Khanzadas of Mewat
1372–1527
South Asia 1525 CE DELHI SULTANATE (LODIS) TIMURID EMPIRE (Babur) SHAH MIR SULTANATE KANGRA PHAGMODRUPAS KHANDESH SULTANATE BERAR SULTANATE MALWA SULTANATE ARGHUNS KALMAT LANGAH SULTANATE SHEKHAWAT AMARKOT SHEKHAWAT AMARKOT JAISALMER BIKANER GUJARAT SULTANATE MEWAR MARWAR AMBER KARAULI MEWAT SIROHI BUNDI VAGAD DIMASA TRIPWA AHOM KAMATAS CHEROS BENGAL SULTANATE GAJAPATI EMPIRE GONDWANA AHMADNAGAR SULTANATE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE BIJAPUR SULTANATE BIDAR SULTANATE GOLKONDA SULTANATE ◁ Location of Mewat within Rajputana circa 1525, with neighbouring polities.[1]
Capital	Alwar
Religion	Islam
Government	Tributary to the Delhi Sultanate (1372-1427) Independent Chiefdom (1427-1527)
Raja
• 1372	Raja Bahadur Nahar Khan(first)
• 1527	Hasan Khan Mewati (last)
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Established	1372
• Disestablished	1527

The Khanzada of Mewat was ruling dynasty of Muslim Rajputs from Rajputana who had their capital at Alwar. The Khanzadas were Muslim Rajputs who descended from Raja Sonpar Pal who was a Yaduvanshi Rajput who converted to Islam during the period of the Delhi Sultanate in India.^[2][3]

History

In 1372, Firuz Shah Tughlaq granted the Lordship of Mewat to Raja Nahar Khan, (who was formerly known as Raja Sonpar Pal, of Kotla). Raja Nahar Khan established a hereditary polity in Mewat and proclaimed the title of Wali-e-Mewat. Later his descendants affirmed their own sovereignty in Mewat. They ruled Mewat till 1527.

Distant view of Alwar fort from the city

View of city of Alwar from Bala Quila.

A passage at the Hill Fort, Kesroli.

Downfall

The last Khanzada Rajput ruler of Mewat was Hasan Khan Mewati, who died in the Battle of Khanwa. Following this battle, Mewat was integrated into the Mughal Empire and the Khanzadas became a part of the Mughal nobility.

Rulers of Mewat

The Khanzada Rajputs rulers of Mewat State adopted the title "Wali-e-Mewat". The title was later changed to "Shah-e-Mewat" by Hasan Khan Mewati in 1505.

Descendants

In the following centuries, the Khanzadas were reduced to the status of zamindars. Many continued to serve in the Alwar State Forces and British Indian Army. Khanzadas are jadaun Rajputs Gotra.|url=https://www.Alwar gazeteer/jadaun-rajput.html |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=www.Alwar gazeyeer |language=en}}</ref> However, the Chowdhurys' of Tijara and Nawabs of Shahabad, Alwar remained important Khanzadas strongholds. Among them Nawab Feroz Khan of Shahabad, Alwar and Khan Bahadur Fateh Naseeb Khan of Tijara, Alwar achieved Imperial chivalry ranks. After the Partition of India, majority Khanzadas of Mewat migrated to Pakistan following the religious violence in India in 1947, and settled in these Districts: Karachi, Hederabad, Nawabshah, Larakana, Kasur, Faisalabad and Narowal.^[4]

References