{ "id": "ep7vzrra20", "slug": "gwalior-state", "title": "Gwalior State", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.history", "label": "History and archaeology", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history" }, { "id": "society.history.asia", "label": "Asian history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia" }, { "id": "society.history.asia.india", "label": "India and South Asia", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia.india" }, { "id": "society.history.asia.india.maratha", "label": "Marathas (1630 to 1818)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia.india.maratha" }, { "id": "society.history.asia.india.maratha.maratha-rulers-and-dynasties", "label": "Maratha rulers and dynasties", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia.india.maratha.maratha-rulers-and-dynasties" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india.maratha.maratha-rulers-and-dynasties", "label": "India · 1000 to 1799: Maratha rulers and dynasties", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india.maratha.maratha-rulers-and-dynasties", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1000", "label": "India · 1000 to 1799", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1000.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000.society" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1000.society.history", "label": "History and archaeology", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000.society.history" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia", "label": "Asian history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india", "label": "India and South Asia", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india.maratha", "label": "Marathas (1630 to 1818)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india.maratha" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india.maratha.maratha-rulers-and-dynasties", "label": "Maratha rulers and dynasties", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1000.society.history.asia.india.maratha.maratha-rulers-and-dynasties" } ] }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia.india.maratha", "label": "India · 1800 to 1945: Marathas (1630 to 1818)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia.india.maratha", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1800", "label": "India · 1800 to 1945", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1800" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1800.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1800.society" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1800.society.history", "label": "History and archaeology", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1800.society.history" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia", "label": "Asian history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia.india", "label": "India and South Asia", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia.india" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia.india.maratha", "label": "Marathas (1630 to 1818)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1800.society.history.asia.india.maratha" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Gwalior State (ग्वालियर रियासत) was a princely state in central India ruled by the Scindia family, a major regional power in the 18th century that merged into Madhya Bharat in 1948.", "snippet": "Gwalior State (ग्वालियर रियासत) was a princely state in central India ruled by the Scindia family, a major regional power in the 18th century that merged into Madhya Bharat in 1948.", "node": "society.history.asia.india.maratha.maratha-rulers-and-dynasties", "markdown": "# Gwalior State\n\nGwalior State (ग्वालियर रियासत) was a princely state in central India ruled by the Scindia family; the Scindia state of Gwalior became a major regional power in the second half of the 18th century and figured prominently in the three Anglo-Maratha Wars.[1](https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf) The state ceased to exist as a ruling state when it merged into Madhya Bharat on 28 May 1948.