Salute state


A salute state was a princely state under the British Raj that had been granted a gun salute by the British Crown ; 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, in graduations of two salutes from three to 21, as recognition of the state's relative status. The gun-salute system of recognition was first instituted during the time of the East India Company in the late 18th century and was continued under direct Crown rule from 1858.
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 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 on the subcontinent.
For varying periods of time, a number of salute states in South Asia, on the Indian subcontinent or in the Middle East were also under the British Raj as protectorates or protected states. As with the Indian principalities, those states received varying numbers of gun salutes and varied tremendously in terms of autonomy. Afghanistan and Nepal were both British protected states from the 19th century until 1921 and 1923, respectively, after which they were sovereign nations in direct relations with the British Foreign Office; while protected states, both enjoyed autonomy in internal affairs, though control of foreign affairs was left to the British. The states under the Persian Gulf Residency and the Aden Protectorate ranged from Oman, a 21-gun-rated sultanate under a limited protectorate, to the 3-gun Trucial States which were near-total protectorates.
Following their independence in 1947, the new Indian and Pakistani governments maintained the gun-salute system until 1971 and 1972, when the former ruling families were officially derecognised. The Aden Protectorate was transferred to the control of the British Foreign Office in 1937 and eventually became the independent state of South Yemen in 1967, resulting in the abolition of its salute states the same year. Just prior to Indian independence in 1947, the Persian Gulf Residency was likewise transferred to Foreign Office control, remaining in existence until the Trucial States became fully independent in December 1971, forming the United Arab Emirates in early 1972.

Salute states and equivalents

When the ruler of a princely state arrived at the Indian capital, he was greeted with a number of gun-firings. The number of these consecutive "gun salutes" changed from time to time, be 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 of the United Kingdom 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:
In 1917, 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 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 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 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:
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 gunsRecipients
101

  • The King-Emperor of India
31
21
  • Heads of state.
  • Foreign sovereigns and members of their families.
    • 19
  • Heads of government.
  • Governors-General
  • Governor-General of Portuguese India
  • Ambassadors
  • Commander-in-Chief, India
  • 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
  • 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
  • Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Forces in India
  • Army Commanders with the rank of Lieutenant-General
  • Vice-Admirals, Lieutenant-Generals and Air Marshals
    • 13
  • Chief Commissioners of Indian Provinces
  • Residents
  • Residents
  • Flag Officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy
  • Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Forces in India
  • Major Generals commanding Districts
  • Rear-Admirals, Major-Generals and Air Vice-Marshals
    • 11
  • Political Agents
  • Consuls-General
  • Charges d'Affaires
  • Resident Advisor at Makallah
  • Brigade Commanders
  • Commodores, Brigadiers and Air Commodores
    • 9
  • Governor of Daman; Governor of Diu

