Kolhapur State or Kolhapur Kingdom (1710–1949) was a

Maratha The Marathi people (Marathi: मराठी लोक) or Marathis are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are indigenous to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language. Maharashtra was formed as a ...

princely State A princely state (also called native state or Indian state) was a nominally sovereign entity of the British Indian Empire that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule, subject to ...

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

, under the

Deccan Division The Deccan States Agency, also known as the Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency, was a political agency of British India, managing the relations of the British government of the Bombay Presidency with a collection of princely states a ...

of the

Bombay Presidency The Bombay Presidency or Bombay Province, also called Bombay and Sind (1843–1936), was an administrative subdivision (province) of British India, with its capital in the city that came up over the seven islands of Bombay. The first mainl ...

, and later the Deccan States Agency. It was considered the most important of the Maratha principalities with the others being

Baroda State Baroda State was a state in present-day Gujarat, ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty of the Maratha Confederacy from its formation in 1721 until its Instrument of Accession, accession to the newly formed Dominion of India in 1949. With the city of Ba ...

Gwalior State Gwalior state was a semi-autonomous Maratha state. It was centred in modern-day Madhya Pradesh, arising due to the rise of the Maratha Empire and fragmentation of the Mughal Empire. It was ruled by the House of Scindia (anglicized from Shinde ...

and

Indore State Indore State, also known as Holkar State, was a kingdom in India. Its rulers belonged to the Holkar dynasty. After 1857, Indore became a 19-gun salute Maratha princely state (a rare high rank) under the British Raj. Indore state was ...

. Its rulers, of the Bhonsle dynasty, were entitled to a 19-gun salute – thus

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarter of the Kolhapur district. In, around 2 C.E. Kolapur's name was 'Kuntal'. Kolhapur is k ...

was also known as a 19-gun state. The state flag was a swallow-tailed saffron pennant. Kolhapur New Palace

Kolhapur State, together with its ''

jagir A jagir ( fa, , translit=Jāgir), also spelled as jageer, was a type of feudal land grant in the Indian subcontinent at the foundation of its Jagirdar (Zamindar) system. It developed during the Islamic rule era of the Indian subcontinent, start ...

s'' or feudatory vassal estates (including Ichalkaranji), covered an area of 3,165 square miles (8,200 km²). According to the 1901 census, the state population was 910,011, of which 54,373 resided in Kolhapur Town. In 1901, the state enjoyed an estimated revenue of £300,000.

History

The

Maharaja Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great Monarch, king" or "high king". A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Em ...

s of Kolhapur have a common ancestry with the Bhonsle dynasty of Satara, being direct descendants of the

King

Shivaji Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adi ...

. The states of Satara and Kolhapur came into being in 1707, because of the succession dispute over the Maratha throne. Shahuji, the heir apparent to the Maratha kingdom, captured by the

Mughals The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...

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 The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern Indian confederation that came to dominate much of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Maratha rule formally began in 1674 with the coronation of S ...

, in 1689. The Dowager Maharani

Tarabai Tarabai Bhosale (Pronunciation: ̪aːɾabaːi ''née'' Mohite) was the regent of the Maratha Empire of India from 1700 until 1708. She was the queen of Rajaram Bhonsale, and daughter-in-law of the empire's founder Shivaji. She is acclaimed ...

(widow of

Rajaram I Rajaram Bhosle I (Pronunciation: �aːd͡ʒaɾaːm – 3 March 1700) was the third '' Chhatrapati'' of Maratha Empire, who ruled from 1689 to his death in 1700. He was the second son of the Shivaji, the founder of the empire and younger ha ...

