PRESENT RULER: Raja of Gaudawati/Maroth (Abhaypura-Jiliya)

PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: Maroth is one of the ancient-most towns of Rajasthan and due to its strategic location as a Frontier town it has been the headquarter of the Johiyas, Chandels, Bhatis, and Gaurs, before the Mertia dynasty rule (1659/1708 AD). In sortha (Rajasthani poetry), the gadh or fort of Marot is compared to that of Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bundi. The state was founded by Maharaja Raghunath Singh, second son of Rao Sanwaldas of Punlota, son of Rao Govinddas, one of the 14 sons of Rao Jaimal. He captured Maroth pargana (Gaurawati) from the Gaur Rajputs with the help of his relatives, the Ladkhani Shekhawat rulers of Rewasa and the Chatrabhujot Rajawats of Bagru, one of the 12 Chambers of Jaipur Royal Family, and established an independent state having 11,56,000 bigha land. Maroth State was divided into two states of 949 sq. km. each by Maharaja Bijay Singh I of Abhaypura (Jiliya) and Maharaja Sabal Singh of Minda, while jagirs of Lunwa, Panchota and Panchwa were granted as appanages. In 1708 Raja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur annexed the Maroth territory and established his own administrator Mayaram there, but had to surrender it back in 1722 AD to Badshah who re-confirmed the ownership of territories of the pargana but the title of Maharaja was not recognised officially. Rulers were...

• Rao JODHA, Rao of Jodhpur, married Sonigri Rani Chauhanji, daughter of Raja Kheema Santawat of Jalore, and had issue.

  • Rao DUDA, Rao of Merta (1495-1515), born 15 June 1440 at Mandaur, captured Merta from Mahmood Khilji, Sultan of Malwa, married Rani Raghav Kanwar Sahiba, daughter of Maharao Shekha of Amarsar, and had issue. He died 1515.

    • Rao VIRAMDEV, Rao of Merta (1515/1544), born 1477, married (a), Chalukya (Solanki) Rani Kalyan Kunwari, daughter of Rana Keshavdas of Nibarwada, married (b) Rani Shantide, daughter of Chalukya Rao Fateh Singh of Nibarwada (Bisalpur), married (c), Rani Sisodani Gorajiya Kunwari [Rani Har Kanwar of Merta], daughter of Maharana Raimal of Chittor (Mewar), married (d), Kachwahi Man Kunwari, daughter of Maharaj Kisandasji of Kalwar (Kakhwad?) in Jaipur, and had issue, 10 sons.

      • Rao JAIMAL VIRAMDEVOT, 5th Rao of Merta (1544/1568), head of the Mertia Dynasty of Suryavanshi Rathore Rajputs, Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom of Mewar when Emperor Akbar of Delhi attacked Chittorgarh, married (a), Rani Solanki Kewal Kanwar, daughter of Rana Randhir Singh of Lunawas, married (b), Rani Nirwan Vinay Kanwari, daughter of Raja Kesavdas (Nirban Chauhan) of Khandela and his wife Lad Kanwar, married (c), Rani Sloanki Padam Kanwar, daughter of Rai Kesri Singh of Desuri, and had issue, fourteen sons. He died in battle in 1568 AD.

        • Rao GOVINDDAS JAIMALOT, Rao of Bhawanta, founder of the Goyanddasot subclan, he established a principality of 31 villages in Maroth, Parbatsar, Nagaur and Merta parganas, he also received 14 villages jagir of Liliya from his maternal Solanki relatives, married and had issue, the rulers of Merta, Bhanwata, Geri, Jaswantpura. He died in battle of Beed alongwith his brother Raja Keshavdas.

          • Rao Jagannath of Sarnavada in Nagaur Dist., 3.75 villages, Kurab Banh, Single Tazim, Revenue Rs 10600.

          • Rao SANWALDAS GOYANDDASOT, Rao of Punlota, received Punlota estate of 3000 acres; married, (a) Rani (name unknown), married, (b) Rajawatji Rani Kesar Kanwar of Bagru Royal Family in Jaipur, daughter of Adhiraj Sanwat Singh I, and sister of Padam Singh Chatrabhujot, an officer of distinction in army of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan of Delhi; and had issue, two sons.

            1. Kunwar Shyamji of Punlota

            2. Maharaja Raghunath Singh (continued below)

          • Rao Nahar Khan

          • Rao Sundardas

          • Rao Bhagwandas

          • Rao Natha (Nathu), founder of Nathusinghot subclan.

