PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: The
predecessor state was founded about 697AD. It was called Kahlur, after
a fort of that
name
built by Raja Kahal Chand, and called after himself, Kot Kahlur. The
capital
of Bilaspur was founded by Raja Dip Chand
and was originally
at Jhandbari
and then at Kot Kahlur, but was later transferred to Bilaspur. The
Rajas were members of the Kahluria clan of the Chandravanshi Rajputs
descended from the ancient Rajas of Chanderi in Bundelkhand. The Raja
maintains a military force of 40 cavalry, 620 infantry, and 11 guns,
and is entitled to a salute of 11 guns (as of 1892). Rulers
were...
- Raja Hari Har Chand, 70th Chanderi
King, married
and had issue. He died 697 or 880.
- Raja Govind Chand, 71st Chanderi
King in succession to his father.
- Raja Bir Chand (qv)
- Mian Sabir Chand, died 697 or 880.
- Raja Kabir Chand, founder and
first Raja of
Kumaon.
- Raja Gambhir Chand, founder and
first Raja of
Chenani.
- Raja BIR CHAND, 1st
Raja of 'Kahlur' 697/730 or fl.880,
founder, subjugated
15 neighbouring states but was ultimately checked by the Raja of
Sirmur,
with whom he made peace.
- .....
- Raja KAHAL CHAND,
6th Raja of
Kahlur 894/902, he built
Kot Kahlur, giving its name to the state.
- .....
- Raja KAHN CHAND,
11th Raja of Kahlur 1057/1099,
conquered Hindur and gave it to his second son, Sujit Chand, from whom
the ruling line of Nalagarh is
descended,
married and had issue.
- Raja Ajit Chand (qv)
- Raja Sujit Chand, founder of Hindur (later Nalagarh).
- Mian Tegh Chand
- Raja AJIT CHAND,
12th Raja
of
Kahlur 1099/-
- .....
- Raja UDAI CHAND,
?13th Raja of Kahlur 1133/1143
- ......
- Raja SANGAR CHAND,
16th
Raja of Kahlur 1197/1220,
married and had issue, ten sons, seven of whom founded jagiri
families, existing
to
the present day (1910).
- Raja Megh Chand (qv)
- Mian Kali Chand, ancestor of the
rulers of Ramgarh in Haryana.
- Raja MEGH CHAND,
17th
Raja of Kahlur 1220/1251,
forced to flee a rebellion by his subjects which was eventually put
down
with the help of the Sultan of Delhi.
- ......
- Raja ABHAISAND CHAND,
21st
Raja of Kahlur 1302/1317
- ......
- Raja RATAN CHAND,
24th Raja
of Kahlur 1355/1406,
grandson of Raja Abhaisand Chand.
- ......
- Raja GYAN CHAND,
28th Raja
of Kahlur 1518/1555 or
1570/1600, forced to convert to Islam, after quarrelling with the
Governor
of Sirhind and being defeated in battle, married (amongst others), the
daughter of the Muslim Governor of Sirhind, and had issue. He died 1555
and
was
buried at Kiratpur.
- Raja Bikram Chand (qv)
- Mian Ram Chand, converted to
Islam.
- Mian Bhim Chand, converted to
Islam.
- Raja BIKRAM CHAND,
29th Raja
of Kahlur 1555/1593 or
1600/1620 (abdicated),
married (a), daughter of Raja Triloka Chand of Kangra,
married (b), a daughter of Rana Pratap Chand of Baghal,
and had issue.
He died 1593.
- Raja Sultan Chand (by 1st wife)
(qv)
- Mian Kesab Chand (by 2nd wife)
- Rani Prakash
Devi, married Raja Sahib Sen, Raja of Mandi.
- Raja SULTAN CHAND,
30th Raja
of Kahlur 1593/1600 or
1620/1630, married
and had issue. He died 1600.
- Raja KALYAN CHAND,
30th Raja
of Kahlur 1600/1636 or
1630/1645, married
(amongst others) a daughter of Raja Shyam Sen of Suket, she committed sati,
1645, and had issue, eight sons. He died 1645.
- Raja Tara Chand (qv)
- Mian Manak Chand
- Raja TARA CHAND,
31st Raja
of Kahlur 1636/1653 or
1645/1653, married
and
had issue.
He died 1653.
- Raja DIP CHAND,
32nd Raja
of Kahlur 1653/1665, provided
assistance to
the Mughal Emperor, for which he received a khillat of 5 lakhs
and
a sanad authorising his suzerainty over 22 states; he
transferred the capital to Bilaspur; married (a),
Rani
Kunkam Devi of Kullu, married (b), Rani Jalal Devi, daughter of Raja
Shyam Sen of Mandi, and had issue. He
died
27th April 1665 at Nadaon, poisoned to death by the Raja of Kangra.
