Bhonsle

The Bhonsle or Bhonsale (pronounced Bhoslay) were a prominent Maratha clan 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 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.

Maharajas 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.
* Pratapsinh (1808-1839)
* Shahaji III (1839-1848)
* 1848 to Great Britain
* Pratapsinh I (adopted)
* Rajaram III
* Pratapsinh II
* Raja Shahu (1918 - 1950)
* Pratapraje (1950-1978)
* Udayanraje Bhonsle (1978 till present)

Maharajas 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) (adopted from the family of Khanwilkar)
* Shambhu (1812-1821)
* Shahoji I (1821-1837)
* Shivaji III (1837-1866)
* Rajaram I (1866-1870) (adopted from the family of Patankar)
* Shivaji IV (1870-1883)
* Shahu IV (1883-1922) (adopted from the family of Ghatge)
* Rajaram II (1922-1940)
* British rule (1940-1942)
* Shivaji V (1942-1947)
* Shahoji II (1947-1949), titular Maharaja 1949-1983 (adopted from the family of Pawar)
* 1948 to India
* Shahu II as titular Maharaja (1983-present)

Maharajas of Nagpur

* Raghoji I (1738-1755)
* Janoji (1755-1772)
* Mudhoji I (1772-1788)
* Raghoji II (1788-1816)
* Mudhoji II (1816-1818)
* Raghoji III (1818-1853)
* 1853 to Great Britain

ee also

* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India4/satara3.htm The Bhonsle Dynasty, GENEALOGY]
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India4/satara.htm Bhosale family history]
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/savant.htm Brief history of Savantwadi royal house]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/mag/2003/02/02/stories/2003020200500800.htm Prince of a secular dynasty]
* [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/t/tanjore.html Tanjore (Princely State)]
* [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/k/kolhapur.html Kolphapur (Princely State)]
* [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/n/nagpur.html Nagpur (Princely State)]