          • Rao Balram

        • Rajkumari Guman Kanwar, married Rao Bakhtawar Singh Chauhan of Gangrar.

        • Rajkumari Gulab Kanwar, married Sisodia Rawat Panchayanji.

      • Rajkumari Shyam Kunwari, married Rawat Sangaji of Deogarh Madaria.

      • Rajkumari Phool Kunwari, married heroic martyr Rawat Pataji Sisodia of Kelwa.

      • Rajkumari Abhay Kunwari, married Raghav Dev Chauhan of Gangrar.

    • Rao Ratan Singh, married Rani Veer Kanwar, and had issue, one daughter.

      • Rajkumari Mira Bai [Yuvarani Sahiba Mertaniji of Mewar], married Yuvraj Kumar Bhojraj, son of Maharana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) of Mewar.

  • Rao Bar, ancestor of the Chiefs of Jhabua and Kushalgarh.

• Sidh Shri Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Shri RAGHUNATH SINGHJI, Raja of Maroth, 1660-1683 A.D. (1717-1740 B.S.), born 1610 (1667 B.S.), he initially served as a commander in the Army of Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur. Thereafter, he joined the Imperial Service alongwith his uncle Adhiraj Padam Singh Rajawat, and was granted a mansab of 1500 zat (Infantry), 900 sawar (Cavalry), 500 do-aspa se-aspa, and the title of Raja by Padshah Shah Jehan, Mogul emperor of Delhi for valour shown in battles under him and his son Prince Aurangzeb in Deccan. He participated in the Mughal war of succession in battles including Ujjain (Dharmat) i 1657 A.D. and Dholpur (Samugarh) against emperor Shah Jehan, and the new emperor Aurangzeb granted him the title of Maharaja and watan jagir of Maroth (B.S. 1717) as patrimonial or hereditary principality, but the Gaud Rajas refused to handover Maroth and after series of fierce battles fought for around 2 years, in Maroth, Manglana, Kuchaman, Mithari, Sargoth, etc. he captured 140 villages of Maroth territory comprising of seven parganas or mahals (districts) with the help of Ladkhani Shekhawats of Rewasa and Chatrabhujot Rajawats of Bagru, which was followed by large scale migration of the members of the erstwhile ruling families, so he requested them to retain 17 villages.^(#1) He married five Princesses, including Maharani Keshar Kanwar Ladkhaniji Baisa (qv), daughter of Uday Singh of Bharija, granddaughter of Thakur Madho Singh Shekhawat of Rewasa, and built Five Magnificent Forts at Maroth better known as 'Panch Mahal Maroth'- the Five Royal Houses of Maroth, and had issue, eight sons (three died in their Kunwarpadi, i.e., in the lifetime of father, Raghunathsingh). His army largely consisted of Muslims, and his Commander-in-Chief was a Muslim friend named Bhakar Shah, and, as per his last wish, he was cremated next to his burial, and now a temple and a mosque have been built near their cenotaphs showing Hindu-Muslim unity. He died 1740 BS (1683 AD).

  • Raj Kunwar Roop Singh (by 1st Rani) of Rewasa and Sibsagar-Assam, granted by Padshah Aurangzeb of Delhi. He died sp.

  • Maharaja Sabal Singh (by 2nd Rani) of Minda (Mahal), 40 villages (949 km²)

    • Raja Inder Singh Mertia of Minda (indersinghot clan)

      • Thakur Chhatrasal Singh, Thakur of Maroth.

      • Thakur Bairisal Singh, ancestor of Thakurs of Bhanwata and Ghatwa.

      • Thakur Hari Singh, Thakur of Narayanpura.

      • Thakur Bakhat Singh, Thakur of Manglana.

    • Rani Mertaniji, married Rao Shiv Singh, 2nd Rao of Sikar (1721/1748), and had issue, one son.

    • Rani Siris Kanwar Mertaniji, married (as his first wife) Raja Kesri Singh of Khandela. She committed Sati.

  • Maharaja Bijay Singh I [Vijay Singh] (by 2nd Rani) of Maroth-Abhaypura (Jiliya) (Mahal), Bijaysinghot clan, 2 towns and 40 villages (961 km²)

  • Thakur Sher Singh [Ser Singh, Keshar Singh] (by 3rd Rani), received jagir of Loonwa (Mahal), 20 villages (481 km²)

    • Kunwar Durjan Singh Sher Singhot Mertia, ancestor of Sampat Singh Bakhtawar Singhot

  • Thakur Hattee Singh [Hutti Singh] (by 4th Rani), received jagir of Panchota (Mahal), 17 villages (405 km²)

    • Generations...

