan attracted many adventurers by his great reputation and arose as the most powerful man in Katehir. Ali Muhammad Khan distinguished himself by helping in suppressing the rebellion of the powerful Indian Muslim Barah Sayyids, who were formerly de-facto rulers of the Mughal empire, [13] and who had under their chief Saifudddin Barha put the Mughal governor Marhamat Khan and all of his followers to death. [14] As a reward Ali Muhammad Khan was given the title of Nawab by Muhammad Shah in 1737. He gained favour with the lower rungs of society and by the invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 he further strengthened his position attractinga large swath of afghans who took employment with him. For the subsequent five years, his authority was left unchallenged. [ citation needed ]
In 1745 a quarrel arose between Ali Mohammed and Safdar Jang the Subedar of Oudh. Retainers of Ali Mohammed seized the property of servants belonging to Safdar Jang. Safdar Jang who was already jealous at the growing power of Ali Mohammad went to the Emperor Muhammad Shah, and through him ordered the return of the confiscated property as well as the arrest of the Rohillas in-charge of the confiscation. After the refusal of Ali Mohammed, Safdar Jang led an Imperial expedition together with the Emperor present in person and after being deserted by his men Ali Mohammed was captured and taken to Delhi.[ citation needed ]
He was treated honourably and respectfully by the Emperor, in large part due to his influence among his adherent who were still at large. The necessity to consulate Ali Mohammed led to his appointment as Governor of Sirhind (the area between Jummuna and Sutlej).[ citation needed ]
In 1748 the invasion by Ahmed Shah Abidali allowed Ali Mohammed the opportunity to return to Katehir and re-establish his rule. Upon his return, he was rejoined by most of his former men and soon he was virtually independent in his control of Rohilkhand. To ensure loyalty almost all positions of power were given to Afghan and several like Najib-ud-Daula received land grants. [15]
On his death-bed Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan made the previously humble and lowly Rohilla, Hafiz Rehmat Khan as Guardian of Rohilkhand until his sons reached majority. Ali Mohammad's cousin Dunde Khan was made Commander-in-chief, Niamut Khan and Silabat Khan were entrusted with the General Administration. Futte Khan who was Ali's favourite retainer was made Khanfaman, while Sirdar Khan was made Bakshi or Paymaster. All of these men were granted districts to rule over as a trust until the majority of his Ali Muhammad children but these trusts were quickly usurped by most of these men upon the death of the Nawab. [16]
Ali Mohammad's capital was Aolna, in the district of Bareilly. After his death in 1749, Rehmat Khan became the 'Hafiz' or chief guardian of his sons during their minority. Ali Mohammad left six sons, Faizullah Khan and Abdullah Khan being elder sons. Before his death, he made arrangements to divide the Kingdom among them and asked Rehmat Khan to make solemn assurance and swore upon Koran to observe the promise. [17] However in 1754, Hafiz Rehmat resolved no longer to regard the pledges and appropirated to themselves most valuable portions of Rohilkhand. The larger share was taken by Hafiz Rehmat and he virtually became the ruler. Smaller districts were assigned to Faizullah Khan and Abdullah Khan, elder sons of Ali Mohammad, and to several influential chiefs. [18] This led to a confederation-like structure of government with the Nawab of Rohilkhand at its head and the Rohilla Chiefs in charge of their own Rohilla States answering to him especially in regards to military engagements.
Although the council carried out to an extent its purpose, especially in the form of Najib-ad-Daula who often went to great lengths in securing Rohilkhand's safety and Futtee Khan who remained loyal to the royal family. Ultimately Rehmat Khan and Dundi Khan's machinations won out and Ali Mohammed Khan's children were in large part sidelined in the new government. [16] Hafiz Rehmat died in 1774 Rohilla War and Faizullah Khan, eldest surviving son in the war became the newly acknowledged head. He signed a treaty where he retained his former territory in Rampur. Thus, The Rohilla State of Rampur was established by Nawab Faizullah Khan on 7 October 1774 in the presence of British Commander Colonel Champion, and remained a pliant state under British protection thereafter.
