Post-Mughal Era in Jharkhand (1707–1765)

After Aurangzeb’s Death (1707)

The period following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 marked the decline of centralized Mughal authority in the Indian subcontinent. This vacuum of power opened the gates for regional rulers to assert autonomy and for new forces—especially the Marathas and the British East India Company—to emerge as dominant players. Jharkhand, with its strategic location and resource-rich territories, was significantly impacted during this period. Here’s a detailed look at the developments in Jharkhand between 1707 and 1765:

Weakening Mughal Control and Emergence of New Threats

• During the reigns of the later Mughal emperors, the grip of Muslim rulers over Jharkhand began to loosen considerably.
• In this transitional phase, the Marathas emerged as a significant threat to the region.
• Over time, local rulers weakened to the extent that the East India Company began expanding its influence, eventually establishing dominance.

Reign of Ram Shah and Rise of Yadunath Shah

• Ram Shah continued to rule Chotanagpur during this time.
• Upon his death, Yadunath Shah ascended the throne in 1715 and ruled until 1724.
• Taking advantage of the disorder after Aurangzeb’s death, Yadunath Shah:
  • Disregarded Mughal authority.
  • Ceased paying the annual tribute to the empire.

Confrontation with Sarbuland Khan (1717)

• In 1717, Bihar’s subedar Sarbuland Khan launched an attack against Yadunath Shah.
• Yadunath responded diplomatically, sending an envoy with an offer:
  • Tribute of ₹1,00,000, with 45% in cash and the rest in precious stones.
• Sarbuland accepted the offer and withdrew to Patna.
• However, this encounter led to an immediate consequence:
  • The Nagvanshi capital was moved from Doisagarh to Palamu for strategic safety.

Capital Shift and Short-Lived Stability

• Yadunath shifted the capital from Doisagarh to Palamu to escape Mughal attacks.
• This relocation, however, did not ensure long-term peace.
• Within two decades, Palamu itself was invaded by the Marathas.

Reign of Shivnath Shah (1724–1733)

• After Yadunath’s death in 1724, Shivnath Shah became king and ruled until 1733.
• During his reign:
  • He stopped paying the annual tribute due to weakened Mughal control.
  • In 1727, Bihar’s new subedar Fakhruddaula aimed to subdue rebellious chiefs.

Attack on Chotanagpur and Payment for Peace (1730)

• Fakhruddaula attacked Chotanagpur in 1730.
• Shivnath Shah averted disaster by paying ₹12,000 to restore peace.

Reign of Udaynath Shah (1733–1740)

• Udaynath Shah succeeded Shivnath in 1733 and ruled till 1740.
• His reign coincided with major changes in Bihar’s administration:
  • In 1733, Alivardi Khan was appointed as subedar of Bihar by Nawab Sujauddin.
  • Alivardi set out to suppress rebellious zamindars.

Alivardi’s Campaigns Against Zamindars

• In 1734, Alivardi Khan attacked Tekari (Gaya-Bihar) and captured zamindar Sundar Singh.
• Sundar Singh’s family escaped to Chatra, prompting another military expedition.
• Chatra Fort was destroyed, and nearby rulers were terrified.
• Ramgarh’s king Vishnu Singh offered tribute to Alivardi to avoid conflict.

Tribute Disputes and Renewed Mughal Pressure

• After Alivardi left for Bihar, Vishnu Singh stopped paying tribute and convinced Nagvanshi rulers to do the same.
• Alivardi appointed Jainuddin as deputy subedar of Bihar in the same year.
• Jainuddin sent Hidayat Ali Khan to attack Vishnu Singh:
  • Vishnu was defeated and forced to pay ₹80,000 in arrears.

Reign of Shyamsundar Nath Shah (1740–1745)

• After Udaynath’s death in 1740, Shyamsundar Nath Shah ruled till 1745.
• This period was crucial as:
  • The Maratha leader Bajirao I cast his eyes on Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
  • The Maratha route into Bengal passed through Chotanagpur.

Maratha Incursions Begin (1741–1742)

• In 1741, the Marathas captured Chhattisgarh.
• It is believed that kings of Sarguja, Chotanagpur, and Singhbhum began paying tribute to them.
• In 1742, the Marathas launched their first attack on Bengal:
  • Bhaskar Rao Pandit entered Chotanagpur via Chhattisgarh and then entered Bengal.
  • He passed through Ramgarh, Sarguja, and Amarkantak.

Maratha Exploitation of Chotanagpur

• Grant Duff in History of the Marathas states: “The Marathas appeared from the forests of Ramgarh, looting and pillaging their way to Panchet.”
• However, in the same year (1742), Bajirao I suffered a setback:
  • Bhaskar Rao was defeated by Alivardi Khan at the Battle of Katwa.
  • He fled the battlefield and escaped through Ramgarh to Berar via Odisha.

