Salute state

British Empire in the East

A salute state was a princely state in India during the time of British rule which had been granted a gun salute by the British Crown (as paramount ruler); i.e., the protocolary privilege for its ruler to be greeted—originally by Royal Navy ships, later also on land—with a number of cannon shots, as recognition of the state's relative status.

As with the other princely states, the salute states varied greatly in size and importance. The states of Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir, both with a 21-gun salute, were each over 200,000 km² in size, or slightly larger than the whole of Great Britain; in 1941, Hyderabad had a population of over 16,000,000, comparable to the population of Romania at the time, while Jammu and Kashmir had a population of slightly over 4 million, comparable to that of Switzerland. At the other end of the scale, Janjira and Sachin (11 and 9 guns, respectively, and both ruled by branches of the same dynasty) were respectively 137 km² and 127 km² in size, or slightly larger than the island of Jersey; in 1941, Janjira had a population of nearly 14,000, the smallest of the salute states.

Salute states and equivalents

When the ruler of a princely state arrived at the Indian capital (originally at Calcutta (Kolkata), then at Delhi), he was greeted with a number of gun-firings. The number of these consecutive "gun salutes" changed from time to time, being increased or reduced depending on the degree of honour which the British chose to accord to a given ruler. The number of gun salutes accorded to a ruler was usually a reflection of the state of his relations with the British and/or his perceived degree of political power; a 21-gun salute was considered the highest. The King (or Queen) of the United Kingdom (who until 1948 was also the Emperor of India) was accorded a 101-gun salute, and 31 guns were used to salute the Viceroy of India.

The number of guns in a salute assumed particular importance at the time of holding of the Coronation Durbar in Delhi in the month of December 1911. The Durbar was held to commemorate the Coronation of King George V with guns firing almost all day. At that time there were three Princely States that were given 21 gun salutes. These were:

• H.E.H. The Nizam of Hyderabad
• H.H. The Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda State
• H.H. The Maharaja of Mysore

In 1917, HH The Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior was upgraded to a permanent and hereditary 21-gun salute, and the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir was granted the same in 1921. Both were granted the increased ranks as a result of the meritorious services of their soldiers in the First World War.

Apart from these, no other Princely State received a 21-gun salute. Three of the most prominent princes, however, enjoyed a local salute of 21 guns within the limits of their own state and 19 guns in the rest of India. They were the Nawab (Begum) of Bhopal, the Maharaja Holkar of Indore and the Maharana of Udaipur.

The Nizam, Maharajas, Princes, etc. were all deeply keen on protocol and ensured that it was practised as a matter of faith. Any departure from it was not taken kindly by them. Salute of guns was one such protocol that was strictly adhered to.

Classifications and sub-classifications of salute states

At the time of Indian independence and partition in 1947, 118 of the roughly 565 princely states were classified as "salute states." The rulers of the five premier states - Hyderabad, Mysore, Baroda, Jammu & Kashmir and Gwalior - received 21-gun salutes. The rulers of six others - Bhopal, Indore, Udaipur, Kolhapur, Travancore and Kalat - received 19-gun salutes, with Bhopal, Indore and Udaipur entitled to a local 21-gun salute. Of the remaining 111 rulers of the salute states, 88 were entitled to gun salutes ranging from 17 to 11 guns, with additional gun-salutes granted on a local or personal basis; the remaining 23 received a salute of nine guns. Rulers with gun salutes of 11 guns or above, whether the salute was hereditary or local only, were entitled to the style of Highness; the Nizam of Hyderabad was granted the unique style of Exalted Highness in 1918, in recognition of the state's contributions to the Allied war effort during the First World War. In 1948, all rulers of nine-gun salute states were also granted the style of Highness.