    • Salute states that acceded to India

    At independence in 1947, the gun salutes enjoyed by the 113 states that acceded to the Union of India were as follows:
    Serial No.Hereditary salute No. of gunsPersonal or local salute No. of gunsTitle of RulerName of stateFinal ruler Final ruler - date of birthFinal ruler - succession to titleClan of RulerPresent Location
    1.21–The Maharaja Gaekwar ofBarodaPratapsinhrao Gaekwad29 June 19086 February 1939Maratha, GaekwadGujarat
    2.21–The Maharaja ofMysoreJayachamaraja Wadiyar14 July 19193 August 1940WadiyarKarnataka
    3.21–The Maharaja Scindia ofGwaliorGeorge Jayajirao Scindia26 June 19165 June 1925Maratha, ScindiaMadhya Pradesh
    4.21–The Maharaja ofJammu and KashmirHari Singh30 September 189523 September 1925Rajput, DograJammu and Kashmir
    5.21–The Nizam ofHyderabadOsman Ali Khan6 April 188629 August 1911Asaf JahiTelangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra
    6.1921 The Nawab of BhopalBhopalMuhammad Hamidullah Khan9 September 189417 May 1926Mirasi Khel AfghanMadhya Pradesh
    7.1921 The Maharaja Holkar ofIndoreYashwantrao Holkar6 September 190826 February 1926Maratha, HolkarMadhya Pradesh
    8.1921 The Maharana ofUdaipur Bhupal Singh22 February 188424 May 1930Rajput SisodiaRajasthan
    9.19–The Maharaja Chhatrapati ofKolhapurShahaji Bhonsle II4 April 191031 March 1947Maratha, BhonsleMaharashtra
    10.19The Maharaja ofTravancoreRama Varma7 November 19121 September 1924Kshatriya, Nair,Kerala
    11.17The Maharao ofKotaBhim Singh14 September 190927 December 1940Rajput, Chauhan, HadaRajasthan
    12.1719 The Maharaja ofBharatpurBrijendra Singh1 December 191827 March 1929Hindu Jat Rajasthan
    13.1719 The Maharaja ofBikanerSadul Singh7 September 19022 February 1943Rajput, RathoreRajasthan
    14.1719 The Maharao ofCutchVijayrajji2 September 188515 January 1942Rajput, JadejaGujarat
    15.1719 The Maharaja ofJaipurMan Singh21 August 19117 September 1922Rajput, KachwahaRajasthan
    16.1719 The Maharaja ofJodhpurHanuwant Singh16 June 19239 June 1947Rajput, RathoreRajasthan
    17.1719 The Maharaja ofPatialaYadavindra Singh7 January 191325 March 1938Jat Sikh, Sidhu, Phulkian MislPunjab
    18.17–The Maharao Raja ofBundiBahadur Singh19211945Rajput, Chauhan, HadaRajasthan
    19.17–The Maharaja ofCochinKerala Varma18701946KshatriyaKerala
    20.17–The Maharaja ofKarauliGaneshpal Deo3 June 1947Rajput JadonRajasthan
    21.17–The Maharaja ofRewaMartand Singh15 March 19231 April 1946Rajput, BaghelaMadhya Pradesh
    22.17–The Nawab ofTonkMuhammad Faruq Ali Khan8 August 188531 May 1947PathanRajasthan
    23.1517 The Maharaj Rana ofDholpurUdaibhan Singh25 February 189329 March 1911Hindu JatRajasthan
    24.1517 The Maharaja ofAlwarTej Singh19 March 191122 July 1937Rajput, KachwahaRajasthan
    25.15–The Maharawal ofBanswaraChandravir Singh26 November 190928 July 1944Rajput, SisodiaRajasthan
    26.15–The Maharaja ofDatiaGovind Singh21 June 18865 August 1907Rajput, BundelaMadhya Pradesh
    27.15–The Maharaja ofDewas SeniorKrishnajirao Puar12 May 193223 March 1947Maratha, PuarMadhya Pradesh
    28.15–The Maharaja ofDewas JuniorYashwantrao Puar3 March 19052 October 1943Maratha, PuarMadhya Pradesh
    29.15–The Maharaja ofDharAnandrao Puar24 November 192031 July 1926Maratha, PuarMadhya Pradesh
    30.15–The Maharawal ofDungarpurLakshman Singh7 March 190815 November 1918Rajput GuhilotRajasthan
    3115–The Maharaja ofIdarHimmat Singh22 September 189914 April 1931Rajput RathoreGujarat
    3215–The Maharawal ofJaisalmerJawahir Singh18 November 188226 June 1914Rajput, BhatiRajasthan
    3315–The Maharaja ofKishangarhSumer Singh27 January 192915 February 1939Rajput, RathoreRajasthan
    3415–The Maharaja ofOrchhaVir Singh14 April 18993 March 1930Rajput, BundelaMadhya Pradesh
    3515–The Maharawat ofPratapgarhRam Singh12 April 190818 January 1929Rajput, SisodiaRajasthan
    3615–The Nawab ofRampurReza Ali Khan17 November 190820 June 1930PathanUttar Pradesh
    3715–The Maharaol ofSirohiShri Tej Ram Singhji03 october 194301 july 1946Rajput, Chauhan, DevdaRajasthan
    381315 The Maharaja ofBenaresNarain Singh5 November 19275 April 1939Brahmin GoutamUttar Pradesh
    391315 The Maharaja ofBhavnagarKrishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji19 May 191217 July 1919Rajput, GohilGujarat
    401315 The Maharaja ofJindRanbir Singh11 October 18797 March 1887Sikh Jat, Sidhu, Phulkian MislPunjab
    411315 The Nawab ofJunagadhMahabat Khanji Rasulkhanji2 August 190022 January 1911BabiGujarat
    421315 The Maharaja ofKapurthalaJagatjit Singh24 November 18725 September 1877Ahluwalia Punjab
    431315 The Raja ofNabhaPratap Singh21 September 191919 February 1928Jat Sikh, Sidhu, Phulkian MislPunjab
