View source for Bhonsle dynasty

{{Short description|Indian Marathi house}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Royal house
| surname = Bhonsle
| coat of arms = Shivaji seal, reproduction.jpg
| coat_of_arms_caption = Rajmudra (royal seal) of [[Shivaji I]]
| image = Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg
| image_size = 200px
| alt2 = 
| image_caption = [[Bhagwa Dhwaj]], the flag of the [[Maratha Confederacy]]
| origin = [[Verul]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| parent house = [[Sisodia dynasty]] (claimed)
| country = {{ubl|
*[[Maratha Confederacy]] (1674–1818)
*[[Sawantwadi State]] (1729-1947)
*[[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur State]] (1674-1855)
*[[Kolhapur State]] (1710-1947)
*[[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur State]] (1739-1853)
*[[Satara State]] (1818-1849)
*[[Akkalkot State]] (1840-1947)
}}
| etymology = 
| founded = {{Start date and age|1576}}
| founding year = 1577
| founder = [[Maloji Bhosale]], a predominant general of [[Malik Ambar]]
| current head = [[Udayanraje Bhosale]] ([[Satara state|Satara]] branch) <br/>
[[Shahu II of Kolhapur|Shahu II]] ([[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur]] branch)<br>Khem Sawant VI Bhonsle Bahadur ([[Sawantwadi State|Sawantwadi]] branch)<br>Sumitrabai Raje Bhonsle ([[Akkalkot State|Akkalkot]] branch)<br>Shivaji Rajah Bhosle ([[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur]] branch)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://serfojimemorialhall.com/hh-of-thanjavur.html | title=Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall Museum, Sadar Mahal Palace, Thanjavur. Tamilnadu-India. }}</ref><br>Raje Mudhoji Bhosale III ([[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]] branch)<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/85721494.cms | title=Raje Mudhoji Bhosale to write to CP against Ganga Jamuna closure | newspaper=The Times of India | date=29 August 2021 }}</ref>
| final ruler = {{Collapsible list
 | expand = 
 | framestyle = 
 | titlestyle = 
 | title = 
 | liststyle = 
 | hlist = 
 | bullets = 
*[[Maratha Empire]]: [[Shahu I]] (1707-1713)
*Maratha Confederacy: [[Pratap Singh (Raja of Satara)|Pratap Singh]] (1808-1818)
*[[Satara State]]: [[Raja Shahaji of Satara|Shahaji]] (1839-1849)
*[[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur State]]: [[Raghuji III]] (1818-1853)
*[[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur State]]: [[Shivaji of Thanjavur|Shivaji II]] (1832-1855)
*[[Sawantwadi State]]: Rani Parvati Bai Raje (1937 - 1947)
*[[Akkalkot State]]: Vijayasinhrao (1923-1927)
*[[Kolhapur State]]: [[Shahaji II]] (1947-1949)
}}
| motto = हर हर महादेव<br />"''Har Har Mahadev''"
| motto_lang = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| motto_trans = "Praises to [[Shiva|Mahadev (Shiva)]]"
| estate = {{Collapsible list
 | expand = 
 | framestyle = 
 | titlestyle = 
 | title = 
 | liststyle = 
 | hlist = 
 | bullets = 
|Jalmandir Palace, Satara (1838-present)
|[[Raigad Fort]], Maratha Empire (1656–1689; 1707–1818)
|[[Gingee Fort]], Maratha Empire (1677-1698)
|[[Ajinkyatara|Ajinkyatara Fort]], Maratha Empire (1706-1818)
|[[Red Fort]], Maratha Empire (1771-1803)
|Nagardhan Fort, Nagpur (1740-1853)
|Senior Bhonsle Palace, Nagpur (1861-present)
|[[Thanjavur Maratha Palace|Aranmanai Palace]], Thanjavur (1674-present)
|[[New Palace, Kolhapur|New Palace]], Kolhapur (1877-present)
}}
| titles = {{Collapsible list
 | expand = 
 | framestyle = 
 | titlestyle = 
 | title = 
 | liststyle = 
 | hlist = 
 | bullets = 
|[[Chhatrapati]] of the [[Maratha Empire]]
|[[Raja]] of [[Sawantwadi State|Sawantwadi]] (1729-1947)
|[[Raja]] of [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur]] (1674-1855)
|[[Raja]] of [[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur]] (1710-1947)
|[[Raja]] of [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]] (1739-1853)
|[[Raja]] of [[Satara state|Satara]] (1818-1849)
|[[Raja]] of [[Akkalkot State|Akkalkot]] (1840-1947)
|[[Raja]] of [[Ellora Caves|Verul]], Derhadi and Kannarad (1595 or 1599 - 1608 or 1620)
|[[Jagirdar]] of [[Supa, Parner|Supa]] (1599 - 1664)
|[[Jagirdar]] of [[Pune]] (1599 - 1664)
|[[Jagirdar]] of [[Bangalore]] (1538 - 1664)
|[[Patil (title)|Patil]] of Hingni Berdi and Devalgaon 
}}
| styles = 
| deposition = {{Collapsible list
 | expand = 
 | framestyle = 
 | titlestyle = 
 | title = 
 | liststyle = 
 | hlist = 
 | bullets = 
|'''[[Maratha Empire]]'''
*1713: Chatrapati [[Shahu I]] becomes a puppet of the [[Peshwas]] ([[Maratha Peshwa and Generals from Bhat Family|Bhat Family]])
*1818: [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]] leads to [[British East Indian Company]] control of Maratha territory and the creation of [[Satara State]] under British suzerainty
|'''Bhonsle States''' 
*1849: annexation of the [[Satara State]] by the [[East India Company]] 
*1853: annexation of the [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur State]] by the [[East India Company]] 
*1855: annexation of the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur State]]  by the [[East India Company]] 
*1947: annexation of the [[Akkalkot State]]  by the [[Dominion of India]] 
*1947: annexation of the [[Sawantwadi State]]  by the [[Dominion of India]]
*1949: annexation of the [[Kolhapur State]]  by the [[Dominion of India]] 
}}
| cadet branches = *[[Bhonsles of Nagpur]]
* [[Sawantwadi State|Bhonsles of Sawantwadi]]
*[[Satara state|Bhonsles of Satara]]
*[[Kolhapur State|Bhonsles of Kolhapur]]
*[[Akkalkot State|Bhonsles of Akkalkot]]
*[[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Bhonsles of Thanjavur]]
}}{{Part of History of India}}{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}The '''Bhonsle dynasty''' (or '''Bhonsale''', '''Bhosale''', '''Bhosle''')<ref>{{cite web |last=Kulkarni |first=Prashant P. |date=6 June 1990 |title=Coinage of the Bhonsla Rajas of Nagpur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=51caAAAAYAAJ&q=bhonsla |publisher=Indian Coin Society}}</ref> is an Indian [[Marathi people|Marathi]] [[dynasty|royal house]]. The Bhonsles claimed descent from the [[Rajput]] [[Sisodia dynasty]], but were likely [[Kunbi]] [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]].<ref name="S1998">{{cite book |author=Singh K S |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lZuAAAAMAAJ |title=India's communities |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-19-563354-2 |page=2211}}</ref>

They served as the ''[[Chhatrapati]]s'' or kings of the [[Maratha Confederacy]] from 1674 to 1818, where they gained dominance of the Indian subcontinent. They also ruled several states such as [[Satara State|Satara]], [[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur]], [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur]], [[Nagpur State|Nagpur]],<ref name="google1">{{cite book |author1=Nicholas Patrick Wiseman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oX_1lzEOtN4C&dq=kolhapur+bhonsla+dynasty+house&pg=PA283 |title=The Dublin Review |date=1836 |publisher=William Spooner |access-date=2015-01-11 |issue=v. 01, pg. 283}}</ref> [[Akkalkot State|Akkalkot]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Kulkarni |first=Sumitra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SYOSHaZnBy8C&pg=PA44 |title=The Satara Raj, 1818-1848: A Study in History, Administration, and Culture |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1995 |isbn=9788170995814}}</ref> [[Sawantwadi State|Sawantwadi]]<ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=6 June 2001 |title=Portuguese Studies Review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y_4jAQAAIAAJ&q=sawantwadi+bhonsle+clan+rulers |publisher=International Conference Group on Portugal}}</ref> and [[Barshi]].<ref name="akola.nic.in">{{cite web |title=The Gazetteers Department |url=http://akola.nic.in/gazetteers/maharashtra/places_Barshi%20Takli.html |work=akola.nic.in}}</ref>

