Raja Chhatrasal of Panna State appointed Mandhata Chaube as the killedar of fort Kalinjar. His father Gangaram Chaube, a Jujhautiya Brahmin, commanded Chhatrasal when he raised the banner of revolt against the Mughals in Bundelkhand. Mandhata also repelled many Mughal attempts to occupy the fort. Kherandesh Khan, the faujdar of Itawa, attacked Kalinjar in 1701, but could not capture fort because of Mandhata's stiff resistance.[1]
Later Chaube Brahmin officials rose from gentry to nobility. The owners of the first four estates were descendants of Ram Kishan, the former governor of Kalinjar under Raja Hirde Sah of Panna. Ram Kishan Chaube lost the siege of Kalinjar Ali Bahadur I died during the long siege. Later Chaubes occupied the fort and Ram Kishan declared Independence.[citation needed]
In 1862 the jagirdars were granted a sanad of adoption. The rule was that when no heirs were available an estate was split between the other members. The initial nine principalities by 1839 were reduced by two. In 1855 one estate was seized owing to the implication of the ruler in a murder case. In 1864 another principality was extinguished, leaving only five.[2]