The salute states were broadly divided into two categories: the five premier states with a permanent 21-gun salute and with an individual resident, or envoy, stationed in each, and the remaining 113 states incorporated within political agencies (groups of states) under a political agent. The salutes were themselves organised in a strict hierarchy. Each ruling house of a salute state was entitled to a permanent hereditary salute. In some instances, one of three sub-categories consisting of an increase of 2 gun salutes could be awarded as follows:

• Personal and local: Hereditary to an individual state's ruler only within its borders, and personally to the ruler outside his state, but honouring his person and not the state when he was outside it. An award of a personal salute was only for the lifetime of the ruler, and was typically made for distinguished wartime or civic service.
• Personal: Only for the ruler personally, and not to distinguish his state as a whole.
• Local: Hereditary to an individual state's ruler only within its borders.

As a religious head, the Agha Khan received a personal 11-gun salute. In certain cases, a ruler of a non-salute state or a junior member of a princely family could merit a personal salute or the personal style of Highness.

Salutes within the Indian Empire (royals, administrators and officers, as of 1947)

Number of guns	Recipients
101 (Imperial Salute)	H.M. The King-Emperor of India
31 (Royal Salute)	H.M. the Queen-Empress and T.R.H. the Members of the Royal Family H.E. the Viceroy and Governor-General of India
21	Foreign sovereigns and members of their families.
19	Governors-General Governor-General of Portuguese India Ambassadors Commander-in-Chief, India (holding the rank of Field Marshal) Admirals of the Fleet, Field Marshals and Marshals of the Royal Air Force
17	Governors of the Bombay, Madras and Bengal Presidencies Governors of Indian Provinces Governors of Colonies Governor of French India Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary Commander-in-Chief, India (holding the rank of General) Admirals, Generals and Air Chief Marshals
15	Lieutenant-Governors of Indian Provinces Lieutenant-Governors of Colonies Plenipotentiaries and Envoys Ministers Resident Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Fleet Flag Officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy (rank of Vice-Admiral) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Forces in India (rank of Air Marshal) Army Commanders with the rank of Lieutenant-General Vice-Admirals, Lieutenant-Generals and Air Marshals
13	Chief Commissioners of Indian Provinces Residents (1st Class) Residents (2nd Class) Flag Officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy (rank of Rear-Admiral) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Forces in India (rank of Air Vice-Marshal) Major Generals commanding Districts Rear-Admirals, Major-Generals and Air Vice-Marshals
11	Political Agents Consuls-General Charges d'Affaires Resident Advisor at Makallah (local only) Brigade Commanders (including Major-Generals if commanding a Brigade) Commodores, Brigadiers and Air Commodores
9	Governor of Daman; Governor of Diu (Portuguese India)

Salute states that acceded to India

At independence in 1947, the gun salutes enjoyed by the 114 states that acceded to the Union of India were as follows:

