A celebration of interfaith friendship

On 26 August 2026, a remarkable bestowing of honours took place, highlighting a deep and enduring bond of mutual respect. His Highness Nawab Syed Kazim Ali Khan, Head of the Rohilla Kingdom of Rampur, bestowed the prestigious Order of Nishan-e-Hamidiya upon HSH Prince Georg-Viktor zu Bentheim und Steinfurt. Additionally, the same high honour was bestowed upon his son, HSH Prince Maximilian Bernd Botho zu Bentheim und Steinfurt. 

HH Sir Raza Ali Khan Bahadur GCIE, KCSI, NH, NI (1908–1966), the last ruling Nawab of Rampur, is remembered as a patron of education, culture, and reform. He served as the Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from December 1947 to February 1966.

The Sate of Rampur was established on 7 October 1774 by Nawab Faizullah Khan, the son of Ali Mohammed Khan, founder of the Kingdom of Rohilkhand, a Jat Muslim by origin, who was adopted and converted by Sardar Daud Khan Barech. It was a prominent 15-gun salute princely state in British India. Known for its rich cultural legacy, the state became a haven for scholars and artists, leading to the creation of the famous Rampur Raza Library. The Nawab family's prominence was widely recognised internationally; during the era of the British Raj, several Nawabs of Rampur received prestigious knighthoods from the British monarch in their capacity as Emperor of India. Nawab Kalb-i-Ali Khan, for example, was knighted as a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI), while later rulers such as Nawab Sir Hamid Ali Khan and Nawab Sir Raza Ali Khan were also awarded grand knighthoods, including the GCSI and the Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE). During Sir Hamid's reign (1889 to 1930), his salute was raised from 13-guns to 15 as a result of Sir Hamid's army seeing distinguished service in the Middle East, Afghanistan and German East Africa during World War I. Sir Raza (reigned 1930-1956) devoted himself to charitable projects and to his post as head of the Freemasons in India as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India. 

Among the chivalric traditions of the Royal House of Rampur is the illustrious Order of Nishan-e-Hamidiya (also known as the Order of Hamid), established in 1894 by Nawab Sir Hamid Ali Khan Bahadur GCSI GCVO GCIE. This order is a distinguished dynastic decoration historically awarded to members of various royal families, representing the rich cultural and historical legacy of the Rampur State.

The recipients of this honour, the Princes of Bentheim, currently hold the esteemed positions of governor and vice governor of the Most Noble Equestrian Order of Saint James. In an aligned gesture of profound admiration, H.H. Nawab Syed Kazim Ali Khan and his sons, H.H Nawabzada Ali Mohammad Khan of Rampur, and H.H Nawabzada Haider Ali Khan of Rampur were also honoured with a knighthood in the Most Noble Equestrian Order of Saint James. 

This mutual bestowing of historic orders is far more than a formal diplomatic gesture; it is a powerful token of interfaith friendship. By aligning the Islamic heritage embodied in the Nishan-e-Hamidiya with the Christian chivalric tradition of the Most Noble Equestrian Order of Saint James, these dynasties are publicly bridging cultural and religious divides. It illustrates that shared values, historic traditions, and mutual respect can foster powerful connections across different belief systems. In doing so, this exchange promotes a vital, unifying message of global harmony and peaceful coexistence.

 

 

Exclusive Interview with H.S.H. the Prince of Bentheim for La Mesa de los Notables.

 

This article in the number one Spanish nobility blog La Mesa de los Notables, features an exclusive interview with H.S.H. Prince Georg zu Bentheim und Steinfurt, exploring his family’s rich aristocratic history and its historical connections to the Iberian Peninsula.

Key takeaways from the interview:

Professional Background: Before assuming his dynastic duties, the Prince worked in the financial sector as a banker in New York, an experience he notes was very different from his current focus on aristocratic history and archives.

Ancestral History: He discusses his 18th-century ancestor, Count Karl Paul Ernst, who was heavily influenced by the French Enlightenment, interacted with figures like Voltaire, and was involved in Freemasonry.

Dutch Royal Ties: The Prince explains his family’s deep genealogical connections to the Dutch royal family, traced primarily through the prominent Houses of Nassau and Waldeck-Pyrmont.

The Counts of Holland and the Order of Santiago: The House of Bentheim und Steinfurt considers itself the legal successor to the Counts of Holland. As part of this legacy, they act as custodians of the Very Noble Equestrian Order of Santiago, a chivalric order founded by Floris V, Count of Holland, in 1290.

• Iberian Military Connections: A major focus of the discussion is the military connection between Northern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. The Prince highlights the participation of Count Willem I of Holland in the siege of Alcácer do Sal in 1217 (during the Fifth Crusade), where Dutch forces fought alongside the Spanish Order of Santiago.

• Call for Research: The Prince issues a public call to historians, researchers, and archivists. He encourages them to explore Spanish, Portuguese, and ecclesiastical archives for undocumented letters, chronicles, or records that could shed more light on the military and chivalric relationships between Northern European knights and the Iberian Christian kingdoms during the 12th and 13th centuries.