Chhotanagpur under Shahjahan and Mughal Rule (1640–1707)

Events during Shahjahan’s Rule (till 1658)

• In 1643, Shaista Khan was transferred from Bihar to Allahabad; Itikad Khan became the new Subedar of Bihar.
• Internal conflict broke out between Dariya Rai and Tej Rai. Dariya Rai went to Patna to Itikad Khan.
• Meanwhile, Jabardast Khan prepared to attack Palamu fort.
• Tej Rai sent a military contingent under Madan Singh Thakurai to confront Jabardast Khan, but Madan Singh was defeated.
• On 5 November 1643, Tej Rai went out hunting. In his absence, Madan Singh’s sons Surat Singh and Sabal Singh, with the support of Pratap Rai, released him from captivity and installed him on the throne.
• Pratap Rai chose to avoid confrontation with the Mughals and offered allegiance through a letter.
• Jabardast Khan reached just 6 miles from Palamu fort and ordered Pratap Rai to report to Patna.
• Pratap Rai attempted to resist but eventually left for Patna on 19 November 1643, offering one elephant and one lakh rupees to Itikad Khan.
• Itikad Khan informed Emperor Shahjahan of this development.
• In 1644, Shahjahan appointed Pratap Rai as a mansabdar of 1000 and gave him back Palamu on the condition of paying an annual tribute of 1 crore dams.
• Pratap Rai remained loyal to the Mughals till at least 1647, after which there are no further records of his activities.
• After his death, Bhopal Rai succeeded him, followed by Medini Rai (ruled from 1658–1674).

Rise and Reign of Medini Rai

• During the last years of Shahjahan’s reign, Medini Rai became the king of Palamu and took advantage of the Mughal succession crisis to strengthen his position.
• He fortified and expanded Palamu fort and attacked the capital of Chotanagpur, Doisa, defeating the Nagvanshi king.
• From the spoils of war, he built a small fort at Satbarwa in 1634.
• The gate of Doisa fort was brought to Palamu and installed in the new fort, later known as Nagpuri Gate.
• No clear details are available about Shahjahan’s relations with Singhbhum, Dhanbad, and Hazaribagh, except that Kunda fort came under Mughal control.
• The regions of Chai, Khandgdiha, and Ramgarh remained outside Mughal control.
• Ramgarh had become a Mughal vassal and was obliged to provide assistance when required.
• King Hemant Singh of Ramgarh built a fort at Badam in 1642; later, during Aurangzeb’s reign, the capital was shifted 46 km east to Ramgarh.
• The Singhbhum ruler maintained good relations with the Mughals and agreed to pay annual tribute.

Chhotanagpur During Aurangzeb’s Rule (1658–1707)

• During Raghunath Shah’s reign, peaceful conditions allowed for temple constructions at Doisa, Bodeya, and Jagannathpur.
  • Jagannath Temple (1691) inscription credits its construction to Ani Nath Shahdeo.
  • Madanmohan Temple at Bodeya began in 1665 and completed in 1682, costing ₹14,001.
  • In 1685, Hari Brahmachari built the Ram-Sita Temple at Chutia.
• Medini Rai looted Doisa and took away a massive stone gate, now Nagpur Gate.
• After Raghunath Shah, Ram Shah ruled (1690–1715) and maintained cordial relations with Aurangzeb.
• In 1692, Ram Shah paid ₹9,705 as revenue to the Mughals via Odisha’s revenue officers.
• Ram Shah adopted aggressive policy:
  • Attacked and destroyed Jayantgarh, capital of Jagannath Singh of Singhbhum.
  • Later made peace and established marital alliances—his two sisters married Jagannath Singh.
  • Singhbhum also became known as Porahat.
  • Ram Shah also attacked Palamu.
• In Kunda, ruler Chun Rai converted to Islam and was honored with a royal sanad.
  • His brother Sukhar Rai killed him—Medini Rai was allegedly involved in the conspiracy.
• Medini Rai requested Daud Khan, Mughal Subedar of Bihar, to accept tribute and return to Patna.
  • Daud Khan refused and marched towards the Cheros’ capital.
  • Mughal decree offered to let the Chero king remain in power if he converted to Islam and paid tribute.
  • A battle ensued; Chero resistance weakened, and the king fled into forests.
  • Mughals took control of both Palamu forts and the capital.
  • The Chero king took refuge in Sarguja.
• Daud Khan took the “Singh Darwaza” from Palamu and installed it at Daudnagar fort.
• Manakali Khan served as faujdar of Palamu till 1666.
• Medini Rai later regained control and brought peace and prosperity to Palamu.
  • Focused on agriculture, earning the title of “Golden Age” ruler.
  • Died in 1674.
• Successors:
  • Rudra Rai succeeded Medini Rai (1674–1680).
  • Followed by Dikpal Rai (till 1697), then Saheb Rai (till 1716).

Other Regions under Mughal Rule

• Kunda, part of Chatra district, was established by Mughal officer Ram Singh.
• Dalel Singh became king of Ramgarh in 1667.
• Kendi, also in Chatra, was made a zamindari under Muslim rulers by 1770.
• Chai, west of Kendi, was defeated in 1770 by Ramgarh king Mukund Singh, and its lands were divided among five sardars, with taxes collected by Lal Khan of Jagodih.
• Khadgdiha, part of old Hazaribagh, was believed to be founded in the 15th century by Hansraj Bhutdev (possibly from South India), who ruled over a 600-mile area between Gaya and Hazaribagh.
• In 1765, Akbar Ali Khan, son of Kamgar Khan, attacked and expelled Pod Narayan Dev, the then ruler of Khadgdiha.
• Ramgarh’s capital was shifted from Badam to Ramgarh in 1670 for better protection from Muslim invasions.
• Dhanbad remained outside Mughal control, as did Singhbhum, due to its remote and difficult terrain.
  • Singhbhum rulers took refuge in Kolhan’s Chung state, beyond Mughal reach.

Santhal Pargana and Strategic Military Importance

• Santhal Pargana and Rajmahal held more documented history during the Turkish, Afghan, and Mughal periods.
• Rich military and economic value due to:
  • Rajmahal hills and Ganga river’s fast-flowing southern stream.
  • Strategic roads through Shahabad and Teliyagarh valleys.
  • Teliyagarhi fort near Sahibganj, controlling Bengal’s gateway.
• Shershah Suri tried to enter Bengal through Teliyagarhi in January 1536 but was stopped by two Portuguese generals.
• Later entered through a different route via the Moor River to capture Gaur.