FrancisClement at 01:26, 29 September 2025

2025-09-29T01:26:49Z

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{{short description|Maratha royal house that ruled the Nagpur Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Noble house
| surname = Bhonsles of Nagpur
| estate = [[Nagpur Kingdom|Kingdom of Nagpur]]
| image = Nagpur State flag.png
| image_size = 130px
| image_caption = State flag
| country = [[Nagpur Kingdom|Kingdom of Nagpur]]
| parent house = [[House of Bhonsle]]
| titles = ''Sena Sahib Subah'', ''[[Sardar]]'', [[Maharaja]] of [[Nagpur]]
| members =
| founder = [[Raghoji I]]
| final ruler = [[Raghuji Bhonsle III|Raghuji III]]
| current head = Raghuji V
| founding year = 1739
| cadet branches =
}}
[[File:Bhonsle kingdom of Nagpur.png|thumb|Bhonsle kingdom of Nagpur]]
The '''Bhonsles of Nagpur''' were a [[Maratha]] royal house that ruled the [[Nagpur Kingdom|Kingdom of Nagpur]] from 1739-1853.<ref name="education">{{cite book |author1=S. Shabbir |title=History of Educational Development in Vidarbha, 1882–1923 A.D. |date=2005 |publisher=Northern Book Centre |isbn=9788172111878 |pages=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PJa3x6lrg7UC&dq=bhonsles+of+nagpur&pg=PA3 |language=English |format=Hardcover}}</ref> They hailed from the [[House of Bhonsle (Royal House)|Bhonsle]] clan of Marathas and were one of the most important and powerful Maratha chiefs in the [[Maratha Empire]].

==Origin==
The Bhonsle family branch of Raghoji was known as Hinganikar as they were originally chiefs of Berdi near Hingani in [[Pune District]], established by Bimbaji Bhonsle I. The earliest prominent historically relevant members of the branch were the two brothers Rupaji I and Mudhoji Bhonsle. They served under [[Shivaji Maharaj]], a fellow Bhonsle clansman of the Verulkar branch. Mudhoji was bestowed with Pandogarh mauza in Maharashtra as a jagir for his spectacular exploits and his brother Rupaji I resided at Bham in the district of [[Yavatmal]].<ref>Proceedings of Indian History Congress Volume 36 - Page 311 [https://books.google.com/books?id=cOBtAAAAMAAJ&q=rupaji+pandogarh]</ref> Though Chhatrapati Shivaji favoured Rupaji, as Rupaji I was childless, his fiefdom passed over to his brother Mudhoji, which gave Hinganikar Bhonsles a foothold in [[Amravati_district|east Maharashtra]] for future conquests. Mudhoji had three sons, Bapuji, Sabaji, and Parsoji who were entrusted with high military command and the forcible collection of ''chauth'' (tribute) in the Mughal territories of [[Amravati_district|Berar]]. Mudhoji's son Sabaji was given the villages of Rakhswari and Poorkikotar; however, it was Parsoji who attained the highest position in the family during the [[Mughal-Maratha Wars]]. The title of "''Senasahibsubha''" (meaning Master of provinces and armies) was bestowed on Parsoji Bhonsle by [[Rajaram_I|Chhatrapati Rajaram]], along with rights to regions of [[Deogarh_Fort|Devgad]], [[Gondwana]], [[Chandrapur|Chanda]] and [[Nagpur_district|Varhad]] from where he could exact tribute and effectively settle. Bapuji only had one son Bimbaji who was the father of Raghuji I. Parsoji had three sons; Santaji, Kanhoji and Ranoji each with a distinguished career. Senasahibsubha Parsoji Bhonsle was among the first Maratha lords to pledge himself and his army of 20,000 to Chhatrapati [[Shahu I]] after his escape from Mughal camp. In recognition of these acts of loyalty, Shahu had the title of ''Senasahibsubha'' reconfirmed in 1708, along with various sanads for Parsoji.

