Churaman

Churaman (1695–20 September 1721) was a chieftain of Sinsini, Rajasthan. He became leader of the zamindars after Rajaram's death. Bahadur Shah I made him a mansabdar after he supported him against Muhammad Azam Shah in becoming the emperor. He was also made the faujdar of Mathura, and the imperial highway from Delhi to Agra was placed under his protection by the Mughal Emperor.^[1]

Raja Churaman Singh
Ruler of Bharatpur
Portrait of Raja Churaman Singh
Reign	1695–20 September 1721
Predecessor	Raja Ram Sinsinwar
Successor	Muhkam Singh
Died	20 September 1721 (1721-09-21)
Issue	Muhkam Singh
House	Sinsinwar
Father	Bhajja/Bhagwant Singh
Religion	Hinduism

He was the founder of Bharatpur dynasty. He also founded a city of the name of Bharatpur which subsequently was made the capital of the state in the beginning of the 17th century.^[2]

Early life & Rise to power

Churaman's ascent to prominence began after the death of his elder brother, Raja Ram Jat, during the war of Bijal between the Shekhawats and Chauhans on July 4, 1688. Following this event, his father, Bhajja Singh, assumed leadership of the Jats. However, Aurangzeb's appointment of Raja Bishan Singh of Amber as Faujdar of Mathura threatened the autonomy of the Jats, leading to a struggle for freedom from Mughal rule.^[3][4]

Military campaigns and leadership

In 1702 after the death of his father Bhajja Singh, Raja Churaman Singh came to the fore. Within a short period Raja Churaman Singh gathered 500 horsemen and thousands of soldiers. Nand Ram, the Zamindar of Hathras, joined him along with 100 horsemen. Raja Churaman Singh recruited a well-known brigand of Mendoo and Mursan to his army. He constructed a fort at Thoon, 150 kilometres west of Agra, near Bharatpur in modern day Rajasthan, India. Within a short span there were 80 villages under the Thoon state and an army of 14 – 15 thousand.^[5]