Bhonsle
Encyclopedia
The Bhonsle were a prominent clan within the Maratha clan system
who served as rulers of several states in India.
The most prominent member of the clan was Shivaji, 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 Peshwa
s, the Marathas' hereditary chief ministers, during the reign of Shahu I. In addition to the Bhosle Maharajas of Satara, rulers of the Bhosle clan established themselves at Nagpur
and Kolhapur in modern-day Maharashtra
in the 18th century. The Bhosle of Thanjavur were descendants of Shivaji's stepbrother Venkoji, while the Bhosle of Satara and Kolhapur were descended from Shivaji'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 state
s, 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 state
until India's independence in 1947, when the rulers acceded to the Indian government.
clan of Rajput
s. According to this theory, Shivaji's original ancestors had migrated from Mewar to Deccan. Some local Brahmin
s doubted his Kshatriya
Rajput ancestry, but the prominent Pandit Gaga Bhatt
of Varanasi presented a genealogy declaring that Shivaji's ancestors were Kshatriya
s descended from the solar line
of the Rajput Rana
s of Mewar
.
Some of the historical accounts stating that Shahaji and Shivaji were of Rajput descent include:
James Tod
and Ojha, who had access to the Rajput records, claimed that as per those records there is a mention of the Bhosles descending from Ajay Singh, the uncle of Vir Hammir. The lineage is follows:
The claimed Rajput origin of the Bhonsle has been contested by academics such as Sir Jadunath Sarkar
, and the controversy noted to date back to at least the coronation of Shivaji, taken as a de facto recognition of Shivaji's kshatriya-hood by the Brahmins who invested him.. Jadunath Sarkar opinion has been however refuted by Prominent Maratha Scholar DR Balkrishna , according to Balkrishna, Sarkar considers 91-Qalmi bakhar a work of post 1760s as a contemporary work however Sarkar suggestion has been refuted by many noted scholars including DR S.N Sen who consider 91-qalmi bakhar as a modern work . 91 qalmi bakhar is considered the earliest book which refers to Shivaji shudra origin however the book has been criticized by many noted scholars as being a late and irreliable work by VK Rajwade, Dr Balkrishna and DR S.N Sen.. However historians like Jadunath Sarkar and A R Kulkarnee consider it as a contemporary work, VK Rajwade consider it a later work with glowing inaccuracies such as mentioning only one sack of surat and Carnatic expedition before Coronation of shivaji.
Maratha clan system
The Marāthā clan system refers to the network of families and surnames within the Maratha culture of India. The Maratha primarily reside in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa and Tamilnadu...
who served as rulers of several states in India.
The most prominent member of the clan was Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
. His successors ruled as maharajas from their capital at Satara
Satara
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
, although de facto rule of the empire passed to the Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
s, the Marathas' hereditary chief ministers, during the reign of Shahu I. In addition to the Bhosle Maharajas of Satara, rulers of the Bhosle clan established themselves at Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
and Kolhapur in modern-day Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
in the 18th century. The Bhosle of Thanjavur were descendants of Shivaji's stepbrother Venkoji, while the Bhosle of Satara and Kolhapur were descended from Shivaji's sons, Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
and Rajaram.
After the British defeat of the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War
Third Anglo-Maratha War
The Third Anglo-Maratha War was the final and decisive conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. The war left the Company in control of most of India. It began with an invasion of Maratha territory by 110,400 British East India Company troops, the largest...
in 1818, the Marathas were forced to accept British rule. The four Bhonsle dynasties continued as rulers of their princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
s, 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 state
Kolhapur (princely state)
Kolhapur State was a princely State of British India, under the Deccan Division of the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. It was considered the fourth most important Mahratta principalities, the other three being Baroda State, Gwalior State and Indore State...
until India's independence in 1947, when the rulers acceded to the Indian government.
