Locweld at 20:16, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T20:16:23Z

New page

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox former monarchy
| royal_title = [[Chhatrapati]]
| native_name = {{lang|mr|मराठा छत्रपती}} {{small|{{transliteration|mr|Marāṭhā Chatrapatī}}}}
| realm = [[Maratha Empire]]
| coatofarms = {{box|type=transparent|padding=0px|[[File:Shivaji seal, reproduction.jpg|100px]]}}
| coatofarmssize = 100px
| coatofarmscaption = Imperial coat of arms (''Rajmudra'')
| image = Chhatrapati Pratapsingh.jpg
| caption = '''Last to reign''' [[Pratap Singh of Satara|Pratap Singh]] 3 May 1808 – 3 June 1818
| first_monarch = [[Shivaji Maharaj|Shivaji I]]
| last_monarch = [[Pratap Singh of Satara|Pratap Singh]]
| style = [[Imperial Majesty|His Imperial Majesty]] (राजे) ''Kshatriyakulavanta'' (क्षत्रियकुलवंता) ''Sinhasanadhishwara'' (सिंहसनधीश्वर)
| residence = {{plainlist|
*[[Raigad Fort]] (1674–1708)
*[[Ajinkyatara|Ajinkyatara Fort]] (1708–1818)
*[[Gingee Fort]] (1708–1745; ''de jure'')}}
| appointer = Hereditary
| began = 6 June 1674
| ended = 3 June 1818
| border = imperial
| pretender = *[[Udayanraje Bhosale|Udayanraje Bhonsale of Satara]]
*[[Shahu II of Kolhapur]]
}}

The [[Chhatrapati]] was the [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarch]] of the [[Maratha Empire]], from the late 17th century to the early 19th century, on the [[Indian subcontinent]], mainly corresponding to the modern countries of [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="XWiACEwPR8C p.16">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXWiACEwPR8C&q=Tukoji&pg=PR22|title=An Advanced History of Modern India|first=Sailendra Nath|last=Sen|date=October 10, 2010|publisher=Macmillan India|isbn=978-0-230-32885-3 |via=Google Books}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Many historians consider [[Peshawar]] to be the final frontier of the Maratha Empire<ref>Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bharatiya Itihasa Samiti, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar – ''[[The History and Culture of the Indian People]]: The Maratha supremacy''</ref>|group=note}} Starting in 1720s, the [[Bhat family|Peshwas]] were instrumental in expanding the Maratha Empire to cover large areas of the Indian subcontinent. Peshwas served as subordinates to the Chhatrapati, but later, they became the generals of the Maratha Army, and the Chhatrapati was reduced to a nominal ruler. Their power rapidly dwindled during the 19th century and later Peshwas also were reduced to nominal ruler under various Maratha nobles and later [[British East India Company]]. The last Peshwa was deposed in 1818.<ref name="pearson">{{Cite journal |first=M. N. |last=Pearson |title=Shivaji and the Decline of the Mughal Empire |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=35 |issue=2 |date=February 1976 |pages=221–235 |jstor=2053980 |doi=10.2307/2053980|s2cid=162482005 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aqqBPS1TDUgC&pg=PA28|title=Delhi, the Capital of India|first=John|last=Capper|date=October 10, 1997|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=9788120612822 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXWiACEwPR8C&pg=PA1941-IA82|title=An Advanced History of Modern India|first=Sailendra Nath|last=Sen|date=October 10, 2010|publisher=Macmillan India|isbn=978-0-230-32885-3 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

== Chhatrapatis ==

=== Shivaji and his early descendants ===
This is the list of the initial Chhatrapatis.

{| class="wikitable"
! Image
! Name
! Birth
! Reign
! Death
! Notes
|-
| [[File:Shivaji British Museum.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Shivaji]]''
| 19 February 1630<ref>{{Cite book | editor=Indu Ramchandani | title=Student's Britannica: India (Set of 7 Vols.) 39 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPP7O3nb3g0C&pg=PA8 | year=2000 | publisher=Popular Prakashan | isbn=978-0-85229-760-5 | page=8 }}</ref>
| 6 June 1674 – 3 April 1680
| 3 April 1680
| The founder of the Maratha Kingdom, which eventually grew into the [[Maratha Empire ]]. He defeated formidable enemies with a small, skilled army using [[guerrilla warfare]]. Known as the Father of the Indian Navy, he established a strong [[Maratha Navy]], securing coastal trade routes and defending against foreign invaders like the Portuguese and Siddis. His well-planned sea forts, warships, and strategic naval tactics helped the Marathas dominate the Arabian Sea. He appointed [[Kanhoji Angre]] as the Maratha naval chief. His spy network was highly efficient, well-organized, and deeply embedded within enemy territories. He appointed [[Bahirji Naik]] as the head of the intelligence department in the army. Backed by a strong spy network and precise intelligence, he strategically planned and executed the swift and successful [[Sack of Surat]]. His assassination of the Mughal general [[Afzal Khan (general)|Afzal Khan]] in the [[Battle of Pratapgad]] during a parlay was achieved through deception.