The dynasty was founded in 1577 by [[Maloji Bhosale]], a predominant general or [[sardar]] of [[Malik Ambar]] of the [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]].<ref name="Chintaman19312">{{cite book |author=Chintaman Vinayak Vaidya |url=https://archive.org/details/shivajithefounde035304mbp |title=Shivaji: the founder of Maratha Swaraj |publisher=C. V. Vaidya |year=1931 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/shivajithefounde035304mbp/page/n27 10]–15 |access-date=8 October 2012}}</ref> In 1595 or 1599, Maloji was given the title of [[Raja]] by [[Bahadur Nizam Shah]], the ruler of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.<ref name="Joseph19002">{{cite book |author=Joseph G. Da Cunha |url=https://archive.org/details/originbombay00cunhgoog |title=Origin of Bombay |publisher=Bombay, Society's library; [etc., etc.] |year=1900}}</ref> He was later granted was given the [[jagir]] of [[Pune]], [[Ellora|Elur]] (Verul), Derhadi, Kannarad and [[Supa, Parner|Supe]]. He was also given control over the first of the [[Shivneri]] and [[Chakan, Maharashtra|Chakan]]. These positions were inherited by his sons [[Shahaji]] and Sharifji, who were named after a [[Sufism|Muslim Sufi]] Shah Sharif.<ref>{{Citation |title=Temples |date=1999-06-10 |work=Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates |pages=246–267 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/chol9780521563215.010 |access-date=2024-03-28 |publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/chol9780521563215.010 |isbn=978-0-521-56321-5 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Guha |first=Sumit |title=The Frontiers of Memory: What the Marathas Remembered of Vijayanagara |date=2013-03-07 |work=Expanding Frontiers in South Asian and World History |pages=255–274 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781107300002.012 |access-date=2024-03-28 |publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/cbo9781107300002.012 |isbn=978-1-107-03428-0 }}</ref>

== Origins ==
The origins of the Bhonsles in unclear. According to [[Jadunath Sarkar]] and other scholars, Bhonsles were predominantly Deccani tiller-plainsmen from the [[Shudra]] caste; they were part of the [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]]/[[Kunbi]]s, an amorphous class-group.<ref name="Jaffrelot2006">{{cite book |author=Christophe Jaffrelot |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zEWTSAe-KkQC&pg=PA39 |title=Dr Ambedkar and Untouchability: Analysing and Fighting Caste |publisher=Permanent Black |year=2006 |isbn=978-81-7824-156-2 |pages=39 |quote=Obviously, Ambedkar had in mind the Brahmin's refusal to recognize Shivaji as a Kshatriya. His theory, which is based on scant historical evidence, doubtless echoed this episode in Maharashtra's history, whereas in fact Shivaji, a Maratha-Kunbi, was a Shudra, Nevertheless, he had won power and so expected the Brahmins to confirm his new status by writing for him an adequate genealogy. This process recalls that of Sanskritisation, but sociologists refer to such emulation of Kshatriyas by Shudras as ' Kshatriyaisation ' and describe it as a variant of Sanskritisation.}}</ref><ref name="Eraly2000">{{cite book |author=Abraham Eraly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=04ellRQx4nMC&pg=PA435 |title=Emperors of the Peacock Throne: The Saga of the Great Mughals |publisher=Penguin Books India |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-14-100143-2 |pages=435}}</ref><ref name="Sarkar1992">{{cite book |author=Jadunath Sarkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WYFrgILWbIgC&pg=PA158 |title=Shivaji and His Times |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-250-1347-1 |pages=158}}</ref>{{efn|[[Susan Bayly]] and Eraly however emphasize that the Marathas were located outside the peripheries of [[Brahmin]]ism and people thereof did not form any rigid caste.<ref name=":0A">{{Cite book|last=Bayly|first=Susan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HbAjKR_iHogC|title=Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age|date=2001-02-22|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521798426|pages=57–59|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Eraly2000" />}} Scholars have however disagreed about the agricultural status of Bhosles.<ref name="varma-saberwal">{{Cite book |last=Vajpeyi |first=Ananya |title=Traditions in Motion: Religion and Society in History |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780195669152 |editor-last1=Varma |editor-first1=Supriya |pages=239–268 |language=en |chapter=Excavating Identity through Tradition: Who was Shivaji? |editor-last2=Saberwal |editor-first2=Satish}}{{pb}}Edited version of {{Cite thesis |last=Ananya |first=Vajpeyi |title=Politics of complicity, poetics of contempt: A history of the Śūdra in Maharashtra, 1650–1950 CE |date=August 2004 |publisher=University of Chicago |chapter=Making a Śūdra King: The Royal Consecration of Shivaji |page=155-226}}</ref> [[Rosalind O'Hanlon]] notes that the historical evolution of castes grouped under the Maratha-Kunbis is sketchy.<ref>{{Citation |title=Religion and society under early British rule |date=1985 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/caste-conflict-and-ideology/religion-and-society-under-early-british-rule/6F2FEF92844891F34F5950AACFE048D2 |work=Caste, Conflict and Ideology: Mahatma Jotirao Phule and Low Caste Protest in Nineteenth-Century Western India |pages=13–14 |editor-last=O'Hanlon |editor-first=Rosalind |access-date=2021-07-12 |series=Cambridge South Asian Studies |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-52308-0}}</ref> [[Ananya Vajpeyi]] rejects the designation of Shudra, since the category has remained in a state of flux across centuries; she instead notes them to be a Marathi lineage, who enjoyed "reasonably high" social status as landholders and warlords, being in the service of Deccan Sultanate or Mughals.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{Efn|Vajpeyi however notes that the Bhonsles almost-certainly never featured in the traditional list of 96 families, which allegedly composed the Maratha identity.}}

According to [[Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere|R. C. Dhere's]] interpretation of local oral history and ethnography, Bhonsles descend from the [[Hoysala]]s and [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Yadavas of Devagiri]], who were cow-herding [[Gavli]] sovereigns.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{Efn|This was published in "Sikhar Singanapurca Sri Sambhu Mahadev" (2002) for the first time.}}{{Efn|The caste-status of these Yadavas and whether they were a part of Bahminical hiearchy is disputed.}} In early thirteenth century, "Baliyeppa Gopati Sirsat", a Hoysala cousin of [[Simhana]] migrated from [[Gadag district|Gadag]] to [[Satara district|Satara]] along with his pastoral herd and kul-devta; the Sambhu Mahadev was thus installed at a hill-top in Singhnapur.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{Efn|The Hoysalas as well as the Yadavas were competing feudatories of the Chalukyas with battles being as much common as matrimonial alliances.<ref name="varma-saberwal" /> The migration was prob. motivated by pervasive droughts in the region and an opportunity to seek out some independence for himself.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />}}{{efn|The shrine continues to serve as one of the most significant Shaivite shrine in modern Maharashtra.<ref name="Feldhaus">{{Citation|last=Feldhaus|first=Anne|title=The Pilgrimage to Śiṅgṇāpūr|date=2003|work=Connected Places: Region, Pilgrimage, and Geographical Imagination in India|pages=45–87|editor-last=Feldhaus|editor-first=Anne|series=Religion/Culture/Critique|place=New York|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US|language=en|doi=10.1057/9781403981349_3|isbn=978-1-4039-8134-9|access-date=}}</ref>}} Historical records indicate that this shrine received extensive patronage from Maloji onwards.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{Efn|Texts produced under patronage of Shahaji make explicit connection between the Bhosales and Balip. Also, the "samadhi" (memorial) of Sambhaji, Shivaji, and Shahuji neighbor the shrine.{{pb}}However, for a span of about 250 years — from Balip to Kheloji — the history of the shrine is not clear.}} Further, there exists a branch of the Bhosles named "Sirsat Bhosles" and Bhosle (or "Bhosale") is linguistically similar to "Hoysala".<ref name="varma-saberwal" /> [[Madhukar Keshav Dhavalikar|M. K. Dhavalikar]] found the work to convincingly explain the foundation of the Bhosle clan (as well as Sambhu Mahadev cult).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dhavalikar |first=M. K. |date=2000 |title=Review of SHIKHAR SHINGANAPURCHA SRI SHAMBHU MAHADEV (In Marathi) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42936646 |journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute |volume=60/61 |pages=507–508 |issn=0045-9801 |jstor=42936646}}</ref> Vajpeyi too advocates that Dhere's theory be probed in greater detail — "[f]rom pastoralist big men to warlords on horseback, is not an impossible distance to cover in two to three centuries."<ref name="varma-saberwal" />

