Posted on: 1 April 2011

The Raj

Crown rule in India, known as the Raj (literally ‘rule’), operated as a two-tier system. The British had direct control over three-fifths of the subcontinent, known as ‘British India’, and indirect control over the remaining territory. Although Indian rulers were guaranteed their borders and rights, the British continued to interfere in the day-to-day running of their states and to limit royal authority – most dramatically in deposing rulers they viewed as unsuitable.

The number of Indian princes – as rulers were now termed - grew enormously as the British bestowed titles on landowners and chieftains. A system of imperial orders was introduced to integrate Indian rulers into a western-style feudal hierarchy. The most important states were ranked within a system of gun salutes; Queen Victoria was entitled to 101 guns, the viceroy and members of the royal family to 31, while the princes had between 21 and 9 depending on their status.

Source : Maharaja - Splendour of India's Royal Courts at the V&A.


 View Post on Facebook

Comments from Facebook

wow, that throne looks really tacky, doesn't it?

mysore,kashmir ,baroda,hydrabad kings were given 21 gun salute.

While is was easier to meddle in the internal affairs of the non-gun salute states,iIn larger ones the residency was actually like an embaasy in which trained espionage staff were maintained by the Brits to keep a tab on the affairs of the princely kingdom more specifically the harem grapewine.

@ Sadananda: Gwalior too.

It is the old Mysore Throne !

@ Rajaji: Although I have seen this throne in several pictures but have always wondered who/ what those yakshinis (?) on the silver stairwell signify ?

Yakshinis ! No. Mummadi Krishna Raja Wadiyar designed the throne shown above with the Gold Plated covering on the old Ivory throne in 1812. The mythological throne ( said to have come down from the Pandavas) was found abandoned in a lumber room at Srirnagapatna after the fall of Tipu in 1799. In a work attributed to Mummadi the steps is described as : .. is rendered charming by female figures on the sides of the flight of steps..... ( ಸೋಪಾನಪಙ್ತ ಪಾರ್ಶ್ವಸ್ಥ ಪುತ್ಥಳೀ ) ( सॊपानपङ्त पार्श्वस्थ पुत्थळी ).