Ramgarh Raj was the major Zamindari estate in the era of the British Raj in the former Indian province of Bihar.
Territories which comprised the Ramgarh Raj presently constitute districts of Ramgarh, Hazaribagh,
Chatra, Giridih, Koderma, and Bokaro with 3672 villages. The entire area is rich in minerals like coal and mica and falls under the Indian State of Jharkhand. The First King was Maharaja Baghdeo Singh and the last ruling king was Maharaja Kamakhya Narain Singh of this estate, until
the estate was merged to the Republic of India. The revenue of the estate was about 3600000.
History
The areas that would later comprise the Ramgarh Raj (estate) had initially belonged to the Raja of Chhota Nagpur. Around 14th century Ghatwar king rebelled against Nagvanshi kings. King of Tamar attacked Khukhragarh the capital of Nagvanshis. Nagvanshi king sought help of Baghdeo Singh, the king of Khayaragarh. Baghdeo was made fauzdar of Karra Pargana. Baghdeo suppressed rebellion, killed the king of Tamar. After the job was done, the Raja did not render payment to them of the full promised amount. Later he killed king of Karnpura Karpurdeo and he declared himself as King of that region.[1] Baghdeo Singh, who was anyway in control of the area after quelling rebellion, simply stayed on and declared himself Raja of that area, which is said to have been 22 parganas (districts) in extent.
During 17th century, Dalel Singh built a palace for defence against the Mughal Empire and shifted his capital from Badam to Ramgarh.[2] He built Kaitha Shiv Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva in Kaitha, Ramgarh which was declared as a National Monument in 2016.[3][4] He also wrote a book named Shiv Sagar.[5]
During rule of Mughal Empire, Ramgarh Raj was paying tributes to Mughal. In 1772, Mukund Singh was not accepted suzerainty of East India company due to high amount of taxes. He made alliance with Maratha and defeated forces of Tej Singh Thakurai, Nagvanshis and Palamu with the help of Maratha forces. But later he surrendered before company forces as he didn't get help from Maratha and accepted suzerainty of the East India Company. Then Tej Singh Thakurai was made king of Ramgarh Raj by Company.[6]
Maharaja Bahadur Kamakhya Narain Singh (b. 1916, ruled 1919–47, d.1970) was the last ruling chief of the Ramgarh Raj. In 1945, he ceded control to the Indian government. His son, Maharaja Bahadur Indra Jitendra Narain Singh (1938–2008) had been the head of the family from 1970 to 2008. Maharaja Bahadur Saurabh Narain Singh has been head of family from 2008.
