Rajshahi Raj

Rajshahi Raj
The palace of Natore
Country	East Bengal
Founded	18th century
Founder	Raja Kamdev Moitra
Current head	Legally Abolished (1950)
Titles	Raja Rai-Raiyan Raja Bahadur

Rajshahi Raj was a large zamindari (feudatory kingdom) which occupied a vast position of Bengal (present-day Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh and West Bengal, India). It was the richest and largest zamindari with an area of about 33,670 km². The Royal Family of Rajshahi used the title Ray/Rai and their surname was Maitra. The zamindari came into being during the early part of the 18th century when Nawab Murshid Quli Khan was the Dewan/Subahdar of Bengal (1704–1727).

The family ruled their dominions and estates from the Natore Palace in present-day Bangladesh. They belonged to the varendra bramhins of Moitra clan, as they were bestowed the title of Rai-Raiyan, they used this title while ruling half of undivided Bengal.They were the most philanthropic among all Bengali Royals. A member of this Raj family, Maharaja Jagadindra Nath Ray (Moitra), was a patron of cricket, and wanted to defeat the British in their own game of cricket. His rival was the Maharaja of Koch Bihar.

Further reading

• Jamini Kanta Bhaduri (1912) A Short History Of Natore Raj ISBN 0-04-394204-0
• Mahmood, ABM; Islam, Sirajul (2012). "Rajshahi Raj". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 3 July 2024.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)