- Raja Bhim Chand (by 2nd wife) (qv)
- Mian Dhan Chand (by 2nd wife)
- Raja BHIM CHAND,
33rd Raja
of Bilaspur 1665/1692
(abdicated),
born about 1651,
spent the last few years of his life as a fakir after
abdicating
in favour of his son, married and had issue. He died about 1712.
- Raja AJMER CHAND,
34th Raja
of Bilaspur 1692/1738 or
1712/1741, he was a formidible military ruler, and forced a number of
neighbouring states to pay tribute; married (amongst others) (a),
daughter of Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal,
married (b), a Princess of Sirmur, and had issue, seven sons. He died
1738 (1741).
- Raja Devi Chand (by Rani
Garhwali) (qv)
- Mian Shakt Chand (by Rani Garhwali),
married and had
issue.
- Mian Bishnu Chand, married and
had
issue.
- Raja Jagat Chand [Mian Jangi
Singh](qv)
- Mian Chiman Singh, married and had issue.
- Mian Ajudhia Das
- Mian Ram Das
- Mian Suchet Singh (by Rani Sirmuri),
ancestor of
Mian
Changhnian Chand.
- Mian Zorawar Singh (by Rani
Sirmuri), Wazir of
Bilaspur
1778/1793,
married and had issue. He died 1793.
- Mian Indar Singh
- Mian Man Singh
- Mian Dalel Singh
- Raja DEVI CHAND,
Raja of Bilaspur 1738/1778, waged
war
against Kangra
and Nalagarh, married (a), a Katoch Princess of Kangra, married (b), a
daughter of
Rana
Mehar Chand of Baghal, married (c), a
daughter of Rana Anup Singh of Kumharsain,
and had issue. He
died 1778.
- Raja MAHAN CHAND,
Raja of Bilaspur 1778/1824, born
1772,
during his reign the state was overrun by the Gurkhas from 1803 to
1815, and after their expulsion, the state was confirmed to the Raja by
a sanad from the British Government, dated 6th March 1815, he waged war
with Nalagarh and Kangra, and lost Dhar Kot to the Sikhs, married and
had
issue.
He died 1824.
- Raja KHARAK CHAND,
Raja of Bilaspur 1824/1839, born
1813,
married (amongst
others) (a), Rani Tripta Devi, married (b), a daughter of Rana Shiv
Saran Singh, Rana of Baghal, and had issue.
He died 29th March 1839 at
Bilaspur
leaving three widows, including two daughter of Raja Karam Prakash II
of Sirmur.
- Raja Garabh Chand Sahib, born posthumously in 1839, lost
his claim to
the gaddi
in the dispute decided by the British government in favour of his
nearest
relation Jagat Chand, married and had issue.
- Raja Kishan Chand, married and had issue.
- Kunwar Ganga Singh
- Kunwar Ishwari Singh, held the post of Mewar Vakil,
married and had
issue.
He died 1979.
- Kunwar Surendra Singh Chandel, settled at Udaipur
where he worked as
purchasing
officer with BIRLAS, married Kunwarani Narendra Kumari of Mendhsor
(Shekhawat),
and
had issue.
- Kunwar Gajraj Singh Chandel, M.Com., born 4th
April 1959 in Jaipur,
Rajasthan,
married 7th May 1987, Kunwarani Neera Singh Sisodia, daughter of Thakur
Himmat Singh of Nandli,
and has issue.
- Kunwar Takshsheel Singh, born 1988.
- Kunwar Gajender Singh, born 7th January 1934,
married Kunwarani Harsidh Kanwar, and had issue. He died 3rd January
2005.
- Kunwar Harshwardhan Singh, married and has issue.
- Kunwar Yashwardhan Singh
- Kumari Sonu Kumari
- Kunwar Ashwani Chandela, born 17th October 1966
in Bikaner, married 2nd April 2002 in Bikaner, Kunwarani Suman Rathore,
and has issue, one daughter.
- Kumari Chhavi Singh Chandela
- Kunwar Harender Singh, he settled in Bikaner,
Rajasthan.
- Kumari Chitra Kumari, married Maharaj Shri Udai
Singhji of Ralayata, and had issue,
one son and three daughters.
- Kunwar Pradyumna Singh
- Raja JAGAT CHAND,
Raja of Bilaspur 1839/1850
(abdicated),
installed
April 1839, married and had issue. He died 1857.
- Mian Narpat Chand, married and
had
issue. He died
1844 or 1850.
- Raja Hira Chand (qv)
- Kumari (name unknown),
married in October 1848,
HH
Maharaja Ranbir Singhji of Jammu and
Kashmir.
- Raja HIRA CHAND,
Raja of Bilaspur 1850/1883, born
1835,
he rendered good service during the Mutiny of 1857, and was rewarded
with a salute of 11 guns, married a daughter of the Raja of Rajpur
[Raipur] in Ambala, and
had issue. He died January 1883.
