Bundelkhand Agency
Encyclopedia
The Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s ceded parts of Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
, which were later called later British Bundelkhand, to the British in the 1802 Treaty of Bassein
Treaty of Bassein
The Treaty of Bassein could refer to one of the articles shown below.*Treaty of Bassein - a treaty signed by Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat and the Portuguese....
. After 1802, many of the local rulers were granted sanads (leases) by the British, which entitled them to the lands they controlled at the death of Ali Bahadur, in return for the rulers signing a written bond of allegiance (ikrarnama) to the British. A political officer attached to the British forces in Bundelkhand supervised British relations with the sanad states. In 1806 British protection was promised to the Maratha ruler of Jhansi, and in 1817 the British recognized his hereditary rights to Jhansi state. In 1818 the Peshwa in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
ceded all his rights over Bundelkhand to the British at the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Maratha War
Third Anglo-Maratha War
The Third Anglo-Maratha War was the final and decisive conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. The war left the Company in control of most of India. It began with an invasion of Maratha territory by 110,400 British East India Company troops, the largest...
.
The sanad states were organized into the Bundelkhand Agency in 1811, when a political agent to the Governor-General of India
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
was appointed and headquartered at Banda. In 1818 the headquarters were moved to Kalpi
Kalpi
Kalpi is a city and a municipal board in Jalaun district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is on the right bank of the Yamuna.-History:...
, in 1824 to Hamirpur
Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh
Hamirpur is a city and a municipal board in Hamirpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Hamirpur District.-Geography:...
, and in 1832 back to Banda. The political agent was placed under the authority of the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces
North-Western Provinces
The North-Western Provinces was an administrative region in British India which succeeded the Ceded and Conquered Provinces and existed in one form or another from 1836 until 1902, when it became the Agra Province within the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh .-Area:The province included all...
, headquartered in Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, in 1835. In 1849 authority over the Bundelkhand Agency was placed briefly under the Commissioner for the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories
Saugor and Nerbudda Territories
The Saugor and Nerbudda Territories was a region of British India, located in central part of present-day Madhya Pradesh state in central India. It includes the present-day districts of Sagar , Damoh, Jabalpur, and Narsinghpur...
, who appointed a political assistant based at Jhansi
Jhansi
Jhansi Hindi:झाँसी, , Marathi: झाशी, is a historical city of India. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the bank of river Betwa.The National...
. Shortly thereafter, authority over Bundelkhand was placed under the Resident at Gwalior
Gwalior Residency
Gwalior Residency was a political office in the British Indian Empire, which existed from 1782 until the British withdrawal from India in 1947. The Gwalior residency dealt with a number of Princely States of Central India, principally Gwalior State, but also the states of Benares and Rampur, the...
, and the headquarters of the political assistant was moved to Nowgong
Nowgong
Nowgong can refer to:* Naogaon District, Bangladesh* Nagaon - a city in Nagaon district, Assam, India*Nowgong, Chhatarpur - a city and former military center, Chattarpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India...
, which remained until 1947. In 1853 the Raja of Jhansi died childless, and his territory was annexed to British Bundelkhand. The Jhansi state and the Jalaun
Jalaun District
Jalaun District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India.The district is named after town of Jalaun, which was the former headquarters of a Maratha governor, but the administrative headquarters of the district is at Orai. Other large towns in the district are Kalpi, Konch, and...
and Chanderi
Chanderi
Chanderi चंदेरी شندرئ is a town of historical importance in Ashoknagar District of Madhya Pradesh state in India. It is situated at a distance of 127 km from Shivpuri,37 km from Lalitpur,55 km from Ashok Nagar and about 45 km from Esagarh It is surrounded by hills southwest of...
districts were then formed into a superintendency. In 1854 Bundelkhand Agency was placed under the authority of the newly-created Central India Agency
Central India Agency
The Central India Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire, which covered the northern half of present-day Madhya Pradesh state. The Central India Agency was made up entirely of princely states, which were under native rulers...
, headquartered at Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
.
The widow of the Raja of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai, protested the annexation because she was not allowed to adopt an heir, and because the slaughter of cattle was permitted in the Jhansi territory. The Revolt of 1857 found Jhansi ripe for rebellion. In June a few men of the 12th native infantry seized the fort containing the treasure and magazine, and massacred the European officers of the garrison. The Rani put herself at the head of the rebels, and they captured several of the neighboring British districts and princely states allied to the British. She died bravely in battle in Gwalior in 1858. It was not till November 1858 that Jhansi was brought under British control.
After the revolt, Jhansi was given to the Maharaja of Gwalior
Gwalior state
Gwalior State was an Indian kingdom and princely state ruled by the Maratha dynasty. The state took its name from the old town of Gwalior, which, although never the actual capital, was an important place because of its strategic location and the strength of its fort. The state was founded in the...
