Bhonsle
The
Bhonsle or
Bhonsale were a prominent
Maratha clan who served as rulers of several states in
India .
The most prominent member of the clan was
Sivaji, the founder of the
Maratha empire. His successors ruled as maharajas from their capital at
Satara, although
de facto rule of the empire passed to the
Peshwas, the Marathas' hereditary chief ministers, during the reign of Shahu I.
In addition to the Bhonsle Maharajas of Satara, rulers of the Bhonsle clan established themselves at
Thanjavur in
Tamil Nadu in the 17th century, and at
Nagpur and
Kolhapur in modern-day
Maharashtra in the 18th century. The Bhonsle of Thanjavur were descendants of Sivaji's half-brother
Venkaji, while the Bhonsle of Satara and Kolhapur were descended from Sivaji's sons,
Sambhaji and
Rajaram.
After the
British defeat of the Marathas in the
Third Anglo-Maratha War in
1818, the Marathas were forced to accept British rule. The four Bhonsle dynasties continued as rulers of their
princely states, acknowledging British sovereignty while retaining local autonomy. The states of Nagpur, Thanjavur, and Satara came under direct British rule in the mid-nineteenth century when their rulers died without male heirs; Kolhapur continued as a princely state until India's independence in
1947, when the rulers acceded to the Indian government.
Majarajas of Satara
*
Shivaji I (leader from 1655, Maharaja 1674-1680)
*
Sambhaji I (1680-1689). Eldest son of Shivaji I.
*
Rajaram (1689-1700). Younger son of Shivaji I.
*
Tarabai (regent 1700-1708). Wife of Rajaram.
*
Shahu I (1708-1749). Son of Sambhaji I.
*
Ramaraja (1749-1777). Grandson of Rajaram and Tarabai; adopted son of Shahu I.
*
Shahu II (1777-1808). Son of Ramaraja.
*
Pratap Singh (1808-1839)
*
Shahji Raja (1839-1848)
* 1848 to
Great BritainMaharajas of Thanjavur
* Venkaji (1674-1686)
* Shahji (1686-1711)
* Sarabhoji I (1711-1727)
* Tukoji (1727-1735)
* Bava Sahib (1735-1736)
*
Maharani Sujana Bai (1736-1738)
* Sawai Shahji (1738)
* Sayaji (1738-1739)
* Pratap Singh (1739-1763)
* Tusalji (1763-1787)
* Amar Singh (1787-1798)
* Sarabhoji II (1798-1824)
* Shivaji (1824-1855)
* 1855 to Great Britain
Maharajas of Kolhapur
* Shivaji I (1700-1712)
* Shambhoji (1712-1760)
* Sivaji II (1760-1812)
* Shambhu (1812-1821)
* Shahoji I (1821-1837)
* Shivaji III (1837-1866)
* Rajaram I (1866-1870)
* Shivaji IV (1870-1883)
*
Shahu Maharaj (1883-1922)
* Rajaram II (1922-1940)
* British rule (1940-1942)
* Shivaji V (1942-1947)
* Shahoji II (1947-1949)
* 1948 to India
Maharajas of Nagpur
* Raghoji I (1738-1755)
* Janoji (1755-1772)
* Mudhoji I (1772-1788)
* Raghuji II (1788-1816)
* Mudhoji II (1816-1818)
* Raghoji III (1818-1853)
* 1853 to Great Britain
