Nurpur (Princely State)

Information

DynastyTanwar
ClanPathania 
Area466 km² (1572)
StateHimachal Pradesh
Annexation1815
ReligionHinduism
Hindi Nameनूरपुर
Last Updated19th Jan, 2023

Short History

The state was founded in the 11th century (1095?), by Raja Jhet (or Jit) Pal, younger brother of Raja Anangpal II, the Ruler of Delhi, or Raja Jaipal of Ajmer, who established himself at Pathankot and subsequently moved to the hills. It was originally known as Dhameri.

Predecessors

  • Raja JAS PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1313/1353, married and had issue, nine sons, each of whom was progenitor of a branch of the Pathania family.
  • Raja KAILAS PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1353/1397
  • Raja NAG PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1397/1438
  • Raja PRITHI PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1438/1473
  • Raja BHIL PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1473/1513
  • Raja BAKHT MAL, Raja of Nurpur 1513/1558, he fought for Sikandar Sur (son of Shershah Suri), against Emperor Akbar. He died 1558.
  • Raja PAHARI MAL, Raja of Nurpur 1558/1580
  • Raja BASU DEV, Raja of Nurpur 1580/1613, enjoyed a mansab of 1500 under Emperor Akbar, which was increased to 3500 by Emperor Jahangir, married and had issue. He died in the thana of Shahabad in 1613.
    • Raja Suraj Mal (qv)
    • Raja Jagat Singh (qv)
    • Mian Madho Singh, granted the title of Raja by Emperor Jahangir. He died after 1623.
  • Raja SURAJ MAL, Raja of Nurpur 1613/1618, granted a mansab of 2000, he rebelled against Jehangir. He died 1618 in Chamba.
  • Raja JAGAT SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1618/1646, granted a mansab of 300, later increased to 1000 men and 500 horse, also received the title of Raja and 20,000Rs in cash as well a jewelled dagger, about 1626 this was further increased to 3000 men and 2000 horse, and again in 1641 to 5000 of each, in 1622 the state was renamed Nurpur, in honour of Nur Jahan, wife of the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, ruled Chamba till 1641, in 1634 was appointed Thanadar of Lower Bangash, in 1638 was appointed Faudjar of Lower and Upper Bangash, married and had issue. He died at Peshawar in January 1646.
    • Raja Rajrup Singh (qv)
    • Raja Bhau Singh, he received the estate of Shahpur in 1650, converted to Islam in 1686, receiving the name of Murid Khan, his descendants ruled there till 1781. The taluqa was later resumed by Raja Prithvi Singh.
    • Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Suraj Sen of Mandi.
  • Raja RAJRUP SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1646/1661, Faudjar of the Koh-i-Daman of Kangra, mansab advanced to 1500 men and 1000 horse on his accession, also granted the title of Raja, later increased to 2000 each in 1647, and 2500 each in 1649, increased to 3000 in 1652, and later 3500, appointed Thanadar of Ghazni in 1661, married and had issue. He died 1661.
    • Raja Mandhata Singh (qv)
  • Raja MANDHATA SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1661/1700, married and had issue.
    • Raja Dayadhata (qv)
  • Raja DAYADHATA, Raja of Nurpur 1700/1735, born 1681, married and had issue. He died 1735.
    • Raja Fateh Singh (qv)
    • Mian Mahan Singh
    • Mian Sundar Singh
  • Raja FATEH SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1735/1770, married and had issue. He died 1770.
    • Raja Prithvi Singh (qv)
    • Raja Indar Singh, Raja of Shahpur and Mian of Reh (or Rai).
  • Raja PRITHVI SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1770/1805, born 1740, married (amongst others), Rani Darsanu, daughter of Raja Sampat Pal of Bhadrawah, and had issue. He died 1805.
    • Tikka Fateh Singh, married and had issue. He died vp in 1789.
      • Raja Bhir Singh (qv)
  • Raja BHIR SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1805/1846, born 1785, last ruling Chief of Nurpur, he endeavoured to resist Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore, but being compelled to take refuge in Chamba, was given up by the Raja of Chamba, and imprisoned in the fortress of Gobindgarh, subsequently he was ransomed by his brother-in-law, Sardar Charat Singh, for 85,000Rs. and in 1846, he raised the standard of revolt, besieged Nurpur, and died in battle before its walls; married (a), a daughter of Raja Jit Singh of Chamba, married (b), a daughter of Raja Sansar Chand II of Kangra, married (c), a daughter of Raja Bikram Sen II of Suket, and had issue. He died 1846.
    • Raja Jaswant Singh (qv)
  • Raja JASWANT SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1846/1898, born 1836, he received a large grant from the British Government in compensation for the loss of his state, married and had issue. He died 1898.
    • Raja Gagan Singh (qv)
    • Mian Udham Singh, born 1885, married and had issue. He died 1918.
      • Kanwar Ranjit Singh, born 1917, educated at Aitchison College, Lahore.
  • Raja GAGAN SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1898/1952, born 1882, 6th Viceregal Darbari in Kangra District,  an Honorary Magistrate, 2nd Class and Munsif in Kangra District, the Hereditary title of Raja was conferred 15th March 1909 by the Viceroy, married and had issue. He died 1952.
    • Raja Devendra Singh (qv)
  • Raja DEVENDRA SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1952/-, born 1901, died after 1960.

Other Members

  • Kumari (name unknown), married (as his first wife), Kanwar Ranzore Singh, born 1865, Rais of Sirmur.
  • Kanwarani Kushal Kumari, married Kanwar Hemendra Singh Sen of Suket, and had issue.