Chibhal

Chibhal's first ruler was Raja Partab chand Katoch, who was the youngest son of Raja Megh chand Katoch of Kangra.[1][2] Chibhal was also known to Timur's historians under the name Jibhal. The conversion of the family to Islam is probably of a late date, as Ferishta mentions Howns Raja (Raja Hans Chand) of Bhimbar in A.H. 891, i.e., A.D. I486. But so many of these hill chiefs retained their Hindu names after they became Muslims that the Hindu name alone cannot be taken as a decisive proof of his being Hindu. However, most historians believe Raja Shadeep Chand/Dharam Chand to be first Muslim convert during Babar's reign. The territory of Chibhal originally included upper the hill region bordering Hazara. These areas were lost to Islamic conquests and the Chibs migrated to Bhimber, evicting the original Thakial Rajputs who were ruling there.

The inhabitants of the state were known as Chibhalis. The northern barrier of India, a popular account of the Jummoo and Kashmir territories by Frederic Drew 1877, page 30-31</ref> Chibs who ruled this princely state are the direct descendants of Raja Chib Chand Katoch from whom the term Chib, Chibhan and Chibhal are derived. In 1822, the state's territories were reduced to no more than twenty five kilometres due to invasions from the Sikh Empire. The state was then referred to as the state of Bhimber. At that time it included the towns of Bhimber, Samhani and Mangal Devi. The Chibhalis were known to fiercely resist the Sikhs. They were seen as a threat by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and thus they were invaded and annexed into the Sikh Empire.[3]

Bhagsar Fort, Samhani valley overlooking Baghsar Lake, Bhimber

• Raja Partab Chand, 1400 A.D
• Raja Chib Chand, 1427 A.D approx.
• Raja Hans Chand
• Raja Ropal Chand
• Raja Rajan Chand
• Raja Pheri Chand
• Raja Sahi Chand
• Raja Gorpal Chand
• Raja Shadeep Chand/Dharam Chand
• Raja Dalchand
• Raja Cheal Chand

Ramkort Fort Aerial View

• Raja Doom Chand
• Raja Bhoom Khan
• Raja Mal Khan Ii
• Raja Ropu Khan III.
• Raja Bhoom Khan
• Raja Jamshed Khan
• Raja Tugharal Khan I
• Raja Haj Khan
• Raja Madad Khan
• Raja Ismail Khan
• Raja Gogo Khan
• Raja Suleman Khan
• Raja Nawab Khan
• Raja Saadat Khan Ii
• Raja Sultan Khan 1790/1838the second last and very famous Raja of the line. He resisted the Maharaja Ranjit singh to capture Kashmir.
• Raja ABU Faiz Talib Khan 1838/1870 the last Raja of the Bhimber, got the kingship after the murder of Raja Sultan Khan by Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu. Just after the death of Maharaja Ranjit singh, the state was confiscated by Gulab singh and Faiz Talib managed to escape with his family.

• Bhagsar Fort Bhimber.
• Ramkort Fort, Mangla Dam.
• Throchi Fort Kotli.[4][5]
• Mangla Fort, Mangla
• Barnad Fort, Sehnsa

After the giving over of Jammu and Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh, it became necessary to take measures for the protection and maintenance of the minor hill chiefs, who, much against their will had been included in the “properties” forming part of the contract. The matter was arranged in 1847 by Sir Henry Lawrence, Agent and Resident at Lahore, on the one part, and by Diwan Jwala Sahai, the Maharaja’s Minister, on the other. It was agreed that such of the chiefs as elected to settle in British territory should receive perpetual pensions, amounting in the aggregate to Rs., 42,800 annually; the Maharaja ceding to, the British Government the ilaka of Sujanpur, part of Pathankot, and certain lands between the Beas and Chaki rivers north of Gurdaspur in satisfaction of the demands, which were to be met from the British treasuries. The Raja Faiz Talib Khan, styled as Bhimbarwala by Sir Henry Lawrence, was allowed hereunder a cash pension of Rs. 10,000 per annum, the same being declared perpetual in his family, to be enjoyed undivided by one individual at a time. This arrangement did not of course please Faiz Talib, who thus found himself invested with a small pension in lieu his patrimony. But who was obliged to accept what had been fixed for him by Sir Henry Lawrence, as there was no hope of getting better terms from the Maharaja. He took up his abode at Shahdara near Lahore; and be it recorded to his credit that he and his relatives have ever since proved themselves thoroughly loyal to the new Power.

STATE: Punjab

DYNASTY: Chib

AREA:not known

REVENUE/PENSION: 10,000Rs

VILLAGES:Pothi, Besa. Pirkhana (rajgan)

• Major Raja sawar khan. retired from British army at 1940. ( 1891-1940) pirkhan rajgan

Raja Fazaldad Khan, son of Raja Faiz Talib Khan of Bhimber which was annexed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore, was appointed as Risaldar Major.

• Raja Ali Bahadur Khan (Died in 1908) was a Provincial Darbari and served ad Extra Assistant Commissioner in Rawalpindi District.
• Raja Muhammad Akbar Khan, was a Naib-Tehsildar,but was compelled to resign on account of the precarious state of his father’s health.After his father’s death in 1908 succeeded to the family pension and seat in Provincial Darbari, and to the hereditary title of Raja.[6]
• Raja Muhammad Afzal Khan.
• Brig. Raja Muhammad Saleem Khan(PRESENT HEAD OF HOUSE: thirtieth Raja of his line, Head of the Royal House of Bhimber,)