=== Accuracy ===
Vajpeyi notes the "veridical status" of Chitnis' finds to be not determinable to "historical certainty" — the links were tenuous at best and inventive at worst.<ref name="varma-saberwal" /> Shivaji was not a Rajput and the sole purpose of the lineage was to guarantee Shivaji's consecration as a Kshatriya, in a tactic that had clear parallels to [[Rajputisation]].<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{efn|She however cautions that the summary rejection of Shivaji's ancestry claims in contemporary historiographical literature often stemmed from a Brahminical anti-Maratha perspective, imbibed from the Peshwas.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />}} Jadunath Sarkar deemed that the genealogy was cleverly fabricated by Balaji Awji and after some reluctance accepted by Gaga Bhatt, who in turn was "rewarded with a huge fee". [[Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade|V. K. Rajwade]], Dhere, Allison Busch, [[John Keay]] and [[Audrey Truschke]] also agree with Sarkar about the fabrication.<ref name="Sarkar1992" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Krshnaji Ananta Sabhasada |url=https://archive.org/details/sivachhatrapatib00krshrich |title=Siva Chhatrapati : being a translation of Sabhasad Bakhar with extracts from Chitnis and Sivadigvijya, with notes |last2=Sen |first2=Surendra Nath |date=1920 |publisher=Calcutta : University of Calcutta |pages=260, 261}}</ref><ref name="Keay2011">{{cite book |author=John Keay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IquM4BrJ4YC&pg=PT565 |title=India: A History |date=12 April 2011 |publisher=Atlantic |isbn=978-0-8021-9550-0 |pages=565}}</ref><ref name="Allison2011">{{cite book |last=Busch |first=Allison |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dl0sbzehWvAC&pg=PA191 |title=Poetry of Kings: The Classical Hindi Literature of Mughal India |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-19-976592-8 |pages=190–191}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Truschke |first=Audrey |title=The Language of History: Sanskrit Narratives of Indo-Muslim Rule |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2021 |isbn=9780231551953 |pages=183–184 |language=en |chapter=Rajput and Maratha Kingships}}</ref> [[Govind Sakharam Sardesai|G. S. Sardesai]] notes that the descent is "not authentically proved".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sardesai |first=G. S. |title=New History of the Marathas |publisher=Phoenic Publications |year=1946 |volume=1 |pages=46 |chapter=Shahji: The Rising Sun}}</ref>{{Efn|Sardesai noted that the claims were supported by some 'firman's in possession of the Raja of Mudhol but many scholars [unidentified] considered them to be forged.}} [[Stewart N. Gordon]] does not pass any judgement but notes Bhatt to be a "creative Brahmin".<ref name="varma-saberwal" /><ref name=":1">{{Citation |last=Gordon |first=Stewart |title=Shivaji (1630–80) and the Maratha polity |date=1993 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/marathas-16001818/shivaji-163080-and-the-maratha-polity/77CF65447181F279BA73A6A5D6B1E048 |work=The Marathas 1600–1818 |pages=86–87 |access-date=2021-06-26 |series=The New Cambridge History of India |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26883-7}}</ref>{{Efn|Gordon however points out that Shivaji might have "thought of himself as a Rajput" since long back. He evidences a letter (1656) sent by Shahji to Adil Shah II where they had boasted of Rajput pride and another letter (18 July 1666) from Parkaldas (an officer under Jai Singh) to Kalyandas, where three Rajput chieftains are noted to be admiring of Shivaji as a great Rajput with all the "characteristic qualities."{{pb}} Vajpeyi interprets the former use to signify an exalted royal status rather than any connection with the Rajput clans. A. Sievler deems the latter translation to be dubious; Mehendale comments that "Rajput" simply meant a Kshatriya in the context. In another contemporary source—a letter from Jai Singh himself to his Prime Minister—, we see Shivaji being regarded to belong from a low caste (and pedigree), who was not even fit for inter-dining with Rajputs.}} [[André Wink]] deems that the Sisodia genealogical claim is destined to remain disputed forever.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Kruijtzer |first=Gijs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yTTJa0usl80C |title=Xenophobia in Seventeenth-century India |date=2009 |publisher=Leiden University Press |isbn=9789087280680 |pages=143 |language=en}}</ref>{{Efn|In a footnote, Wink mentions of two letters before the coronation ceremony, where Shivaji had referred to himself as a Rajput.}}

== Establishment ==

=== Ahmadnagar Sultanate ===
The earliest accepted members of the Bhonsles are Mudhoji Bhonsle and his kin Rupaji Bhonsle, who were the village headman (pāṭīl) of [[Hingani]] — this branch has been since known as Hinganikar Bhonsles.<ref name=":3">{{Cite thesis |last=Vendell |first=Dominic |title=Scribes and the Vocation of Politics in the Maratha Empire, 1708-1818 |date=2018 |publisher=Columbia University}}</ref> A branch seem to have split soon, who went on to claim an ancestral right to the post of district steward (deśmukhī) of Kadewalit: Suryaji Bhonsle during the reign of [[Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I|Ahmad Nizam Shah I]] (early 1490s), and his son Sharafji Bhonsle during the conquest of the region by [[Daniyal Mirza]] (1599).<ref name=":3" />{{Efn|The precise familial relation between Mudhoji/Rupali and Suryaji is unclear.}}{{Efn|Stewart Gordon and other scholars deem the "deśmukhī" to have served as a 'hinge' between the local populace and the royal authority which frequently changed. Without their loyalty, commanding authority in newly conquered territories was difficult.}} This branch has been since known as Kadewalit Bhonsles.<ref name=":3" />

The next significant Bhonsle was probably [[Maloji Bhosale]] from the Hinganikar branch. He was the great-grandson of one Kheloji (c. 1490).

The dynasty was founded by [[Maloji Bhosale]] who initially served as a [[Patil (title)|patil]] (chief) of the Hingni Berdi and Devalgaon villages around [[Pune]].<ref name="Salma314">{{cite book |author=Salma Ahmed Farooqui |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxhAtCflwOMC&pg=PA314 |title=A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century |publisher=Dorling Kindersley India |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-317-3202-1 |pages=314–}}</ref><ref name="Kulkarni1963">{{cite book |author=V. B. Kulkarni |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nU8_AAAAMAAJ |title=Shivaji: The Portrait of a Patriot |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1963 |page=27}}</ref> Later, along with his brother Vithoji, he migrated to [[Sindkhed Raja|Sindkhed]] and served as a Horseman.<ref name="Satishh2005">{{cite book |author=Satish Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Rm9MC4DDrcC&pg=PA316 |title=Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals |publisher=Har-Anand |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-241-1066-9 |page=316 |access-date=8 October 2012}}</ref>

