1250–1949 → Established 1250 Area 93,424 km² | Flag Coat of arms 1931 2,125,000 Today part of Rajasthan | |
1931 93,424 km (36,071 sq mi) | ||
Jodhpur State was a princely state in the Marwar region from 1250 to 1949. Its capital was the city of Jodhpur since 1450.
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Covering an area of 90,554 km2 (34,963 sq mi), Jodhpur State was the largest state under the Rajputana Agency. Its last ruler signed the accession to join the Indian Union on 7 April 1949 and the state was formally dissolved on 1 November 1956.
History
The rulers of the Indian princely state of Jodhpur were of an ancient dynasty established in the 8th century. However, the dynasty's fortunes were made by Rao Jodha, first of the rulers of the Rathore dynasty in Jodhpur in 1459.
The state was incorporated into the Mughal Empire during the reign of the Emperor Akbar. During the late 17th century it was under the strict control of the Emperor Aurangzeb, but the ruling house of Rathore was allowed to remain semi-autonomous in their territory. The British had no role in the state's affairs until the 1830s, when the Raja at that time, Man Singh, entered into a subsidiary alliance, after which the Rajas of Marwar (or Jodhpur) continued as rulers of a princely state.
Following Indian independence in 1947 Maharaja Hanwant Singh, the last ruler of Jodhpur state, delayed signing the Instrument of Accession to India. He even briefly considered acceding to Pakistan, for Jodhpur shared a border with the new nation and he had been personally given assurance of access to sea ports in Pakistan by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Finally, he agreed to the accession of his state to the new Dominion of India, but not before a last-minute dramatic scene.
Rulers 1459–1947
Thikanas
Jiliya or Abhaypura was a Princely Thikana of the State of Jodhpur.