Chhatrapati is a royal title from the Indian subcontinent. The word ‘Chhatrapati’ is a Sanskrit language compound word (tatpurusha in Sanskrit) of chhatra (parasol or umbrella) and pati (master/lord/ruler).[1] Chhatrapati means King of kings/Emperor (राजाधिराज).This title was used by the House of Bhonsle. It is considered to be the equivalent of an emperor, a sovereign and a symbolic representation of the protector of people.[citation needed]
The title "Chhatrapati" was created by Shivaji upon his coronation, and this was also held by his immediate successors, namely Sambhaji, Rajaram, and Shahu. After the death of Shahu, however, the increasing power of the Peshwas reduced his successors to a nominal position although they continue to use the title to this day.[citation needed]
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 Empire, 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.
Portrait | Chhatrapati | Birth | Reign | Death |
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Shivaji | 19 February 1630[3] | 1674 – 1680 | 3 April 1680 |
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Sambhaji | 14 May 1657 | 16 January 1681 – 11 March 1689 | 11 March 1689 |
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Rajaram I | 24 February 1670 | 11 March 1689 – 3 March 1700 | 3 March 1700 |
Shivaji II | 9 June 1696 | 1700 – 1707, 1710 – 1714 (Kolhapur State) | 14 March 1726 | |
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Shahu I | 18 May 1682 | 12 January 1707 – 15 December 1749 | 15 December 1749 |
Chhatrapatis of Satara
This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of Satara.[4]
Portrait | Chhatrapati | Birth | Reign | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
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Shahu I | 18 May 1682 | 12 January 1707 – 15 December 1749 | 15 December 1749 |
Rajaram II | June 1726 | 15 December 1749 – 11 December 1777 | 11 December 1777 | |
Shahu II | 1763 | 11 December 1777 – 3 May 1808 | 3 May 1808 | |
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Pratapsingh | 18 January 1793 | 1818 – 5 September 1839 | 14 October 1847 |
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Shahaji | 1802 | 5 September 1839 – 5 April 1848 | 5 April 1848 |
Venkataji | 1848 – 1864 | |||
Pratapsinha II / Rajaram II | 1865 – 1874 | |||
Rajaram III | 1874 – 1904 | |||
Anna Sahib | 1904 – 1919 | |||
Bhav Sahib / Bhausaheb | 1914 – 1925 | |||
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Shahu III | 1925 – 1950 | ||
Pratapsingh III | 1950 – ? | |||
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Udayanraje | 24 February 1966 | ? – present |
Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur
This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur.[4]
Portrait | Chhatrapati | Birth | Reign | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shivaji II | 9 June 1696 | 1700 – 1707, 1710 – 1714 (Kolhapur State) | 14 March 1726 | |
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Sambhaji II | 1698 | 1714 – 1760 | 18 December 1760 |
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Shivaji III | 1756 | 22 September 1762 – 24 April 1813 | 24 April 1813 |
Sambhaji III | 1801 | 24 April 1813 – 2 July 1821 | 2 July 1821 | |
Shivaji IV | 1816 | July 02 1821 – Jan 03 1822 | January 03, 1822 | |
Shahaji I | 22 January 1802 | 3 January 1822 – 29 November 1838 | 29 November 1838 | |
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Shivaji V | 26 December 1830 | 1838 – 1866 | 4 August 1866 |
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Rajaram II | April 13, 1850 | August 18, 1866 – November 30, 1870 | November 30, 1870 |
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Shivaji VI | April 05, 1863 | 1871 – 1883 | December 25, 1883 |
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Shahu IV (overall) Shahu I of Kolhapur |
26 June 1874 | 2 April 1894 – 6 May 1922 | 6 May 1922 |
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Rajaram III | 31 July 1897 | 1922 – 1940 | 26 November 1940 |
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Shivaji VII | 22 November 1941 | 31 December 1941 – 28 September 1946 | 28 September 1946 |
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Shahaji II | 4 April 1910 | 1947 – 1971 | 9 May 1983 |
Shahu V (overall) Shahu II of Kolhapur |
7 January 1948 | 1983 – present |
See also
Notes
- ^ Fairey, Jack; Farrell, Brian P. (2018-06-28). Empire in Asia: A New Global History: From Chinggisid to Qing. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4725-9123-4.
- ^ Sailendra., Sen (2013-01-01). Textbook of medieval Indian history. Primus Books. ISBN 9789380607344. OCLC 822894456.
- ^ Indu Ramchandani, ed. (2000). Student's Britannica: India (Set of 7 Vols.) 39. Popular Prakashan. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-85229-760-5.
- ^ a b Maheshwari, K.K. & K.W. Wiggins (1989). Maratha Mints and Coinage, Nashik: Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies, pp.205–6
- ^ "The Marathas: Post Shahu Chatrapatis of Satara".
References
- ^ V.S. Kadam, 1993. Maratha Confederacy: A Study in its Origin and Development. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi.
- D.B. Kasar, Rigveda to Rajgarh – Making of Shivaji the Great. Manudevi Prakashan, Mumbai.