Princely State

During the British rule of India, Princely States were semi-independent states within India. These were ruled by traditional feudal rulers, advised by an official known as the 'British Resident'; they had more or less complete internhal autonomy, but defence and overseas relations were handled by the British Government of India. The largest of these states was that ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The states were dissolved when India gained independence in 1948.