Rivalry Among Marathas (1743)

• In 1743, Bengal and Bihar became the battleground between Bajirao and Raghoji Bhonsle.
• Raghoji Bhonsle arrived in Bengal with a large army.
• Nawab Alivardi Khan and Emperor Muhammad Shah sought help from Balaji Rao.
• Raghoji fled upon Balaji’s arrival.
• A treaty was signed on 31 August 1743:
  • Peshwa gained Malwa, Ajmer, Agra, Allahabad, Tekari, Bhojpur, and Daudnagar.
  • Raghoji received the remaining parts of Bihar (excluding Awadh and Bengal).
  • Chotanagpur came under Raghoji’s influence.

Economic Exploitation and Long-Term Decline

• Regions like Manbhum, Chotanagpur proper, and Palamu became areas of Maratha exploitation.
• This situation persisted into the early 19th century.
• The arrival of the Marathas marked the end of Muslim dominance in Jharkhand.

Failure to Stop Maratha Expansion

• Contemporary subedars like Jainuddin Ahmad Khan, Siraj ud-Daulah, and Raja Ramnarayan failed to:
  • Check Maratha incursions.
  • Maintain control over Chotanagpur.
• As a result, local rulers:
  • Rejected the sovereignty of Muslim governors in Bengal and Bihar.
  • Felt empowered to suppress local zamindars.

Expansion of Nagvanshi Power under Maninath Shah and Dhrupnath Shah

• King Maninath Shah of Chotanagpur suppressed and brought under control the rebellious zamindars of Barwa, Silli, Bunju, Rahe, and Tamar.
• After Maninath’s reign, Dhrupnath Shah ruled from 1760 to 1762.
• The Maratha invasions had the most severe impact on Palamu, Chotanagpur proper, and Manbhum.
• Over the next four to five decades, residents of Maratha-dependent regions like Surguja, Jaspur, and Gangpur continued raiding Jharkhand.

Social and Economic Impact of Maratha Raids

• These relentless invasions devastated entire regions, leaving lands deserted and populations scattered.
• Out of fear and terror, many residents abandoned their homes and fled into the forests.
• From 1750 to 1765, the power of the Chotanagpur rulers increased, but external political control collapsed.
• This power vacuum paved the way for British entry into the region.
• During this phase, the Nagvanshi king Dhrupnath Shah ruled Chotanagpur.

Political Realignment in Palamu

• During this period, Palamu witnessed political polarization.
• The Chero rulers controlled South Palamu, but in North Palamu, Rajput and Muslim zamindars rose in power.
• In 1740, Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah granted the Japla and Belauja parganas to Hidayat Ali Khan.
• However, the Sonpura Raja resisted this move, and Hidayat Ali captured only Japla.
• Belauja pargana remained outside Hidayat’s control.

Founding of New Towns by Hidayat Ali Khan

• Later, Hidayat Ali Khan established the towns of Hussainabad and Hyder Nagar.
• He made Hussainabad his residence.
• After his death in 1764, Ghulam Hussain Khan became the ruler of Japla pargana.
• The Sonpura Raja lost control over Belauja pargana.

Transfer of Parganas as Jagirs

• Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah granted Belauja as a jagir to the family of Naki Ali Khan.
• But in 1762, when Mir Qasim captured Rohtasgarh, the political landscape shifted again.
• In 1765, Belauja was awarded as a jagir to Fakhruddaula, the maternal grandfather of Haji Syed Balayat Khan of Patna.

Instability and Anarchy in Palamu

• Like Chotanagpur proper, Palamu was plagued by political instability and lawlessness.
• During this period:
  • The Bhaiyas of Untari, and Thakurai of Ranka and Chainpur were the most powerful Rajput zamindars in Palamu.
  • Regions like Devgan, Manatu, and Bishrampur were under the control of Chero and Kharwar landlords.
• The court of Chero king Jai Krishna Rai became a hub of conspiracies and factional politics.
• This situation made Palamu vulnerable to external attacks.

Singhbhum in the Post-Mughal Period

• In Singhbhum, the key rulers of Porahat during this era included:
  • Mahipal Singh
  • Kashiram Singh
  • Chhatrapati Singh
  • Arjun Singh
  • Jagannath Singh
  • Purushottam Singh
  • Vikram Singh

Establishment of the Seraikela State

• Vikram Singh founded the Seraikela State and made Seraikela his capital.
• He pursued an expansionist policy:
  • In the north, he captured Kandu and Baksai Patkum from the local Patkum ruler.

Succession in Porahat and Arrival of the British

• Arjun Singh of Porahat was succeeded by Amar Singh.
• After Amar Singh, Jagannath IV ascended the throne.
• During Jagannath IV’s rule, the British entered Singhbhum in 1767.

End of the Mughal Legacy and the Rise of a New Era

The years between 1707 and 1765 witnessed the fragmentation of centralized power in Jharkhand. As the Mughal Empire collapsed, the Marathas exploited the region, and local rulers battled for autonomy. Political instability, economic devastation, and anarchy marked this period—especially in Palamu, Chotanagpur, and Singhbhum.

The decline of Mughal and Maratha control created a power vacuum that allowed the British East India Company to gradually insert itself into Jharkhand’s political affairs—setting the stage for the colonial conquest that would soon follow.