In 1577, they joined the service of the [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]], under Sultan [[Murtaza Nizam Shah I]]. Maloji became a trusted General of the [[Peshwa]] [[Malik Ambar|Malik Amber]] fighting against rival powers such as the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] and [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Bijapur Sultanate]]<ref name="Farooqui">{{cite book |author1=Farooqui Salma Ahmed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxhAtCflwOMC&pg=PA314 |title=A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century |author2=Salma Ahmed Farooqui |publisher=Pearson Education India |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-317-3202-1 |page=314 |access-date=8 October 2012}}</ref> the [[pargana]]s (administrative units) of [[Ellora|Elur]] (Verul), Derhadi and Kannarad.<ref name="Chintaman19312" /> In 1595 or 1599, Maloji was given the title of [[raja]] by [[Bahadur Nizam Shah]], officially establishing the dynasty.<ref name="Joseph19002" /> On the recommendation of Malik Ambar, he was given the [[jagir]] of [[Pune]] and [[Supa, Parner|Supe]] [[pargana]]s, along with the control of the [[Shivneri]] and [[Chakan, Maharashtra|Chakan]] forts. Maloji carried out the restoration of the [[Grishneshwar]] temple near Verul, and also constructed a large tank at the Shambhu Mahadev temple in [[Shingnapur|Shikhar Shingnapur]].<ref name="Sardesai1957">{{cite book |author=Govind Sakharam Sardesai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zG1DAAAAYAAJ |title=New History of the Marathas: Shivaji and his line (1600-1707) |publisher=Phoenix Publications |year=1957 |isbn=9788121500654 |page=58 |access-date=8 October 2012}}</ref> Maloji and his wife Uma Bai had 2 sons: [[Shahaji]] and Sharifji, named [[Sufism|Sufi]] [[Pir (Sufism)|Pir]] [[Hadrat|''Hazrat'']] Shah Sharif.<ref>{{cite book |author=G. H. Khare |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T8EtAQAAIAAJ |title=Studies in Indology and Medieval History |publisher=Joshi & Lokhande |year=1974 |page=176}}</ref>

According to ''Shivabharata'', composed by Shivaji's court poet Paramananda, Maloji's wife Umabai prayed to the Sufi Pir Shah Sharif of Ahmadnagar to bless her with a son. She gave birth to two sons, who were named [[Shahaji]] and Sharifji after the Pir.<ref>{{cite book |author=James W. Laine |title=Intersections: Socio-cultural Trends in Maharashtra |publisher=Orient Blackswan |year=2000 |isbn=9788125018780 |editor=Meera Kosambi |page=62 |chapter=A Question of Maharashtrian Identity: Hindu Self-definition in the Tales of Shivaji |access-date=2022-11-15 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XU8dmAiaZSgC&q=maloji&pg=PA59}}</ref>

=== Shivaji's Coronation ===
By 1670s, [[Shivaji]] had acquired extensive territory and wealth from his campaigns.<ref name=":1" /> But, lacking a formal crown, he had no operational legitimacy to rule his ''de facto'' domain and technically, remained subject to his Mughal  (or Deccan Sultanate) overlords; in the hierarchy of power, Shivaji's position remained similar to fellow Maratha chieftains.<ref name="varma-saberwal" /><ref name=":1" />{{efn|Most of the great Maratha Jahagirdar families in the service of Adilshahi strongly opposed Shivaji in his early years. These included families such as the Ghadge, More, Mohite, Ghorpade, Shirke, and Nimbalkar.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Daniel Jasper |date=2003 |title=Commemorating the 'golden age' of Shivaji in Maharashtra, India, and the development of Maharashtrian public politics |journal=Journal of Political and Military Sociology |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=215–230 |jstor=45293740 |s2cid=152003918}}</ref>}} Also, he was often opposed by the orthodox Brahmin community of Maharashtra.<ref name="varma-saberwal" /> A coronation sanctioned by the Brahmins was thus planned, in a bid to proclaim sovereignty and legitimize his rule.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="BaviskarAttwood2013">{{cite book |last1=Baviskar |first1=B. S. |title=Inside-Outside: Two Views of Social Change in Rural India |last2=Attwood |first2=D. W. |date=30 October 2013 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-81-321-1865-7 |pages=395 |chapter=Caste Barriers to Initiative and Innovation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jVQtBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA395}}</ref>

On proposing the Brahmins of his court to have him proclaimed as the rightful king, a controversy erupted: the regnal status was reserved for those belonging to the [[kshatriya]] [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]].<ref name="Gandhi1999">{{cite book |author=Rajmohan Gandhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVqP54UEe4QC&pg=PA110 |title=Revenge and Reconciliation |publisher=Penguin Books India |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-14-029045-5 |pages=110–}}</ref><ref name="Allison2011" /> Not only was there a fundamental dispute among scholars on whether any true Kshatriya survived in the Kali Yuga,{{Efn|Madhav Deshpande notes that one of the oldest texts in support of such a viewpoint was drafted by Kamalakara Bhatta, a paternal uncle of Gaga Bhatta.{{pb}}However, he was hardly a radical (unlike Nagesbhatta, to whom even the Rajputs were Shudras) and allowed expiatory rites for the rare "fallen" Kshatriya-Shudras, provided he did not exceed the upanayana age-limit of 22 years. In his judgement, he was following his father Ramkrsna Bhatta as well as grandfather Narayana Bhatta.}} having been all destroyed by [[Parashurama]] but also Shivaji's grandfather was a tiller-headman, Shivaji did not wear the sacred thread, and his marriage was not in accordance with the Kshatriya customs.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="BaviskarAttwood2013" /> Thus, the Brahmins had him categorised as a [[shudra]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name="BaviskarAttwood2013" />

Compelled to postpone his coronation, Shivaji had his secretary Balaji Avji Chitnis sent to the Sisodiyas of Mewar for inspection of the royal genealogies; Avji returned with a favorable finding — Shahji turned out to be a descendant of Chacho Sisodiya, a half-Rajput uncle of [[Mokal Singh]].<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{Efn|Chacho was born of a Khati concubine and in contemporary times, was pejoratively referred to as a ''khātanvālā.''<ref name="Kothiyal">{{Cite book|last=Kothiyal|first=Tanuja|title=Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert|date=2016-03-14|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-316-67389-8|language=en|pages=103–104}}</ref> People like Chacho were categorized into separate caste-groups at the lower end of the hierarchy—even unfit for inter-dining with—, and excluded from Rajput ''ganayats''.<ref name="Kothiyal" />}} Gaga Bhatt, a famed Brahmin of [[Varanasi|Banaras]],{{Efn|Gaga Bhatt was a preeminent legal scholar, whose scholarship focused on the relative status of different varnas across different regions. Shivaji was already in contact with him since 1664, when he was asked to adjudicate upon whether the Saraswat Brahmins (then, Syenavis) were indeed Brahmins.<ref name="Deshpande">{{Cite journal|last=Deshpande|first=Madhav M.|date=2010|title=Kṣatriyas in the Kali Age? Gāgābhaṭṭa & His Opponents|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24665176|journal=Indo-Iranian Journal|volume=53|issue=2|pages=95–120|doi=10.1163/001972410X12686674794853 |jstor=24665176 |issn=0019-7246}}</ref> It is very plausible that the idea of coronation was Bhatt's suggestion — during the previous encounter, he had already proclaimed Shivaji to have born into a "pure royal family."<ref name="Deshpande" />}} was then hired to ratify Chitnis' find, and the Bhonsles were now permitted to stake a claim to Kshatriya caste.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="varma-saberwal" /><ref name="Allison2011" />{{efn|[[Susan Bayly]] views the episode to reflect fluidity in the caste system.<ref name=":2"/>}} The coronation would be re-executed in June 1674 but only after going through a long list of preludes.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{efn|Contemporary Dutch East India Company archives<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sen|first=Surendra Nath|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12955/page/n281/mode/2up|title=Foreign Biographies of Shivaji|publisher=K. P. Bagchi & Company, [[Indian Council of Historical Research]]|year=1958|edition=2|location=Calcutta|pages=265–267}}</ref> indicate that even then, Shivaji's upgradation of status was only accepted by Brahmins after he had promised them to not rule tyrannically anymore.<ref name=":2" />}}

Led by Bhatt, who employed traditional Hindu imagery in an unprecedented scale, the first phase had Shivaji penance for having lived as a Maratha despite being a Kshatriya.<ref name="varma-saberwal" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name="Keay2011" /> Then came the sacred thread ceremony ('maunjibandhanam') followed by remarriage according to Kshatriya customs ('mantra-vivah') and a sequence of Vedic rituals before the eventual coronation ('abhisheka') — a public spectacle of enormous expense that heralded the rebirth of Shivaji as a Kshatriya king.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />{{Efn|The expense was huge enough to impose a coronation tax on his subjects for the next few years.}} Panegyrics composed by court-poets during these spans (and afterward) reinforced onto the public memory that Shivaji (and the Bhonsles) indeed belonged from the Sisodiyas.<ref name="varma-saberwal" /><ref name="Allison2011" />

