The line of succession to the former throne of Jammu and Kashmir, one of the pre-eminent Indian principalities, was by agnatic primogeniture among the descendants of the first Maharaja, Gulab Singh.
Upon Indian independence in 1947, the then Maharaja, Hari Singh, postponed his decision on whether to accede to India or to Pakistan. A militant force from Pakistan invaded the state in October 1947, resulting in the Maharaja acceding to India and a war between India and Pakistan; the war resulted in the state's division between the two countries. Owing to the circumstances of Jammu and Kashmir's accession, the monarchy remained nominally in place longer than the rest of the princely salute states. In 1949, Hari Singh was compelled to abdicate in favour of his only son, Karan Singh, who ascended the throne as regent. In 1952, the monarchy was abolished, with Karan Singh assuming the title of "Head of State" (Sadar-e-Riyasat).