Sailana State was founded by Raja Jai Singh, great-grandson of Maharaja Ratan Singh, founder of Ratlam State. In 1716 Jai singh took revenge against his uncle for the murder of his father, he killed him in a pitched battle at sagode and secured Ratlam for his elder brother. The two brothers then divided the state between themselves. Jai singh's capital was initially at Raoti. He built Sailana as his new capital in 1736. During this period the Maratha influence in central India had been growing and several states had been annexed or forced to pay heavy tributes to the Peshwa. However Jai singh had the wisdom to form alliances with the Maratha officials, he helped the Peshwa agent Ambaji Pant Trimbak Purandare to collect tribute in Malwa and used the situation to annex the surrounding lands. He fought 22 battles in his lifetime, establishing himself as an independent ruler. Jai Singh was succeeded by a string of weak rulers. During Raja Mokham Singh's rule much of the territory of Sailana was annexed by Scindia and Holkar, the Raja's of Sailana were further forced to pay tribute to the Scindias of Gwalior. Raja Lakshman Singh of Sailana tried to push the Scindia's out of his kingdom, in 1818 he refused to pay chauth which was regularly levied, the Scindias retaliated by sending an army under Bujang Rao, the Gwalior army which had European arms and was French trained lost its advantage on the hills en route to Sailana and was defeated by Lakshman Singh, the captured soldiers were allowed to leave but all of their guns and artillery were taken. In 1819, Bapu Rao Sindia was appointed to punish the raja of Sailana and enforce tribute upon him. Bapu Rao had previously been sent by the Scindia's to defeat and exact tributes from the Maharaja of Jaipur and the Maharana of Udaipur. "in 1819, Bapoo Sindia, a commander in Sindia's service, was dispatched with a large irregular force, to exact payment of tribute from both states. The Rajpoots flew to arms, but as all parties appealed to the British representative Sir John Malcolm, a settlement was made". On 5 January 1819, John Malcolm mediated between Gwalior and Sailana upon which Raja Lakshman Singh accepted British protection and agreed to pay a fixed tribute of £4,200 to Gwalior until 1860, in return for Daulat Rao Sindhia agreeing to refrain from any interference in Sailana. During British rule Sailana saw development under the capable rule of Raja Jashwant Singh II and then under his son Raja Dileep Singh, many reforms were introduced over the coming years, with particular attention being paid to education and the provision of vernacular educational facilities. By 1947, education and medical aid were provided free of charge, the local municipality was placed on a democratic footing and the judiciary and executive made independent of each other. Although the economy was primarily agricultural, some limited industrialisation included oil mills, and iron and steel works. On 15 June 1948, Raja Dileep Singh signed the accession to the Indian Union.
All the jagirdars owe fealty and service to the ruler and pay cesses and tanka. No jagirdar has the right to adopt without the permission of the raja. The 1st class jagirdars are allowed to wear gold anklets, and at their succession, they are installed by the ruling raja himself. Half of the states lands were alienated because of the large number of Jagirs. Raja Dilip Singh later extinguished several Jagirs and replaced them with governors. This harsh but effective action helped the states revenue which was then used to provide medical and educational facilities in Sailana. The following were the 1st class Jagirdars of Sailana in 1908.
Name
Revenue
Dynasty
Semlia
30,000
Rathore
Birmawal/Kaneri
26,000
Rathore
Raoti
20,000
Rathore
Kariya
17,000
Rathore
The following were the 2nd class Jagirdars of Sailana in 1908.
Name
Revenue
Dynasty
Ghatwas
5,00
Rathore
Umran
4,000
Songara
Nayapura
1,100
Rathore
Mewasa
3,000
Sisodia
Chandoria
2,000
Rathore
Nalkui
1,700
Songara
Kotria
1,200
Rathore
Bharoda
4,000
Rathore
Advania
6,000
Rathore
Morda
4,000
Rathore
The 3rd class jagirdars were hereditary office holders of the state.
Coins of Sailana
The original currency of Sailana was the "Salim Shahi". They were copper coins which were minted in Sailana State. However after 1897 Salim Shahi was discontinued and replaced with the British Rupee. Sailana was under British protection, and issued coins of same design as British India coinage, minted by the same mints. One-quarter anna coins of Sailana were minted in 2 years – 1908 and 1912 – these coins were the same size, weight and composition as the British India one-quarter anna coin. On one side, these coins had the portrait of the Emperor, Edward VII in 1908 and George V in 1912. The reverse of the coin mentioned the name of the Sailana state.