However, the Kshatriyization was not unanimous; a section of Brahmins continued to deny the Kshatriya status.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Anupama |chapter=Caste Radicalism and the Making of a New Political Subject |url=https://california.degruyter.com/view/title/555234 |title=The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India |date=2009-10-13 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-94337-7 |pages=42 |doi=10.1525/9780520943377-006 |s2cid=201912448}}</ref> Brahmins of the Peshwa period rejected Bhatt's acceptance of Shivaji's claims and blamed the non-dharmic coronation for all ills that plagued Shivaji and his heirs—in tune with the general Brahminical sentiment to categorize all Marathas as Shudras, carte-blanche; there have been even claims that Bhatt was excommunicated by Maratha Brahmins for his role in the coronation of Shivaji! Interestingly, all claims to Rajput ancestry had largely vanished from the family's subsequent projections of identity.<ref name="varma-saberwal" />

=== Maratha Empire ===
[[File:Deccan,_ritratto_di_chhatrapati_shivaji_maharaj,_bijapur_1675_ca.jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Shivaji|Shivaji Bhonsle]], later known as Shivaji I, the first [[Chhatrapati]] of the [[Maratha Empire]].]]
[[File:Buruj_Raigad.JPG|thumb|[[Raigad Fort]] served as the initial capital of the Bhonsles.]]
{{Main|Mughal–Maratha Wars}}
The [[Maratha Empire]] was established by [[Shivaji|Shivaji I]] the grandson of Maloji in 1674. This was established to invasions from the [[Mughal Empire]] and the [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Bijapur Sultanate]]. Shivaji's forces initially occupied the Fort of Torna in 1642. He had expanded his kingdom to [[Raigad fort|Raigad]] by 1674. he crowned himself He was crowned as [[Chhatrapati]], meaning emperor.<ref name="imp">{{cite web |year=1909 |title=Raigarh |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V21_053.gif |access-date=2014-02-19 |publisher=[[Imperial Gazetteer of India]], Volume 21 |pages=47–48}}</ref>

Shivaji wanted to establish his government based on his Philosophy of Hindavi Swarajya. (''The Rule of the People'') This advocated for more representation of the people and less power of the elites. He later established the Ashta Pradhan, (''Modern council of ministers'') an institution of a council of eight ministers to guide the administration of his nascent state. Each of the ministers was placed in charge of an administrative department; thus, the council heralded the birth of a bureaucracy. Shivaji appointed [[Moropant Trimbak Pingle]] as the [[Peshwa]], the leader of the council.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=deHZAUDHzYwC&q=%22review+in+short+the+organisation%22 Shivaji, the great Maratha, Volume 2], H. S. Sardesai, Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd, 2002, {{ISBN|81-7755-286-4}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7755-286-7}}</ref>

Shivaji was succeeded by his son [[Sambhaji|Sambhaji I]]. In early 1689, Sambhaji and his commanders met at [[Sangameshwar]].  Mughal forces, under Emperor [[Aurangzeb]] attacked Sangameshwar when Sambhaji was accompanied by just a few men. Sambhaji captured by the Mughal troops on 1 February 1689. Aurangzeb had charged Sambhaji with attacks by Maratha forces on [[Burhanpur]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} He and his advisor, [[Kavi Kalash]], were taken to Bahadurgad by the imperial army, where they were executed by the Mughals on 21 March 1689.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

After the execution of Sambhaji, [[Rajaram I]] was crowned at Raigad on 12 March 1689. During the Mughal started siege on [[Raigad fort|Raigad]] on 25 March 1689, the widow of Sambhaji (Maharani Yesubai) and Peshwa [[Ramchandra Pant Amatya]] sent young Rajaram to the stronghold of [[Pratapgad]] through Kavlya ghat.<sup>[''[[Wikipedia:Citation needed|citation needed]]'']</sup>  Rajaram to escape through Kavlya ghat to the fort of [[Gingee|Jinji]] through the Pratapgad and Vishalgad forts, Rajaram reached Keladi in disguise and pursued assistance from [[Keladi Chennamma]] - who kept the Mughal attack in check to ensure safe passage and escape of Rajaram to Jinji where he reached after a month and a half on 1 November 1689.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

{{Citation needed span|Aurangzeb sent Uzbek general [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I|Ghazi-ud-din Firoze Jung]] against the Marathas in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]]. He then sent [[Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung]] to capture the [[Gingee Fort|Jingi Fort]]. He [[Siege of Jinji|laid siege]] to it in September, 1690. After three failed attempts, it was finally captured after seven years on 8 January 1698. Rajaram, however, escaped and fled first to [[Vellore]] and later to [[Vishalgad]]. Rajaram returned to jinji and occupied the fort 11 November 1689, but left before it fell in 1698, setting up his court at fort [[Satara (city)|Satara]]. Then, Maratha commanders, [[Santaji Ghorpade]] and [[Dhanaji Jadhav]], defeated the Mughal forces, therefore cutting off their lines of communication in Jingi.|date=November 2022}}

=== Kolhapur Branch ===
{{Main|Kolhapur State}}
In 1707, Mughal Emperor [[Muhammad Azam Shah]] released [[Shahu I|Shahu Bhosale]], the son of Sambhaji. However, his mother was kept as a hostage of the Mughals, in order to ensure that Shahu adhered to the release conditions. Immediately the Maratha throne was claimed his aunt [[Tarabai]], claiming the throne for her son [[Shivaji II]]. After his victory at the Battle of Khed, Shahu established himself at Satara, forcing her to retire with her son to Kolhapur.  This resulted in the creation of the [[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur branch]] in 1709 under Tarabai, splitting from the main [[Satara state|Satara branch]] under Shahu.. Shivaji II and Tarabai were soon deposed by Rajasbai, the other widow of Rajaram. She installed her own son, [[Sambhaji II]] as the new ruler of Kolhapur.<ref name="Sarkar2000">{{cite book |author=Sumit Sarkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2Yn4LlujqsC&pg=PR9 |title=Issues in Modern Indian History: For Sumit Sarkar |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=2000 |isbn=978-81-7154-658-9 |page=30}}</ref> Sambhaji then made alliance with the [[Nizam of Hyderabad|Nizam]].<ref name="SG_1993">{{cite book |author=Stewart Gordon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C&pg=PA120 |title=The Marathas 1600-1818 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-521-26883-7 |pages=120–131}}</ref> The defeat of the Nizam by [[Bajirao I]] in the [[Battle of Palkhed]] in 1728 led to the former ending his support for Sambhaji.<ref name="Kate1987">{{cite book |author=P. V. Kate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tjndiykddsIC&pg=PR5 |title=Marathwada Under the Nizams, 1724-1948 |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1987 |isbn=978-81-7099-017-8 |page=14}}</ref> Sambhaji II signed the Treaty of Warna in 1731 with his cousin [[Shahu I|Shahuji]] to formalize the two separate seats of Bhonsle family.<ref name="SG_1993" /><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iP433CnEW_gC&pg=PA27 |title=Sharad Pawar: The Maratha Legacy |date=1998 |publisher=APH Pub. Corp. |isbn=9788176480086 |editor1=S.R. Bakshi |location=New Delhi |page=28 |editor2=S.R. Sharma |editor3=S. Gijrani}}</ref>

== Maratha Confederacy ==
{{Main|Maratha Empire}}

=== Confederacy era ===
[[File:Emperor_Shahu.jpg|thumb|Emblem depicting [[Chhatrapati|Chatrapati]] [[Shahu I]] of the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]].]]
Shahu appointed [[Balaji Vishwanath]] a member of the [[Bhat family|Bhat Family]] as his [[Peshwa]]. The Peshwa was instrumental in securing Mughal recognition of Shahu as the rightful heir of Shivaji and the [[Chhatrapati]] of the Marathas. {{sfnp|Sen|2010|p=12}}Balaji also gained the release of Shahu's mother, [[Yesubai Bhonsale|Yesubai]], from Mughal captivity in 1719.{{sfnp|Sen|2010|p=12}}