- HH Raja Amar Chand Sahib Bahadur
(qv)
- Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Jai Singh of Dada-Siba,
and had issue.
- HH Raja AMAR CHAND Sahib
Bahadur, Raja of Bilaspur
1883/1889, born
1854, married (a), the daughter of Kanwar Jai Singh of Baghal,
married (b), Rani Panwariji from Tehri-Garhwal, married (c), another
daughter of Kanwar Jai Singh of Baghal,
married (d), a daughter of Rana Bhawani Singh, Rana of Kumharsain, married (e), another
daughter of Rana Bhawani Singh, Rana of Kumharsain, and
had
issue. He died 3rd February 1889.
- Maj.
HH Raja Sir Bijai Chand (by Rani Panwariji) (qv)
- Kumari (name unknown), married into Kashipur.
- Kumari (name unknown), married Tikka Ugar Sen of Keonthal.
- Kumari (name unknown), married Maharaja Jai
Chand
VI of Kangra-Lambagraon.
- Kumari (name unknown), married Major Raja Baldev
Singh of Poonch.
- Kumari (name unknown), married Major Raja Baldev
Singh of Poonch.
- Mian Sohan Singh, married and had issue.
- Kanwar Isher Singh [?same as Kanwar Ishwari Singh (see
below)]
- Kanwar Mohinder Singh
 Maj.
HH Raja Sir BIJAI CHAND K.C.S.I., Raja of Bilaspur [3.2.1889] -
[18.2.1927] (abdicated),
born 1873 (1872),
educated at Aitchison Chiefs College, Lahore, he succeeded
to the gadi as a minor on 3rd
February 1889 (#1),
and was granted full ruling powers in 1893; he was created a Companion
of the Most Exalted
Order of the Star of India (C.S.I.) in 1911, and a Knight Companion
of the Most Exalted
Order of the Star of India (K.C.S.I.) in 1917, appointed a Member of
thec Executive Council of Bengal in
1919,
he abdicated in favour of his son on 18th February 1927; married 1898,
(amongst others), HH Rani Suraj Devi, born 1886, died
1939, daughter of Raja Balbir Singh of Mankot,
and had issue, as well
as further
issue by secondary unions. He died in November 1931 at Benares.
- HH Raja Sir Anand Chand (by Rani Suraj Devi) (qv)
- Mian Shiv Singh (by a secondary marriage), born 1893,
married a daughter of Raja Raghunath Singh, Raja of Guler, and had issue. He
died 1941.
- Kanwarani Shanta Kumari, born in October 1923 in
Bilaspur,
married in 1943, Kanwar Kashmir Singh of Mandi,
and had issue, one son.
- HH Raja Sir ANAND CHAND,
Raja of Bilaspur 1927/1983, born 26th January 1913,
succeeded on 18th February 1927 on his father's abdication; installed
1928 and granted full ruling powers on 9th January 1933; educated at
Mayo College, Ajmer; Chief
Commissioner
of Bilaspur 1948/1950; Member of the Constituent Assembly 1948, the Lok
Sabha 1952/1957 and the Rajya Sabha 1958/1964 and 1964/1970; Author of
"Bilaspur - Past, Present and Future"; married 1stly, 18th May 1931 HH
Rani Umawati Kumari, born
1916,
died 12th/13th March 1961, daughter of Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand
Bahadur of Jubbal, and his first wife,
Rani Tara Devi, married 2ndly, 1969, Rani Sudarshan Kumari, born 1940,
daughter of Kanwar Mehar Chand of Bhojpur, and
had issue. He
died 15th November 1983 in London.
- Rajkumari Ambika Kumari, born 1933, died unmarried 1981
in Bilaspur.
- Tikka Rajendra Chand, born 2nd September 1935, died
unmarried 12th
March
1970 in London.
- Rajkumari Raj Rajeshwari, born 7th November 1938, died
unmarried 11th
November
2004.
- HH Raja Kirti Chand (qv)
- HH Raja KIRTI CHAND,
Raja of Bilaspur (see above)
OTHER MEMBERS:
- Kumari Shakuntala, married Kanwar Akshay Singh of Sirmur, and has issue.
- Kumari (name unknown),
married Raja Fateh Prakash, Raja of Sirmur,
and had issue.
- Kanwar Ishwari Singh, married Kumari Krishna Kumari,
daughter Kanwar Jagatjit Singh of Bashahr,
and his second wife, and had issue.
- Kanwar Khushal Singh, married and had issue.
- Rani Rama Kumari, married Rana Surinder Singh, Rana of Mangal, and has issue.
- Capt. Kanwar Shamsher Singh, married a daughter of Rana
Raghunath Chand,
Thakur of Mahilog.
- Kanwar Prem Singh, married Kumari Padmawati Devi, daughter
of Kanwar Fateh Singh of Rawingarh,
and has issue.
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