 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(January 2015) |
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This is a list of Indian princely states, as they existed during the British Raj before 1947.
Contents
- Sortable list of former princely states
- Merged into British Raj
- Merged into India or Pakistan
- See also
- Sources and references
- Further reading
Before the Partition of India in 1947, hundreds[ citation needed ] of princely states , also called native or Indian states, existed in India. These states were not a part of British India but functioned as British protectorates under a subsidiary alliance and some indirect rule. They were the parts of the Indian subcontinent which had not been conquered or annexed by the British, often former vassals of the Mughal badshah (emperor).
The states are listed alphabetically; this list complements the list of princely states of British India, which is arranged by region and agency. Geographical and administrative assigning is indicative, as various names and borders have changed significantly, even entities (provinces, principalities) split, merged, renamed, etc. Furthermore, criteria of statehood (used for inclusion) differ between sources. In some cases, several name variations or completely different names are included.
