Princely State of Banswara

The Princely State of Banswara was one of the 15 Gun Salute states of India during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. Banswara State was established around 1497 and existed until the year 1949. It was founded by the ruler of Bagar, Udai Singh, who established the region as a domain for Jagmal Singh, his son. The princely state was scattered over a total area of 1,606 sq m and comprised of a population of 258,760 in the year 1941. Banswara was incorporated as a part of the Mewar and Southern Rajputana States Agency, under the Rajputana Agency.

The Princely State of Banswara was located in the south of Rajputana. The territory was bounded by the princely states of Partabgarh, Dungarpur and Udaipur in the north; by the state of Ratlam and Sailana in the east; by Kushalgarh in the south; and by the princely state of Dungarpur in the west. Banswara state included a total of 1,355 villages and 2 towns in the year 1911.

History of Princely State of Banswara
The princely state was honoured as one of the salute states of India with a gun salute of 15 guns. The courts of the state exercised full civil and criminal jurisdiction. The native ruler of the state, who held the title of Maharawal, took charge of the administration of the state and was supported by a Diwan and his council. Eventually a legislative assembly was also established in the state. The local currency of Banswara state, known as Salim Shahi rupee was used until the year 1904, after which it was replaced by the British tender.

The Gahlot Sisodia Rajputs were the ruling family of the princely state of Banswara, who were descendants of the elder branch of the Dungarpur family. The territories of Dungarpur and Banswara were ruled by the family from the 13th century. The state of Banswara suffered a lot under the rule of Mughal dynasty, as well as the Maratha Empire. The Maharawal of Banswara accepted the sovereignty of the British East India Company in the year 1818, in order to receive protection and security from the British forces against the armies of the Holkar, Scindia and the Puars. The region experienced several revolts during the years 1836, 1844, 1872 to 1874, and 1881.

After the nation attained independence and the withdrawal of the British Government of India, the princely state of Banswara was acceded to the newly independent Union of India in the year 1949.

Rulers of Princely State of Banswara
The chronology of the rulers of the princely state of Banswara are mentioned as follows-
* Maharawal Bhim Singh (1713)
* Maharawal Bishan Singh (1713- 1737)
* Maharawal Udai Singh II (1737- 1747)
* Maharawal Prithvi Singh (1747- 1786)
* Maharawal Bijai Singh (1786- 1816)
* Maharawal Umaid Singh (1816- 1819)
* Maharawal Bhawani Singh (1819- 1838)
* Maharawal Bahadur Singh (1838- 1844)
* Maharawal Lakshman Singh (1844- 1905)
* Maharawal Shambhu Singh (1905- 1913)
* Maharawal Pirthi Singh (1914- 1944)
* Maharawal Chandra Vir Singh (1944- 1947)