PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: The
Kingdom of Kashi or Benares was founded by Khsetravridha, son of Ayus,
of the Somavansa dynasty of Pratishthana. It lost independance in 1194
and was eventually ceded by the Nawab of Oudh to the British in 1775 who
recognized Benares as a family dominion. Benares acceded to the status
of State in 1911. The ruling family claims descent from the god Shiva and
benefited greatly from pilgrimage to Benares. The modern name of Benares
is Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Mansa Ram, a Gautam Bhunihar Zamindar of
Utaria 1737-1740, received most of the Benares territory from the Governor
of Benares 1737, Balwant Singh 1740-1770, Ruler of Utaria (whose name was
changed to Gangapur), received the territories of Jaunpur, Benares and
Khunar from the Sultan of Delhi. Rulers were....
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MANSA RAM 1737/1740
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BALWANT SINGH 1740/1770 , born 1717, the best administrator that the people
of the region had known although his administration was constantly hampered
by the strained relations existing between him and Shuja-ud-daula of Oudh.
In spite of his unwillingness, Balwant Singh was compelled to join Shuja-ud-daula,
the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam, and Mir Kasim in the battle of Buxar which
was fought in 1764 against the British, which ended in victory for the
British. He died 19th August 1770.
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CHAIT SINGH 1770/1781 (son), deposed by the British Authorities. He died
29th March 1810
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MAHIP NARAYAN SINGH 1781/1794 , died 1794.
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UDIT NARAYAN SINGH 1794/1835 , died 1835.
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Maharaja ISHWARI PRASAD NARAYAN SINGH Bahadur 1835/1889 , born 1822, Maharaja
Bahadur [cr.1859], G.C.S.I., adopted his nephew, his eventual successor,
died 13th June 1889.
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Lt.Col. HH Maharaja Sir PRABHU NARAYAN SINGH Bahadur 1889/1931, born 26th
November 1855, Maharaja Bahadur and HH (personal) [cr.1889], Maharaja (hereditary)
[cr.1911], G.C.I.E. [cr.1898], K.C.I.E. [cr.1890], LL.D. , became a Ruling
Chief in 1911. He died 4th August 1931.
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Capt. HH Maharaja Sir ADITYA NARAYAN SINGH 1931/1939 , K.C.S.I., born 17th
November 1874. Died 5th April 1939.
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HH Maharaja VIBHUTI NARAYAN SINGH 1939/2000, born 5th November 1927, Kashi
Naresh, Chairman of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, pro-Chancellor
of Varanasi Sanskrit University, married and had issue, 1 son and 3 daughters.
He died 25th December 2000.
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Yuvaraj Ananta Narayan Singh born 1963.
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HH Maharaja ANANT NARAYAN SINGH (see above)
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