      • Thakur Devi Singh

      • Bisan Singh Baghsinghot

  • Thakur Anand Singh (by 5th Rani), received jagir of Panchwa (Mahal), 14 villages (341 km²)

  • Kunwar Kishore Singh (by 4th Rani), received no appanage, married Thakurani Hadiji, and had issue.

    • Thakur Jalam Singh [Zalim Singh], granted one village of 15 km² in Kuchaman by Hati Singh of Panchota, he died in the battle of Bilara.

  • Kunwar Amar Singh (by 3rd Rani), received jagir of Deoli.

    • Thakur Ram Singh

      • Thakur Rai Singh

        • Thakur Soor Singh

          • Thakur Dalel Singh

            • Thakur Duleh Singh

              • Thakur Lunkaran

                • Thakur Ridhmal Singh

                • ---- Thakur Pratap Singh of Deori (Badi) Half.

• • Maharani Kesar Kanwar Ladkhani Shekhawat Baisa, (1683 AD), 2nd Queen of Maharaja Raghunath Singh, she took 80 villages of Marot, estate of 150 Horses (7,50,000 bigha land), Sibsagar in Assam, which were divided equally by her two sons, who established separate Kingdoms, while her step-sons established three jagirs. The Shekhawats were granted ijara rights (permanent lease) over land in Bharija, Goriyan, Hoodil, Khorindi, Lalas, Bhilal and Depar, while the Rajawats were granted Chitawa.

    • Maharaja SABAL SINGH, Maharaja of Minda, received half of Maroth State, jagir of 75 Horses (3,75,000 bigha land), 40 villages of Maroth, share in Sambhar lake, half of Sibsagar district in Assam.

    • Maharaja BIJAY SINGH I, Maharaja of Abahypura, received half of Maroth State, jagir of 75 Horses (3,75,000 bigha land), 40 villages of Maroth, share in Sambhar lake, half of Sibsagar district in Assam.

Raja SABAL SINGHJI (Minda Mahal):

• Head Seat: MINDA, Meenda, Meendha or Marot, Marothe, Mahrot, Maharot, Maharashtra Nagar. Junior Thikanas:

  • Bhanwata or Bhawta

  • Narayanpura or Narainpura of 15 villages.

  • Nadwa

  • Ghatwa of 8 villages.

  • Wasa (Bansa or Bansya?)

  • Manglana

Raja BIJAY SINGHJI (Maroth/Abhaypura/Jiliya Mahal):

• Head Seat: MAROTH/ ABHAYPURA / JILIYA (Snr).

  • Padampura or Sargoth.

  • Nagar (Jawdi Nagar)

  • Devla or Devta.

  • Kunkanwali, Kukanwali or Kukadwali.

  • Lichana

  • Dolpura

  • Anandpura, Anatpura or Anadpura.

  • Jiliya (Junior)

  • Deoli (Senior) (Half)

  • Deoli

  • Gohandi

  • Noowa (Nawa or Nawan?)

Thakur SHER SINGHJI (Loonwa Mahal):

• Head Seat: Thikana LUNWA or Loonwa.

  • Lunwa (Line 1)

  • Lunwa (Line 2)

  • Lunwa (Line 3)

  • Bauri or Bawdi

Thakur HATTI SINGHJI (Panchota Mahal):

• Head Seat: Thikana PANCHOTA.

  • Kuchaman or Kuchawan

  • Mithari, Mithadi or Meethdi

  • Jijoth

  • Shyamgarh

  • Bhagwanpura

  • Ladariya

  • Chuniya or Choonya

  • Phogdi, Fogdi or Fogri

  • Bhadliya

  • Palada or Palara

  • Sudrasan

Thakur ANAND SINGHJI (Panchwa Mahal)

• Head Seat: Thikana PANCHWA.

  • Pempara, Pempura, Pempata or Prempura

  • Dhokariya

  • Runija

  • Nimod

  • Khares or Khariya

  • Kotda or Kotra

OTHER MEMBERS:

• Sardars of Rewasa, Simod, Nimbi, Sarnawada, Itawa, Lakhon.