Conventional Long Name: | Kingdom of Hathras Hathras State |
Common Name: | Hathras |
Common Languages: | Hindi |
Capital: | Hathras |
Status: | monarchy (16th century-1817); princely state(1817–1947) |
Event End: | Independence of India |
Religion: | Hinduism |
Government Type: | Monarchy |
Title Leader: | Raja |
Leader1: | Raja Makhan Singh (first) |
Year Leader1: | 16th-17th century |
Leader2: | Raja Mahendra Pratap (last) |
Year Leader2: | 1886–1979 |
Today: | Hathras mathura etah and Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Republic of India |
Hathras State or Hathras Kingdom is located in the western Uttar Pradesh region of India. Hathras district or city is headquarters of many royal families of Braj and Upper Doab regions like Thenua Agha, and Chaudhary. These dynasties remained with the other rebel chiefs of Braj during the struggle against Mughal Empire.[1] The other ruling centres of in this region were Sadabad, Sasni, Jawar, Tocchigarh, Mursan and Beswan.
The first ancestor of this house in 16th century was Raja Makhan Singh, a Thenua who acquired territories in Aligarh and married daughter of a Khokhar chief during the time of Emperor Jahangir or Shah Jahan. He became influential and powerful in the upper doab and built many forts & fortresses in his principality. He rebelled against Shah Jahan and the Jats of the region stopped paying taxes to mugahls and raided their territories under the leadership of Raja Makhan Singh.
Dayaram was among the most powerful and influential rulers in the region, and his fort was said to be among the strongest in India. He was angered by the constant interference of the British administration in the affairs of his state and at the increasing revenue demands. Thus, he refused to pay revenue to the East India Company and also began providing shelter to rebels against the British Raj in his fort. After all attempts at negotiation broke down, the East India Company sent a powerful artillery force to besiege his fort. Dayaram and his loyal soldiers held out for several weeks. However, his fort was ultimately destroyed, and Dayaram, along with his followers, was captured and exiled.[2]