of Bengal, for assistance in regaining his kingdom in exchange for a large payment. However, the Governor General Warren Hastings rejected the terms and insisted on an agreement by which the Maharaja would pay an annual tribute to the Company in exchange for protection: in effect an agreement to accept the supremacy of the British. The British then sent a regiment commanded by Mr. Paling from Kalikata (Calcutta/Kolkata) who marched through Rangpur towards Mughalhat, joined on their route by Behar forces from all the warlords and the chiefs of North Bengal. After a series of sharp encounters with the Bhutanese forces, the British-Koch coalition force captured the capital (1772) and moved forward into southern Bhutan. Unwilling to go further into the difficult hill country, the British negotiated a peace agreement (25 April 1774) with Bhutan in exchange for surrender of Bihar royal captives, Bhutan agreeing to return to its pre-1730 boundaries, and a symbolic tribute of five horses. The British left a small garrison in Behar, and withdrew the main army to Rangpur. When Dhairjendra Narayan realised that he had exchanged one master for another, and had permanently lost independence of his ancestral land, he abdicated in favour of Dharendra Narayan, who reigned until his death in 1775, when Dhairjendra Narayan resumed the throne (1775–1783) From now on, until the transfer of control to the State of India in 1947, Koch Behar was a princely state subject to overall British Suzerainty. Subsequent princely rulers under the British East India company were Harendra Narayan (1783–1839), followed by Shivendra Narayan (1839–1847) and then by Narendra Narayan (1847–1863). Rulers The rulers of Cooch Behar State held the title of 'Maharaja' from 1884 onwards. They were entitled to a 13 gun salute by the British authorities. The last ruler signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union on 1 January 1950. Rajas 1533 - 1587 Nara Narayan 1587 – 1621 Lakshmi Narayan 1621 – 1626 Bir Narayan 1626 – 1665 Pran Narayan 1665 – 1680 Mad Narayan 1680 – 1682 Basudev Narayan 1682 – 1693 Mahendra Narayan 1693 – 1714/1715 Rup Narayan 1714/1715 – 1763 Upendra Narayana 1763 – 12 August 1765 Debendra Narayana (1759–1765) 1763 – 12 August 1765 .... -Regent 1765 – 1770 Dhairjendra Narayan (1st time) (died 1783) 1770 – 1772 Rajendra Narayan (died 1772) 1770 – 1772 Pensuthma -Bhutanese Regent 1772 Dharendra Narayan (1st time) (died 1775) 1772 –