princely state · Indian princely states
Janjira State
Origins
The Siddis, Muslims of East African (Habshi) origin, held the island fort of Janjira off Murud as officers of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate; tradition dates their control to 1489. They later served the Bijapur Sultanate and then acted as admirals of the Mughal fleet on the west coast.
Rule and society
From the island fortress the Siddi Nawabs commanded the coast south of Bombay and its sea trade. Shivaji and his son Sambhaji both failed to take Janjira, despite building the rival fort of Padmadurg nearby. The state also held Jafrabad in Kathiawar. Succession passed among the Siddi families rather than strictly from father to son.
Decline and legacy
Janjira came under British protection in the 19th century and merged into Bombay State in 1948. The fort, never taken by storm, stands in Raigad district, Maharashtra.
Lineage
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (4)
- Janjira State was a vassal of Mughal Empire1670 CE – 1707 CE
- Jafrabad State in personal union with Janjira State1762 CE – 1948 CE
- Janjira State was a protectorate of Company rule in India1834 CE – 1858 CE
- Janjira State was a protectorate of British Raj1858 CE – 1947 CE
More states of Indian princely states →
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Janjira State. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/janjira-state
- MLA
- “Janjira State.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/janjira-state. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Janjira State.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/janjira-state.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Janjira State’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/janjira-state (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