Chandel (Rajput clan)

Chandel or Chandela is a Rajput clan from India. Families belonging to this clan ruled several kingdoms in north India and held various feudal estates. The most notable of these were the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, who ruled the Bundelkhand region.

History

During 10th to 13th century CE, the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti ruled the Bundelkhand region in present-day Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They are said to have been the descendants of the legendary Lunar dynasty, but such legends are of little historical value. According to S. N. Sen, the Chandel Rajputs were originally Bhars or Gonds or a mixture of these two communities. They later stayled themselves as Kshatriya Rajputs after attaining political power.

Princely states

The rulers of the Bilaspur (Kahlur) and Nalagarh princely states of present-day Himachal Pradesh traced their origin to a Chandel from Garh Chanderi. Originally, these two states were part of a single kingdom; Ajai Chand established a separate state called Nalagarh because of differences with his brother.

Zamindari estates

The zamindaris controlled by Chandels included Agori Barhar, Ajabpur, Gidhaur and Sahaspur.

Agori Barhar

The Chandel family of Agori Barhar claimed descent from Pari Mal and Bari Mal of Mahoba, who are said to have been service of the Kharwar ruler Raja Madan of Baland family. According to the family chronicles, the duo killed the Raja, and established three principalities: Barhar, Bijaigarh and Bardi in the Rewa region. In 1290 CE, the Balands launched a surprise attack on Agori, killing every male of the Chandel family. A Chandel queen, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, later gave birth to Orandeo, the ancestor of the Chandels of Agori Barhar. Orandeo married the princess of Kantit, and recovered the Barhar territory with the help of his father-in-law around 1310 CE.

Ajabpur

The Chandela family of Ajabpur is said to have migrated from Bundelkhand to Kanpur after a Mughal invasion. They later mgirated to the Dehradun region, and established the Ajabpur zamindari headquartered at Nuwada (or Nawada) as their capital.

Gidhaur

The Chandel noble family of Gidhaur was founded by Bir Bikram Shah. The family claimed descent from the Chandelas of Mahoba, who had been defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan.

Sahaspur

The Chandel-Kahluria dynasty of Sahaspur claimed descent from Prithvi Singh of Sambhal, who is said to have fought alongside Lodhis against the Mughal emperor Babur. After the Mughal victory at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, his descendants settled in the Punjab region. The family moved back near Sambhal during the reign of Aurangzeb. In 1713, They received the title of Rai and a feudal land grant in the present-day Bijnor district.

Zaildari estates

A group of Chandel families claiming a common origin once held the zaildaris of Ghund, Madhan and Theog in present-day Himachal Pradesh. According to their tradition, their ancestor migrated from Jaipur to Bilaspur. After three generations, his descendants moved to Ram Sarai in the Garhwal region. After another four generations, four brothers from the family moved to the Shimla region. The eldest brother became administrator of Madhan; the third youngest - Jai Chand - became the administrator of Theog; and the youngest became the administrator of Ghund.

Jagirs

A Chandela family held the jagirs of Ramgarh in present-day Haryana. The ruling family descended from Kalal Chand (or Kali Chand), a member of the Bilaspur royal family.