Pratapsingh of Thanjavur

Pratapsingh or Pratap Singh was the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur from 1739 to 1763. His rise to power followed three years of anarchy and civil war and restored the state to its previous greatness. His reign witnessed the Carnatic Wars and the Seven Years War.

Early life

Pratapsingh was born to Tukkoji, the Raja of Thanjavur and a concubine Annapurna. Initially, he was not expected to rule as he was not a legitimate son of the Raja. However, the early demise of the king's eldest son Ekoji II who died after ruling Thanjavur for a year and a period of anarchy which followed thrust Pratap Singh on the forefront of palace intrigues.

Period of Anarchy 1736–1739

Following Tukkoji's death in 1736, a period of anarchy followed. Ekoji, the king's eldest son and heir apparent succeeded to the throne but died after ruling Thanjavur for a year. However, in spite of his poor health, Ekoji offered a determined resistance to Chanda Sahib who invaded Thanjavur during the former's short reign and forced him to retreat to Tiruchirapalli.

Ekoji died in 1737 succeeded by his wife Sujanbai. Sayyid, the Governor of the Thanjavur Fort, rose into prominence during this period as a kingmaker and actively participated in court intrigues promoting one puppet ruler after another to the throne. He imprisoned Sujanbai in 1738 when the latter questioned his authority.

Shahuji returned in 1738 and ruled for about a year. In February 1739, Chanda Sahib forced Shahuji to cede Karaikal to the French and in April, the Raja confirmed the Grant. In July 1739, Shahuji prevented the French from landing in Karaikal. This resulted in invasion of Thanjavur by Chanda Sahib who captured Shahuji and imprisoned him on the pretext that he was not the actual Shahuji but an impostor. The Dutch East India Company based at Nagapattinam sent home the following report on the events at Thanjavur:

Reign

Pratapsingh ascended the throne in 1739. He was the last ruler of Thanjavur to be referred in the official records of the English East India Company as "His Majesty".

As soon as Pratapsingh ascended the throne he had to contend with the intrigues of the pretender Shahuji in the company of a treacherous Maratha noble Koyaji KattigaiK. R. Subramanian, Pg 48] . It was also evident that the conspirators were in league with SayyidK. R. Subramanian, Pg 49] . So immediately after ascending the throne, Pratapsingh ordered the death of Sayyid.

In 1748, the pretender Shahuji sent an envoy, first to PondicherryK. R. Subramanian, Pg 50] and then to Fort St.David to negotiate terms of alliance with the French East India CompanyK. R. Subramanian, Pg 50] . The British East India Company initially supported Pratapsingh but switched sides when Shahuji offered DevikottaiK. R. Subramanian, Pg 51] . The British sent two expeditions against Devikkottai which was defended by a garrison of 5,000 menK. R. Subramanian, Pg 51] . Their first attempt was a complete failure while the second ended in a truceK. R. Subramanian, Pg 51] . The second expedition was remarkable as the one in which Lawrence and Clive distinguished themselvesK. R. Subramanian, Pg 52] . The War was brought to an end by the treaty of friendship between Pratapsingh and the Company. Devikkottai was made over to the English as per the provisions of the treatyK. R. Subramanian, Pg 52] .

In the early part of his reign, Pratapsingh also had to deal with the imperious attitude of Dost Ali, the Nawab of the Carnatic. Pratapsingh was soon deposed by Dost Ali who took over the administration of Thanjavur. But a Maratha invasion from the north brought about the death of Dost Ali and the restoration of Pratapsingh. The Maratha troops left after making one Murari Rao the ruler of Tiruchirapalli with whom Pratapsingh was in bad terms. Soon afterwards, the Nizam of Hyderabad sent a formidable force to Thanjavur to exact tribute. Two other expeditions forced the Raja into submission.

The third and final expedition of the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1742, resulted in the deposition of Murari Rao and the annexation of Tiruchirapalli. As a result of this campaign, Thanjavur was forced to become a vassal of Hyderabad and pay annual tribute.

The Seven Years War

During the Seven Years War, Pratapsingh supported the English with arms and supplies. At Lawrences' behest, the great Thanjavur general Manoji took Coillady from the French and captured Chanda Sahib and beheaded himK. R. Subramanian, Pg 53] .

However, the confederacy broke when Nanja Raja realized that he had been deceived by Muhammad Ali who had promised to give him Tiruchirapalli as per an early arrangementK. R. Subramanian, Pg 54] . Pratapsingh supported his cause when the French under Dupleix tried to threaten him. Muhammad Ali and Murari Rao forged an alliance with the French.

In 1758, Lally marched to Thanjavur from Karaikal in order to force Thanjavur into subjugation but was repulsed by ManojiK. R. Subramanian, Pg 54] . He had to retreat with an insignificant plunder at Nagore when an English fleet made its appearance off the coast at KaraikalK. R. Subramanian, Pg 54] . The Thanjavur troops supported by a small English contingent harassed the French who eventually succumbed to starvation. The British inflicted a crshing defeat on the French in the siege of Pondicherry in 1761K. R. Subramanian, Pg 55] . This dealt a death-blow to the French power in India.

Loss of Independence

From the onset, the Nawab of Carnatic Muhammad Ali wasn't in good terms with Pratapsingh and desired to annex Thanjavur. However, for the sake of their common interests, Pratapsingh maintained an uneasy alliance with Muhammad Ali. Matters reached a boiling point after the Seven Years War. However, their common ally, the British East India, averted a crisis by stepping in to mediate a truce. The Raja agreed to pay twenty lakhs as arrears and an annual tribute of four lakhs to the Nawab of Carnatic. In return, Coiladdy and Yelengadu were ceded to Thanjavur. Notwithstanding allegations of partiality on part of the British, this treaty practically ended Thanjavur's independence.

Border disputes with Ramnad

There were frequent border disputes with the state of Ramnad on the Aranthangi frontier. Actively supported by the Tondaiman of Pudukkottai, Manoji once led a large army into the territory of the Sethupathy of Ramnad and even captured Aranthangi. The Nawab of Carnatic who was the actual overlord to whom Thanjavur paide tribute, stepped in and stopped the Raja from pursuing further hostilities.

Death

Pratapsingh died on December 16 1763K. R. Subramanian, Pg 57] after reigning for 24 years. His third and fifth queens committed SatiK. R. Subramanian, Pg 57] . He was succeeded by his eldest son ThuljajiK. R. Subramanian, Pg 57] .

See also

* Thanjavur
* Maratha Empire
* Seven Years War
* Nawab of Carnatic

Notes

References

# K. R. Subramanian(1928). "The Maratha Rajas of Tanjore"