) 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 Rajasbai, the other widow of Rajaram. She installed her own son,

Sambhaji II Sambhaji II or Sambhaji I of Kolhapur (1698 - 18 December 1760) was a Raja of Kolhapur from Bhonsle dynasty. He was a grandson of Shivaji and the second son of Chhatrapati Rajaram with his second wife, Rajasbai. After defeat by Shahu, Sambha ...

as the new ruler of Kolhapur.In early years of his rule, Sambhaji made alliance with the

Nizam The Nizams were the rulers of Hyderabad from the 18th through the 20th century. Nizam of Hyderabad (Niẓām ul-Mulk, also known as Asaf Jah) was the title of the monarch of the Hyderabad State ( divided between the state of Telangana, Mar ...

to wrest the Maratha kingdom from his cousin, Shahuji. The defeat of the Nizam by

Bajirao I Baji Rao I (18 August 1700 – 28 April 1740), born as Visaji, also known as Bajirao Ballal (Pronunciation: ad͡ʒiɾaːʋ bəlːaːɭ, was the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. During his 20-year tenure as a Peshwa, he defeated Nizam-ul ...

in the

Battle of Palkhed The Battle of Palkhed was fought on February 28, 1728 at the village of Palkhed, near the city of Nashik, Maharashtra, India between the Maratha Empire and the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I of Hyderabad wherein, the Marathas defeated the Nizam. B ...

in 1728 led to the former ending his support for Sambhaji. Sambhaji II signed the Treaty of Warna in 1731 with his cousin Shahuji to formalize the two separate seats of Bhonsle family. The British sent expeditions against Kolhapur in 1765 and 1792; Kolhapur entered into treaty relations with the British, after the collapse of the Maratha confederacy in 1812. In the early years of the 19th century the British invaded again, and appointed a political officer to temporarily manage the state. A

regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state ''pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy, ...

called Daji Krishna Pandit was installed by the British to govern the state in 1843 at a time when the natural heir to the throne was underage. He took direction from a political agent of the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Sout ...

and among their actions were reforms to the tax of land. These reforms caused much resentment and, despite Kolhapur having refrained from involvement in the previous Anglo-Maratha Wars, a revolt against the British began in 1844. The rebellion began with soldiers locking themselves into hill-forts such as those as Panhala and

Vishalgad Vishalgad (also called Vishalgarh, Khelna or Khilna) was a jagir during the Maratha Empire and then later part of the Deccan States Agency of the British Raj. It was governed by Deshastha Brahmins, who were feudatories of Kolhapur State. Fort A ...

, and then spread to Kolhapur itself. Both the regent and the political agent were captured by the militia forces led by Babaji Ahirekar. The last ruler of Kolhapur was Maharaja Shahaji II. After Indian

independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the s ...

in 1947, Kolhapur acceded to the

Dominion of India The Dominion of India, officially the Union of India,* Quote: “The first collective use (of the word "dominion") occurred at the Colonial Conference (April to May 1907) when the title was conferred upon Canada and Australia. New Zealand and N ...

on 14 August 1947 and merged into

Bombay State Bombay State was a large Indian state created at the time of India's Independence, with other regions being added to it in the succeeding years. Bombay Presidency (roughly equating to the present-day Indian state of Maharashtra, excluding S ...

on 1 March 1949. In 1960 Bombay state was divided by languages into the states of Maharashtra and

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...

. The boundaries of former Kolhapur state correspond very closely with those of modern-day Kolhapur district in Maharashtra state.