The Peshwas later became de facto rulers of the Maratha Empire. Under the Peshwas, Chhatrapati was limited to simply a monarchial figurehead.  Maratha Empire dominated most of the Indian subcontinent.{{sfnp|Montgomery|1972|p=132}}{{sfnp|Sen|2010|p=13}}

Under the Peshwas the Marathas expanded to their greatest extent. 1737, Under [[Bajirao I]] invaded Delhi in a blitzkrieg manner at the Battle of Delhi (1737).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tucker |first=Spencer C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h5_tSnygvbIC&dq=%2522Battle+of+Delhi%2522+1737+-wikipedia&pg=PA732 |title=A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East - 6 volumes: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East |date=2009-12-23 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-85109-672-5 |page=732 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bowman |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkqsAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA285 |title=Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture |date=2000 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-11004-4 |page=285 |language=en}}</ref> The Nizam set out from the Deccan to rescue the Mughals from the invasion of the Marathas, but was defeated decisively in the [[Battle of Bhopal]].<ref name="maratha2">[https://books.google.com/books?id=bXWiACEwPR8C&dq=maratha+delhi+1737&pg=PR23 An Advanced History of Modern India]</ref>{{sfnp|Sen|2010|p=12}} The Marathas extracted a large tribute from the Mughals and signed a treaty which ceded [[Malwa]] to the Marathas.<ref name="maratha2" /> The [[Battle of Vasai]] was fought between the Marathas and the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] in [[Vasai]], a village lying on the northern shore of Vasai creek (Part of modern-day [[Mumbai]]).<ref>{{cite book |last=Jaques |first=Tony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3amnMPTPP5MC&q=battle+of+vasai&pg=PA114 |title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A-E |date=12 November 2017 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=9780313335372 |access-date=12 November 2017 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

After Shahu's death, he was succeeded by [[Rajaram II of Satara|Rajaram II]]  When [[Peshwa]] [[Balaji Baji Rao]] left for the Mughal frontier, Tarabai urged Rajaram II to remove him from the post of Peshwa. When Rajaram refused, she imprisoned him in a dungeon at Satara, on 24 November 1750. She claimed that he was an imposter from [[Gondhali]] caste and she had falsely presented him as her grandson to Shahu.<ref name="CAKDBP_19182">{{cite book |author1=[[Charles Augustus Kincaid]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofmaratha03kincuoft#page/2/mode/2up/search/umabai |title=A History of the Maratha People Volume 3 |author2=[[Dattatray Balwant Parasnis]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1918 |pages=2–10}}</ref> His health deteriorated considerably during this imprisonment. On 14 September 1752, Tarabai and Balaji Rao took an oath at [[Jejuri#Khandoba Temple|Khandoba temple]] in [[Jejuri]], promising mutual peace.<ref name="CAKDBP_19182" />

=== Nagpur Branch ===
{{Main|Bhonsles of Nagpur}}

[[File:Raghuji_Bhonsle.jpg|thumb|[[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghuji I]], the first ruler of [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]], expanded the state to its greatest extent.]]
After the death of [[Chand Sultan]], the [[Gondi people|Gond]] ruler of [[Gonds of Deogarh|Deogarh]], in 1739,<ref name="community2">{{cite book |last1=Kurup |first1=Ayyappan Madhava |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCNfWRGXd04C&q=king+of+deogarh+chand+sultan&pg=PA8 |title=Continuity and Change in a Little Community |date=1986 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref> there were quarrels over the succession, leading to the throne being usurped by Wali Shah,<ref name="society">{{cite book |last1=Society (MANCHESTER) |first1=Northern Central British India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSFYAAAAcAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=RA2-PA8 |title=Proceedings of a Public Meeting for the formation of The Northern Central British India Society held in the Corn Exchange, Manchester, on Wednesday evening, August 26th, 1840 |date=1840 |publisher=Northern Central British India Society |language=en}}</ref><ref name="hunter">{{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=William Wilson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYoIAAAAQAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=PA30 |title=Naaf to Rangmagiri |date=1881 |publisher=Trübner |language=en}}</ref><ref name="chanda">{{cite book |last1=Thusu |first1=Kidar Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoAtAAAAMAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Gond Kingdom of Chanda: With Particular Reference to Its Political Structure |date=1980 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India |language=en}}</ref> an illegitimate son of [[Bakht Buland Shah]].<ref name="society" /><ref name="vidarbha">{{cite book |last1=Deogaonkar |first1=Shashishekhar Gopal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X39c2VODLT0C&pg=PA16 |title=The Gonds of Vidarbha |date=2007 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-474-5 |language=en}}</ref>  Chand Sultan's widow Ratan Kunwar invoked the aid of the Maratha leader [[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghoji Bhonsle]] of Berar in the interest of her sons Akbar Shah and Burhan Shah. Wali Shah was put to death and the rightful heirs placed on the throne. Raghoji I Bhonsle was sent back to Berar with a plentiful bounty for his aid.<ref>* {{cite book |last1=Thusu |first1=Kidar Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoAtAAAAMAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Gond Kingdom of Chanda: With Particular Reference to Its Political Structure |date=1980 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India |language=en}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4b4uPjJJFOkC&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Host Bibliographic Record for Boundwith Item Barcode 30112050248951 and Others |date=2013 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Sil |first1=Jogendra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=emxBAQAAMAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=History of the Central Provinces and Berar |date=1917 |publisher=J.N. Sil |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Pradesh (India) |first1=Madhya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSELAQAAIAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Madhya Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chhindwara |last2=Krishnan |first2=V. S. |date=1995 |publisher=Government Central Press |language=en}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvK-QHwRM9YC&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Bulletin of the Anthropological Survey of India |date=1976 |publisher=Director, Anthropological Survey of India, Indian Museum |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bahadur) |first1=Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1O9EAQAAIAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Man in India |date=1979 |publisher=A. K. Bose |language=en}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WK9hAAAAIAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Bhandara |date=1979 |publisher=Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Society (MANCHESTER) |first1=Northern Central British India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSFYAAAAcAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=RA2-PA8 |title=Proceedings of a Public Meeting for the formation of The Northern Central British India Society held in the Corn Exchange, Manchester, on Wednesday evening, August 26th, 1840 |date=1840 |publisher=Northern Central British India Society |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Naik |first1=C. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VrlLNltm5dMC&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=PA199 |title=Buddhism and Dalits: Social Philosophy and Traditions |date=2010 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-792-8 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Kurup |first1=Ayyappan Madhava |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCNfWRGXd04C&q=king+of+deogarh+chand+sultan&pg=PA8 |title=Continuity and Change in a Little Community |date=1986 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=William Wilson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYoIAAAAQAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=PA30 |title=Naaf to Rangmagiri |date=1881 |publisher=Trübner |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Deogaonkar |first1=Shashishekhar Gopal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X39c2VODLT0C&pg=PA16 |title=The Gonds of Vidarbha |date=2007 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-474-5 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzNUAAAAMAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |title=Indian Railways |date=1997 |publisher=Railway Board |language=en}}</ref> [[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghoji]] then declared himself the [[Bhonsles of Nagpur|King of Nagpur]] and the 'protector' of the Gond king. Thus in 1743, Burhan Shah was practically made a state pensionary, with real power being in the hands of the Maratha ruler. After this event the history of the Gond kingdom of Deogarh is not recorded.<ref name="community2" />

