Bundela

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Chhatris (cenotaphs) of Bundela rulers, on the Betwa River near Orchha

The Bundela is a clan of Rajput.[1][2] Over several generations, the cadet lineages of Bundela Rajputs founded several states in area what came to be known as Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom from the 16th century.[3][4]

Expansion legends[]

According to Bundela legends, Jagdas' descendant Arjunpal was the ruler of Mahoni. His eldest son Birpal succeeded him as the king of Mahoni, although his younger son Sohanpal was the best warrior. To get his share of the kingdom, Sohanpal sought help from Naga (alias Hurmat Singh), the Khangar ruler of Kurar (Kundar). Naga demanded a matrimonial alliance in return. When Sohanpal refused, Naga tried to detain him and forcibly agree him to the condition. Sohanpal escaped, and unsuccessfully sought help from the Chauhans, the Salingars, and the Kachwahas. Ultimately, a Panwar chief named Panpal (or Punyapal) agreed to help him. Their joint army defeated Naga in 1288 CE.[5] Sohanpal killed all the Khangar men in the fort, but spared the babies on the condition that the Khangars would serve as the servants of the Bundelas.[6] Sohanpal became the king of Kurar, and his daughter married Panpal.[5] The Mughal-Era Rajputs of Rajasthan eventually refused to acknowledge the Rajput identity claimed by their eastern counterparts,[7] such as the Bundelas.[8]

Historical kingdoms[]

Rudra Pratap Singh (reigned 1501-1531 CE), said to be a descendant of Sohanpal, moved his capital from Garh Kundar to Orchha in 1531 CE.[9] The Orchha State was the parent Bundela kingdom. Datia State (1626 CE) and Panna State (1657 CE) separated from the Orchha State. After the death of Panna's founder Chhatrasal in 1731, Ajaigarh State, Bijawar State and Charkhari State separated from Panna.[10] The official records of the Chhatarpur State also mentioned the caste of its rulers as "Panwar Bundela". Its founder was a Panwar, who was in service of the Bundela ruler of Panna State until 1785 CE.[10]

The Bundelkhand ("Bundela domain") region was named after the Bundelas.[11]

The different Bundela chieftains of Bundelkhand often fought against each other which the Mughals often took advantage of.[12]

See also[]

  • Bundelkhand Agency#States

References[]

  1. ^ Nandini Chatterjee (2020). Land and Law in Mughal India: A Family of Landlords across Three Indian Empires. Cambridge University Press. p. 84. ISBN 9781108486033. Bundela Rajput
  2. ^ Eugenia Vanina (2012). Medieval Indian Mindscapes: Space, Time, Society, Man. p. 147.
  3. ^ John F Richards (1995). Mughal Empire, part 1, Volume 5. p. 129.
  4. ^ Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105. ISBN 9781932705546.
  5. ^ a b Jain 2002, pp. 14–15.
  6. ^ Jain 2002, p. 27.
  7. ^ Catherine B. Asher & Cynthia Talbot 2006, p. 99 (Para 3): "...Rajput did not originally indicate a hereditary status but rather an occupational one: that is, it was used in reference to men from diverse ethnic and geographical backgrounds, who fought on horseback. In Rajasthan and its vicinity, the word Rajput came to have a more restricted and aristocratic meaning, as exclusive networks of warriors related by patrilineal descent and intermarriage became dominant in the fifteenth century. The Mughal-Era Rajputs of Rajasthan eventually refused to acknowledge the Rajput identity of the warriors who lived farther to the east and retained the fluid and inclusive nature of their communities far longer than did the warriors of Rajasthan."
  8. ^ Cynthia Talbot 2015, p. 120 (Para 4): "Kolff's provocative thesis certainly applies to more peripheral groups like the Bundelas of Cenral India, whose claims to be Rajput were ignored by the Rajput clans of Mughal-era Rajasthan."
  9. ^ K. K. Kusuman (1990). A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 151. ISBN 978-81-7099-214-1.
  10. ^ a b Jain 2002, p. 3.
  11. ^ Jain 2002, p. 1.
  12. ^ Amir Ahmad (2005–2006). "The Bundela Revolts During the Mughal Period: A Dynastic Affair". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 66: 438–445. JSTOR 44145860.

Bibliography[]

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