- Rajbar
Rajbhar or "Rajwar" was the title of erstwhile Medieval Kings of
Askot inPithoragarh district of theKumaon region of theUttarakhand state of India.Origin
It was created in the 13th century AD, by a branch of the
Katyuri Kings , headed by Abhay Pal, who was the grandson of Katyuri emperor, "Brahm Deo", and became a part of British India by the treaty of Sighauli in 1816 . Though the Rajbar were conquered byChand Kings , they managed to keep the possession of the land by paying a tribute to the Chand Kings [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V06_020.gifAskot]The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1909,v. 6, p. 14.] .They were feudal Kings (Mandalik Rajas) under different rulers. They enjoyed absolute power in the villages of Talla and Malla Askot-two major administrative blocks of Askot at that time. Abhay Pal was the first Rajbhar of Askot.The palace of Rajbhar was called 'Deval'.
Etymology
The word 'Rajbhar' means "the best among kings'. Some historian think that the word 'Rajbhar' is originated from Raj+Barah(Twelve) that is one of twelve Kings of that time - Katyuri, Chand, Bashera,Khas ,Shahi ,Malla ,Bum and Mankoti ,etc. The tradition of Rajbhars remained as such under different reigns of Doti,Katyuri,Chand,Gorkha and British.
List of Rajbhars of Askot
Abhay Pal, Nirbhay Pal, Bharati Pal, Bhairav Pal, Bhoo Pal, Ratna Pal, Shankh Pal, Shyam Pal, Shah Pal, Bhoj Pal, Surjan Pal, Bharat Pal, Surtan Pal, Achha Pal, Trilok Pal, Sur Pal, Jagat Pal, Praja Pal, Rai Pal, Mahendra Pal, Jayant Pal, Birbal Pal, Amar Singh Pal, Brahm Pal, Uchhav Pal, Vijay Pal Mahendra Pal, Rudra Pal, Bahadur Pal, Pushkar Pal, Gajendra Pal, Bhupendra Pal, Vikram Bahadur Pal. [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/a/askote.html Askote] Genealogy of Indian Princely States.] .
References
Source: History Of Kumaon by B.D.Pant.
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