Rulers of Kolhapur

Rajas

*1710 – 2 Aug 1714 Shivaji II (b. 1696 – d. 1726) *2 Aug 1714 – 18 Dec 1760

(b. 1698 – d. 1760) *20 Dec 1760 – 17 Feb 1773 '' Rani Jiji Bai (f) – Regent(b. 1716 – d. 1773)'' *22 Sep 1762 – 24 Apr 1813 Shivaji III(b. 1756 – d. 1813) *24 Apr 1813 – 2 Jul 1821 Sambhaji III (b. 1801 – d. 1821) *2 Jul 1821 – 3 Jan 1822 Shivaji IV (b. 1816 – d. 1822) *2 Jul 1821 – 3 Jan 1822 '' Shahaji -Regent (b. 1802 – d. 1838)'' *3 Jan 1822 – 29 Nov 1838 Shahaji *29 Nov 1838 – 4 Aug 1866 Shivaji V (b. 1830 – d. 1866) *29 Nov 1838 – 1845 Rani '' Sai Bai (f) -Regent (d. 1861)'' *4 Aug 1866 – 30 Nov 1870 Rajaram II Nagaji Rao (b. 1850 – d. 1870) *30 Nov 1870 – 12 Oct 1871 '' Rani Tara Bai (f) – Regent (b. 1855 – d. 1874)'' *12 Oct 1871 – 25 Dec 1883 Shivaji VI Chhatrapati Narayana Rao (b. 1863 – d. 1883) *25 Dec 1883 – 17 Mar 1884 '' Rani Anand Bai (f) – Regent'' *17 Mar 1884 – 1900 Shahu Chhatrapati Jashwant (b. 1874 – ''see below'')

Maharajas

*17 Mar 1884 – 20 Mar 1885 '' Jaisinhrao Ghatge - Regent'' *1900 – 6 May 1922 Shahu Chhatrapati (''see above''; d. 1922) *6 May 1922 – 26 Nov 1940

Rajaram III Rajaram III (31 July 1897 – 26 November 1940) of the Bhonsle dynasty, was Maharaja of Kolhapur from 1922–1940, succeeding his father Maharaja Shahu. A benevolent ruler, he was instrumental in the uplifting of the dalits and depressed caste ...

Chhatrapati (b. 1897 – d. 1940) *26 Nov 1940 – 18 Nov 1942 '' Tara Bai (f) -Regent (1st time) (b. 1904 – d. ....)'' *18 Nov 1942 – 28 Sep 1946 Shivaji VII Chhatrapati (b. 1941 – d. 1946) *22 Nov 1942 – 31 Mar 1947 '' Tara Bai (f) -Regent (2nd time) (s.a.)'' *31 Mar 1947 – 14 Aug 1947 Shahaji II Chhatrapati (b. 1910 – d. 1983)

Titular Maharajas

*15 Aug 1947 – 9 May 1983 Shahaji II *1983 – present

Shahu II Shahu Bhonsle II (1763 – 3 May 1808 CE) was the titular Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. A member of the Bhonsle clan, he was succeeded by his son Pratap Singh, Raja of Satara Shahu was nominal ruler in Maratha Empire. During his reign, th ...

Family tree

*Babaaji Bhonsle ** Maloji Bhosale (1552–1606/20/22) ***

Shahaji Bhonsle Shahaji Bhonsale (Pronunciation: �əɦad͡ʒiː c. 1594 – 1664) was a military leader of India in the 17th century, who served the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the Bijapur Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire at various points in his career. As a membe ...

(c.1594–1664) **** Simple gold crown

SHIVAJI Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adi ...

The king of the Maratha Kingdom (c.1630–1680; Emperor: 1674–1680) ***** Simple gold crown

Sambhaji, King of the Maratha kingdom (1657–1689; r. 1680–1689) ***** Simple gold crown

Rajaram Rajaram or Raja Ram is one of the Indian names: * Several Chhatrapatis, leaders of the Maratha Empire in India ** Rajaram I (1670–1700), younger son of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji, ruled 1689–1700 ** Rajaram II of Satara, putative grand ...

, King of the Maratha Kingdom (1670–1700; r. 1689–1700) ****** Simple silver crown

I. Shivaji II, Raja of Kolhapur (1696–1726; Raja of Kolhapur: 1710–1714) ****** Simple silver crown

II.