Origin
Shivaji's grandfather Maloji Bhonsle claimed descent from the SisodiaSisodia
The Sisodia are Chattari Rajputs of the Suryavanshi lineage who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. Prior to Rana Hamir the clan was known as Gehlot or Guhilot. In 1303 CE Alla-ud-din Khilji attacked Chittor...
clan of Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s. According to this theory, Shivaji's original ancestors had migrated from Mewar to Deccan. Some local Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s doubted his Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
Rajput ancestry, but the prominent Pandit Gaga Bhatt
Pandit Gaga Bhatt
Pandit Gaga Bhatt was a Brahmin from Varanasi, best known for presiding over the coronation of the Maratha king Shivaji.Gaga Bhatt was renowned as Vedonarayana...
of Varanasi presented a genealogy declaring that Shivaji's ancestors were Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s descended from the solar line
Suryavansha
The Sooryavamsham or Suryavansh or Suryavamsa or Sun Dynasty or Solar Dynasty was one of the most prominent dynasties in the mythical history of India, along with the "Chandra-vaṃśa" or Lunar Dynasty.-Introduction:...
of the Rajput Rana
Rana
Rana may refer to:In education:* Rana Institute of Higher Education, AfghanistanIn entertainment and sports:* Rana , forthcoming Indian film* Moon , the moon Rána in Tolkien's Middle-earth...
s of Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
.
Some of the historical accounts stating that Shahaji and Shivaji were of Rajput descent include:
- Radha Madhava Vilasa Champu of poet Jayarama (written in the court of Shahaji at Banglur, 1654) describes the Bhonsles as the descendants from the Sisodias of Chittor. Jayaramas poetry was composed much before Shivajis coronation. In a poem on Shahaji, Jayarama mentions that Shahaji was descended from Dalip (or Dilip Singh) born in the family of the Rana who was the foremost among all kings of the earth. This Dalip was a grandson of Lakshmanasen, Rana of Chittor, who came to the throne in 1303 CE.
- Shivabharata of Paramananda mentions that Shivaji and Shahji are of the IkshvakuIkshvakuIkshvaku pāli: Okkāka) was the first king of the Ikshvaku dynasty and founder of the Solar Dynasty of Kshatriyas in Vedic civilization in ancient India.-In Hinduism:He is remembered in Hindu scriptures as a righteous and glorious king...
lineage like the Sisodiyas. - Parnalaparvata Grahanakhyana states that Shivaji is a Sisodia
- Bhushan the Hindi poet speaks of the Bhosales being Rajput
- Shahji in his letter to the Sultan Adilshah states he is a Rajput
- The Mughal historian Khafi Khan describes Shivaji as a descendent of the Ranas of Chittor. Khafi Khan was a very harsh critic of Shivaji, and wrote accounts condemming Shivaji to hell. He claimed that though Shivaji's ancestors did come from the family of Ranas of Chittor, they descended through an illegitimate offspring Dilip Singh.
- An intelligence dispatch of the East India CompanyEast India CompanyThe East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
dated 28 November 1659 reports: "Sevagy (Shivaji), a great rashpoote (Rajput) issues forth from his fort Rayguhr (Raigad) to strike blows on the Emperor, Duccan, Golconda and the Portuguese.”
- According to James MillJames MillJames Mill was a Scottish historian, economist, political theorist, and philosopher. He was a founder of classical economics, together with David Ricardo, and the father of influential philosopher of classical liberalism, John Stuart Mill.-Life:Mill was born at Northwater Bridge, in the parish of...
in 1817 "Malojee was the son of Bauga Bonsla, a son of the Rana of Odipoor, by a woman of an inferior caste. The degradation of Bauga Bonsla, from the impurity and baseness of his birth, drove him to seek, among strangers, that respect which he was denied at home. He served during a part of his life a Rajah, possessing a Zemindaree in the province of Candesh; and afterwards purchased for himself a Zemindaree in the neighbourhood of Poonah, where he resided till his death. His son Malojee entered the service of a Mah- ratta chief, in which he acquired so much distinction as to obtain the daughter of his master in marriage for his son. This son was Shajee, and Sevagee was the fruit of the marriage. But Shajee, having quarrelled with his father-in-law, re- paired to the King of Beejapore, and received an establishment in Carnatic. He here joined the Polygar of Mudkul in a war upon the Rajah of Tanjore; and having defeated the Rajah, the victors quarrelled about the division of the territory. Shajee defeated the Polygar, took possession of both Mudkul and Tanjore; and, having married another wife, by whom he had a son named Ekojee, he left him and his posterity Rajahs of Tanjore, till they sunk into dependants of the East India Company."