Parsoji's son, Santaji Bhonsle, was part of various campaigns of Chhatrapati Shivaji and the other commanders, until his murder in Delhi during the 1719 campaign to depose [[Farrukhsiyar]] led by Senapati [[Khanderao Dabhade]]. Ranoji was given the title of Sawai Santaji (meaning Superior Santaji) along with other compensations for the loss of his brother's life. In 1722, [[Shahu_I|Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj]] presented Badnera and [[Amravati]] to Ranoji, further extending the presence of Hinganikar Bhonsles in the east. Kanhoji went on to secure the family title of Senasahibsubha after the death of Parsoji in 1709 or 1710. Senasahibsubha Kanhoji ruled for twenty years and laid the foundation of a strict rule in east Maharashtra.<ref>Kanhoji ruled for twenty years and paved the foundation of a solid rule in BerarCoinage of the Bhonsla Rajas of Nagpur by Prashant P. Kulkarni pg. 7 [https://books.google.com/books?id=51caAAAAYAAJ&q=kanhoji+parsoji]</ref><ref name="generals">{{cite book |title=Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas |date=1 August 2014 |publisher=Pratik gupta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqYiBAAAQBAJ&dq=raghoji+i+bhonsle&pg=PA80 |language=en}}</ref> the

==Ascension to power==
After [[Chand Sultan]], the Gond raja of Nagpur's death in 1739,<ref name="community"/> there were quarrels over the succession, leading to the throne being usurped by Wali Shah,<ref name="society"/><ref name="hunter"/><ref name="chanda">{{cite book |last1=Thusu |first1=Kidar Nath |title=Gond Kingdom of Chanda: With Particular Reference to Its Political Structure |date=1980 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoAtAAAAMAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref> an illegitimate son of [[Bakht Buland Shah]].<ref name="society"/><ref name="vidarbha"/> Chand Sultan's widow invoked the aid of the Maratha leader Raghuji 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. The Maratha general judged that Nagpur must be a plentiful and rich country by the magnificence of his reward.<ref name="chanda"/><ref name="host">{{cite book |title=Host Bibliographic Record for Boundwith Item Barcode 30112050248951 and Others |date=2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4b4uPjJJFOkC&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref><ref name="berar">{{cite book |last1=Sil |first1=Jogendra Nath |title=History of the Central Provinces and Berar |date=1917 |publisher=J.N. Sil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=emxBAQAAMAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref><ref name="gazetteer mp">{{cite book |last=Krishnan |first=V. S. |title=Madhya Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chhindwara |date=1995 |publisher=Government Central Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSELAQAAIAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bulletin">{{cite book |title=Bulletin of the Anthropological Survey of India |date=1976 |publisher=Director, Anthropological Survey of India, Indian Museum |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvK-QHwRM9YC&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref><ref name="man">{{cite book |last1=Bahadur) |first1=Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai |title=Man in India |date=1979 |publisher=A. K. Bose |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1O9EAQAAIAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref><ref name="gazetter mah">{{cite book |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Bhandara |date=1979 |publisher=Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WK9hAAAAIAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref><ref name="society">{{cite book |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 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSFYAAAAcAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=RA2-PA8 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="buddhism">{{cite book |last1=Naik |first1=C. D. |title=Buddhism and Dalits: Social Philosophy and Traditions |date=2010 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-792-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VrlLNltm5dMC&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=PA199 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="community">{{cite book |last1=Kurup |first1=Ayyappan Madhava |title=Continuity and Change in a Little Community |date=1986 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCNfWRGXd04C&q=king+of+deogarh+chand+sultan&pg=PA8 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="hunter">{{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=William Wilson |title=Naaf to Rangmagiri |date=1881 |publisher=Trübner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYoIAAAAQAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=PA30 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="vidarbha">{{cite book |last1=Deogaonkar |first1=Shashishekhar Gopal |title=The Gonds of Vidarbha |date=2007 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-474-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X39c2VODLT0C&pg=PA16 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="railways">{{cite book |title=Indian Railways |date=1997 |publisher=Railway Board |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzNUAAAAMAAJ&q=bakht+buland+shah |language=en}}</ref>

However, dissensions continued between the brothers and once again, the elder brother Burhan Shah requested the aid of Raghuji Bhonsla. Akbar Shah was driven into exile and finally poisoned at [[Hyderabad]]. However this time, Ragoji Bhonsle did not have the heart to leave such a plentiful and rich country, with it being within his grasp.<ref name="hunter"/><ref name="society"/> He declared himself '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="community"/> A series of Maratha rulers came to power following the fall of the Gonds from the throne of [[Nagpur Kingdom|Nagpur]], starting with Raghoji Bhonsle.<ref name= "hotels">{{cite web|url=http://www.nagpur-hotels.com/nagpur-tourism/history-of-nagpur-people.aspx|title=Nagpur – History – People – Art and Culture – Festivals|publisher=Nagpur-hotels.com|access-date=25 November 2016|archive-date=9 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509161614/http://nagpur-hotels.com/nagpur-tourism/history-of-nagpur-people.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gond King |url=http://nagpur.nic.in/zpnagpur/English/history.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531051603/http://nagpur.nic.in/zpnagpur/English/history.htm |archivedate=2014-05-31 }}</ref>

