Chhatrapati is a royal title from

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

language.The word ‘Chhatrapati’ is a

language compound word (

tatpurusha Sanskrit inherits from its parent, the Proto-Indo-European language, the capability of forming compound nouns, also widely seen in kindred languages, especially German, Greek, and also English. However, Sanskrit, especially in the later stages of ...

) of ''

chhatra The ''chhatra'' (from sa, छत्र, meaning "umbrella") "jewelled/precious parasol" is an auspicious symbol in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The ''chhatra'' in various traditions According to Hindu mythology, it is the emblem of Varuna, ...

'' (''parasol'' or ''umbrella'') and ''pati'' (''master/lord/ruler''). This title was used by the

House of Bhonsle The Bhonsle (or Bhonsale, Bhosale, Bhosle) are a prominent group within the Maratha clan system of kunbi origin. They claimed descent from the Sisodia Rajputs but were likely Kunbi tiller-plainsmen. History Earliest members The earliest a ...

. The title "Chhatrapati" was created by

Shivaji Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adils ...

upon his coronation, and this was also held by his immediate successors, namely

Sambhaji Sambhaji Bhosale (14 May 1657 – 11 March 1689) was the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire, ruling from 1681 to 1689. He was the eldest son of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. Sambhaji's rule was largely shaped by the ongoing ...

, Rajaram, and Shahu. After the death of Shahu, however, the increasing power of the

Peshwa The Peshwa (Pronunciation: e(ː)ʃʋaː was the appointed (later becoming hereditary) prime minister of the Maratha Empire of the Indian subcontinent. Originally, the Peshwas served as subordinates to the Chhatrapati (the Maratha king); later, ...

s reduced his successors to a nominal position although they continue to use the title to this day. The states of Satara and Kolhapur came into being in 1707, because of the succession dispute over the royalty.

Shahuji Chhatrapati Shahu Bhosale I (Pronunciation: �aːɦuː CE) was the fifth Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire founded by his grandfather, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Born into the Bhonsle family, he was the son of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj ...

, the heir apparent to the Maratha kingdom, captured by the

Mughals The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...

at the age of nine, remained their prisoner at the death of his father

, the elder son of Shivaji the founder of the

Maratha Empire The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern Indian confederation that came to dominate much of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Maratha rule formally began in 1674 with the coronation of Shi ...

, in 1689. The dowager Maharani

Tarabai Tarabai Bhosale (Pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, ̪aːɾabaːi ''née'' Mohite) was the regent of the Maratha Empire of India from 1700 until 1708. She was the queen of Rajaram Chhatrapati, Rajaram Bhonsale, and daughter-in-law of the emp ...

(wife of

Rajaram I Rajaram Bhosle I (Pronunciation: �aːd͡ʒaɾaːm – 3 March 1700) was the third ''Chhatrapati'' of Maratha Empire, who ruled from 1689 to his death in 1700. He was the second son of the Shivaji, the founder of the empire and younger half- ...

) proclaimed her son

Shivaji II Shivaji II of Maratha Empire, later Shivaji I of Kolhapur (9 June 1696 – 14 March 1726) was the son of the Maratha Chhatrapati, Rajaram I, and his wife Tarabai. Biography He was born in Bhonsle family. Upon the death of his father, t ...

, as Chhatrapati under her regency. The Mughals released Shahu under certain conditions in 1707, and he returned to claim his inheritance. He defeated the regent at the Battle of Khed and established himself at Satara, forcing her to retire with her son to Kolhapur. By 1710 two separate principalities had become an established fact. Shivaji II and Tarabai were soon deposed by the other wife of Rajaram, Rajasbai. She installed her own son,

Sambhaji II Sambhaji II or Sambhaji I of Kolhapur (1698 - 18 December 1760) was a Raja of Kolhapur from Bhonsle dynasty. He was a grandson of Shivaji and the second son of Chhatrapati Rajaram with his second wife, Rajasbai. After defeat by Shahu, Sambh ...

as the new ruler of Kolhapur. Sambhaji II signed the "Treaty of Warana" in 1731 with his cousin

to formalize the two separate seats of Bhonsle family.

Initial Chhatrapatis

This is the list of the initial Chhatrapatis.

Chhatrapatis of Satara

This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of Satara.Maheshwari, K.K. & K.W. Wiggins (1989). ''Maratha Mints and Coinage'', Nashik: Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies, pp.205–6

Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur

This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarter of the Kolhapur district. In, around 2 C.E. Kolapur's name was 'Kuntal'. Kolhapur is kn ...

Notes

References

* V.S. Kadam, 1993. ''Maratha Confederacy: A Study in its Origin and Development''. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi. * D.B. Kasar, ''Rigveda to Rajgarh – Making of Shivaji the Great''. Manudevi Prakashan, Mumbai. {{MarathaEmpire Titles in India Titles of national or ethnic leadership Royal titles Men's social titles Hindu dynasties Maratha Empire

Initial Chhatrapatis

Chhatrapatis of Satara

Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur

See also

Notes

References