Chhatrapati Explained

Border:federal
Royal Title:Chatrapati
Realm:the Marathas
Native Name:Marāṭhyānche Chatrapatī
Coatofarmscaption:Seal
First Monarch:Shivaji I
Last Monarch:Pratap Singh
Style:His Majesty
Began:1674
Ended:1818
Pretender:Chhatrapati of Kolhapur
Shahu II of Kolhapur (1983–present)
Chhatrapati of Satara
Udayanraje Bhosale (1978–present)

Chhatrapati is a royal title from Sanskrit used to denote a king. The word "Chhatrapati" is a Sanskrit language compound word of chhatra (parasol or umbrella) and pati (master/lord/ruler).[1] This title was used by the House of Bhonsle, between 1674 and 1818, as the heads of state of the Maratha Confederacy.

The states of Satara and Kolhapur came into being in 1707, because of the succession dispute over the royalty. Shahuji, the heir apparent to the Maratha Kingdom, captured by the Mughals at the age of nine, remained their prisoner at the death of his father Sambhaji, the elder son of Shivaji the founder of the Maratha Kingdom, in 1689. The dowager Maharani Tarabai (wife of Rajaram I) proclaimed her son Shivaji II, as Chhatrapati under her regency. The Mughals released Shahu under certain conditions in 1707, and he returned to claim his inheritance. He defeated the regent at the Battle of Khed and established himself at Satara, forcing her to retire with her son to Kolhapur. By 1710 two separate principalities had become an established fact. Shivaji II and Tarabai were soon deposed by the other wife of Rajaram, Rajasbai. She installed her own son, Sambhaji II, as the new ruler of Kolhapur. Sambhaji II signed the Treaty of Warana in 1731 with his cousin Shahuji to formalize the two separate seats of Bhonsle family.[2]

Initial Chhatrapatis

This is the list of the initial Chhatrapatis.

PortraitChhatrapatiBirthReignDeath
Shivaji I 19 February 1630[3] 6 June 1674 – 5 April 16805 April 1680
Sambhaji14 May 165716 January 1681 – 11 March 168911 March 1689
Rajaram I24 February 167011 March 1689 – 3 March 17003 March 1700
Shivaji II9 June 16961700–1707, 1710 – 2 August 1714 (Kolhapur State)14 March 1726
Shahu I18 May 168212 January 1708 – 15 December 174915 December 1749

Chhatrapatis of Satara

This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of Satara.[4]

PortraitChhatrapatiBirthReignDeath
Shahu I18 May 168212 January 1708 – 15 December 174915 December 1749
Rajaram IIJune 172615 December 1749 – 11 December 177711 December 1777
Shahu II176311 December 1777 – 3 May 18083 May 1808
Pratapsingh18 January 17931818 – 5 September 183914 October 1847
Shahaji18025 September 1839 – 5 April 18485 April 1848
Venkatji Bhonsle 1848–18641864
Pratapsinha II / Rajaram II1864–18741 March 1878
Rajaram III1874–19046 July 1907
Anna Sahib1904–19141919
Bhav Sahib / Bhausaheb1914–19257 July 1925
Shahu III1925–195023 February 1960
Pratapsingh III1950–19785 April 1983/1989
Udayanraje24 February 19661978–present
Source:[5]

Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur

This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur.[4]

PortraitChhatrapatiBirthReignDeath
Shivaji II9 June 16961700–1707, 1710–1714 (Kolhapur State)14 March 1726
Sambhaji II16981714–176018 December 1760
Shivaji III1756 22 September 1762 – 24 April 181324 April 1813
Sambhaji III1801 24 April 1813 – 2 July 18212 July 1821
Shivaji IV1816July 02 1821 – Jan 03 1822January 03, 1822
Shahaji I22 January 18023 January 1822 – 29 November 183829 November 1838
Shivaji V26 December 18301838–18664 August 1866
Rajaram IIApril 13, 1850August 18, 1866 – November 30, 1870November 30, 1870
Shivaji VIApril 05, 18631871–1883December 25, 1883
Shahu IV (overall)
Shahu I of Kolhapur
26 June 18742 April 1894 – 6 May 19226 May 1922
Rajaram III31 July 18971922–194026 November 1940
Shivaji VII22 November 194131 December 1941 – 28 September 194628 September 1946
Shahaji II4 April 19101947–19719 May 1983
Shahu V (overall)
Shahu II of Kolhapur
7 January 19481983–present

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Fairey. Jack. Empire in Asia: A New Global History: From Chinggisid to Qing. Farrell. Brian P.. 2018-06-28. Bloomsbury Publishing. 978-1-4725-9123-4. en.
  2. Book: Sailendra, Sen . Textbook of medieval Indian history . 2013-01-01 . Primus Books . 9789380607344. 822894456.
  3. Book: Indu Ramchandani . Student's Britannica: India (Set of 7 Vols.) 39 . 2000 . Popular Prakashan . 978-0-85229-760-5 . 8 .
  4. Maheshwari, K. K. & K. W. Wiggins (1989). Maratha Mints and Coinage, Nashik: Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies, pp. 205–6.
  5. Web site: The Marathas: Post Shahu Chatrapatis of Satara.