Ekoji I

Venkoji(b.1629) or Ekoji I was the younger half-brother of Shivaji and founder of Maratha rule in Thanjavur. He was the progenitor of the junior branch of the Bhonsle family which ruled Thanjavur until the formal annexation of the kingdom by the British in 1855.

Early career

Venkoji was the younger son of Shahji Bhonsle, a military commander in service of the Nawab of Bijapur through one of his numerous wives. He succeeded to the jagir of Bangalore on the death of his father while his illustrious elder brother had carved an empire of his own.

Conquest of Thanjavur

In 1673, the Nayak of Madurai invaded the kingdom of Thanjavur under the rule of the Thanjavur Nayaks and drove away the ruler. He then proceeded to place his own brother Alagiri on the throne of Thanjavur. This was resented by Rayasam Venkanna, a high-ranking official in the court of Thanjavur who supported the cause of Chengamaldas, the desposed son of Vijayaraghava, the late Nayak of Thanjavur. He proceededto the court of the Adil Shah of Bijapur along with the minor Chengamaldas and requested his help.

The Adil Shah sent Venkoji to invade Thanjavur and restore the throne unto Chengamaldas. A Sanskrit manuscript "Bosalavamsavali" narrates how Venkoji conquered Arni and proceeded to Thanjavur to liberate it from the shackles of the Nayak of Tiruchirapalli. The manuscript further narrates that While camping at Tirumalapadi near Tiruvadi, God appeared to him in a dream and asked him not to leave for home. However, Wilkes assigns different reasons for the usurpation of the Maratha. He is of the view that Venkoji was not pleased with the conduct of Chengamaldas who refused to pay the war expenses.

Assisted by Rayasam Venkanna who had switched sides once more, Venkoji conquered Ayyampettai and drove away Alagiri as well as Changamaldas and secured the throne for himself. On the death of the Sultan of Bijapur, he crowned himself as the independent king of Thanjavur.

Reign

Dates of Ekoji I's reign

The Marathi inscriptions of the Thanjavur temple dates the capture of Thanjavur to January 1676. The Madras Tamil manuscript assigns the dates 1674 and 1679 to the conquest and end of Ekoji I's reign respectively.

Likewise, the Marathi inscriptions assigns Ekoji's death to 1683. However, Wilkes asserts that Ekoji was well alive in 1686-1687. The records of the British East India Company mention a king called Ekoji as late as 1699-1700.

However, "Dharmakuta" a commentary on the Ramayana suggests that Ekoji might have abdicated in the year 1684 in favor of his son Shahuji. However, it is quite unclear as to how many years he lived after the event.

Clash with Shivaji

In 1676-1677 Chattrapathi Shivaji made an expedition to the Carnatic to claim his portion of the jagir of Bangalore. Shivaji also desired to bring the whole of South India under Maratha rule. With this aim in mind, he made a treaty with Golconda, took Gingee and proceeded to Thanjavur after conquering all the lands north of the COleroon river. But a Mughal invasion forced him to turn back. He placed Vellore under the rule of a half-brother of his called Santoji. Ekoji I reacted by launching regular miitary campaigns into Santoji's territory with the intention of driving him away. However, in 1680, Bijapur succumbed to the invasions of Shivaji and handed over the administration of all lands to the north of the COleroon river to Shivaji. Ekoji I was forced to become a vassal of Shivaji and pay him tribute. On the death of Shivaji, however, the tribute was stopped and Thanjavur retained its independent existence.

Alliance with Ramnad

The chiefs of Ramnad had been vassals of the Nayaks of Madurai. However, the new ruler Kilavan desired to become independent. With this aim in mind, he concluded an alliance with Ekoji I and rebelled against his overlord. The battle ended in the reign of Shahuji I with the defeat of Madurai and the liberation of Ramnad.

Literature

Sanskrit and Telugu literature flourished during this period. The king himself is said to have composed a Telugu verion of the Ramayana.

See also

* Thanjavur
* Maratha Empire
* Shivaji
* Shahji Bhonsle
* Bijapur
* Bhonsle
* Ramnad

References

# 'The Maratha Rajas of Tanjore' by K.R.Subramanian, 1928.