When the British government took control of India from the British East India Company, in 1857, they set up direct imperial control under a system known as the British Raj. But making India part of Britain’s worldwide empire did not suddenly make India one country. The British left no fewer than 565 princely states – each with a large amount of autonomy – continue to rule their own domains. These maharajas only gave up their armies, and their ability to make foreign policy. So they gave up all their actual power, but none of their wealth or prestige. These maharajas existed until India and Pakistan declared independence.
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