Princely State of Boudh

Princely State of Boudh

Princely State of Boudh was an example of royal kingship of Boudh in Odisha from medieval era to British rule.

Boudh State was one of the princely states of India during the period of the British East India Company and later after 1857, British Government in India. It was recognized as a state in 1874. It had its capital in Boudh town. Its last ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union on 1st January 1948.

Formation of Princely State of Boudh State
Boudh State was one among the 26 Feudatory states of Odisha. According to legend the state originated in a pre-existing state that had been founded centuries before by a Brahmin who adopted as successor a nephew of the Raja of Keonjhar, belonging to the Bhanj Rajput Dynasty who ruled Mayurbhanj State (Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve). The formerly princely state's territory is now within Boudh District.

Administration of Boudh State
The Eastern Ganges Dynasty became semi-independent and ruled over this territory hereditarily. So far tradition goes, there emerged a Brahmin ruling family in Boudh. Gandhamardan Dev, the last Brahmin ruler of this family, being childless adopted one Ananga Bhanja of Keonjhar Bhanja royal family. He succeeded Gandharmardhan Dev and laid the foundation of the rule of the Bhanjas in Boudh in the first half of the 14th century AD. He changed his surname from Bhanja to Dev and was known as Ananga Dev. Since then, the new line of kings continued to rule over this region till the merger of Boudh State with the Orissa Province in 1948.

Kingdom of Boudh State
The kingdom of Boudh State comprised modern Athmallik, Boudh, and Sonepur regions with its capital headquarters at Swarnapura (Sonepur). But later on due to the expansionist policy followed by the Chouhan rulers of Patna (Patnagarh in Bolangir District) they shifted their capital to Boudh.

Boudh State in Medieval Era
In the first half of the 17th century AD, Boudh was a very powerful kingdom and Sonepur remained under its direct administration. During this period the Chouhan rulers of Sambalpur had already established their supremacy over almost entire Western Odisha. Balabhadradeva (1605-1630 AD), the Chouhan ruler of Sambalpur District defeated Siddhabhanja Dev (Siddheswar Dev) of Boudh and forced him cede the Sonepur region which was made a separate state by the Chouhans in 1640 AD. Later it came under the British residency after 1757.

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