Bakht Singh (Maharaja)
| Maharaja Bakht Singh | |
|---|---|
| Maharaja of the Jodhpur and Marwar | |
 |
|
| Reign | July 1751 - 21 September 1752 |
| Coronation | 8 July 1751 |
| Born | 16 August 1706 Meherangarh, Jodhpur |
| Died | 21 September 1752 Sindholi |
| House | Rathore |
| Father | Maharaja Ajit Singh |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Maharaja Bakht Singh (16 August 1706 – 21 September 1752) was a 18th century Indian Raja of the Rathore Clan. Born in 1706, he ruled over various domains in the Jodhpur and Marwar states and was a major political force during his life.
Bakht Sing was born on 16 August 1706 as the second son of Ajit Singh. At the time of Bakht's birth his family was in active revolt against the Mughal Empire due to an ongoing territorial dispute over Gujarat. His father was pardoned by Muhammad Azam Shah in 1708, granting the Rathore clan control over the Kingdom of Marwar and the city of Jodhpur.
In 1724 Bakht Singh and his elder brother Abhai Singh plotted to kill their father and usurp his position as Raja. They succeeded, and Abhai Singh became the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Marwar and Jodhpur. This abrupt change of leadership sparked a brief civil war among the Rathore in Marwar, during which the brothers employed Maratha soldiers to fight their enemies. At this time Marwar was a vassal of the Mughal Empire, which was in constant conflict with the Maratha Empire. The allowing of Maratha soldiers into imperial territory to solve a domestic dispute effectively estranged the Rathore from the Mughal government.
In 1730 a taxation depute resulted in Abhai Singh laying siege to the city of Ahmedabad. Bakht Singh personally led the storming of the city, after which the settlement came under Rathore control. He was commended for his bravery during the battle.
By 1739 Bakht Singh had been appointed lord of Nagor. Seeking to expand his influence, he attempted to force concessions from the Bikaner State, calling on his brother for support. The Raja of Bikaner sent a letter to Jai Singh II, the powerful Maharaja of the Kingdom of Jaipur, requesting assistance. Jai Singh sent a letter to Abdai Singh asking for leniency to be shown to Bikaner, a request Abdai sharply refuted. Seeking to end the conflict, Jai Singh dispatched his minister Vidyadhar to Bhakt Singh. Bakht agreed to withdraw his men from the conflict if he were paid by Jaipur and given the town of Merta. This was done, and with Bakht Singh now removed as a threat, Jai Singh was able to force a peace with Marwar. Unable to face Jaipur alone, Abdai Singh was forced to sign a treaty with Jai Singh. The Kingdom of Marwar was forced to pay Jaipur 1 lahk (100000) rupees, give up hostages, and was prohibited from sending emissaries to the Mughal court without the express approval of Jai Singh. The latter condition effectively made Marwar a vassal of Jaipur, as Abhdai could no longer request aid from the Mughal government. The treaty enraged many members of the Rathore clan, most of whom felt that Bakht Singh was responsible for the disaster.
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