Shekhawat Dynasty :

Location: Shekhawati, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Founded: 1471, Accession: 1947, Dynasty/lineage: Kachhawa - Shekhawat clan, Religion: Hindu Vansh: Suryavansha, Gotra: Gautam, Vashisthai, Kuldevi: Durga, Mangala, Isht: Ramchandraji

The present Rao Saheb of Shahpura is the head of the Shekhawat clan. The seat of the Rao Saheb was Manoharpur (now renamed Shahpura), it is the site of a fort, and was founded by Rao Manohar, son of Rao Lunkaran. 
 

History : 

Following is a brief historical and genealogical outline of the Shekhawat clan, being one of the 65 branches of the Kachhawa ruling clan of Jaipur, and the most prominent of all the Kachhawas, and are the descendants of great Rajput warrior, Rao Shekhaj. The early rulers paid allegiance to their overlords, the rulers of Amber, but Rao Shekhaji declared himself independent in 1471 and established a separate principality for his descendants. The Shekhawats ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years and are honoured with the hereditary title of “Tazimi Sirdars”, whom HH the Maharaja of Jaipur receives by rising from his seat. The Shekhawat rulers built more then 50 forts and Palaces during their rule over the Shekhawati region [land of Shekhawat rulers], which was the largest Nizamat [District] within Jaipur State, almost the whole of which is occupied by Shekhawats, Col. J.C. Brooke in his book, Political History of India, wrote that “For the recruitment of Horse-army there is no region in India at par with Shekhawati.” Shekhawat is a very common surname in the Indian military. Many members of the clan have won gallantry awards including the Param Veer Chakra (the highest Indian award for bravery in a time of war), the Mahaveer Chakra, etc.

Estates : 

Alsisar, Arooka, Badangarh, Bissau, Chanana, Chapoli, Chirana, Chowkari, Dabdi, Dorasar, Dundlod, Gangiyasar, Gudhagaurji, Gura, Heerwa, Ismailpur, Jakhal, Jakoda, Jhajhar, Kedh, Khetri, Khirod, Kolinda, Mahansar, Malsisar, Mandawa, Mandrella, Mohanwari, Mukundgarh, Nangali, Nawalgarh, Pacheri,  Parasrampura, Paunkh, Sigra, Sirohi, Surajgarh, Tain.

Predecessors : 

Raja Udayakaran, Raja of Amber 1367/1389, married and had (with other issue).

Rao Baloji, Rao Baloji, Rao of Barwara 1389/1430, third son, received his patrimony of Barwara, married and had issue.

Rao Khemrajji, his descendants were one of the bara Kotri.

Rao Kumanji, ancestor of the Kumawat clan (said to be nearly extinct in 1823).

Rao Shekhaji (by Rani Nirbanji), Rao Shekhaji, Rao of Barwara 1445/1460 and Rao of Amarsar 1460/1488, born 1433, founder of Amarsar in 1460, he declared himself independent in 1471 and established a separate Kingdom of his descendants; married six wives, and had issue, 12 sons. He died 1488 in the battle of Ghatwa at Ratawala village near Jaipur, where his cenotaph was built.

Thakur Durga, ancestor of the Garh Taknet clan, married and had issue. He died 1488 in the battle of Ghatwa.

Kunwar Tej Singh, killed shortly after 1525 by Rao Jaimalji of Uniara.

Rao Lunkaran, Rao of Amarsar 1548/1584, which comprised some 360 villages which was overshadowed by the Junior lines some 200 years later, granted a mansab of 2000 sawars by Akbar, appointed Faujdar of Sambhar in 1571, married (amongst others), Rani Hansa Bai, daughter of Raja Maldeo of Marwar, and had issue. He died 1584.

Rao Manohar (by Rani Hansa Bai), founder of Manoharpur later renamed Shahpura.

Thakur Achal Das, founder of the Achaldasji ke Shekhawat clan, ancestor of the Thakurs of Jahota in Jaipur.

Raja Raisal Pratham Darbari, Rao of Amarsar 1584/1614, born about 1538, he was granted the jagir of Lamiya, he was also granted the title of Raja and a mansab of 1250 sawars later raised to 3000, married 1stly, Rani Kesar Kumari, daughter of Raja Lakhdheer Badgujar of Devati-Machedi, married 2ndly, Rani Kishnawati, only daughter of Nirban Raja Peethaji, Raja of Khandela, adding that territory to his own, married 3rdly, Rani Mertanji, daughter of Rao Bitthaldasji, son of Rao Jaimal of Merta (see Jodhpur), married 4thly, Rani Hansa Kumari, committed sati in 1614, daughter of Rao Jagmal of Merta.