Serial No.	Hereditary salute No. of guns	Personal or Local salute No. of guns	Title of Ruler	Name of state	Clan of Ruler	Present Location
1.	21	–	H.E.H. The Nizam of	Hyderabad and Berar	Asaf Jahi	Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh
2.	21	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Mysore	Wadiyar	Karnataka
3.	21	–	H.H. The Maharaja Gaekwar of	Baroda	Maratha, Gaekwad	Gujarat
4.	21	–	H.H. The Maharaja Scindia of	Gwalior	Maratha, Scindia	Madhya Pradesh
5.	21	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Jammu and Kashmir	Rajput, Dogra	Jammu and Kashmir
6.	19	21 (Local)	H.H. The Nawab of Bhopal	Bhopal	Mirasi Khel Afghan	Madhya Pradesh
7.	19	21 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja Holkar of	Indore	Maratha, Holkar	Madhya Pradesh
8.	19	21 (Local)	H.H. The Maharana of	Udaipur (Mewar)	Rajput Sisodia	Rajasthan
9.	19	–	H.H. The Maharaja Chhatrapati of	Kolhapur	Maratha, Bhonsle	Maharashtra
10.	19		H.H. The Maharaja of	Travancore	Kshatriya	Kerala
11.	17		H.H. The Maharao of	Kota	Rajput, Chauhan, Hada	Rajasthan
12.	17	19 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Bharatpur	Jat	Rajasthan
13.	17	19 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Bikaner	Rajput, Rathore	Rajasthan
14.	17	19 (Local)	H.H. The Maharao of	Cutch	Rajput, Jadeja	Gujarat
15.	17	19 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Jaipur	Rajput, Kachwaha	Rajasthan
16.	17	19 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Jodhpur	Rajput, Rathore	Rajasthan
17.	17	19 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Patiala	Sikh Jats,	Punjab
18.	17	–	H.H. The Maharao Raja of	Bundi	Rajput, Chauhan, Hada	Rajasthan
19.	17	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Cochin	Kshatriya	Kerala
20.	17	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Karauli	Rajput Jadon	Rajasthan
21.	17	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Rewa	Rajput, Baghela	Madhya Pradesh
22.	17	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Tonk	Pathan	Rajasthan
23.	15	17 (Personal)	H.H. The Maharaj Rana of	Dholpur	Jat	Rajasthan
24.	15	17 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Alwar	Rajput, Kachwaha	Rajasthan
25.	15	–	H.H. The Maharawal of	Banswara	Rajput, Sisodia	Rajasthan
26.	15	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Datia	Rajput, Bundela	Madhya Pradesh
27.	15	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Dewas Senior	Maratha, Puar	Madhya Pradesh
28.	15	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Dewas Junior	Maratha, Puar	Madhya Pradesh
29.	15	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Dhar	Maratha, Puar	Madhya Pradesh
30.	15	–	H.H. The Maharawal of	Dungarpur	Rajput Sisodia	Rajasthan
31	15	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Idar	Rajput Rathore	Gujarat
32	15	–	H.H. The Maharawal of	Jaisalmer	Rajput, Bhati	Rajasthan
33	15	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Kishangarh	Rajput, Rathore	Rajasthan
34	15	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Orchha	Rajput, Bundela	Madhya Pradesh
35	15	–	H.H. The Maharawat of	Pratapgarh	Rajput, Sisodia	Rajasthan
36	15	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Rampur	Pathan	Uttar Pradesh
37	15	–	H.H. The Maharaol of	Sirohi	Rajput, Chauhan,Devda	Rajasthan
38	13	15 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Benares	Brahmin Goutam	Uttar Pradesh
39	13	15 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Bhavnagar	Rajput, Gohil	Gujarat
40	13	15 (Personal and Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Jind	Sikh Jat,	Punjab
41	13	15 (Personal and Local)	H.H. The Nawab of	Junagadh	Babi	Gujarat
42	13	15 (Personal and Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Kapurthala	Sikh Ahluwalia	Punjab
43	13	15 (Local)	H.H. The Raja of	Nabha	Sikh Jat,	Punjab
44	13	15 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja Jam Sahib of	Nawanagar	Rajput, Jadeja	Gujarat
45	13	15 (Local)	H.H. The Maharaja of	Ratlam	Rajput, Rathore	Madhya Pradesh
46	13	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Cooch Behar	Rajput, Rajvanshi	West Bengal
47	13	–	H.H. The Maharaja Raj Sahib of	Dhrangadhra	Rajput, Jhala	Gujarat
48	13	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Jaora	Pathan	Madhya Pradesh
49	13	–	H.H. The Maharaj Rana of	Jhalawar	Rajput, Jhala	Rajasthan
51	13	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Palanpur	Afghan	Gujarat
52	13	–	H.H. The Maharaja Rana Sahib of	Porbandar	Rajput, Jethwa	Gujarat
