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House of Holkar
The Holkars (pronunciation: [ɦo(ː)ɭkəɾ]) were the ruling house of the Indore State of the Maratha Confederacy, and earlier held the rank of Subahdar under Peshwa Baji Rao I of the Maratha Empire. When the Maratha Confederacy began to weaken due to internal clashes, the Holkars declared themselves the rulers of Indore in Central India, existing as an autonomous member of the Maratha Confederacy until 1818. Later, their kingdom became a princely state under the British protection.
Usha Devi Holkar, 15th Maharani of Indore, is the current titular head.
The Holkars were of Nikhar Gadaria -Dhangar origin.
Malhar Rao Holkar (1694–1766), a Maratha chief serving under Peshwa Bajirao 1, was given the area of Indore to look after by Bajirao Peshwa 1 Indore. In the 1720s, he led Maratha armies in the Malwa region under the Peshwa Bajirao, and in 1733 was granted 9 parganas in the vicinity of Indore by the Peshwas. The township of Indore already existed as an independent principality established by Nandlal Mandloi of Kampel. Nandlal Mandloi was won over by the Maratha forces and he allowed them to camp across the Khan River. In 1734, Malhar Rao established a camp later called Malharganj. In 1747, he began construction of his royal palace, the Rajwada. By the time of his death, he looked after much of Malwa for the Maratha Empire controlled by their lords Peshwas, and was acknowledged as one of the five houses of the Maratha Empire.[citation needed]
He was succeeded by Ahilyabai Holkar (r. 1767–1795), his daughter-in-law. She was born in the Chaundi village in Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar, south of Indore on the Narmada River. Rani Ahilyabai was a prolific builder and patron of Hindu temples in Maheshwar and Indore. She also built temples at sacred sites outside her kingdom, from Dwarka in Gujarat east to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi on the Ganges.[citation needed]
The adopted son of Malhar Rao Holkar, Tukoji Rao Holkar (r. 1795–1797) briefly succeeded Rani Ahilyabai upon her death. Tukoji Rao had been a commander under Ahilyabai for her entire rule.[citation needed]
His son Yashwantrao Holkar (r. 1797–1811) (also called as Jaswant Rao) succeeded Tukoji Rao Holkar upon his death. He tried to free the Delhi Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II from the British in the unsuccessful Second Anglo-Maratha War. The grateful Shah Alam gave him the title of Maharajadiraj Rajrajeshwar Alija Bahadur in honor of his bravery.[citation needed]
Attempts by Yashwantrao Holkar to unite the kings failed, and he was approached to sign a peace treaty with the British. The Treaty of Rajghat, signed late December 1805, recognised him as a sovereign king.[citation needed]
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House of Holkar AI simulator
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House of Holkar
The Holkars (pronunciation: [ɦo(ː)ɭkəɾ]) were the ruling house of the Indore State of the Maratha Confederacy, and earlier held the rank of Subahdar under Peshwa Baji Rao I of the Maratha Empire. When the Maratha Confederacy began to weaken due to internal clashes, the Holkars declared themselves the rulers of Indore in Central India, existing as an autonomous member of the Maratha Confederacy until 1818. Later, their kingdom became a princely state under the British protection.
Usha Devi Holkar, 15th Maharani of Indore, is the current titular head.
The Holkars were of Nikhar Gadaria -Dhangar origin.
Malhar Rao Holkar (1694–1766), a Maratha chief serving under Peshwa Bajirao 1, was given the area of Indore to look after by Bajirao Peshwa 1 Indore. In the 1720s, he led Maratha armies in the Malwa region under the Peshwa Bajirao, and in 1733 was granted 9 parganas in the vicinity of Indore by the Peshwas. The township of Indore already existed as an independent principality established by Nandlal Mandloi of Kampel. Nandlal Mandloi was won over by the Maratha forces and he allowed them to camp across the Khan River. In 1734, Malhar Rao established a camp later called Malharganj. In 1747, he began construction of his royal palace, the Rajwada. By the time of his death, he looked after much of Malwa for the Maratha Empire controlled by their lords Peshwas, and was acknowledged as one of the five houses of the Maratha Empire.[citation needed]
He was succeeded by Ahilyabai Holkar (r. 1767–1795), his daughter-in-law. She was born in the Chaundi village in Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar, south of Indore on the Narmada River. Rani Ahilyabai was a prolific builder and patron of Hindu temples in Maheshwar and Indore. She also built temples at sacred sites outside her kingdom, from Dwarka in Gujarat east to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi on the Ganges.[citation needed]
The adopted son of Malhar Rao Holkar, Tukoji Rao Holkar (r. 1795–1797) briefly succeeded Rani Ahilyabai upon her death. Tukoji Rao had been a commander under Ahilyabai for her entire rule.[citation needed]
His son Yashwantrao Holkar (r. 1797–1811) (also called as Jaswant Rao) succeeded Tukoji Rao Holkar upon his death. He tried to free the Delhi Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II from the British in the unsuccessful Second Anglo-Maratha War. The grateful Shah Alam gave him the title of Maharajadiraj Rajrajeshwar Alija Bahadur in honor of his bravery.[citation needed]
Attempts by Yashwantrao Holkar to unite the kings failed, and he was approached to sign a peace treaty with the British. The Treaty of Rajghat, signed late December 1805, recognised him as a sovereign king.[citation needed]