Ramgarh Raj

Encyclopedia

Ramgarh Raj

 was a major Zamindari estate in the era of the British Raj, in the former Indian province of Bihar. The estate was ruled by the house of Narain . Territories which comprised the Ramgarh Raj presently constitute districts of Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Giridih, Koderma, and Bokaro with 3672 villages. The entire area is rich in minerals like coal and mica and falls under the Indian State of Jharkhand. The First King was Maharaja Baghdeo Singh and the last ruling king was Maharaja Kamakhya Narain Singh of this estate, until the estate was merged to the Republic of India. The revenue of the estate was about 3600000

History

The areas that would later comprise the Ramgarh Raj (estate) had initially belonged to the Raja of Chhota Nagpur. Around 14th century Ghatwar king rebelled against Nagvanshi kings. King of Tamar attacked Khukhragarh the capital of Nagvanshis. Nagvanshi king sought help of king Baghdeo Singh of Kharyaragarh which was capital of Khayaravala dynasty. Baghdeo suppressed rebellion, killed the king of Tamar and his son. After the job was done, the Raja did not render payment to them of the full promised amount. Baghdeo Singh, who was anyway in control of the area after quelling rebellion, simply stayed on and declared himself Raja of that area, which is said to have been 24 parganas (districts) in extent. Nagvanshi king Pratap Karn had declared Baghdeo as King of Karnpura which gives rise to Ramgarh Raj.

Maharaja Bahadur Kamakhya Narain Singh (b. 1916, ruled 1919–47, d.1970) was the last ruling chief of the Ramgarh Raj. In 1945, he ceded control to the Indian government. His son, Maharaja Bahadur Indra Jitendra Narain Singh (1938–2008) had been the head of the family from 1970 to 2008. Maharaja Bahadur Saurabh Narain Singh has been head of family from 2008.

Rulers

  • Maharaja Baghdeo Singh

1368–1402

  • Maharaja Kirat Singh 1402–1459
  • Maharaja Ram Singh I 1459–1537
  • Maharaja Madho Singh 1537–1554
  • Maharaja Jagat Singh 1554–1604
  • Maharaja Himmat Singh 1604–1661
  • Maharaja Ram Singh II 1661–1677
  • Maharaja Dalel Singh 1677–1724
  • Maharaja Bishan Singh 1724–1763
  • Maharaja Makand Singh 1763–1772
  • Maharaja Tej Singh Bahadur 1772–1774
  • Maharaja Paras Nath Singh Bahadur 1774–1784
  • Maharaja Mani Nath Singh Bahadur 1784–1811
  • Maharaja Sidh Nath Singh Bahadur 1811–1835
  • Maharaja Lakshmi Nath Singh Bahadur 1835–1841
  • Maharaja Shambhu Nath Singh Bahadur 1841–1862
  • Maharaja Ram Nath Singh Bahadur 1862-1866
  • Maharaja Trilok Nath Singh Bahadur 1866
  • Maharaja Nam Narain Singh Bahadur 1866–1899
  • Maharaja Ram Narain Singh Bahadur 1899–1913
  • Maharaja Lakshmi Narain Singh Bahadur 1913–1919
  • Maharaja Kamakhya Narain Singh Bahadur 1919–1953 (+1970)

Erstwhile Ruling Family Genealogy

  • Maharaja Lakshmi Narain Singh Bahadur, married Maharajmata Shashank Manjari Devi Sahiba
    • Maharaja Kamakhya Narain Singh Bahadur, married Maharani Lalita Rajya Lakshmi Sahiba
      • Maharaja Indrajitendra Narain Singh Bahadur, married Maharani Reva Singh
        • Maharaja Saurabh Narain Singh Bahadur married, Maharani Ujvala Prabha
        • Rajkumar Vaibhav Narain Singh
    • Lt.Col.Dr. Maharaj Kumar Basant Narain Singh Bahadur, married Kunwarani Vijaya Raje Sahiba
      • Maharaj Kumar Mayurdhwaja Narain Singh Gazi Sarkar Sahib, married Kunwarani Nivedita Shashi Prabha Singh
        • Rajkumar Udaybhan Narain Singh, married Kunwarani Divya Devi Singh
          • Rajkumar Rudra Narain Singh
        • Rajkumar Adhiraj Narain Singh, married Kunwarani Devyani Singh