Jalaun State


Jalaun State was a Maratha princely state in the Bundelkhand region. It was centered on Jalaun, in present-day Jalaun district, Uttar Pradesh. The town was the capital of the state from 1806 to 1840. The last Raja died without issue and Jalaun State was subsequently annexed by the British Raj.

History

The British occupied the area in 1803 and Jalaun state became a British protectorate in 1806.
Many of the inhabitants were Maratha Brahmins, known as 'Dakhini Pandits'. Their ancestors had been at the service of the Maratha Peshwa. Govindrao II, its last ruler, died without issue in 1840 and the state was annexed by the British in the same year.
The fortified post of Kalpi, the former residence of the rulers of Jalaun State, was dismantled in 1860 and its place was taken by a market known as Baithganj. After the annexation the British authorities preferred Orai as capital of the district, claiming that Jalaun was an unhealthy place.

Rulers

All the rulers of Jalaun State were under Peshwa Government of Pune. Karkare Dynasty Narayan Bhatt Ballal as local administrators in 1793 AD, under the protection of Shreenath Mahadji Shinde Scindia, Patilbawa. The Karkares tried to save Jaluan from the East India co. and thus fought against British Army during the famous Second Maratha - Anglo War. English Army won and the Maratha Army under Karkare Dynasty were killed brutally. Later on the fugitives settled in Gwalior and Jhansi. Administration of Jalaun was transferred to another Maharashtrian Brahmin family Deshastha Brahmins and bore the title 'Raja'.

Rajas