Bhopal state was situated in the malwa region of central India, and seemed destined to be dominated by women from its very inception. It was founded by dost mohammed khan, who first acquired Berasia to serve as a base. He then returned to his native afganistan to fetch his kinsmen. His young wife, fatah bibi, stayed in Berasia at that period of turbulence and political instability. She held Berasia against the various warring parties such as mughals, English governors and Lieutenants and Marathas and handed it back to her husband upon his return. He made Berasia his centre for initial conquests and named the fort he built fatah Garg after her. This was an extraordinary tribute, as it was, from an oriental male, 300 years ago. Fatah garh stood majestically in the middle of the city he built. The fort was recently demolished but the tombs remain intact. He died in 1740, but his dynasty ruled Bhopal for coming 240 years. Succeded by Yar mohammed khan, ruled till 1754 and his wife mamola bai, who ruled Bhopal from 1754 to 1794 until her death. Though the formal rulers were her son faiz, installed by her on the throne, who died childless in 1777, and later on installed his younger brother, hayat. Parallel to the same, bahoo begum, faizs widow staged a revolt and formed government from 1778 to 1787 of her own. She came to be known as maanji sahiba and was revered for her piety, wisdom and skill in retaining the state during a particularly turbulent period. Hayat, allowed his cousin, wazeer mohammed khan and his son nazar mohammed khan to return to the state and they acclaimed power after heroic defense of fatah garh in 1813-14 against Maratta forces of scindia. Nazar was married to Qudsia Begum, grand Daughter of Hayat, and daughter of Nawab Ghaus Mohammed Khan. Nazar mohammed khan was assassinated in 1819, result of an unpopular treaty that he signed with the British governor- general Lord Hastings. Eighteen year old Qudsia Begum, announced her infabt daughter as the successor and claimed throne till she came of age. This marked the beginning of the centurys of Womens rule in Bhopal. Qudsia Begum ruled for eighteen years. She then agreed to the marriage of her daughter and and Jahangeer and for the power to be transferred to him. Short reign of seven years. Insignificant ruling years. Jahangeer died of extravagant lifestyle on December 9th 1844. Leaving a daughter of six years. Sikandar then held the power and sole authority. Qudsia begum insisted on having all reports and papers read out to her daily and signed them so as to be the official word of authority. Every afternoon she would sit under the khirni tree outside her palace to meet people, listen to their problems and roll out solutions. Constructed the Bhopal water works and had pipelines laid throughout the city to ensure the water would be always supplied to her people, free of cost. Sikandar begum, brought revenue systems up to date and got lands demarcated. Shah jahan preferred music, art, dance, poetry and architecture over leading her armies personally as in contrast to her mother. Shahjahan died in 1901, succeeded by her child, sultan jahan begum, the last ruler of Bhopal.