    441315 The Maharaja Jam Sahib ofNawanagarDigvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji18 September 18952 April 1933Rajput, JadejaGujarat
    451315 The Maharaja ofRatlamLokendra Singh9 November 19273 February 1947Rajput, RathoreMadhya Pradesh
    4613–The Maharaja ofCooch BeharJagaddipendra Narayan15 December 191520 December 1922Rajput, RajvanshiWest Bengal
    4713–The Maharaja Raj Sahib ofDhrangadhraMayurdhwajsinhji3 March 19233 February 1942Rajput, JhalaGujarat
    4813–The Nawab ofJaoraMuhammad Iftiqar Ali Khan17 January 18836 March 1895PathanMadhya Pradesh
    4913–The Maharaj Rana ofJhalawarHarishchandra27 September 19212 September 1943Rajput, JhalaRajasthan
    5013–The Nawab ofPalanpurTaley Muhammad Khan7 July 188328 September 1918AfghanGujarat
    5113–The Maharaja Rana Sahib ofPorbandarNatwarsinhji Bhavsinhji30 June 190110 December 1908Rajput, JethwaGujarat
    5213–The Maharana ofRajpiplaVijaysinhji Chhatrasinhji30 January 189026 September 1915Rajput, GohilGujarat
    5313–The Maharaja ofTripuraKirit Bikram Kishore Deb Barman12 December 193317 May 1947ManikyaTripura
    541113 The Nawab ofJanjiraSiddiMaharashtra---
    5511–The Maharaja ofAjaigarhRajput, BundelaMadhya Pradesh---
    5611–The Maharana Raja ofAlirajpurRajput, SisodiaMadhya Pradesh---
    5711–The Nawab ofBaoniPathanMadhya Pradesh---
    5811–The Rana ofBarwaniRajput, SisodiaMadhya Pradesh---
    5911–The Sawai Maharaja ofBijawarRajput, BundelaMadhya Pradesh---
    6011–The Nawab ofCambayPathanGujarat---
    6111–The Raja ofChambaRajputHimachal Pradesh---
    6211–The Maharaja ofCharkhariRajput, BundelaMadhya Pradesh---
    6311–The Maharaja ofChhatarpurRajput, ParmarMadhya Pradesh---
    6411–The Raja ofFaridkotSikh Jat, BrarPunjab---
    6511–The Maharaja ofGondalRajput, JadejaGujarat---
    6611–The Raja ofBilaspurRajputHimachal Pradesh---
    6711–The Raja ofJhabuaRajput RathoreMadhya Pradesh---
    6811–Maharaja ofKangra-LambagraonRajput KatochHimachal Pradesh---
    6911–The Nawab ofMaler KotlaAfghanPunjab---
    7011–The Raja ofMandiRajput ChandravanshiHimachal Pradesh---
    7111–The Maharaja ofManipurMeitei peopleManipur---
    7211–The Maharaja ofMorviRajput JadejaGujarat---
    7311–The Raja ofNarsinghgarhRajput UmatMadhya Pradesh---
    7411–The Maharaja ofPannaRajput BundelaMadhya Pradesh---
    7511-The Maharaja ofPudukkottaiThondaimanTamil Nadu---
    7611–The Nawab ofRadhanpurIraniGujarat---
    7711–The Raja ofRajgarhHindu, RajputMadhya Pradesh---
    7811–The Raja ofRajgarhRajput RaghuvanshiHimachal Pradesh---
    7911-The Raja ofSailanaRajput RathoreMadhya Pradesh---
    8011–The Raja ofSamtharRajput BargurjarMadhya Pradesh---
    8111–The Maharaja ofSirmurRajput, BhatiHimachal Pradesh---
    8211–The Raja ofSitamauRajput RathoreMadhya Pradesh---
    8311–The Raja ofSuketRajput ChandravanshiHimachal Pradesh---
    8411–The Maharaja ofTehri GarhwalRajput, ParmarUttarakhand---
    8511–The Maharana Raj Sahib ofWankanerRajput, JhalaGujarat---
    86911 The Raja ofBariaRajput, ChauhanGujarat---
    87911 The Raja ofDharampurRajput, SisodiaGujarat---
    88911 The Raja ofSangliMaratha, Brahmin administrators Maharashtra---
    89911 The Raja ofSawantwadiMaratha, BhonsleMaharashtra---
    909–The Thakur Sahib ofWadhwanRajput JhalaGujarat---
    919–The Nawab Babi ofBalasinorIrani Gujarat---
    929–The Nawab ofBanganapalleAndhra Pradesh---
    939–The Maharawal ofBansdaRajput SolankiGujarat---
    949–The Raja ofBaraundhaRajput BargurjarMadhya Pradesh---
    959–The Raja ofBhorMaratha, BrahminMaharashtra---
    969–The Raja ofChhota UdaipurRajput, ChauhanGujarat---
    979–The Maharana ofDantaRajput, ParmarGujarat---
    989–The Thakore Sahib ofDhrolRajput, JadejaGujarat---
    999–The Maharaja ofJawharMaratha, Maharashtra---
    1009–The Maharaja ofKalahandi Rajput, Odisha---
    1019–The Rao ofKhilchipurRajput, Chauhan,Madhya Pradesh---
    1029–The Thakore Sahib ofLimbdiRajput, JhalaGujarat---
    1039–The Nawab ofLoharuHaryana---
    1049–The Maharana ofLunavadaRajput, SolankiGujarat---
    1059–The Raja ofMaiharRajput, KachwahaMadhya Pradesh---
    1069–The Maharaja ofMayurbhanjRajput, Odisha---
    1079–The Raja ofMudholMaratha, GhorpadeKarnataka---
    1089–The Raja ofNagodRajput, PariharMadhya Pradesh---
    1099–The Thakore Sahib ofPalitanaRajput, GohilGujarat---
    1109–The Maharaja ofPatnaRajput, ChauhanOdisha---
    1119–The Thakore Sahib ofRajkotRajput, JadejaGujarat---
    1129–The Nawab ofSachinSiddiGujarat---
    113911 The Maharana ofSantRajput, ParmarGujarat---
    1149The Rajadhiraj ofShahpuraRajput, SisodiaRajasthan---
    1159–The Maharaja ofSonepurRajputOdisha---