James Tod
James Tod
Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod was an English officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar.Tod was born in London and educated in Scotland, later joining the East India Company as a military officer. He travelled to India in 1799 as a cadet in the Bengal Army where he rose...
and Ojha, who had access to the Rajput records, claimed that as per those records there is a mention of the Bhosles descending from Ajay Singh, the uncle of Vir Hammir. The lineage is follows:
- Rana Ajay Singh of Mewar
- Rana Sujjan Singh (Sajjan Singh)
- Dilapee Singh (Dilip Singh)
- Sidhoji
- Bahiroji or Bhosaji
- Devaravji
- Ugrasen
- Shubhrakrushna
- Roopsinhji
- Bhoomindraji
- Dhapaji
- Barahatji
- Kheloji
- Parasoji
- Babaji
- Maloji Bhosle
- Vithoji (Jinjee)
- ShahajiShahajiShahaji Raje Bhosle was an early exponent of guerilla warfare. He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul . He brought the house of Bhosle into prominence. The princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur and Satara are Bhosle legacies...
- Shivaji
- SambhajiSambhajiSambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
- RajaramRajaramRajaram or Raja Ram is one of the Indian names:* Several Chhatrapatis, leaders of the Maratha Empire in India** Rajaram Chhatrapati, ruled 1689–1700** Rajaram II of Satara, putative grandson of Rajaram Chhatrapati, ruled 1749−1777...
The claimed Rajput origin of the Bhonsle has been contested by academics such as Sir Jadunath Sarkar
Jadunath Sarkar
Sir Jadunath Sarkar was a prominent Indian Bengali aristocrat and historian.-Background:Born in Singra, Natore. He was the son of Rajkumar Sarkar, the Zamindar of Karchamaria in Natore in Bengal.-Education:...
, and the controversy noted to date back to at least the coronation of Shivaji, taken as a de facto recognition of Shivaji's kshatriya-hood by the Brahmins who invested him.. Jadunath Sarkar opinion has been however refuted by Prominent Maratha Scholar DR Balkrishna , according to Balkrishna, Sarkar considers 91-Qalmi bakhar a work of post 1760s as a contemporary work however Sarkar suggestion has been refuted by many noted scholars including DR S.N Sen who consider 91-qalmi bakhar as a modern work . 91 qalmi bakhar is considered the earliest book which refers to Shivaji shudra origin however the book has been criticized by many noted scholars as being a late and irreliable work by VK Rajwade, Dr Balkrishna and DR S.N Sen.. However historians like Jadunath Sarkar and A R Kulkarnee consider it as a contemporary work, VK Rajwade consider it a later work with glowing inaccuracies such as mentioning only one sack of surat and Carnatic expedition before Coronation of shivaji.
Satara
- Babaji Bhosle
- Maloji Raje Bhosle
- Shahaji Raje Bhosle
- Chatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle (the Maratha King)
- SambhajiSambhajiSambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
- Shahu I (1708–1749). Son of Sambhaji I.
- Ramaraja (1749–1777). Grandson of Rajaram and Tarabai; adopted son of Shahu I.
- Shahu IIShahu IIShahu II is the present and titular Maharaja of Kolhapur.-Family:Shahu II married Her Highness Maharani Yagyaseniraje on 9 March 1970, the couple have two sons:1...
of Satara (1777–1808). Son of Ramaraja. - Pratapsinh (1808–1839)
- Shahaji III (1839–1848)
- 1848 to Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
- Pratapsinh I (adopted)
- Rajaram III
- Pratapsinh II
- Raja Shahu III (1918–1950)
- Pratapsinhraje (1950–1978)
- Chatrapati Udayanraje Bhonsle (1978 till present)
Kolhapur
- Shivaji II (1700–1714)
- Shambhuji I (1714–1760)
- Shivaji IIIShivaji IIIShivaji III was a Raja of Kolhapur of the Bhonsle dynasty. He ruled from 1838 to 1866. During his reign, he was granted a personal salute of 19 guns with a hereditary salute of 17 guns. He was succeeded by Rajaram I....
(1760–1812) (adopted from the family of Khanwilkar) - Shambhuji II (1812–1821)
- Shahoji I (1821–1837)
- Shivaji IVShivaji IVShivaji IV was a Raja of Kolhapur from 1871 to 1883. A distant relation of the main family line, he was born as Shrimant Narayanrao Dinkarrao Bhonsle, and was adopted at the age of eight by the widow of Rajaram I. Owing to his youth, he reigned under a regency until he had attained his majority...