During Shahu's reign, [[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghoji Bhosale]] of Nagpur expanded the empire Eastwards, [[Maratha invasions of Bengal|invading Bengal]] in 1740, which was a major confrontation with the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]], [[Dost Ali Khan]] . [[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghoji]] was victorious and increased Maratha Influence in the Carnatic.<ref name="Jeremy Black">{{cite book |author=Jeremy Black |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcEcBQAAQBAJ&dq=battle+of+Damalcherry&pg=PA60 |title=War in the Eighteenth-Century World |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2012 |isbn=9780230370005 |pages=280 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Saswadkar">{{cite journal |last=Saswadkar |first=P. L. |year=1965 |title=Prohibition under the Peshwas in the latter half of the eighteenth century |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44140671 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |publisher=JSOR |volume=27 |pages=326–328 |jstor=44140671 |access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="TN Gov">{{cite web |title=Brief history of Arcot |url=https://www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/2020/08/briefhistory-PB-Arcot.pdf |access-date=13 December 2020 |publisher=Tamil Nadu Govt}}</ref>

after the successful campaign in [[Carnatic region|Carnatic]] at the [[Siege of Trichinopoly (1741)|Battle of Trichinopolly]]. Raghoji invaded [[Bengal Subah|Bengal]]. Raghoji was able to annex [[Orissa, India|Orissa]] permanently as he successfully exploited the chaotic conditions prevailing in the region after the death of their Governor [[Murshid Quli Khan]] in 1727.<ref>{{cite book |last=Government of Maharashtra |year=1974 |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Wardha District |edition=2nd |location=Bombay |publisher=Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |page=63 |oclc=77864804}}</ref> Nawab of Bengal ceded territory up to the river Suvarnarekha to the Marathas, and agreeing to pay Rs. 20 lacs as [[chauth]] for [[Bengal]] (includes both West Bengal and Bangladesh) and 12 lacs for Bihar (including Jharkhand), thus Bengal becoming a tributary to the Marathas.<ref>Fall Of The Mughal Empire- Volume 1 (4Th Edn.), J.N.Sarka</ref>
[[File:Bhonsle_kingdom_of_Nagpur.png|left|thumb|the [[Nagpur kingdom|Kingdom of Nagpur]] at its greatest extent in 1751.]]
On 17 December 1803, after the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]], [[Raghoji II Bhonsle|Raghoji II]] signed the Treaty of Deogaon which resulted in Nagpur becoming a [[Protectorate]] of the [[East India Company]].<ref name="Naravane">{{Cite book |last=Naravane |first=M.S. |title=Battles of the Honorourable East India Company |publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation |year=2014 |isbn=978-81-313-0034-3 |pages=65–66}}</ref>

On 11 December 1853, the last Raja of Nagpur  [[Raghuji III of Nagpur|Raghuji III]] died without a male heir. Nagpur was annexed by the British under the [[doctrine of lapse]]. The former kingdom was administered as [[Nagpur Province]], under a commissioner appointed by then [[Governor-General of India]], [[James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie|James Broun-Ramsay]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J1MbAAAAIAAJ&q=bakabai |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Bhandara district |date=1979 |publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |language=en}}</ref>

=== Thanjavur Branch ===
{{Main|Thanjavur Maratha kingdom}}

The Bhonsoles were also influential in the Carnatic Region.  In 1675, the Sultan of Bijapur sent a force commanded by the [[Maratha]] general [[Venkoji]] a half-brother of the [[Shivaji]], to Capture the city of [[Thanjavur]] and Established the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur Maratha Kingdom]].  Venkoji defeated Alagiri, and occupied Thanjavur.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Alam |first1=Muzaffar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VQJuAAAAMAAJ |title=The Mug̲h̲al State, 1526-1750 |last2=Subrahmanyam |first2=Sanjay |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-563905-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pollock |first=Sheldon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ak9csfpY2WoC |title=Literary Cultures in History: Reconstructions from South Asia |date=2003-05-19 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-22821-4 |language=en}}</ref> He did not, however, place his protege on the throne as instructed by the Bijapur Sultan, but seized the kingdom and made himself king. Thus began the rule of the [[Marathas]] over Thanjavur.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shulman |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SFXVDwAAQBAJ |title=Classical Telugu Poetry |date=2020-05-12 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-34452-5 |language=en}}</ref>

Shivaji Maharaj also invaded [[Gingee]] and Thanjavur in 1676–1677 and made his brother Santaji the ruler of all lands to the north of the [[Kollidam|Coleroon]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Princely States ===
[[Satara State]], [[Kolhapur State]], [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur State]], [[Nagpur State]],<ref name="google1" /> [[Akkalkot State]],<ref name=":4" /> [[Sawantwadi State]]<ref name=":5" /> and [[Barshi]]<ref name="akola.nic.in" /> were amongst the prominent states ruled by the Bhonsles.

== List of Members ==
=== Maratha Confederacy ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Image
!Name
!Birth
!Reign
!Death
!Notes
|-
|[[File:Shivaji_British_Museum.jpg|113x113px]]
|''[[Shivaji I]]''
|19 February 1630<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPP7O3nb3g0C&pg=PA8 |title=Student's Britannica: India (Set of 7 Vols.) 39 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-85229-760-5 |editor=Indu Ramchandani |page=8}}</ref>
|1674–1680
|3 April 1680
|
|-
|[[File:Maharaja_Sambhajiraje,_late_17th_century.png|121x121px]]
|''[[Sambhaji]]'' 
|14 May 1657
|16 January 1681 – 11 March 1689
|11 March 1689
|
|-
|[[File:Chhatrapati_Rajaram.jpg|107x107px]]
|''[[Rajaram I]]''
|24 February 1670
|11 March 1689 – 3 March 1700
|3 March 1700
|
|-
|
|''[[Shivaji II]]''
|9 June 1696
|1700 – 1707, 1710 – 1714 (Kolhapur State)
|14 March 1726
|
|-
|[[File:Copy_of_Shahu_(3).jpg|106x106px]]
|''[[Shahu I]]''
|18 May 1682
|12 January 1707 – November 16, 1713
|15 December 1749
|
|-
|[[File:Rajaram_II.jpg|120x120px]]
|''[[Rajaram II of Satara|Rajaram II]]''
|June 1726
|15 December 1749 – 11 December 1777
|11 December 1777
|Became a Puppet ruler under [[Balaji Bajirao]] in 1749
|-
|
|''[[Shahu II of Satara|Shahu II]]''
|1763
|11 December 1777 – 3 May 1808
|3 May 1808
|A ceremonial ruler with the actual power resting with the leaders of Maratha confederacy around India.
|-
|[[File:Chhatrapati_Pratapsingh.jpg|80x80px]]
|''[[Pratap Singh (Raja of Satara)|Pratapsingh]]''
|18 January 1793
|3 May 1808 – 3 June 1818
|14 October 1847
|Last Chhatrapati of the Maratha Confederacy
|}

=== Satara State ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Image
!Name
!Birth
!Reign
!Death
!Notes
|-
|[[File:Chhatrapati_Pratapsingh.jpg|80x80px]]
|''[[Pratap Singh (Raja of Satara)|Pratapsingh]]''
|18 January 1793
|3 June 1818 – 5 September 1839
|14 October 1847
|Became Raja of the Satara state. He was deposed by the East India company in 1839.
|-
|[[File:Shahaji_Appa_Saheb_Chhatrapati.jpg|80x80px]]
|''[[Raja Shahaji of Satara|Shahaji]]''
|1802
|5 September 1839 – 5 April 1848
|5 April 1848
|Satara state abolished after the death of Appasaheb by the East India Company under the policy of [[Doctrine of lapse]]
|}