    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, the 21-gun salute has in modern times become customary for Sovereign Monarchs and republic.
    Some of the rulers not listed above were granted increased gun salutes after the independence, e.g. the Maharana of Mewar 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

    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 constitutes 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, mostly in January 1972, with the exception of the small states of Hunza and Nagar, which were shortly after 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 gunsPersonal or local salute No. of gunsTitle of RulerName of stateClan of RulerPresent Location
    1.19–The Khan ofKalatMuslim BalochiBalochistan
    2.17–The Nawab ofBahawalpurMuslim AbbasiPunjab
    3.1517 The Mir ofKhairpurMuslim BalochiSindh
    4.11–The Mehtar ofChitralMuslim KatoorKhyber Pakhtunkhwa

    After several promotions and two further post-colonial awarding under the republic – which India didn't do – the gun salutes enjoyed by the states in Pakistan were as follows in 1966:
    The following list of gun salutes is as they stood in 1947.

    South Asia

    British protected state; subsequently a sovereign monarchy (Afghanistan and Nepal)

    In 1890, Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan, accepted for his kingdom the status of a British protected state under the British Raj, retaining internal autonomy while placing the state's foreign affairs under British control. In 1905, his son and successor, Habibullah Khan, negotiated the Anglo-Afghan Treaty with the British, by which Afghanistan was de jure styled as a sovereign monarchy and the ruler recognised as King of Afghanistan with the style of His Majesty, while remaining a protected state of Britain. In May 1919, King Habibullah's successor, King Amanullah, declared the country a wholly sovereign kingdom, which resulted in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Despite a British victory, the British recognised the total sovereignty of Afghanistan in the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of Kabul in 1921; thereafter, Afghanistan continued to exist as a sovereign monarchy until the fall of the monarchy in 1973.
    Hereditary salute No. of gunsPersonal or local salute No. of gunsTitle of RulerName of stateClan of RulerPresent Location
    21–The King ofNepalShah dynastyNepal
    19–The Maharaja ofLamjang and KaskiRana dynastyNepal