(1837–1866) - Rajaram IRajaram IRajaram I was a Raja of Kolhapur from 17 August 1866 to 30 November 1870. During his reign, the gun salute of the state was increased from 17 to 19 guns. The first of his line to travel abroad, he died aged 20 in Florence, Italy and was cremated on the banks of the Arno River by special...
(1866–1870) (adopted from the family of Patankar) - Shivaji VShivaji VShivaji V was the last Maharaja of Kolhapur from the Bhonsle dynasty, reigning from 1941 to 1946. He was from the Satara branch of the Bhonsle dynasty, and had been appointed to the vacant Kolhapur throne from birth, as Rajaram II had only left a daughter...
(1870–1883) - Shahu IV (1883–1922) (adopted from the family of Ghatge)
- Rajaram IIRajaram IIRajaram II was the Maharaja of Kolhapur from 1922–1940, succeeding his father Maharaja Shahu IV. A benevolent ruler, he was instrumental in the uplifting of the dalits and depressed castes in his state...
(1922–1940) - British rule (1940–1942)
- Shivaji VI (1942–1947)
- Shahoji IIShahoji IIShahaji II was Maharaja of Dewas from 1937–1947 and Maharaja of Kolhapur from 1947-1983...
(1947–1949), titular Maharaja 1949-1983 (adopted from the family of Pawar) - 1948 to India
- Shahu IIShahu IIShahu II is the present and titular Maharaja of Kolhapur.-Family:Shahu II married Her Highness Maharani Yagyaseniraje on 9 March 1970, the couple have two sons:1...
as titular Maharaja (1983–present)(adopted from Kadam family of Bande)
Nagpur
The royal Bhosles of Nagpur are closely connected with the Gujar family, and intermarried with them. The last representative of the Bhosla family of Nagpur was of the Gujar clan.- Raghoji IRaghoji I BhonsleRaghoji I Bhonsle was a Maratha general who took control of the Nagpur Kingdom in east-central Indiaduring the reign of Shahu. His successors ruled the kingdom until 1853....
(1738–1755) - Janoji (1755–1772)
- Sabaji (1772–1775)
- Mudhoji I (1775–1788)
- Raghoji IIRaghoji II BhonsleRaghoji II Bhonsle was the Maratha ruler of the Kingdom of Nagpur in Central India from 1788 to 1816.Raghoji was adopted as an infant by his uncle Janoji to be his chosen heir...
(1788–1816) - Parsoji Bhonsle (181-1817)
- Mudhoji IIMudhoji II BhonsleMudhoji II Bhonsle, also known as Appa Sahib, ruled the Kingdom of Nagpur in central India from 1816 to 1818. His reign coincided with the Third Anglo-Maratha War between the Maratha Confederacy and the United Kingdom, which ended with the defeat of the Marathas.On the death of Raghoji II in 1816,...
(1816–1818) - Raghoji III (1818–1853)
- 1853 to Great Britain
- Janoji II (1853–1881) (adopted)
- Raghujideo (1881)
Thanjavur Maratha kingdom
- ShahajiShahajiShahaji Raje Bhosle was an early exponent of guerilla warfare. He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul . He brought the house of Bhosle into prominence. The princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur and Satara are Bhosle legacies...
raje (1594–1664) - Venkoji (1676–1684)Half-Brother of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj
- Shahaji I (1684–1712)
- Sharfoji (1712–1729) Brother of Shahaji I
- Tukoji (1729–1736) Brother of Shahaji I
- Venkoji II (1736–1737)
- Pratapsinh (1737–1763) Brother of Venkoji II
- Tuloji (1763–1787)
- Amarsinh (1793–1798) Brother of Tuloji
- Sarfoji (1787–1832) Son of Tuloji
- Shivaji (1832–1855)
- Sarfoji III (1855)
- Shivaji III
- Pratapsinh III Brother of Shivaji III
- Rajaram
- Shivaji
- Babajiraje
See also
- Shivaji
- Maratha EmpireMaratha EmpireThe Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
- MarathaMarathaThe Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s - Marathi peopleMarathi peopleThe Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
- Maratha clan systemMaratha clan systemThe Marāthā clan system refers to the network of families and surnames within the Maratha culture of India. The Maratha primarily reside in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa and Tamilnadu...