53	13	–	H.H. The Maharana of	Rajpipla	Rajput, Gohil	Gujarat
54	13	–	H.H. The Raja of	Tripura (princely state)	Rajput	Tripura
55	11	13 (Local)	H.H. The Nawab of	Janjira	Siddi	Maharashtra
56	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Ajaigarh	Rajput, Bundela	Madhya Pradesh
57	11	–	H.H. The Maharana Raja of	Ali Rajpur	Rajput, Sisodia	Madhya Pradesh
58	11	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Baoni	Pathan	Madhya Pradesh
59	11	–	H.H. The Rana of	Barwani	Rajput, Sisodia	Madhya Pradesh
60	11	–	H.H. The Sawai Maharaja of	Bijawar	Rajput, Bundela	Madhya Pradesh
61	11	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Cambay (Khambhat)	Pathan	Gujarat
62	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Chamba	Rajput	Himachal Pradesh
63	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Charakhari	Rajput, Bundela	Madhya Pradesh
64	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Chhatarpur	Rajput, Parmar	Madhya Pradesh
65	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Faridkot	Sikh Jat,	Punjab
66	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Gondal	Rajput, Jadeja	Gujarat
67	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Bilaspur	Rajput	Himachal Pradesh
68	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Jhabua	Rajput Rathore	Madhya Pradesh
69	11	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Maler Kotla	Afghan	Punjab
70	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Mandi	Rajput Chandravanshi	Punjab
71	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Manipur	Rajput	Manipur
72	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Morvi	Rajput Jadeja	Gujarat
73	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Narsinghgarh	Rajput Umat	Madhya Pradesh
74	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Panna	Rajput Bundela	Madhya Pradesh
75	11	-	The Maharaja of	Pudukkottai	Thondaiman	Tamil Nadu
76	11	–	H.H. The Nawab of	Radhanpur	Irani	Gujarat
77	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Rajgarh	Hindu,Rajput	Madhya Pradesh
78	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Sailana	Rajput Rathore	Madhya Pradesh
79	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Samthar	Rajput Badgujjar	Madhya Pradesh
80	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Sirmaur (Nahan)	Rajput, Bhati	Himachal Pradesh
81	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Sitamau	Rajput Rathore	Madhya Pradesh
82	11	–	H.H. The Raja of	Suket (SunderNagar)	Rajput Chandravanshi	Himachal Pradesh
83	11	–	H.H. The Maharaja of	Tehri Garhwal	Rajput, Parmar	Uttarakhand
84	11	–	H.H. The Maharana Raj Sahib of	Wankaner	Rajput, Jhala	Gujarat
85	9	11 (Personal)	H.H. The Raja of	Baria	Rajput, Chauhan	Gujarat
86	9	11 (Personal)	H.H. The Raja of	Dharampur	Rajput, Sisodia	Gujarat
87	9	11 (Personal)	H.H. The Raja of	Sangli	Maratha, Brahmin administrators (Patwardhan)	Maharashtra
88	9	11 (Local)	H.H. The Raja of	Sawantwadi	Maratha, Bhonsle	Maharashtra
89	9	–	The Thakur Sahib of	Wadhwan	Rajput Jhala	Gujarat
90	9	–	The Nawab Babi of	Balasinor	Irani (Muslim)	Gujarat
91	9	–	The Nawab of	Banganapalle	(Muslim Shia)	Andhra Pradesh
92	9	–	The Maharawal of	Bansda	Rajput Solanki	Gujarat
93	9	–	The Raja of	Baraundha	Rajput Bargujar	Madhya Pradesh
94	9	–	The Raja of	Bhor	Maratha, Brahmin	Maharashtra
95	9	–	The Raja of	Chhota Udaipur	Rajput, Chauhan	Gujarat
96	9	–	The Maharana of	Danta	Rajput, Paramara	Gujarat
97	9	–	The Thakore Sahib of	Dhrol	Rajput, Jadeja	Gujarat
98	9	–	The Maharaja of	Jawhar	Maratha, (Mukne)	Maharashtra
99	9	–	The Maharaja of	Kalahandi (Karond)	Rajput, (Gangavanshi)	Odisha
100	9	–	The Rao of	Khilchipur	Rajput, Chauhan,(Khinchi)	Madhya Pradesh
101	9	–	The Thakore Sahib of	Limbdi	Rajput, Jhala	Gujarat
102	9	–	The Nawab of	Loharu	(Muslim)	Haryana
103	9	–	The Maharana of	Lunawara	Rajput, Solanki	Gujarat
104	9	–	The Raja of	Maihar	Rajput, Kachwaha	Madhya Pradesh
105	9	–	The Maharaja of	Mayurbhanj	Rajput, (Bhanj)	Odisha
106	9	–	The Raja of	Mudhol	Maratha, Ghorpade	Karnataka
107	9	–	The Raja of	Nagod	Rajput, Parihar	Madhya Pradesh
108	9	–	The Thakore Sahib of	Palitana	Rajput, Gohil	Gujarat
109	9	–	The Maharaja of	Patna	Rajput, Chauhan	Odisha
110	9	–	The Thakore Sahib of	Rajkot	Rajput, Jadeja	Gujarat
111	9	–	The Nawab of	Sachin	Siddi	Gujarat
112	9	–	The Maharana of	Sant	Rajput, Parmara	Gujarat
113	9	–	The Rajadhiraj of	Shahpura	Rajput, Sisodia	Rajasthan
114	9	–	The Maharaja of	Sonepur	Rajput	Odisha