Thakur Lad Singh of Khachariawas (better known as Lad Khan) (by Rani Kesar Kumari), ancestor of the Ladkhani sub-clan of the Shekhawat.
Thakur Virbhan Singh (by Rani Lad Kanwar)
Rao Tirmal (by Rani Mertanji), granted the title of Rao and the parganas of Nagore and Kasli (84 villages), married and had issue.

Baisa Ladi Kanwar, married Rao Amar Singh Rathore, eldest son of Maharaja Gaj Singh I, Maharaja of Jodhpur, and had issue. She became sati on 26th July 1644.

Rao Bhojraj, Raja Sahib of Udaipurwati 1621/1640, born 1567, he represented his father, in the battle of Kangra in 1582; he received the village of Kosambi in 1608 as his jagir, it was later renamed Udaipur, granted a mansab of 800 zat and 400 sawars, later raised to 1000 zat and 500 sawars; in 1596, the year of famine, he started the construction of a tank, namely the “Bhoj Sagar” for the relief of famine sufferers; married eleven wives, and had issue, the “Bhojraj Ji Ka” sub clan. He died about 1640 at Khandela where his cenotaph was built.

Raja Todar mal, Raja Sahib of Udaipurwati 1640/1658, succeded his father in 1640, a generous and noble person, he served as Finance Minister and Prime Minister, and was considered to be one of the nine Gems of India during Padshah Akbar’s reign. He was one of the closest associates of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who sought his services during the conquest of Bengal in 1576. He also led the military campaign against Chitor in 1568. He was famous for his land revenue settlement known as Zabti or regulation system. He divided the cultivable land into four classes on the basis of the fertility of the soil and frequency of cultivation. Once he gave a unique reception and showed hospitality to Bareth Haridas (the Kavi of Maharana Jagat Singh of Udaipur), after testing his generosity, Bareth remarked - Two Udaipurs are glorious,two givers are unhesitating; one is Rana Jagat Singh and another is Raja Todermal; he married 1stly, Rani Sher Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Kalyan Das Nirban of Kharkada, married 2ndly, Tara Devi, daughter of Thakur Raghunath Singh Baghel of Kusambhi, married 3rdly, Parsawati Bidawatiji, daughter of Thakur Dhuraj of Chappar, married 4thly, Rani Sewag Tanwariji, daughter of Thakur Kishan Singh, married 5thly, Rani Udawatiji, daughter of Thakur Kalyan Das of Jaitaran, married 6thly, Rani Chauhaniji, daughter of Thakur Jhujhar Singh of Rampura, and had issue, six sons. He died 1658.

Thakur Bhairo Singh, he was granted the jagir, later named as “Bhairobas” Raola of Jhajhar; married and had issue. 

Raja Jhujhar singh, Thakur of Udaipurwati 1658/1687, married 1stly, Rani Lakh Kanwar Gauriji, married 2ndly, Rani Rup Kanwar Bidawatiji, married 3rdly, Rani Suhag Kanwar Tanwariji, daughter of Rao Kesar Singhji, married 4thly, Rani Deep Kanwar Jodhiji, married 5thly, Rani Ajab Kanwar Nirbaniji, married 6thly, Rani Kusum Kanwar Tanwariji, and had issue, eighteen sons and two daughters. He died 1687.

Thakur Nawal Singh Bahadur (by Thakurani Bakhat Kanwar), born 1715, ancestor of the families of Nawalgarh, Mahensar, Dorasar, Mukundgarh, Narsinghani and Mandawa. He died 24th February 1780.

Thakur Keshri Singh (by Thakurani Bakhat Kanwar), born 1729, ancestor of the families of Dundlod, Surajgarh and Bissau, 4th and youngest son, died 1768.

              The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years. The Shekhawats are the most prominent among all the sub-clans of the Kachwaha Dynasty of Jaipur. Sir Yadunath Sarkar in his book Fall of The Mughal Empire, wrote that Shekhawats were the bravest among the sub-clans of Kachawaha Dynasty of Jaipur.