Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala

Bhupinder Singh was born in 1891 and became Maharaja of Patiala at nine in 1900. He was famous for his extravagance: his jewels, including the Patiala Necklace made by Cartier with nearly three thousand diamonds; his Rolls-Royces; his harem; and his palace.

He was also a cricketer who captained the Indian team on its tour of England in 1911 and built a cricket ground in the hills at Chail, the highest in the world. He served in the First World War and was Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes.

He supported Sikh institutions and the Akali Dal at times, but was also accused of oppressing his subjects. He died in 1938.