rajah

For other uses, see Raja (disambiguation) and Rajah (disambiguation).

It has been suggested that Rana (title) be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2009.

Oil Painting Reproduction of a masterpiece portrait painted by Raja Ravi Varma

Raja (also spelled rajah, from Sanskrit राज rāja- and Urdu: راج, nominative rājā) is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna. The female form, the word for "queen", mainly used for a raja's wife, is rani (sometimes spelled ranee), from Sanskrit राज्ञी rājñī, or ratu, dato, datuk, or datu in Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, being attested from the Rigveda, where a rājan- is a ruler, see for example the (dāśarājñá), the "battle of ten kings".

Etymology

Sanskrit rājan- is cognate to Latin rēx (genitive rēgis), Gaulish rīx, Gaelic rí (genitive ríg), etc., originally denoting heads of petty kingdoms and city states. It is ultimately derived from a PIE *h₃rēǵs, a vrddhi formation to the root *h₃reǵ- "to straighten, to order, to rule". The Sanskrit n-stem is secondary in the male title, apparently adapted from the female counterpart rājñī which also has an -n- suffix in related languages, compare Old Irish rígain and Latin regina. Cognates of the word Raja in other Indo-European languages include English reign and German reich.

Rather common variants in Rajasthani, Marathi and Hindi, used for the same royal rank in parts of India include Rana, Rao, Raol, Rawal and Rawat.

Raja, the top title Thakore and many variations, compounds and derivations including either of these were used in and around South Asia by most Sinhalese Hindu, Muslim and some Buddhist and Sikh rulers, while Muslims also used Nawab or Sultan, and still is commonly used in India.

Raja රජ the title means King in Sri Lanka and has entire power an island wide. Rajamanthri රාජමන්ත්රී is the Prince රජ කුමරැ lineage of King's generation in Sri Lanka. Rajamanthri title is aristocracy of the Kandiyan Kingdom මහනුවර in Sri Lanka.

In Pakistan, Raja is still used by many Jats and Muslim Rajput clans as hereditary titles. Raja is also used as a given name by Hindus and Sikhs. The lands ruled by a raja is called a Rajahanate.

Rajas in the whole world

Costume of a family belonging to Principalía during the 19th century. Picture taken from the exhibit in Villa Escudero Museum in San Pablo Laguna, Philippines.

• In the Sinhalese language, the title 'Raja' means King of the Sri Lanka and has the entire power and the equal status in an island wide. Rajamanthri is the Prince lineage of King's generation especially Rajamanthri is aristocracy of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka history. These native Royal Family in Sri Lanka.

• In the Indonesian language, the word raja means "king". Many of the leaders of local tribes and old kingdoms had that title before Indonesia became an independent nation. Various traditional princely states in Indonesia still style their ruler Raja, or did so until their abolition after which the title became hollow, e.g., Buleleng on Bali.

• The ruler of the state of Perlis, Malaysia, is titled the Raja of Perlis. Most of the other state rulers are titled sultans. Nevertheless, the raja has an equal status with the other rulers and is one of the electors who designate one of their number as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong every five years.

• In Perak, the title 'Raja' means 'Prince'.

• The White Rajahs of Sarawak in Borneo were James Brooke and his dynasty.

• In the Philippines, Italian historian Antonio Pigafetta relates in his document of the first circumnavigation that when the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached on March 28, 1521, the island-port of Mazaua in Mindanao he was met by Raia Siaiu, the King of Mazaua and Raia Calambu, the King of Butuan. Magellan entered into the first recorded blood compact (cassi cassi was the Malayan term Magellan used) with Raia Siaiu. When the Spanish fleet, led by Miguel López de Legazpi, arrived in Manila, they were met by the King of Manila, Rajah Sulaiman III. In the south of the country, various subdivisional princes among the Moro peoples are still given the titles Rajah or Maharajah.
  • All of the major kingdoms in the Philippines (which inclueded the Kingdoms and Principalities in Luzon Visayas and some parts of Mindanao, excluding the Sultanate of Maguindanao) were annexed by the Spanish Empire in the 16th century.
  • Upon the Christianization of most parts of the Philippine Archipelago, the Rajas and Datus (king) of the pre-Hispanic kingdoms and principalities retained their right to govern their territory under the Spanish Empire. King Philip II of Spain, in a law signed June 11, 1594,^[1] commanded the Spanish colonial officials in the Archipelago that these native royalties and nobilities be given the same respect, and privileges that they had enjoyed before their conversion. Later, the Filipino royals and nobles formed part of the exclusive, and elite ruling class, called the Principalía (Noble Class) of the Philippines.

See also

References

Links

• Indian Princely States, the most comprehensive, specialised site on (princely) (e)states in British India
• Royal Ark - India (more elaborate, on a smaller number of dynasties)
• WorldStatesmen- Indian princely states, here K-Z