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The Kachawas Dynasty
The Kachawas Rajputs claim descent from the sun through Kush one the sons of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya and hero of the epic Ramayana. The Kachawas Rajputs originally ruled Gwalior in central India. However, In 986 AD the king of Gwalior Ishwar Das, in search of nirvana, abdicated his throne and set off for the Himalayas. His sons however were forced to flee Gwalior by their uncle, and found solace in Rajputana. Ishwar Das's son Sodh Rai conquered the area of Dausa by attackingg and killing the Mina chiefs (tribal chiefs). After this conquest the Kachawas Rajputs were known as the Rajas of Dausa, and when the capital of the Kachawas kingdom was moved to Amber they were known as the Rajas of Amber. Finally in the 18th century the capital of the kingdom was moved to Jaipur and the Rajas of Amber became the Maharajas of Jaipur. The Maharaja of Jaipur is the titular head of the Kachawas Rajput clan. The Maharana of Udaipur is the titular head of all thirty six Rajput clans making him the most important of rulers in Rajputana (Rajasthan).
1. Sodh Dev, Raja of Dausa
Reigned 966 to 1006
2. Dhola Rai, Raja of Dausa
Reigned 1006 to 1036
In 1006 Dhola Rai married the daughter of Raja Ralhan Singh Chauhan, Raja of Ajmer. Part of the dowry included the region of Dhundhar. Raja Dhola Rai expelled the Badd Gujjar Rajputs from Dhundhar and made alliances with the Minas (tribal people) by promising the continuance of their tribal customs, granting them jagirs, and appointing them as kiladars (fort wardens).
3. Raja Kokil Dev, Raja of Dausa
Reigned 1036 to 1038
4. Raja Hanu Dev, Raja of Dausa
Reigned 1039 to 1053
5. Raja Janad Dev, Raja of Dausa
Reigned 1053 to 1070
6. Raja Pajwan Dev, Raja of Dausa
Reigned 1070 to 1094
7. Raja Melaisi Dev, Raja of Dausa
Reigned 1094 to 1146
8. Raja Beejal Dev, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1146 to 1178
9. Raja Raj Dev, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1179 to 1216
10. Raja Khelan Dev, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1216 to 1275
11. Raja Kuntal Dev, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1276 to 1317
12. Raja Joonsi Dev, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1317 to 1365
13. Raja Udai Karan, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1366 to 1388
14. Raja Nar Singh Dev, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1388 to 1427
15. Raja Banbir, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1428 to 1439
16. Raja Uddra Ram, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1439 to 1467
17. Raja Chandra Sen, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1467 to 1502
18. Raja Shri Prithvi Raj, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1503 to 1527
19. Raja Shri Puran Mal, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1527 to 1534
20. Raja Shri Bhim, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1534 to 1537
21. Raja Shri Ratan Singh, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1537 to 1548
22. Raja Shri Ash Karan, Raja of Amber
Reigned for 16 days in 1548 (Dethroned by his brother Bhar Mal).
23. Raja Shri Bhar Mal, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1548 to 1573
Raja Bhar Mal made an alliance with the Mughals through marriage when his daughter, Jodha Bai, married Jalal ud-din Abdul Fath Muhammad Akbar I Padshah Ghazi (Emperor Akbar) on February 6, 1562. After converting to Islam Jodha Bai received the name Wali Nimat Miriam uz-Zamani Begum.
24. Raja Shri Bhagwan Das, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1574 to 1589
Granted the title of Amir ul-Umara by the Mughal Emperor.
25. Farzand Mirza Raja Shri Man Singh I Bahadur
Raja of Amber
Reigned 1590 to 1614
Raja Man Singh I became a general in Emperor Akbar's military. One of the famous battles fought by Maharaja Man Singh I was against Maharana Pratap of Mewar (Udaipur).
Raja Man Singh I was granted the personal title of Mirza Raja by Emperor Akbar.
26. Amir ul-Umara Mirza Raja
Shri Bhao Singh Bahadur, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1614 to 1621
Granted the personal title of Amir ul-Umara and Mirza Raja
27. Umdat ul-Umara Mirza Raja
Shri Jai Singh I Bahadur, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1622 to 1667
Granted the personal title of Mirza Raja by Emperor Shah Jahan.
28. Raja Ram Singh I Bahadur, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1667 to 1689
29. Raja Bishan Singh Bahadur, Raja of Amber
Reigned 1689 to 1700
30. Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan, Raj Rajeshwar Shri Rajadhiraj
Maharaj Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1700 to 1743
The city of Jaipur receives it name from Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The city of Jaipur was planned and built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, and the capital of the Kachawas rulers was moved from Amber to Jaipur. The title of "Sawai" (one and a quarter) was also accorded to the Maharajas of Jaipur during this time by Emperor Muhi ud-din Muhammad Aurangzeb.
Raja Sawai Jai Singh II was raised to this title:
Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan, Raj Rajeshwar Shri Rajadhiraja Maharaj Maharaja Sawai
31. Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan, Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Ishwari Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1743 to 1750
32. Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan, Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Madho Singh, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1751 to 1768
33. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Prithvi Singh, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1768 to 1778
During the reign of Maharaja Prithvi Singh the style of His Highness
was added to the title of Maharaja of Jaipur.
34. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Pratap Singh, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1778 to 1803
35. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Jagat Singh, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1803 to 1818
36. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Jai Singh III, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1819 to 1835
37. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Sir Ram Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1835 to 1879
During the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II the maharajas of Jaipur received two new titles. The Maharaja of Jaipur became a Knight when he was granted the title GCSI (Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India) and the title GCIE (Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire. From here on the and until the end of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II's reign, the title of "Sir" was part of the official title of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
38. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Sir Madho Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1880 to 1922
Perhaps Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II is best remembered for his two silver urns which he took to England for the coronation of King Emperor Edward VII. These urns were used to carry Ganga Jal (water from the Ganges) because it was thought that crossing the ocean was unholy. These silver urns are in display in the City Palace of Jaipur and are considered to be the largest silver objects in the world.
39. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Sir Man Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1922 to 1970
With the end of Maharaja Man Singh's reign the title of Sir will no longer be carried over to next maharaja.
Maharaja Man Singh II was a renowned polo player. He and his polo team won the British Open. He acceded Jaipur state into the Indian Union in 1947, and served as the Rajpramukh of Rajasthan from 1948 to 1956. Between 1964 and 1970 he served as the Indian Ambassador to Spain. He and Maharani Gayatri Devi would entertain guests such as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Jaipur.
40. His Highness Saramad-i-Raja-i-Hindustan,
Raj Rajeshwar Shri Maharajadhiraja
Maharaja Sawai Shri Bhawani Singh, Maharaja of Jaipur
Reigned 1970 to Present
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