The weakening of the central government led to the formation of around a dozen Rohilla states. Four of these states were created during the division of Rohilkhand at the request of the Afghan emperor, Ahmed Shah Abidali, for the sons of Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan:
Many Rohilla chiefs also became independent after 1748. Notable Rohilla chieftancies included:
Rohillas had sought assistance from the Nawab of Oudh Shuja-ud-Daula in 1772 to expel out Marathas from Rohilkhand. However, they couldn't pay their debt back and in 1773, the Nawab decided to annex their country. He appealed to Warren Hastings for assistance, which was given in return for a sum of forty lakhs of rupees. [19] The Rohillas under Hafiz Rahmat Ali Khan [20] were defeated by Colonel Alexander Champion on 23 April 1774 at the Battle of Miranpur Katra. The decisive battle, in which Hafiz Rahmat Khan died, caused the Rohillas to flee to the mountains near Loll Dong. Rohilkhand fell to Awadh, was plundered and occupied. The majority of the Rohillas left. A Rohilla state under British protection was set up in Rampur, and Faizullah Khan managed to become its Nawab. The kingdom of Rohilkhand was abolished, and afterwards became part of Oudh State.
Nawab | Relation with previous Nawab | Rule | |
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Formation of Kingdom of Rohilkhand | |||
Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan | Founder | 1721–1748 | |
Nawab Abdullah Khan | Son | 1748–1754 | |
Nawab Saadullah Khan | Brother | 1754–1764 | |
Nawab Faizullah Khan | Brother | 1764–1774 | |
Conquest by Oudh. Green row signifies the regency of Hafiz Rahmat Ali Khan . |
There was an unusually large proportion of Muslim converts who represented a quarter of the population while the majority of the inhabitants were Hindu. [9]
Rohilkhand is a region in the northwestern part of Uttar Pradesh, India, that is centered on the Bareilly and Moradabad divisions. It is part of the upper Ganges Plain, and is named after the Rohilla tribe of Pathans. The region was called Madhyadesh and Panchala in the Sanskrit epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. During the colonial era in India, the region was governed by the Royal House of Rampur.
Rohillas are a mixed Indian community of Pashtun heritage, historically found in Rohilkhand, a region in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It forms the largest Pashtun diaspora community in India, and has given its name to the Rohilkhand region. The Rohilla military chiefs settled in this region of northern India in the 1720s, the first of whom was Ali Mohammed Khan.
The Bareilly district belongs to the state Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Its capital is Bareilly city and it is divided in six administrative division or tehsils: Aonla, Baheri, Bareilly city, Faridpur, Mirganj, and Nawabganj. The Bareilly district is a part of the Bareilly Division and occupies an area of 4120 km2 with a population of 4,448,359 people according to the census of 2011.
Moradabad district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. The city of Moradabad is the district headquarters. Moradabad district is part of Moradabad division. It used to be the second most populous district of Uttar Pradesh out of 75 after Prayagraj till a new district Sambhal was carved out of it in 2011.
Ali Muhammad Khan was a Rohilla chief who founded the Kingdom of Rohilkhand in the northwestern region of the Uttar Pradesh state of India. He succeeded his foster father Sardar Daud Khan Rohilla at the age of fourteen and was generally regarded as a non-oppressive ruler to the masses. He was well regarded for his political ability, and was granted the right to use India's highest insignia of the Mahseer by the Emperor Muhammad Shah. His young death along with the tender age of his children led to Hafiz Rehmat Khan's regency which was in large part governed against his wishes, despite Rehmat Khan's solemn oath on the Quran to fulfill dying Ali Mohammad's will.
Najib ad-Dawlah, also known as Najib Khan Yousafzai, was a Rohilla Yousafzai Afghan who earlier served as a Mughal serviceman but later deserted the cause of the Mughals and joined Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1757 in his attack on Delhi. He was also a House Chief of Rohilkhand, and in the 1740s founded the city of Najibabad in Bijnor district, India. He was instrumental in winning the Third Battle of Panipat.
Auraiya is a city and a municipal board in Auraiya district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. NH 19 passes through the center of the town. Phaphund is the nearest railway station and Saifai Airstrip the nearest aviation facility, having limited private use. Etawah Safari Park is the nearest lion safari park. The nearest commercial airport is Kanpur Airport. Before becoming the district headquarters, it was the tehsil headquarters of Etawah district. This district is under Kanpur Mandal. [1] [2] [3] This is the heroic place of Sengar Rajputs. Sengar dynasty Kanardhani Maharajadhiraj Vishok Dev was married to Devkala, sister of Maharaja Jaichand Gaharwar (Rathore) of Kannauj. He had received this entire area in dowry. The famous Devkali Temple here was also built by him in the name of his wife Devkali. There are many famous villages of Kshatriya in which Ayana, Bhartaul, Jaswantpur, Bhurepur Kalan, Bhurepur Khurd, Sikharna, Fareha, Anepur, Senganpur, Barbatpur, Roshangpur, Manpur, Bhaupur, keontra, Phaphund, Aseva,Shahbadiya are very famous villages.