[2](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/White_Paper_on_Indian_States_%281950%29/Part_5/Formation_of_Unions/Madhya_Bharat) • [3](https://www.indiastatesstory.in/post/24-gwalior-indore-and-malwa-states)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Ruling family | Sindhia (Scindia)[1](https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf) |\n| Key treaty | Treaty of Salbai, 17 May 1782, recognizing Mahadji Scindia's authority[4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior) • [5](https://ritamnow.com/mahadji-scindia-defeated-the-british-by-burdening-them-with-expenses-the-story-of-gwalior-that-was-buried-by-history/) |\n| End of the state | Merger into Madhya Bharat, inaugurated 28 May 1948[2](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/White_Paper_on_Indian_States_%281950%29/Part_5/Formation_of_Unions/Madhya_Bharat) • [3](https://www.indiastatesstory.in/post/24-gwalior-indore-and-malwa-states) |\n| Last ruler's later office | Jivajirao Scindia, Rajpramukh of Madhya Bharat from 28 May 1948 to 31 October 1956[1](https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf) • [6](https://www.jansatta.com/jansatta-special/the-gwalior-dynasty-history-of-scindia-royal-family-hindu-mahasabha/3270321/) |\n\n## Founding and history\n\nMahadji Sindhia narrowly escaped the slaughter of Panipat in 1761, in which Jankoji was killed.[4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior) Gwalior first fell to the British in 1780, when the fort was taken by Major Popham during Mahadji's reverses against them.[4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior) • [7](https://www.chestofbooks.com/reference/American-Cyclopaedia-5/Gwalior-Or-Gualior-I-A-Part-Of-India-Until-Lately-Nominally-Independent.html) By the Treaty of Salbai, Mahadji agreed to withdraw to Ujjain while the British retired north of the Jumna, and he was recognized as an independent ruler with a British resident at his court.[4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior) In 1785 Mahadji re-established [Shah Alam](https://www.edgepedia.org/shah-alam) on the imperial throne at Delhi, and in 1788 he occupied Delhi as protector of the emperor.[4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior)\n\nAfter Mahadji's death his grand-nephew [Daulat Rao Scindia](https://www.edgepedia.org/daulat-rao-scindia) ascended the throne.[8](https://rajputs.net/view/gwalior) • [3](https://www.indiastatesstory.in/post/24-gwalior-indore-and-malwa-states) The territory changed hands repeatedly in the early 19th century: recovered by Sindhia in 1784, taken again by the British in 1803, restored in 1805, and from 1844 garrisoned by British troops.[7](https://www.chestofbooks.com/reference/American-Cyclopaedia-5/Gwalior-Or-Gualior-I-A-Part-Of-India-Until-Lately-Nominally-Independent.html) Under Daulat Rao the state suffered disasters that led to treaties with the British: one account places the entry into subsidiary alliance after the [Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon](https://www.edgepedia.org/treaty-of-surji-anjangaon) in 1803,[8](https://rajputs.net/view/gwalior) while another dates a subsidiary alliance treaty to November 1817.[3](https://www.indiastatesstory.in/post/24-gwalior-indore-and-malwa-states) Under the subsidiary-alliance system generally, rulers recognized the supreme authority of the [East India Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/east-india-company), which oversaw defense and external affairs, and residents intervened in governance and succession.[9](https://www.britannica.com/topic/princely-state-colonial-India)\n\nDuring the [Indian Rebellion of 1857](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-rebellion-of-1857) the city was briefly held by rebel forces in 1858 until they were defeated by the British.[1](https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf)\n\n## Structure, functions, and principal holders\n\nThe state took its name from the old town of Gwalior, which, though never the actual capital in early times, was important for the strength of its fort.[10](https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.206905/2015.206905.The-Central_djvu.txt)\n\nMaharaja Madho Rao's reforms included the separation of the judiciary and the executive, law codification, and representative institutions such as the Majlis-i-Am, the Majlis-i-Qanoon, municipal bodies, district and pargana boards, Aukaf committees, and Panchayat boards. The first municipality in the state came into operation in 1887, and the Maharaja for several years served as active President of Lashkar Municipality. The foundations of the Majlis-i-Qanoon were laid in 1912, and the Majlis-i-Aam was set up in 1920.[11](https://jaivilaspalace.in/scindias-gwalior/)\n\n## Political influence\n\nThe Scindia state became a major regional power in the second half of the 18th century and figured prominently in the three Anglo-Maratha Wars.[1](https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf) In 1785 Mahadji re-established Shah Alam on the imperial throne at Delhi, obtaining for the peshwa the title of vakil-ul-mutlak and contenting himself with being his deputy.[4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior) Gwalior, ruled by the Scindia family, and Indore, ruled by the Holkar family, were frequently at war even when nominally at peace.