MALER KOTLA  , a native

state of India, within the Punjab . It ranks as one of the Cis-Sutlej states, which came under British influence in 1809 . The territory lies south of Ludhiana . Area, 167 sq. m . Pop . (1901), 77,506, showing an increase of 20A-in the decade . Estimated gross revenue, £30,100 . The military force numbers 28o, men; and there is no tribute . The town Maier Kotla is 30 M . S. of Ludhiana; pop . (19o1), 21,122 . The nawab or chief is of Afghan descent; his family originally came from Kabul, and occupied positions of trust in Sirhind under the Mogul emperors .

They gradually became

independent as the Mogul Empire sank into decay in the course of the 18th century . In General Lake's campaign against Holkar in 1805 the nawab of Maier Kotla sided with the British . After the subjugation and flight of Holkar, the English government succeeded to the power of the Mahrattas in the districts between the Sutlej and the Jumna; and in 1809 its protection was formally extended to Maier Kotla, as to the other Cis-Sutlej states, against the formidable encroachments of Ranjit Singh . In the campaigns of 18o6, 1807 and r8o8 Ranjit Singh had made considerable conquests across the Sutlej; in 18o8 he marched on Maier Kotla and demanded a ransom of £ro,000 from the nawab . This led to the interference of the British, who addressed an ultimatumto Ranjit Singh, declaring the Cis-Sutlej states to be under British protection . Finally the raja of Lahore submitted, and the nawab was reinstated in February 18oq . Owing to the mental incapacity of nawab Ibrahim All Khan, the state was administered in recent years for some time by the chief of Loharu; but his son, Ahmed Ali Khan, was made regent in February 1905 . See Maler Kotla State Gazetteer (Lahore, 1908) .