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{{Short description|23rd Maharajah of Jeypore}}
{{Infobox royalty
|name = Maharajah Sir Vikram Dev III Bahadur <br> {{small|[[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]] [[King Edward VII Coronation Medal|KECM]] [[King George V Coronation Medal|KGCM]] [[Delhi Durbar Medal|DD]]}}
|title = 23rd [[Maharajah]] of [[Jeypore]]
|image = Maharajah Vikram Dev III of Jeypore.jpg
|caption = His Highness Maharajah Vikram Dev III Bahadur
|succession = [[Maharajah]] of [[Jeypore]]
|reign = 27 November 1895 – <br /> 18 August 1920
|predecessor = Ram Chandra Dev III
|successor = Ram Chandra Dev IV
|birth_date = 6th December 1874
|birth_place = Surya Mahal Palace [[Jeypore]]
|death_date ={{death date and age|1920|8|18|1874|12|6|df=yes}}
|death_place = Moti Mahal Palace [[Jeypore]]
|spouse = Sita Devi Rajeshwari
|issue = Ram Chandra Dev IV, Padmavathi Devi
|dynasty = [[Solar Dynasty|Suryavansh]]
|father = Ram Chandra Dev III
|mother = Lakshmi Devi Rajeshwari
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
|regent = [[Dewan]] P. Venkannah Pantulu
|reg-type = Ministers
}}

''' Maharajah Sir Vikram Dev III''' [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]] or '''Vikram Dev''' was the king of [[Jeypore]], [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]] from 1889 – 1920. He is well known for his administration, altruism, education reforms, tribal welfare and various construction works that developed the kingdom of [[Jeypore]].{{sfn|Taradatt|2008|p=49}}

==Early life==
Vikram Dev III was born to Maharajah Ramachandra Dev III and Maharani Lakshmi Devi Rajeshwari on 6th December 1874. He was the only son and therefore the heir apparent to the throne. His sister Rajkumari Subardna Devi was married to Raja Goura Chandra Gajapati of [[Paralakhemundi]].{{sfn|Vadivelu|1958|p=73}}

After the death of his father in 1889, the estate went under the management of the [[Court of Wards (India)|Court of Wards]] who also took keen interest in the education of the young crown prince. A British gentleman, J.S. Marsh was appointed as the tutor of Vikram Dev who tutored him in the subjects of English, Humanities and Law. Before his coronation, the prince travelled with Marsh to [[Chennai|Madras]] where he had the opportunity to formally meet and converse with puissant personalities like [[Earl of Elgin|Lord Elgin]] – the then [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy of India]] and [[Baron Wenlock|Lord Wenlock]] – the [[Governor of Madras]]. He was married to Princess Sita Devi, daughter of Raja Dharamjeet Singh Deo of [[Udaipur State, Chhattisgarh|Udaipur State]] in [[Chhattisgarh]].{{sfn|Vadivelu|1958|p=74}}{{sfn|Taradatt|2008|p=49}}

==Reign==
Vikram Dev ascended the throne on 27th November 1895 after the expiration of his minority. Essentially, he became the first king of the dynasty to build a good rapport with the [[British Raj]] unlike his ancestors who kept a rancorous approach due to the contentious history between the British and Jeypore. The young king aspired to develop his kingdom and improve the livelihood of his people which seemed possible only with the support of the British who governed India with the help of numerous [[Princely State|princely states]] and [[Zamindar|Estates]]. He led the construction of a new palace called ‘Moti Mahal’ and new robust bridges upon the regional rivers Kolab and Indravati. This also proved to be an economic merit for the local population as it provided them employment.

Apparently, the liberal king donated considerable amounts for the construction of [[Victoria Memorial, Kolkata|Victoria Memorial]] in [[Kolkata]] and to Victoria Caste and Ghosh hospital. He also donated to the [[Indian famine of 1899–1900]] Relief Fund and to the [[First Boer War|Transval War]] Fund.{{sfn|Vadivelu|1958|p=75}} His education proved vital in improving the status of his kingdom and he was formally awarded the title of "[[Maharaja|Maharajah]]" by the British, although it was used "informally" by his ancestors. He also received the distinction of a Knight Commander (KCIE) under the [[Order of the Indian Empire]] along with the style of ‘[[Highness]]’ conferred upon him and his descendants. In 1901, he was invited to Madras by [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|Lord Curzon]], the then Viceroy of India and Sir [[Arthur Havelock]], Governor of Madras.{{sfn|Vadivelu|1958|p=74}}

===Expansion of territories===
When Vikram Dev took up the mantle the territories of Jeypore Samasthanam measured at 12,000 square miles. However, the king further expanded the dominion of his kingdom by purchasing the zamindaris of [[Pachipenta]] and [[Madugula]] in the year 1910 and henceforth the limits of the kingdom was extended down to the Ghat near Itikavalsa. However, half of the Madugula zamindari was retained by the Estate Queen and was relinquished by her in 1928 after a court order ruled in the favour of Maharajah Ram Chandra Dev IV. Due to these administrative measures, the territories of Jeypore were expanded to 15,000 square miles.{{sfn|Taradatt|2008|p=49}}

===Contribution in the First World War===
Sir Vikram Dev provided essential financial aid to the British in the [[First World War]]. He donated an amount of one [[lakh]] [[Indian rupee|Indian rupees]] to the [[World War I|First World War]] Fund and a thousand rupees every month till the end of the war. His only son Prince Ramchandra Dev IV was awarded the rank of a Lieutenant. He also contributed 25,000 for a fighter plane to be named after Jeypore. Apparently, keeping these aids in regard the British government named a street in London as ‘Jeypore Road’.{{sfn|Taradatt|2008|p=49}}

==Death and legacy==
Vikram Dev III died in 1920 at the age of 46 and was succeeded by his only son Maharajah Ram Chandra Dev IV. In 1926, the then governor of Madras, Viscount [[George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen|George Goschen]] along with the Lady Viscount inaugurated the statue of Maharajah Vikram Dev III in the premises of Surya Mahal palace.{{sfn|Taradatt|2008|p=49}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}
===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |author=Dr Tara Dutt|title= Odisha District Gazetteers: Nabarangapur|url=http://www.gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Nabarangapur_Gazetteer.pdf|year=2015 |publisher=Government of Odisha |isbn=978-81-86772-17-1}}
* {{cite book |author=A Vadivelu |title=The Aristocracy of Southern India|year=1955 |publisher=Sunanda books pvt ltd.|ref={{sfnref|Vadivelu1903}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vikram Dev III}}
[[Category:Indian maharajas]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:1874 births]]
[[Category:1920 deaths]]

Vikram Dev III - Revision history

imported>Odiahistory: Better phrasing