, but came under British rule in 1886 when it was swapped for Gwalior fort. In 1865 the political assistant was replaced with a political agent. The eastern portion of the Agency was detached to form Bagelkhand
Bagelkhand
Bagelkhand or Baghelkhand, is a region in central India, in northeastern Madhya Pradesh state. It includes the Madhya Pradesh districts of Anuppur, Rewa, Satna, Shadol, Sidhi, and Umaria....
agency in 1871. The state of Khaniadhana was transferred to the authority of the Gwalior Resident in 1888, and in 1896 Baraunda, Jaso, and the Chaube jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
s were transferred to Bagelkhand. In 1901 there were 9 states, 13 estates, and the pargana of Alampur
Alampur
Alampur is a temple-town situated in Mahbubnagar district, in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India.It is located at about 90 KM from Mahabubnagar, 27 km From Kurnool and 200 km from Hyderabad...
belonging to Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
state, with a total area of 9851 sq mi (25,514 km²). and a total population of 1,308,326 in 1901. The most important of the states were Orchha
Orchha
Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region. Orchha lies on the Betwa River , 80 km from Tikamgarh &...
, Panna
Panna, India
Panna is a city and a municipality in Panna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its diamond mines. It is the administrative center of Panna District.- History :...
, Samthar
Samthar
Samthar is a city and a municipal board in Jhansi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Demographics: India census, Samthar had a population of 20,227. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Samthar has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of...
, Charkhari
Charkhari
Charkhari, currently a part of Uttar Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. The state was founded by saurabh singh bundela, a Rajput of Bundela clan. On India’s independence, this Princely state was acceded to India.-Geography:Charkhari is...
, Chhatarpur
Chhatarpur
Chhatarpur is a city and a municipality in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chhatarpur District.- History :...
, Datia
Datia
Datia is a small rural town and a municipality in Datia district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative center of Datia District. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar...
, Bijawar
Bijawar
Bijawar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bijawar Taluk, and was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India of the same name.-History:...
and Ajaigarh
Ajaigarh
Ajaigarh, or Adjygurh is town and a nagar panchayat in the Panna District of Madhya Pradesh state in central India.-History:Ajaigarh was the capital of a princely state of the same name during the British Raj. Ajaigarh was founded in 1765 by Guman Singh, a Bundela Rajput who was the nephew of Raja...
. Deforestation accelerated during British rule. The population of the agency decreased 13% between 1891 and 1901 due to the effects of famine. In 1931 Bagelkhand Agency
Bagelkhand Agency
Bagelkhand Agency was a collection of princely states in British India. It was named after the Bagelkhand region. The agency was established in March 1871. Until that date Bagelkhand was under the Bundelkhand Agency, with which it is geographically and historically connected...
, with the exception of the state of Rewa, was merged into Bundelkhand.
States
Bundelkhand Agency, which was bounded by Bagelkand to the east, the United Provinces to the north, Lalitpur District to the west, and the Central Provinces to the south. Bagelkhand Agency was separated from Bundelkhand in 1871. In 1900 it included 9 states, 13 estates, and the pargana of AlampurAlampur
Alampur is a temple-town situated in Mahbubnagar district, in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India.It is located at about 90 KM from Mahabubnagar, 27 km From Kurnool and 200 km from Hyderabad...
belonging to Indore state
- AjaigarhAjaigarhAjaigarh, or Adjygurh is town and a nagar panchayat in the Panna District of Madhya Pradesh state in central India.-History:Ajaigarh was the capital of a princely state of the same name during the British Raj. Ajaigarh was founded in 1765 by Guman Singh, a Bundela Rajput who was the nephew of Raja...
- AlipuraAlipura (state)Alipura was a princely state in what is today the Chhatarpur District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.-Geography:Alipura is located at ....
- Banka-Pahari
- Baoni
- BeriBeriBeri is a town and a municipal committee in Jhajjar district in the state of Haryana in northern India. Beri is located 65 km northwest of Delhi and is a trading center. The first Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhagwat Dayal Sharma, was from Beri....
- Bihat
- BijawarBijawarBijawar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bijawar Taluk, and was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India of the same name.-History:...
- Bijna
- CharkhariCharkhariCharkhari, currently a part of Uttar Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. The state was founded by saurabh singh bundela, a Rajput of Bundela clan. On India’s independence, this Princely state was acceded to India.-Geography:Charkhari is...
- ChhatarpurChhatarpurChhatarpur is a city and a municipality in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chhatarpur District.- History :...
- Bilheri jagirJagirIn historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
, guaranteed by the British
- Bilheri jagir
- DatiaDatiaDatia is a small rural town and a municipality in Datia district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative center of Datia District. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar...
- Dhurwai
- Garrauli
- Gaurihar
- Jigni
- Lugasi
- Naigawan Rebai
- OrchhaOrchha StateOrchha State, a princely state of Bundelkhand region, in present Madhya Pradesh state, India, was founded in the 1501 AD, by the Bundela chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, who became the first King of Orchha, and also built the Fort of Orchha. He died in an attempt to save a cow from a lion...
- PannaPanna, IndiaPanna is a city and a municipality in Panna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its diamond mines. It is the administrative center of Panna District.- History :...
- SamtharSamtharSamthar is a city and a municipal board in Jhansi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Demographics: India census, Samthar had a population of 20,227. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Samthar has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of...
- SarilaSarilaSarila is a town and a nagar panchayat in Hamirpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. it is situted on Rath-Jalapur Road 0r MDR-41B it is 28km from Rath-Geography:...
- Tori-Fatehpur
In 1931, all of the Baghelkhand Agency but Rewa were transferred back to Bundelkhand.