The Central India Agency was created in 1854, by amalgamating the Western Malwa Agency with other smaller political offices which formerly reported to the Governor-General of India.
The agency was overseen by a political agent who maintained British relations with the princely states and influence over them on behalf of the Governor-General.
The headquarters of the agent were at Indore.
List of Divisions and Princely States/districts of Agency
Bundelkhand Agency
Bundelkhand Agency was bounded by Bagelkhand to the east, the United Provinces to the north, Lalitpur District to the west, and the Central Provinces to the south.
Bagelkhand Agency was separated from Bundelkhand in 1871.
In 1900 it included 9 states, the most important of which were Orchha, Panna, Samthar, Charkhari, Chhatarpur, Datia, Bijawar and Ajaigarh.
The agency also included 13 estates and the pargana of Alampur, the latter belonging to Indore State.Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p.
74.
In 1931, all of the states under the Baghelkhand Agency apart from Rewa were transferred back to Bundelkhand.
Salute states, by precedence:
Datia, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 15-guns
Orchha,Orchha state The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 19, p. 241.
title Maharaja or Raja (from 1882, Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja), Hereditary salute of 15-guns
Ajaigarh, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Baoni, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Bijawar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Charkhari, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Panna, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Samthar, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Non-salute states, alphabetically:
Alipura, title Rao
Beri (Beri-Bundelkhand), title Rao/Raja (originally Dewan)
Bihat
Chhatarpur, title Maharaja or Raja
Garrauli
Gaurihar, title Sardar Sawai; from 1859, Rao
Jigni, title Rao
Lugasi
Naigawan Rebai
Sarila, title Raja
Jagirs :
Banka-Pahari
Bijna
Bilheri jagir, ?under Chhatarpur, guaranteed by the British
Dhurwai
Tori Fatehpur (one of the Hasht-Bhaiya jagirs)
Former princely States that were annexed or seized by the British :
Banpur, seized in 1857, had been claimed by Gwalior State
Bijeraghogarh, seized
Chirgaon (one of the Hasht Bhaiya jagirs), seized
Jalaun, annexed in 1840
Jaitpur, annexed in 1849
Jhansi, annexed in 1853
Khaddi, annexed
Purwa (one of the Chaube Jagirs), seized
Tiroha, seized
Shahgarh, seized in 1857
Bagelkhand Agency
Bagelkhand Agency, the easternmost charge, was established in March 1871, when it was separated from Bundelkhand agency.
In 1900, it covered the area of twelve states, including :
Salute states, by precedence :
Rewa, the largest state in Bagelkhand, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 17-guns
Baraundha, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
Maihar, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
Non-salute states (alphabetically) :
Bhaisaunda
Jaso
Kamta-Rajaula
Kothi
Nagode
Pahra
Paldeo
Sohawal
Taraon
Estates (alphabetically) :
Sohagpur
Shahpur
Jaitpur
Amarkantak
Nigwani
Anupur
Baikunthpur
Chandiya
Dhangawan
Singbana
In 1931, all of the states but Rewa were transferred back to Bundelkhand, and in 1933 Rewa was transferred to the Indore Residency.
Gwalior Residency
Gwalior Residency was placed under the Central India Agency in 1854, and separated from Central India Agency in 1921.
It included the following, among other smaller states, plus Chhabra pargana (district) of Tonk State : Include Jagirs Chhadawad, Bagli, Dattigaon, Balipur/chikli, Nimkheda, Pathari, Tonk Khurd, etc.
Salute states :
Gwalior, title Maharaja Scindia; Hereditary salute of 21-guns.
Rampur, title Nawab; Hereditary salute of 15-guns
Benares (Ramnagar), title Maharaja; Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)
Non-salute states :
Bhadaura
Garha
Khaniadhana
Raghogarh
Paron
Umri
Furthermore, lesser estates (under Thakurs or diwans)
Agra Barkhera
Kathaun
Khiaoda
Sangul Wardha
Sirsi
Bhopal Agency
Bhopal Agency, , which included the following :
Salute states, by precedence :
Bhopal, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 19-guns (21-guns local)
Dewas Junior and Dewas Senior, both title Mharaja, Hereditary salutes of 15-guns (transferred to Malwa Agency in 1907, and to Bhopal Agency in 1933)
Narsinghgarh, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Rajgarh, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Khilchipur, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 9-guns
Non-salute states, alphabetically :
Basoda
Kurwai (Korwai)
Makrai (transferred to Bhopal Agency in 1933 from the Central Provinces and Berar)
Maksudangarh
Muhammadgarh
Pathari
Indore Residency
Indore Residency included most of Indore (Holkar) and after 1933 also Rewa State.
Malwa Agency
Malwa Agency, , which included parts of Gwalior, Indore and Tonk states and the states of:
Salute states, by precedence :
Ratlam State, title Maharaja Bahadur, Hereditary salute of 13-guns (15-guns local)
Jaora State, title Nawab, Hereditary salute of 13-guns
Sailana State, title Raja Bahadur, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Jhabua State, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Sitamau State, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Non-salute states :
Piploda State
Estates :
Panth-Piploda .
In 1925, the Malwa Agency was amalgamated with Bhopawar Agency.
Bhopawar Agency
Bhopawar Agency included the princely states of:
It also included territories of Gwalior and Indore States.
In 1927 the agency was renamed the Southern States Agency, later the Southern States and Malwa Agency, and after 1934 Malwa Agency.
Salute states, by precedence :
Dhar, title Maharaja, Hereditary salute of 15-guns
The following were the jagirs (estates), ruled by the Bhilala tribes, that were under the Suzerainty of Dhar State.:Imperial Gazetteer of India pg.51
Kali-Baori
Nimkhera (alias Tirla)
Rajgadh
Alirajpur, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns, including the extinct State of Phulmaal which was incorporated into it earlier as well as Fiefs (Jagirs) of  .
Barwani, title Maharana, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Jhabua, title Raja, Hereditary salute of 11-guns
Estates :
Jobat
Kathiwara
Mathwar
Ratanmal
Bakhatgarh
Dotria
Kachhi-Baroda
Multhan
Discontinued :
Amjhera, title Rao
Chhadawad, title Rao
Jagirs (incomplete) :
Jamnia, title Raja
Kali-Baori
Nimkhera
Ondhwa
Rajgadh
Sondhwa
Post-independence
Upon the British withdrawal from India in 1947, the rulers of the princely states in this area all chose to accede to the new Union of India.
The eastern portion of Central India Agency, including Bagelkhand and Bundelkhand agencies, became the new state Vindhya Pradesh.
The western portion, including Bhopal, Malwa, and Bhopawar agencies and the Gwalior and Indore residencies, became the new state of Madhya Bharat.
Bhopal became a separate state.
Makrai was transferred to Madhya Pradesh, which had been created from the former Central Provinces and Berar in 1950.
In 1956, the states of Vindhya Pradesh, Madhya Bharat, and Bhopal were merged into Madhya Pradesh.
Later another state, Chhattisgarh, was formed from the area that was formerly Madhya Pradesh.
See also
List of princely states of British India (alphabetical)
List of Maratha dynasties and states
List of Rajput dynasties and states
Maratha Empire
Rajputana
References
Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908).
Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12.
1908–1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.