The First Rohilla War of 1773–1774 was a punitive campaign by Shuja-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh on the behalf of Mughal Emperor, against the Rohillas, Indian descendants of Afghan highlanders settled in Rohilkhand, northern India. The Nawab was supported by troops of the British East India Company, in a successful campaign brought about by the Rohillas reneging on a debt to the Nawab.
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.
Nawab Faizullah Ali Khan was the first Nawab of Rampur. The princely state of Rampur was set up in year 1774, after the First Rohilla War, by the dismemberment of the Rohilla Kingdom of Rohilkhand. Faizullah Khan, the only surviving heir of Ali Mohammed Khan and opponent of the forces of Awadh and the British East India Company in the war, was installed as ruler of what was the newly created Rampur State. It bordered the Maratha Empire to the south, making it a strategic point. Under tutelage of the East India Company, Faizullah Khan ruled peacefully for 20 years. The capital Rampur was founded, and the Raza Library collection gathered.
Rampur State was a 15 gun-salute princely state of British India. It came into existence on 7 October 1774 as a result of a treaty with Oudh. Following independence in 1947, Rampur State and other princely states of the area, such as Benares and Tehri Garhwal were merged into the United Provinces. Rampur state had its capital in Rampur city and its total area was 945 sq miles. Rampur state was founded by Ali Mohammad Khan's younger son Faizullah Khan.
Zabita Khan Rohilla was a Rohilla chieftain in the time of the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
According to the epic Mahābhārata, Bareilly region (Panchala) is said to be the birthplace of Draupadi, who was also referred to as 'Panchali' by Kṛṣṇā. When Yudhishthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the Mahābhārata, Draupadi becomes his queen. The folklore says that Gautama Buddha had once visited the ancient fortress city of Ahicchattra in Bareilly. The Jain Tirthankara Parshva is said to have attained Kaivalya at Ahichhatra.
The Second Rohilla War was a conflict between the Kingdom of Awadh and East India Company, and the Rohillas of Rampur State in 1794.
The Oudh State was a Mughal subah, then an independent kingdom, and lastly a British princely state in the Awadh region of North India until its complete annexation by the British in 1856. The name Oudh, now obsolete, was once the anglicized name of the state, also written historically as Oudhe.
Nawab Abdullah Khan Bahadur Rohilla was the eldest son of Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan of Rohilkhand and succeeded in absentia to the throne of Rohilkhand and Budaun. He was deposed by the machinations of Hafiz Rehmat Khan and replaced with his younger brother, Nawab Saadullah. Afterwards, he retreated to a spiritual life of an ascetic. He eventually died fighting the British in the Rohilla War.
Nawab Abdullah Khan Bahadur Rohilla was the third son of Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan of Rohilkhand and succeed his brother to the throne of Rohilkhand.
Nawab Muhammad Yar Khan Bahadur Rohilla was the fourth son of Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan and upon the division of his father's realms he was made the Nawab of Bareilly.
The Rohilla dynasty was a dynasty that ruled over much of North-West Uttar Pradesh in the form of Rohilkhand and later until 1947, the Princely state of Rampur. At the height of their power the dynasty ruled over the Kingdom of Rohilkhand and held suzairnty over the Kingdom of Kumaon and Kingdom of Garhwhal.
Muhammad Ahmad Khan Bahadur Ghalib Jang or Ahmad Khan Bangash (1750–1771) was a Mughal nobleman and Nawab of Farrukhabad from the Hindustani Pathan Bangash dynasty. He was the second son of Muhammad Khan Bangash, a powerful Mughal nobleman. He took part in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 against the Marathas led by Sadashivrao Bhau.
Once Daud was sent against the village of Bankauli, in pargana Chaumahla, with which his employer was at feud. Along with the plunder taken on this occasion Daud obtained possession of a Jat boy seven or eight years of age, whom he caused to be circumcised and then adopted under the name of Ali Muhammad Khan.
Amongst other prisoners he obtained a young Jat boy of eight years . Daud took a fancy to him and adopted him as his son and named him ' Ali Muhammad Khan.
Most of the contemporary sources, however, call him a Jat or an Ahir.
...this remarkable chief was not an Afghan by birth, but a Hindu, a Jat by caste.
Contemporary Persian authorities say that Ali Muhammad Khan was of Jat parents . See Gulistan . 7 ; Abdulka . " rim , 88b , Ashob , 424 ; Siyar . II 480. A partisan attempt has, however, been made in morden times to prove that he was a Sayyid. Najmul Ghani of Rampur has invented a false pedigree of the Khan , tracing it to Muhammad. The Maulvi's discussion is altogether unconvincing and thoroughly ridiculous. His object is to prove that the present ruler of Rampur is a Sayyid.