In 1948 The Hindu Rajput Maharana of Udaipur was raised to first place in the Order of Precedence, displacing the Muslim Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar due to his stubborn stance of not acceding to the union . The system of gun salutes continued in the Republic of India until 1971.

Although salutes with many more guns have been used for Western Monarchs (and dynastic and other associated occasions), the 21-gun salute has in modern times become customary for Sovereign Monarchs (hence also known as 'royal salute') and republic.

Some of the rulers not listed above were granted increased gun salutes after the independence, e.g. the Maharana of Mewar (at Udaipur, Maharajpramukh in Rajasthan) was raised to first place in the Order of Precedence, displacing the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, and all 9-gun states were permitted the use of the style of Highness. However, it has not been possible to obtain complete details for all the rulers.

This system continued till 1971, when privileges and Privy Purses of ex-rulers were abolished by the Government of India.

Salute states that acceded to Pakistan

Main article: Princely states of Pakistan

Between August 1947 and March 1948, thirteen Muslim princely states in western India acceded to the new Dominion of Pakistan, created from British India by the Indian Independence Act 1947, thus becoming the Princely states of Pakistan. Between 1955 and 1974, they were all amalgamated into larger federations and provinces. All of the princely states were in the western part of the country, so all were merged into the eventual West Pakistan, which now covers the same area as the present-day republic of Pakistan. The states retained internal autonomy so long as they existed, but all had lost this by 1974. The styles and titles enjoyed by the former ruling families ceased to be officially recognised by the Government of Pakistan in January 1972, with the exception of the small states of Hunza and Nagar, which were incorporated into the Northern Areas of Pakistan in October 1974.

Four salute states acceded to Pakistan between 3 October 1947 and 27 March 1948. In order of precedence, they were as follows:

Serial No.	Hereditary salute No. of guns	Personal salute No. of guns	Title of Ruler	Name of state	Clan of Ruler	Present Location
1.	19	–	The Khan of	Kalat	Muslim	Balochistan
2.	17	–	The Nawab of	Bahawalpur	Muslim Abbasi	Panjab
3.	15	–	The Mir of	Khairpur	Muslim Billochi	Sindh
4.	11	–	The Mehtar of	Chitral	Muslim Katur	NWFP

After several promotions and two further post-colonial awardings – which India didn't do – the gun salutes enjoyed by the states in Pakistan were as follows in 1966:

• Hereditary salute of 21-guns: The Amir of Bahawalpur
• Hereditary salute of 19-guns: The Khan of Kalat
• Hereditary salute of 17-guns: The Mir of Khairpur
• Hereditary salute of 15-guns: The Mir of Hunza (granted by President Ayub Khan in 1966, previously non-salute)
• Hereditary salute of 15-guns: The Wali of Swat (granted by President Ayub Khan in 1966, previously non-salute)
• Hereditary salute of 11-guns: The Mehtar of Chitral