=== Kolhapur State ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Image
!Name
!Birth
!Reign
!Death
!Notes
|-
|[[File:Maharani_Tarabai.jpg|136x136px]]
|[[Tarabai]]
|1675
|1709 – 1710 (Unofficial)
|1761
|Established the Branch of Kolhapur.
|-
|
|''[[Shivaji II]]''
|9 June 1696
|1710 – 1714
|14 March 1726
|First Official Raja of kolhapur.Deposed by his stepmother, Rajasbai in favour of her own son, Sambhaji II
|-
|[[File:Idols_of_Sambhaji_I_of_Kolhapur_with_Queen_Jijabai_(cropped).jpg|104x104px]]
|''[[Sambhaji II]]''
|1698
|1714–1760
|18 December 1760
|Signed treaty of Varna with Shahu I to formalize the existence of two seats of the dynasty at Satara and Kolhapur respectively.<ref>Nayeem, M. A. (1977). The Working of the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi System in the Mughal Provinces of the Deccan (1707-1803 A.D.). The Indian Economic & Social History Review, 14(2), 153–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/001946467701400201</ref>
|-
|[[File:Idol_of_Shivaji_II_of_Kolhapur.jpg|113x113px]]
|''[[Shivaji III]]''
|1756
|22 September 1762 – 24 April 1813
|24 April 1813
|
|-
|
|''[[Sambhaji III]]''
|1801
|24 April 1813 – 2 July 1821
|2 July 1821
|
|-
|
|''[[Shivaji IV]]''
|1816
|July 2, 1821 – Jan 03 1822
|January 3, 1822
|
|-
|
|''[[Shahaji of Kolhapur|Shahaji I]]''
|22 January 1802
|3 January 1822 – 29 November 1838
|29 November 1838
|
|-
|[[File:Shivaji_V.gif|118x118px]]
|''[[Shivaji V]]''
|26 December 1830
|1838–1866
|4 August 1866
|
|-
|[[File:Rajaram_Chatrapati_of_Kolhapur_01.jpg|102x102px]]
|''[[Rajaram II of Kolhapur|Rajaram II]]''
|April 13, 1850
|August 18, 1866 – November 30, 1870
|November 30, 1870
|
|-
|[[File:Shivaji_VI.jpg|117x117px]]
|''[[Shivaji VI]]''
|April 5, 1863
|1871–1883
|December 25, 1883
|
|-
|[[File:Maharajah_of_Kolhapur_1912.jpg|114x114px]]
|''[[Shahu of Kolhapur|Shahu IV (overall)Shahu I of Kolhapur]]''
|26 June 1874
|2 April 1894 – 6 May 1922
|6 May 1922
|
|-
|[[File:Rajaram_III.jpg|102x102px]]
|''[[Rajaram III]]''
|31 July 1897
|1922–1940
|26 November 1940
|
|-
|[[File:Shivaji_VII.jpg|109x109px]]
|''[[Shivaji VII]]''
|22 November 1941
|31 December 1941 – 28 September 1946
|28 September 1946
|
|-
|[[File:Shahaji_II.jpg|109x109px]]
|''[[Shahaji II]]''
|4 April 1910
|1947–1971
|9 May 1983
|
|}

=== Nagpur state ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Image
!Name
!Birth
!Reign
!Death
!Notes
|-
|[[File:Raghuji_Raje_Bhosle.jpg|116x116px]]
|[[Raghoji I Bhonsle|Raghoji I]]
|1695
|1739  –  14 February 1755
|14 February 1755
|First Bhonsle ruler of [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]].
|-
|[[File:Janoji_Bhosale.jpg|96x96px]]
|''[[Janoji of Nagpur|Janoji]]''
|
|14 February 1755  – 21 May 1772
|21 May 1772
|
|-
|[[File:Mudhoji_Bhosale_I.jpg|122x122px]]
|[[Mudhoji Bhonsle|Mudhoji I]]
|
|21 May 1772  – 19 May 1788
|19 May 1788
|
|-
|[[File:Raghuji_Bhosale_II.jpg|115x115px]]
|[[Raghoji II Bhonsle|Raghoji II]]
|
|19 May 1788  –  22 March 1816
|22 March 1816
|
|-
|
|Parsoji
|1788
|22 March 1816 –  2 Feb 1817
|2 Feb 1817
|
|-
|[[File:Mudhoji_Bhosale_II_Appasaheb.jpg|80x80px]]
|[[Mudhoji II Bhonsle|Mudhoji II]]
|1796
|2 Feb 1817  –  15 Mar 1818
|15 Mar 1818
|
|-
|[[File:Raghuji_Bhosale_III.jpg|80x80px]]
|[[Raghuji Bhonsle III|Raghuji III]]
|1808
|15 Mar 1818 – 11 Dec 1853
|11 Dec 1853
|Last Bhonsle ruler of [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]].
|}

== Family tree ==
{{Chart top|Family tree of Maratha Chhatrapatis|width=100%|collapsed=no}}

{{Tree chart/start|align=center|style=font-size:95%}}

{{legend-line|black solid 2px|Biological Child}}

{{legend-line|black dotted 2px|Adopted Child}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||||||A01|||||||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01=[[Maloji Bhosale|Maloji<br>Bhosale]]}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||||||!|||||||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||||||A01|||||||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01=[[Shahaji|Shahaji<br>Bhosale]]}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||||||)|-|-|-|.|||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||||||A01||A02|||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01='''[[Shivaji|Shivaji I]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(1)</sup><br><small>r. 1674-1680</small>|boxstyle_A01=border-color:#FFA500|A02='''[[Vyankoji Bhosale|Vyankoji I]]'''<br><small>''Raja of<br>Thanjavur''<br>r. 1675-1684</small>}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||||||!||||!|||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||||||!|||A01|||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01=''[[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom#Family tree|Thanjavur<br>Branch]]''|boxstyle_A01=border-width:0px}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|.|||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||A01||A02|y|A03|||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01='''[[Sambhaji|Sambhaji I]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(2)</sup><br><small>r. 1681-1689</small>|boxstyle_A01=border-color:#FFA500|A02=[[Tarabai]]|A03='''[[Rajaram I]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(3)</sup><br><small>r. 1689-1700</small>|boxstyle_A03=border-color:#FFA500}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||!||||,|-|'||!|||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||A01||A02||A03|||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01='''[[Shahu I]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(5)</sup><br><small>r. 1707-1749</small>|boxstyle_A01=border-color:#FFA500|A02='''[[Shivaji II]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(4)</sup><br><small>r. 1700-1707</small><br><small>''Raja of<br>Kolhapur''</small><br><small>r. 1710-1714</small>|boxstyle_A02=border-color:#FFA500|A03='''[[Sambhaji I of Kolhapur|Sambhaji II]]'''<br><small>''Raja of<br>Kolhapur''<br>r. 1714-1760</small>}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||Q||||!||||!|||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||Q|||A01||A02|||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01=?|boxstyle_A01=border-width:0px|A02=''[[Kolhapur State#Family tree (Simplified)|Kolhapur<br>Branch]]''|boxstyle_A02=border-width:0px}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||Y|P|P|T|!|||||||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||||||A01|||||||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01='''[[Rajaram II of Satara|Rajaram II]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(6)</sup><br><small>r. 1749-1777</small>|boxstyle_A01=border-color:#FFA500}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||||||Q|||||||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||||||A01|||||||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01='''[[Shahu II of Satara|Shahu II]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(7)</sup><br><small>r. 1777-1808</small>|boxstyle_A01=border-color:#FFA500}}

{{Tree chart||||||||||||||||||||||,|-|^|-|.|||||||||||||||||||||||border=1}}

{{Tree chart|||||||||||||||||||||A01||A02|||||||||||||||||||||border=1|A01='''[[Pratap Singh (Raja of Satara)|Pratap<br>Singh]]'''<br><small>'''''[[Chhatrapati]]'''''</small><br><sup>(8)</sup><br><small>r. 1808-1818</small><br><small>''Raja of<br>Satara''</small><br><small>r. 1818-1839</small>|boxstyle_A01=border-color:#FFA500|A02='''[[Raja Shahaji of Satara|Shahaji]]'''<br><small>''Raja of<br>Satara''<br>r. 1839-1848</small>}}

{{Tree chart/end}}

{{Chart bottom}}

== See also ==

* [[List of Maratha dynasties and states]]

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|last=Montgomery|first=Bernard Law|author-link=Bernard Montgomery|title=A Concise History of Warfare|url=https://archive.org/details/concisehistoryof0000unse_r8u2|url-access=registration|year=1972|publisher=Collins|isbn=9780001921498}}
* {{cite book|last=Sen|first=Sailendra Nath |title=An Advanced History of Modern India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXWiACEwPR8C&pg=PA1941-IA82|year=2010|publisher=Macmillan India|isbn=978-0-230-32885-3|pages=1941–}}

{{improve categories|date=October 2023}}

[[Category:Bhonsle dynasty| ]]
[[Category:Marathi families]]
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:Hindu dynasties]]