BRIEF HISTORY
The Royal House of Bahawalpur is said to be of Arabic origin and claim descent from Abbas, progenitor of the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad and Cairo. Sultan Ahmad II, son of Shah Muzammil of Egypt left that country and arrived in Sind with a large following of Arabs ca. 1370. He married a daughter of Raja Rai Dhorang Sahta, receiving a third of the country I dowry. Amir Fathu'llah Khan Abbasi, is the recognized ancestor of the dynasty. He conquered the bhangar territory from Raja Dallu, of Alor and Bhamanabad, renaming it Qahir Bela. Amir Muhammad Chani Khan Abbasi entered the imperial service and gained appointment as a Panchhazari in 1583. At his death, the leadership of the tribe was contested between two branches of the family, the Daudputras and the Kalhoras. Amir Bahadur Khan Abbasi abandoned Tarai and settled near Bhakkar, founding the town of Shikarpur in 1690. Daud Khan, the first of his family to rule Bahawalpur, originated from Scind where he had opposed the Afghan Governor of that province and was forced to flee. The Nawab entered into Treaty relations with the HEIC, 22nd February 1833. The state acceded to the Dominion of Pakistan on 7th October 1947 and was merged into the state of West Pakistan on 14th October 1955
SALUTE:
21-Guns.
ARMS:
Sable three palm branches pale wise in fesse or. In chief four double quatrefoils argent seeded or. Crest: A star of five points resting on a crescent, both argent. Supporters: Pelicans rousant argent billed and membered or. Motto: "Dost Sadiq" (faithful friend). Lambrequins: Sable and or.
STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: ba-Fazlah taalah Ala Hazrat Jalalat ul-Mulk, Rukn ud-Daula, Saif ud-Daula, Hafiz ul-Mulk, Mukhlis ud-Daula, wa Muin ud-Daula, Nawab (personal name) Khan (reign numeral) Abbasi Bahadur, Nusrat Jung, Farman rawa-i-Mamlukat Khudadad Bahawalpur, i.e. By the Grace of God, His Highness Rukn ud-Daula, Saif ud-Daula, Hafiz ul-Mulk, Mukhlis ud-Daula, and Muin ud-Daula, Nawab (personal name) Khan (reign numeral) Abbasi Bahadur, Nusrat Jung, Commander of the God gifted kingdom of Bahawalpur.
The principal consort of the ruling prince: Nawab (personal name) Begum Sahiba, with the style of Her Highness.
The other wives of the ruling prince: (personal name) Begum Sahiba.
The Heir Apparent: Nawabzada (personal name) Khan Abassi, Wali Ahad Bahadur.
The other sons of the ruling prince*: Sahibzada (personal name) Abassi.
The daughters of the ruling prince*: Sahibzadi (personal name).
Other male descendants of the ruling prince, in the male line: Sahibzada (personal name) Khan Abassi.
* The senior members of the family sometimes use the title of Prince and Princess when communicating with foreigners.
RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture.
ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
See separate link below.
Copyright© Christopher Buyers
SELECT GLOSSARY:
Hafiz ul-Mulk: Guardian of the Kingdom.
Mukhlis ud-Daula: Devoted Servant of the State.
Nusrat Jung: Victoriuos in War.
Rukn ud-Daula: Pillar of the State.
Copyright© Christopher Buyers
SOURCES:
"Bahawalpur Nawab's land distributed among heirs". The Daily Dawn. 1st June 2006.The DAWN Group of Newspapers, Karachi, Pakistan.
Shahamet 'Ali, The History of Bahawalpur, with notices of the adjacent countries of Sindh, Afghanistan, Multan and the West of India. Abridged with the family annals of Nawab Bahawal Khan by Pir Ibrahim Khan. James Madden, London, 1848.
Bahawalpur State with Maps. Punjab States Gazetteers, Volume XXXVI A. Punjab Government, Lahore, 1904.
Biographical Encyclopedia of Pakistan. Lahore, 1969.
Tony McClenaghan, Indian Princely Medals, Spantech & Lancer, South Godstone, Surrey, 1996.
Major W.L. Conran and H.D. Craik, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Punjab Government, Lahore, 1910.
Brigadier Nazeer 'Ali Shah, Sadiqnamah: The History of the Bahawalpur State. Maktaba Jadeed, Lahore, 1959.
Thacker's Indian Directory, Thacker's Press & Directories, Ltd., Calcutta 1863-1956.