Salute states in Burma

• 9 guns (permanent, for rulers of the following Shan States):
  • The Saopha of Kengtung
  • The Saopha of Hsipaw
  • The Saopha of Mong Nai
  • The Saopha of Yawnghwe

Protectorates and protected states under the Indian Empire

For varying periods of time until 1947, a number of other states in South Asia (Afghanistan), on the Indian subcontinent (Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim) or maintaining close links to it (the Gulf/Trucial states, Zanzibar) were under British rule. The following states, all of which received varying numbers of gun salutes, varied tremendously in terms of autonomy. Afghanistan and Nepal were both British protected states from the 19th century until 1919 and 1923, respectively, after which they were in direct relations with the British Foreign Office; as protected states, both enjoyed autonomy in internal affairs, though control of foreign affairs was left to the British. On the other hand, the Gulf (Trucial States) were near-total protectorates which were first under the Indian Empire until 1947, then were under the British Foreign Office until 1971.

South Asia

British protectorate; subsequently an Indian protectorate (Sikkim)

Hereditary salute No. of guns	Personal or Local salute No. of guns	Title of Ruler	Name of state	Clan of Ruler	Present Location
15 (until 1975)	–	H.H. The Maharaja (Chogyal) of	Sikkim	Tipihar	Sikkim

Though officially considered a princely state under its ruler, the Maharaja Chogyal, Sikkim was given the separate status of a British protectorate in 1861 under the Treaty of Tumlong, by which the British government could intervene in the state's internal affairs and oversee all external matters; despite this, Sikkim maintained a high degree of autonomy in practice. In 1947, the Maharaja Chogyal and his people decided against accession to India and chose to maintain Sikkim's internal sovereignty. The state formally became a protectorate of India in 1950. Following the death of the Maharaja Chogyal in 1963 and his succession by his unpopular son, Palden Thondup Namgyal, popular demands for increased individual rights grew more frequent. After Sikkim's first free general elections in 1974, the Indian Army placed the Chogyal under house arrest. Under military supervision, a controversial referendum was held in 1975, which approved the state's merger with India and the abolition of the monarchy. Sikkim was formally merged into India as its 22nd state on 26 April 1975.

De jure sovereign, but de facto British protected state; retained this status in relation to India (Bhutan)

Hereditary salute No. of guns	Personal or Local salute No. of guns	Title of Ruler	Name of state	Clan of Ruler	Present Location
15 (until 1963)	–	H.H. The Maharaja Druk Gyalpo of	Bhutan	Wangchuck	Bhutan

A brief war between Bhutan and the British Raj in 1864 resulted in the Treaty of Sinchula, which forced Bhutan to relinquish territory and defined its relationship with the British. A loose agglomeration of semi-independent districts until 1907, Bhutan was unified in that year as a hereditary monarchy represented by Ugyen Wangchuck, the penlop (or governor) of the district of Tongsa, who was proclaimed the Maharaja and Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) of Bhutan. In 1910, Bhutan signed the Treaty of Punakha, under which the British Raj guaranteed Bhutan's internal sovereignty, but, as with Sikkim, maintained control over its foreign relations. A British residency was officially installed in Bhutan, with a resident deputed from the Indian Political Service and answerable to the British government in India. The treaty, which established Bhutanese sovereignty, albeit as a protected state, remained in force until Indian independence in 1947; at this time, Bhutan was offered the options of remaining independent or acceding to the new Indian Union. Choosing to maintain its independence, Bhutan formally established relations with India in 1949, signing the India-Bhutan Treaty of Friendship on 8 August 1949; while reaffirming Bhutanese sovereignty, the new treaty gave India control over Bhutan's foreign policy. In 1963, however, Bhutan promulgated a new constitution which replaced the title of His Highness the Maharaja with His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, formally promoting the country to the status of an independent, sovereign monarchy. In 1971, Bhutan joined the United Nations as a full member, and renegotiated the 1949 treaty with India in 2007, legally ending Bhutan's status as a protected state of India.

