Lecture 8 – Bharatpur Dynasty
By Siddharthh Sir
Gokul
Rajaram
Churaman
Badan Singh
Sooraj Mal
Jat Royal Dynasty of Bharatpur
and Its Prominent Rulers
• The Jats are an agricultural community.
• Its rise as a political power began during
the reign of Aurangzeb.
• In 1669 AD the Jats of the Mathura
region rose in revolt against Aurangzeb
under the leadership of Gokul.
• Gokul was killed early but the Jat revolt
continued under Rajaram.
• After the death of Rajaram in 1688 AD
his nephew Churaman took up the
leadership.
Churaman (1695-1721 AD)
• Churaman was the founder of the Jat
principality of Bharatpur.
• His repeated incursions into the Mughal
territories of Mathura and Agra had
shaken the Mughals.
• Bishan Singh, the ruler of Jaipur was
sent to suppress the Jats. But he met
with limited success.
• Gradually, Churaman grew in power and
stature. He constructed a fort at Thun,
set up a small prinipality and declared
himself the ruler.
Badan Singh (1723-1756 AD) –
• Badan Singh was the successor of
Churaman.
• Jai Singh II, ruler of Jaipur, invested him
with the title Brajraj and gave him jagirs
of Mathura, Vrindavan, Mahavan, Hisar,
Chhata, Kosi and Hodal.
• Badan Singh made Deeg his abode and
constructed a strong fort, beautiful water
palaces and laid expansive gardens.
• Apart from Deeg, he constructed forts at
Kumher, Bharatpur and Weir as well.
• Badan Singh was a peace loving ruler. He
fostered Jat-Kachchhawa friendship and
expanded his possessions. He died in
1756 AD in Deeg.
Maharaja Surajmal (1756-1763
AD) –
• Surajmal was the son and successor of
Badan Singh.
• He built a fort at Bharatpur and made it
his capital.
• Like his father he also followed the
policy of friendship and cooperation
with Jaipur.
• After the death of Jai Singh II in 1743, in
the succession battle he supported
Ishwari Singh and fought on his side
against his rivals.
• He went to fight against Ahmad Shagh
Abdali in the Third Battle of Panipat in
1761 with the Marathas, but due to
erratic and rude behaviour of the
Maratha general Sadashivrao Bhau,
came back to Bharatpur.
• But after the defeat of the Marathas, he
provided shelter and assistance to them.
• He died in the battle against the Rohillas
in 1763. Najib Khan, the Rohilla chief, did
not believe the news that Surajmal has
died till he got the definitive proof. This
is an example of the terror that Surajmal
had struck in the minds of his
adversaries.
Kalikaranjan Kanungo writes that Surajmal
combined in him all the qualities of his tribe.
He was wise, politic, valiant and grand,
indefatigable and a man of indomitable spirit.
