This volume looks at the prominent chieftaincies of the suba of Bihar like Kharagpur, Bhojpur, Palamau, Gidhaur, Khokhra, Darbhanga, Champaran (Betia Raj) and Kalyanpur (Hathwa Raj) and presents the biographies of their chieftains to understand their relationship with the Mughal Empire from the period of Akbar to Aurangzeb and their power and position during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It takes into consideration only those zamindars who enjoyed autonomous control over their possessions.

The volume examines the origin and growth of these chieftaincies and the manner of their subjugation as well as the nature of overlordship established by the Mughals over them. It also discusses the career and achievements of the chiefs at the Mughal court, particularly their appointments, awards of mansabs, promotions and so on.

The study is divided into ten chapters including Introduction and Conclusion. After the introduction, the next eight chapters are devoted to the study of chieftaincies. The ninth chapter is related to Hathwa Raj, which also includes a brief study of other chieftaincies like Panchet, Seor, Garhi, Ratanpur, Ramnagar, Ramgarh, Bhagwanpur, Chai and Kahalgaon.

The volume provides a complex portrait of the chieftains of Bihar and their relationship with the Mughal Empire as well as their role in the consolidation and expansion of the Mughal Empire in India.