    The Anglo-Nepalese War of 1816, which led to the defeat of the Gorkha Shah monarchy of Nepal, resulted in the kingdom becoming a de jure protectorate, but a de facto protected state of the East India Company. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the dissolution of the East India Company in 1858, the protectorate was transferred to the British crown through the British Raj, which recognised the monarch as "King of Nepal" with the style of His Majesty in 1919, due to the country's contributions to the Allied cause in the First World War. In 1923, the British government ended its protectorate and recognised Nepal as a wholly sovereign monarchy. While the semi-sovereign Rana oligarchy held power as hereditary Prime Ministers of Nepal until its deposition in 1951, the Nepalese monarchy continued until its abolition in 2008.

    ''De jure'' sovereign, but ''de facto'' British protected state; retained status in relation to India (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 of the district of Tongsa, who was proclaimed the Maharaja and Druk Gyalpo 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.

    British protectorate; subsequently an Indian protectorate and state (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.

    Middle East and Persian Gulf

    Middle East Protectorates - Aden Protectorate (until 1917)

    The following were constituent states of the Aden Protectorate from the late 19th century until their independence and merger with South Yemen in 1967 when the states were abolished. The protectorate was under the British Raj and governed as part of the Bombay Presidency until 1917 when the protectorate was transferred to the control of the British Foreign Office.
    Hereditary salute No. of gunsPersonal or local salute No. of gunsTitle of RulerName of stateClan of RulerPresent Location
    911 The Sultan ofLahejAl-AbdaliYemen
    911 The Sultan ofShihir and MakallaAl-Qu'aitiYemen
    9-The Sultan ofQishn and SoqotraAl-MahriYemen
    9-The Sultan ofFadhliAl-FadhliYemen
    -9 The Emir ofDhalaAl-AmiriYemen
    -9 The Sultan ofLower YafaAl-AfifiYemen

    Middle East Protectorates - Persian Gulf Residency

    The Persian Gulf Residency was established in 1822 during the time of the East India Company, though the company had established a residency at Bushehr in 1763. It was made subordinate to the Governor of Bombay until 1873. As with the rest of British India, it came under the control of the British Crown in 1858. In 1873, the residency came under the direct control of the British Raj and the India Office. In 1892, it officially assumed a protectorate status over the states of Muscat and Oman, Bahrain and the Trucial States, followed by Kuwait in 1914 and Qatar in 1916. In 1920, the Treaty of Seeb recognised the de jure independence of Oman. The residency was transferred to the charge of the British Foreign Office from the India Office in 1947, shortly before Indian independence. In 1961, Kuwait became the first of the Gulf States to terminate its protectorate and become fully independent, with Muscat and Oman being recognised by Britain as an independent, protected state the following year. With the increasing costs of maintaining an overseas presence, Britain announced in January 1968 that it would end its protectorate over the remaining Gulf states in 1971. The protectorates were finally terminated in December 1971; Muscat and Oman became the modern sultanate of Oman that year, and the erstwhile Trucial States became the United Arab Emirates in 1972.
    Hereditary salute No. of gunsPersonal or local salute No. of gunsTitle of RulerName of stateClan of RulerPresent Location
    21-The Sultan ofMascat and OmanAl-SaidOman
    -7 The Sheikh ofKuwaitAl-SabahKuwait
    -7 The Sheikh ofBahrainAl-KhalifaBahrain
    -7 The Sheikh ofQatarAl-ThaniQatar
    -3 The Sheikh ofAbu DhabiAl-NahyanUAE
    -3 The Sheikh ofSharjahAl-QasimiUAE
    -5 The Sheikh ofDubaiAl-MaktoumUAE
    -3 The Sheikh ofAjmanAl-NuaimiUAE
    -3 The Sheikh ofRas al-KhaimahAl-QasimiUAE
    -3 The Sheikh ofKalbaAl-QasimiUAE
    -3 The Sheikh ofUmm al-QaiwainAl-Mu'allaUAE

    Personal salute dynasties on the Indian subcontinent

    Rulers of princely states (in 1947)

    Sovereign foreign rulers