==History==
The Bhonsles of Nagpur were near relations of [[Shahu I|Chhatrapati Shahu]], who raised them to riches and power.<ref name="maratha history">{{cite book |author1=R.S. Chaurasia |title=History of the Marathas |date=2004 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors |isbn=9788126903948 |pages=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D_v3Y7hns8QC&dq=bhonsles+of+nagpur&pg=PA89 |language=English |format=Hardcover}}</ref> [[Raghoji I Bhonsle]] overran Bengal & Bihar during the reign of [[Alivardi Khan]], occupying Orissa from [[Nawab of Bengal|the Nawab]].<ref name="maratha part 2 v4"/><ref name="ebook">{{cite book |author1=Poonam Dalal Dahiya |title=Ancient and Medieval India Ebook |date=15 September 2017 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=9789352606733 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbU6DwAAQBAJ&dq=bhonsles+of+nagpur&pg=PT876 |language=English |format=EBook |quote=The Bhonsles of Nagpur were clearly subordinate to the Satara rulers. An important ruler from this line was Raghuji Bhonsle (c.1727–55 CE), who was responsible for the Maratha incursions on Bengal and Bihar in the 1740s & early 1750s. He occupied Orissa from Nawab Alivardi Khan.}}</ref> However, they did not play any part in the [[Third Battle of Panipat]] and [[First Anglo-Maratha War]], so they gradually sank to a secondary position in the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]].<ref name="maratha history"/> The reason for their half-hearted cooperation with the other Maratha chiefs was that they were bribed by [[Warren Hastings]].<ref name="maratha history"/> They were generally opposed to the ''[[Peshwa]]'', and claimed independent authority as they essentially controlled the Gond king of Nagpur.<ref name="maratha part 2 v4">{{cite book |author1=Stewart Gordon |title=The Marathas 1600-1818 Part 2, Volume 4 |date=February 2007 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521033169 |pages=158 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C&dq=bhonsles+of+nagpur&pg=PA132 |language=English |format=Paperback}}</ref>

==Deposition==
[[Raghuji Bhonsle III]] died without a male heir in 1853, and the kingdom was annexed by the British under the [[doctrine of lapse]].<ref name="princes">{{cite book |author1=Barbara N. Ramusack |title=The Indian Princes and Their States |date=8 January 2004 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781139449083 |pages=82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kz1-mtazYqEC&q=bhonsles+of+nagpur |language=English |format=EBook}}</ref><ref name="education"/> The territories of the former kingdom was administered as [[Nagpur Province]], under a commissioner appointed by the Governor-General of India, until the formation of the Central Provinces in 1861.<ref name="case of nagpur study">{{cite book |author1=Dr Murhari Kele |title=Distribution Franchisee Business The Case Study of Nagpur |date=2015 |publisher=Dr Murhari Kele |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wq4KEAAAQBAJ&dq=bhonsles+of+nagpur&pg=PA81 |language=English}}</ref>

==Rulers==
* [[Raghoji I Bhonsle]] (1739{{snd}}14{{nbsp}}Feb 1755)
* [[Janoji of Nagpur|Janoji Bhonsle]] (1755{{snd}}21 May 1772)
* [[Mudhoji Bhonsle]] (1772{{snd}}19 May 1788)
* [[Raghoji II Bhonsle]] (1788{{snd}}22{{nbsp}}Mar 1816)
* Parsoji Bhonsle (1816{{snd}} 2 Feb 1817) (b.{{nbsp}}1778{{snd}}d.{{nbsp}}1817)
* [[Mudhoji II Bhonsle]] "Appa Sahib" (1817{{snd}}15{{nbsp}}Mar 1818) (b. 1796{{snd}}d.{{nbsp}}1840)
* [[Raghuji Bhonsle III]] (1818{{snd}}11{{nbsp}}Dec 1853) (b.{{nbsp}}1808{{snd}}d.{{nbsp}}1853)
*Janoji Bhonsle II
*Raghuji Bhonsle IV
*Fatehsingh Rao Bhonsle

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Maratha clans]]
[[Category:Nagpur]]

Bhonsles of Nagpur - Revision history

FrancisClement at 01:26, 29 September 2025