Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.JPG

Chhatrapati is a royal title from Sanskrit language.The word ‘Chhatrapati’ is a Sanskrit language compound word (tatpurusha in Sanskrit) of ''Chatra (umbrella), chhatra'' (''parasol'' or ''umbrella'') and ''pati'' (''master/lord/ruler''). This title was used by the House of Bhonsle.

The title "Chhatrapati" was created by Shivaji upon his coronation, and this was also held by his immediate successors, namely Sambhaji, Rajaram I, Rajaram, and Shahu I, Shahu. After the death of Shahu I, Shahu, however, the increasing power of the Maratha Peshwa and Generals from Bhat Family, Peshwas 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, the heir apparent to the Maratha kingdom, captured by the Mughal Empire, Mughals at the age of nine, remained their prisoner at the death of his father Sambhaji, the elder son of Shivaji the founder of the Maratha Empire, in 1689. The dowager Maharani Tarabai (wife of Rajaram I) proclaimed her son Shivaji II, 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 as the new ruler of Kolhapur. Sambhaji II signed the "Treaty of Warana" in 1731 with his cousin Shahu I, Shahuji 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 State, 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 State, Kolhapur.

See also

* House of Bhonsle
* Maratha
* Maratha titles

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.

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Titles in India
Titles of national or ethnic leadership
Royal titles
Men's social titles
Hindu dynasties
Maratha Empire