Personal salute dynasties on the Indian subcontinent

Rulers of princely states (in 1947)

• 9 guns: Padam Singh KCIE, CSI, Raja of Bashahr (now in Himachal Pradesh)

Religious leaders

• 11 guns: The Aga Khan (religious leader of the Nizari Ismaili branch of Islam); only salute not attached to any territorial principality).

Political pensioners under the British Raj

• 21 guns for Khudadad, i.e. Tippu Sultan's Muslim empire, starting from the usurped Mysore throne (also 21 guns), meant to replace Delhi's (Mughal) Padshah-i-Hind
• 19 guns (only personal and local) for the Nawab of Murshidabad, as heirs of greater Bengal (including present Bangladesh, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal)
• 15 guns (until 1899) for HH the Nawab (later restyled Prince) of Arcot, i.e. the Carnatic
• 13 guns salute for Raja of Vizianagram

Zamindars in French India

• 4 guns: Manyam Zamindar of Yanam

States within the British sphere of influence (as of 1947)

Sovereign foreign monarchs

• 21 guns:
  • HM the King (styled Badshah or Emir) of Afghanistan (Durrani dynasty)
  • HM (since 1923; HH before then) the King (a Maharajadhiraja) of Nepal (sovereign, Hindu kingdom in the Himalaya)

Semi-sovereign foreign rulers

• 19 guns:
  • HH the Maharaja of Lamjang and Kaski, Prime Minister of Nepal
  • HH (His Holiness) the Dalai lama of Tibet, a semi-sovereign theocratic Buddhist nation before annexation by the People's Republic of China

Protectorates under the Indian Empire

• 21 guns:
  • HH the Sultan of Mascat [the Ibadi Imamate became a sovereign nation as Sultanate of (Muscat –the core, named after the capital, of modern- and) Oman]
  • HH the Sultan/Hami of Zanzibar (an East African sultanate on the islands now part of Tanzania, set up by a branch of the Omani sultans)
• 11 guns: HH the Emir of Kuwait; HH the Emir of Bahrain (promoted in 1932 from 7-guns)
• 7 guns: The Emir of Qatar (awarded in 1916)
• 5 guns:
  • The Emir of Abu Dhabi
  • The Emir of Dubai (promoted from 3 guns in 1929)
• 3 guns: all in Trucial Oman, known as the 'Pirate Coast' (- ?no agency? Persian Gulf residency?; now all among the 7 constitutive emirates of the sovereign nation UAE):
  • Ajman
  • Ras al-Khaimah
  • Sharjah
  • Umm al-Qaiwain

Elsewhere

• 21 guns: HM the native (Amerindian tribal) King of Mosquito Coast (in present Nicaragua; styled His Majesty, most unusual as HM is normally reserved for the Paramount Ruler and its (independent) peers; under British protectorate since 1688, formalised in 1749 with appointment of a resident Superintendent; Britain relinquished control in 1783–87; Nicaraguan sovereignty was recognised in 1860 under the Treaty of Managua, hence the King considered a mere Chief, in 1894 militarily driven into exile to Jamaica)
• 9 guns: the Kabaka (native, tribal king) of Buganda (in [Western] Uganda, granted after (?) 1912, before 1939 permanent grant)

See also

• Princely state
• List of Indian princely states
• List of Maratha dynasties and states
• List of Rajput dynasties and states
• List of Indian monarchs
• Prince and Principality for information on princely styles worldwide
• Maratha titles
• Maratha Empire
• Rajputana

References

General

• RoyalArk – Salute States
• Indian Princely States
• – Ed Haynes' list for circa 1911– various copies circulate, none propely annotated

Specific