, Raja of Kolhapur (1698–1760; r. 1714–1760) *** Sharifjirao **** Trimbukjirao ***** Venkatjirao ****** Mankojirao ******* Shahajirao ******** Simple silver crown

III. Shivaji III, Raja of Kolhapur (1756–1813; r. 1762–1813) ********* Simple silver crown

IV. Sambhaji III, Raja of Kolhapur (1801–1821; r. 1813–1821) ********** Simple silver crown

V. Shivaji IV, Raja of Kolhapur (1816–1822; r. 1821–1822) ********* Simple silver crown

VI. Shahaji I, Raja of Kolhapur (1802–1838; r. 1822–1838) ********** Simple silver crown

VII. Shivaji V, Raja of Kolhapur KCSI (1830–1866; r. 1838–1866) **********Shrimati Akhand Soubhagyavati Aubai Patankar m. (1845) Shrimant Sardar Ramchandrarao Patankar, Patil of Patan *********** Simple silver crown

VIII. Rajaram II, Raja of Kolhapur (1850–1870; r. 1866–1870) ********** Shrimati Akhand Soubhagyavati Balabai Maharaj Ghatge (d. 1867), m. (1848) Meherban Shrimant Chiranjiva Rajashri Narayanrao Ghatge, Sarjerao, Chief of Kagal Junior (c. 1833–1881) *********** HH Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Jaisinhrao Ghatge, Sarjerao, Vazarat, Ma-ab, Chief of Kagal Senior (1857–1885) m. (2nd; 1878) Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Radhabai Sahib Ghatge ************ Simple silver crown

X. Shahu I, Maharaja of Kolhapur GCSI, GCIE, GCVO (1874–1922; r. 1884–1922; Raja of Kolhapur: 1884; Maharaja of Kolhapur: 1900) *************HH Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Radhabai Maharaj Puar, Maharani of Dewas Senior (1894–1973) m. (1908) HH Tukojirao III, Maharaja of Dewas Senior KCSI (1888–1937) ************** Simple silver crown

XIII. Shahaji II, Maharaja of Dewas Senior, Maharaja of Kolhapur GCSI (1910–1983; Maharaja of Dewas Senior: 1937–1947; Maharaja of Kolhapur: 1947–1949; titular ruler: 1949–1971; family head: 1971–1983) *************** Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharajkumari Shaliniraje Sahib Maharaj Bhonsle (b. 1929) m. (1945) Shrijut Raje Rajaramsinhrao Laxmanrao Bhonsle (d. 1970) **************** XIV.

, Maharaja of Kolhapur (b. 1948; family head: 1983–present) ************* Simple silver crown

XI.

, Maharaja of Kolhapur GCSI, GCIE (1897–1940; r. 1922–1940) ********Sambhajirao ********* Ramchandrarao ********** Narayanjirao *********** Dinkarrao (b. 1832) ************ Simple silver crown

IX. Shivaji VI, Raja of Kolhapur KCSI (1863-1883; r. 1871-1883) ******** Swarupjirao ********* Mankojirao ********** Yashwantrao (1832–1884) *********** Appa Sahib ************ Shivajirao ************* Shankarrao (b. 1922) ************** Simple silver crown

XII. Shivaji VII, Maharaja of Kolhapur (1941–1946; r. 1941–1946)

Feudatory Jagirs

There were Eleven Feudatory Jagirdars of Kolhapur. They all paid Nazar on succession equal to a year's net income of their Jagirs and also an annual contribution towards the maintenance of military force. They are: * Vishalgad * Bavda * Kagal (Senior) * Kagal (Junior) * Kapshi * Torgal * Ichalkaranji * Himmat Bahadur * SarLashkar Bahadur * Shahi Sarnobat * Raovishvasrao

References

External links

*
Mumbai and Princely States Heraldry
{{Coord, 16, 41, N, 74, 14, E, region:IN-KN_type:city_source:kolossus-cawiki, display=title Princely states of Maharashtra Kolhapur History of Maharashtra States and territories established in 1710 States and territories disestablished in 1949 Maratha Empire 1710 establishments in India 1949 disestablishments in India