Jahangir’s Rule and the Struggle of the Nagavanshi Kings (1605-1627)

Note on Jahangir’s Rule and the Struggle of the Nagvanshi Kings

• During Jahangir’s reign, the Mughal Empire became increasingly active in Jharkhand, especially in Chotanagpur and Palamu.
• In 1624, the Mughal army was sent to Chotanagpur but the campaign failed.
• Dhurjan Sal returned in 1627, launched a war with the help of friendly kings against a puppet ruler, and regained his throne.
• Internal conflict among the Nagvanshi clan led some members to leave Kokrah and settle in other regions.
• For military reasons, Dhurjan Sal shifted the capital from Khukhra to Doiysa (now in Sisai block of Gumla district).
  • The new capital was naturally fortified: three sides by hills, and one side by the Koel River.
• He built a major palace called Navratangarh at the new capital.
• Dhurjan Sal ruled for 13 years after his return, i.e., until around 1639–40.
• In 1632, Chotanagpur was granted as a jagir to the Subedar of Bihar, with an annual tax of 1,36,000 rupees, increased to 1,61,000 rupees in 1636.
• In Palamu, during Jahangir’s reign, Bhagwat Rai (1585–1605) and Anant Rai (1605–1612) ruled as Cheros.
• According to Mirza Nathan, Anant Rai was ruler of Palamu in the early years of Jahangir’s reign.
• In 1607, Afzal Khan, son of Abul Fazl, was appointed Subedar of Bihar, and Iradat Khan was appointed as Diwan and Bakhshi on 6 September 1607.
• Jahangir ordered an attack on the Chero ruler of Palamu, but the campaign failed due to Afzal Khan’s death within two weeks.
• There are no Muslim sources providing details after Anant Rai’s rule.
• According to Chero tradition, Anant Rai ruled from 1630 to 1661, but this is not corroborated by Muslim chronicles.
• Sahbal Rai (1612–1627) succeeded Anant Rai and was a strong Chero ruler.
  • He began harassing traders, prompting Jahangir to send a Mughal force.
  • Sahbal Rai was captured and taken to Delhi, where he was forced to fight a tiger for imperial entertainment, which led to his death.
• After Sahbal’s death, Cheros began raiding border Mughal territories, looted a royal treasury boat on the Son River, and re-entered Palamu.
• A new Chero ruler was forced to take refuge near Sasaram at Surwar Rajput landlord Dev Shah’s residence.
• By the end of Jahangir’s reign, Mughal awareness of Chotanagpur increased.
• Dhurjan Sal died in 1639 or 1640; succeeded by Raghunath Shah (1640–1690).
• According to Tavernier, Shah Jahan sent an expedition against Raghunath Shah, but the Nagvanshi king submitted by paying a small tribute.
• As a result, Mughal–Nagvanshi relations improved during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
• Raghunath Shah used this peaceful period to construct temples at Doiysa, Chutia, and Boreya.
• During this time, Medini Rai of Palamu attacked Navratangarh and defeated Raghunath Shah.
  • The Nagar gate (Nagpuri Gate) of Navratangarh was taken and installed at Palamu Fort.
• The Boreya Temple, built under the supervision of Lakshmi Narayan, began in 1665 and completed in 1682.
• Compared to Nagvanshis, Mughal–Chero relations were less cordial.
• After Sahbal Rai’s death, likely Pratap Rai (1627–1657) took the throne.
  • He was the son of Balbhadra Chero, and a powerful ruler.
  • Mughals attempted to subdue him but failed.
  • Old Palamu Fort was likely constructed during his rule.
  • His reign was marked by prosperity in Palamu.
• In 1629, Shah Jahan appointed Ahmad Khan as Subedar of Palamu, granting it as a jagir with 1,36,000 rupees annual tax.
• Due to increased tax demands, Pratap stopped paying and resisted Bihar Subedar Abdullah Khan.
• In 1639, Shaista Khan became Bihar Subedar and informed Shah Jahan of Pratap’s disobedience.
• Shah Jahan ordered a military campaign; on 12 October 1641, Shaista Khan marched toward Palamu.
  • On 26 January 1642, Mughal forces entered Aru village, then moved to Cherwan, 4 miles from Palamu Fort.
  • Cheros were defeated, and Pratap Rai surrendered, offering 80,000 rupees for pardon.
  • Shaista Khan accepted the offer and returned to Patna on 12 February 1642.
• Internal conflicts arose in Palamu after this:
  • Pratap’s uncle Tej Rai and Durga (Dariya) Rai plotted to remove him.
  • Tej Rai succeeded in seizing power but did not share wealth with Durga Rai.
  • Durga Rai contacted the Mughals, offering to hand over Devgan Fort if they helped remove Tej Rai.
• In 1643, Shaista Khan was transferred and Itiqad Khan became the new Subedar of Bihar.
• Tensions escalated:
  • Tej Rai sent Madan Singh Thakurai to confront the approaching Mughal general Jabardast Khan.
  • Madan Singh lost, and on 5 November 1643, Tej Rai left the fort for a hunting trip.
  • Madan Singh’s sons, Surat Singh and Sabal Singh, freed Pratap Rai from captivity and reinstated him as king.
• Pratap Rai offered submission to the Mughals rather than fighting again.
• Jabardast Khan was 6 miles from the fort when he ordered Pratap to come to Patna.
• On 19 November 1643, Pratap Rai left with a war elephant and 1 lakh rupees as tribute to Itiqad Khan.
• In 1644, Shah Jahan granted Pratap Rai the rank of 1,000 mansab and restored Palamu to him.
  • Annual tax was fixed at 1 crore dams.
• Pratap remained loyal to the Mughals until at least 1647.
• After his death, Bhupal Rai ruled briefly, followed by Medini Rai (1658–1674).
• Medini Rai took advantage of Mughal internal conflicts and focused on strengthening his state.
  • He expanded and fortified Palamu Fort and attacked Doiysa, defeating the Nagvanshi king.
  • From the victory, he constructed a smaller fort at Satbarwa in 1634.
  • The stone gate from Doiysa was installed at Palamu Fort, called Nagpuri Gate.
• There is no detailed information about Mughal relations with Singhbhum, Dhanbad, or Hazaribagh during Shah Jahan’s reign.
• However, it is confirmed that Kunda Fort was under Mughal control.
  • Areas like Chai Champa, Khargdiha, and Ramgarh were not fully subdued.
  • Among them, Ramgarh was the most prominent, and it remained under Mughal influence.
• The Raja of Ramgarh was required to provide assistance to Mughals when needed.
  • Ramgarh’s capital was originally Baddam, where Raja Hemant Singh built a fort in 1642.
  • Under Aurangzeb, the capital shifted 46 km east to Ramgarh.