[3](https://www.indiastatesstory.in/post/24-gwalior-indore-and-malwa-states)\n\n## End and later history\n\nA Conference of the Rulers of Central India, held in Delhi on 20, 21, and 22 April 1948, agreed to form the United State of Gwalior, Indore, and Malwa (Madhya Bharat); the Covenant was signed on 22 April 1948 and the state was inaugurated on 28 May 1948 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Madhya Bharat comprised 46,710 square miles, a population of over 7 millions, and a revenue of about Rupees 80 millions.[2](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/White_Paper_on_Indian_States_%281950%29/Part_5/Formation_of_Unions/Madhya_Bharat) • [3](https://www.indiastatesstory.in/post/24-gwalior-indore-and-malwa-states)\n\n[Jivajirao Scindia](https://www.edgepedia.org/jivajirao-scindia) served as Rajpramukh of Madhya Bharat from 28 May 1948 to 31 October 1956, when Madhya Bharat was merged into [Madhya Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/madhya-pradesh).[1](https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf) • [6](https://www.jansatta.com/jansatta-special/the-gwalior-dynasty-history-of-scindia-royal-family-hindu-mahasabha/3270321/) On the merger, Rs 30.9 million (Rs 3.09 crore) from the state treasury went to the Indian treasury, and Jivajirao donated Rs 170 million (Rs 17 crore) from his personal funds, an amount stated to be worth about Rs 200 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) today.[6](https://www.jansatta.com/jansatta-special/the-gwalior-dynasty-history-of-scindia-royal-family-hindu-mahasabha/3270321/) \n\n## Assessment and legacy\n\nThe state's 18th-century standing rested on Mahadji's combination of military recovery and imperial diplomacy: he rebuilt the family's possessions after Panipat, forced British recognition at Salbai, and controlled Delhi in the emperor's name.[4](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior) The dynasty's political life continued after the state's merger through the Rajpramukh office until 1956.[1](https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf)\n## References\n\n1. \"A study on cultural history of Gwalior\", International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research. https://www.socialsciencejournal.in/assets/archives/2016/vol2issue12/2-11-41-606.pdf\n2. White Paper on Indian States (1950), Part 5, Formation of Unions: Madhya Bharat. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/White_Paper_on_Indian_States_%281950%29/Part_5/Formation_of_Unions/Madhya_Bharat\n3. \"24 | Gwalior, Indore and Malwa States\", India States Story. https://www.indiastatesstory.in/post/24-gwalior-indore-and-malwa-states\n4. 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, \"Gwalior\". https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Gwalior\n5. \"जब महादजी सिंधिया ने अंग्रेजों को खर्च के बोझ से हराया!\", Ritam Now. https://ritamnow.com/mahadji-scindia-defeated-the-british-by-burdening-them-with-expenses-the-story-of-gwalior-that-was-buried-by-history/\n6. \"ग्वालियर रियासत किसके प्रभाव में बना था हिंदू महासभा का 'गढ़'?\", Jansatta. https://www.jansatta.com/jansatta-special/the-gwalior-dynasty-history-of-scindia-royal-family-hindu-mahasabha/3270321/\n7. \"Gwalior, Or Gualior\", American Cyclopaedia. https://www.chestofbooks.com/reference/American-Cyclopaedia-5/Gwalior-Or-Gualior-I-A-Part-Of-India-Until-Lately-Nominally-Independent.html\n8. \"Gwalior (Princely State)\", Rajputs.net. https://rajputs.net/view/gwalior\n9. \"Princely State\", Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/princely-state-colonial-India\n10. The Central India State Gazetteer Series, Vol. I. https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.206905/2015.206905.The-Central_djvu.txt\n11. \"Scindia's Gwalior\", Jai Vilas Palace. https://jaivilaspalace.in/scindias-gwalior/\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › History and archaeology › Asian history › India and South Asia › Marathas (1630 to 1818) › Maratha rulers and dynasties*\n\n*Initially written Sep 23, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gwalior-state", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gwalior-state.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Gwalior State\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gwalior-state. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Gwalior State](https://www.edgepedia.org/gwalior-state)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/gwalior-state](https://www.edgepedia.org/gwalior-state). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Gwalior State\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gwalior-state. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Gwalior State was a princely state in central India ruled by the Scindia family, a major regional power in the 18th century that merged into Madhya Bharat in 1948." }