Bhopal State

Quick Facts: Who was Bhopal State?

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Bhopal State

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An Islamic principality in India, notable for its female Nawabs and cultural development.

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Origins & Early Life

Bhopal State (pronounced [bʱoːpaːl] ) was an Islamic principality, founded in the beginning of 18th-century India by the Afghan Mughal noble Dost Muhammad Khan. It was a tributary state within the Maratha Empire during the 18th century (1737–1818), a princely state with rights to a 19-gun salute in a subsidiary alliance with British India from 1818 to 1947, and an independent state from 1947 to 1949. Islamnagar was founded and served as the State's first capital, which was later shifted to the city of Bhopal. The state was founded in 1707 by Dost Mohammad Khan, a Pashtun soldier in the Mughal army, who became a mercenary after the Emperor Aurangzeb's death and annexed several territories to his fiefdom. It came under the suzerainty of the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1723 shortly after its foundation.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1737, the Marathas defeated the Mughals and the Nawab of Bhopal in the Battle of Bhopal, and started collecting tribute from the state. After the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Bhopal became a British princely state in 1818. The state was merged into the Union of India in 1949 as Bhopal. In 1901 the state had a population of 665,961 people occupying 6,902 sq. miles of land and an average revenue of Rs. Bhopal state was unique for a continuous lineage of four female Nawabs who ruled its throne for over a century between 1819 and 1926.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

During this period, the state was noteworthy for its immense contributions to the development of Islamic religious activities, cultural reform and educational efforts which caused a growing appreciation for its rulers in Indian political circles. Some of the Islamic revival activities of the Bhopal state were met with disapproval by the British authorities. The State of Bhopal was established by Dost Mohammad Khan (1672–1728), a pashtun soldier in the Mughal Army. After the death of the emperor Aurangzeb, Khan started providing mercenary services to several local chieftains in the politically unstable Malwa region. In 1709, he took on the lease of the Berasia estate.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1672: 1672 Milestone — The State of Bhopal was established by Dost Mohammad Khan (1672–1728), a pashtun soldier in the Mughal Army.
2. 1707: 1707 Milestone — The state was founded in 1707 by Dost Mohammad Khan, a Pashtun soldier in the Mughal army, who became a mercenary after the Emperor Aurangzeb's death and annexed several territories to his fiefdom.
3. 1709: 1709 Milestone — In 1709, he took on the lease of the Berasia estate.
4. 1723: 1723 Milestone — It came under the suzerainty of the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1723 shortly after its foundation.
5. 1737: 1737 Milestone — It was a tributary state within the Maratha Empire during the 18th century (1737–1818), a princely state with rights to a 19-gun salute in a subsidiary alliance with British India from 1818 to 1947, and an independent state from 1947 to 1949.
6. 1818: 1818 Milestone — After the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Bhopal became a British princely state in 1818.
7. 1819: 1819 Milestone — Bhopal state was unique for a continuous lineage of four female Nawabs who ruled its throne for over a century between 1819 and 1926.
8. 1901: 1901 Milestone — In 1901 the state had a population of 665,961 people occupying 6,902 sq.
9. 1949: 1949 Milestone — The state was merged into the Union of India in 1949 as Bhopal.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Bhopal State

True or False: “Did the Bhopal State maintain an independent status immediately following British India's partition in 1947?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The state was a British princely state from 1818 until it was merged into the Union of India in 1949.

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