|-
| [[File:Maharaja Sambhajiraje, late 17th century.png|80px]]
| ''[[Sambhaji]]''
| 14 May 1657
| 16 January 1681 – 11 March 1689
| 11 March 1689
|
|-
| [[File:Chhatrapati Rajaram.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Rajaram I|Rajaram]]''
| 24 February 1670
| 11 March 1689 – 3 March 1700
| 3 March 1700
|
|-
|
| ''[[Shivaji II]] (Regent Tarabai)''
| 9 June 1696
| March 1700 – 1707, 1710–2 August 1714 (Kolhapur State)
| 14 March 1726
|
|-
| [[File:Copy of Shahu (3).jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Shahu I|Shahu]]''
| 18 May 1682
| 12 January 1708 – 15 December 1749
| 15 December 1749
|
|-
|[[File:Chhatrapati Pratapsingh.jpg|80x80px]]
|''[[Pratap Singh of Satara|Pratap Singh]]''
|18 January 1793
|3 May 1808 – 3 June 1818
|14 October 1847
|
|}

=== Chhatrapatis of Satara ===
This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of [[Satara State|Satara]].<ref name="a">Maheshwari, K.K. & K.W. Wiggins (1989). ''Maratha Mints and Coinage'', Nashik: Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies, pp.205–6</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Image
! Name
! Birth
! Reign
! Death
! Notes
|-
| [[File:Copy of Shahu (3).jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Shahu I]]''
| 18 May 1682
| 12 January 1708 – 15 December 1749
| 15 December 1749
|
|-
|
| ''[[Rajaram II of Satara|Rajaram II]]''
| June 1726
| 15 December 1749 – 11 December 1777
| 11 December 1777
|
|-
|
| ''[[Shahu II of Satara|Shahu II]]''
| 1763
| 11 December 1777 – 3 May 1808
| 3 May 1808
|
|-
| [[File:Chhatrapati Pratapsingh.jpg|80px]]
| ''Pratapsingh''
| 18 January 1793
| 3 June 1818 – 5 September 1839
| 14 October 1847
|
|-
| [[File:Shahaji Appa Saheb Chhatrapati.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Raja Shahaji of Satara|Shahaji]]''
| 1802
| 5 September 1839 – 5 April 1848
| 5 April 1848
|
|}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesFarEast/India_Modern_Marathas14.htm|title = The Marathas: Post Shahu Chatrapatis of Satara}}</ref>

=== Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur ===
This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of [[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur]].<ref name="a" />

{| class="wikitable"
! Image
! Name
! Birth
! Reign
! Death
! Notes
|-
|
| ''[[Shivaji II]]''
| 9 June 1696
| 1700–1707, 1710–1714 (Kolhapur State)
| 14 March 1726
|
|-
| [[File:Idols of Sambhaji I of Kolhapur with Queen Jijabai (cropped).jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Sambhaji II]]''
| 1698
| 1714–1760
| 18 December 1760
|
|-
| [[File:Idol of Shivaji II of Kolhapur.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[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|80px]]
| ''[[Shivaji V]]''
| 26 December 1830
| 1838–1866
| 4 August 1866
|
|-
| [[File:Rajaram Chatrapati of Kolhapur 01.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Rajaram II of Kolhapur|Rajaram II]]''
| April 13, 1850
| August 18, 1866 – November 30, 1870
| November 30, 1870
|
|-
| [[File:Shivaji VI.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Shivaji VI]]''
| April 5, 1863
| 1871–1883
| December 25, 1883
|
|-
| [[File:Maharajah of Kolhapur 1912.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[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|80px]]
| ''[[Rajaram III]]''
| 31 July 1897
| 1922–1940
| 26 November 1940
|
|-
| [[File:Shivaji VII.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Shivaji VII]]''
| 22 November 1941
| 31 December 1941 – 28 September 1946
| 28 September 1946
|
|-
| [[File:Shahaji II.jpg|80px]]
| ''[[Shahaji II]]''
| 4 April 1910
| 1947–1971
| 9 May 1983
|
|}
[[File:Genealogy of Kolhapur Maharajas.jpg|left|thumb|Genealogy of Kolhapur Chhatrapatis]]
{{clear}}

== Peshwas (Prime Minister) ==

=== Early Peshwas ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Image
! Name
! Birth
! Reign
! Death
! Notes
|-
|
|[[Moropant Trimbak Pingle]]
|1620
|1674–1683
|1683
|
|-
|
|[[Moreshvar Pingale|Nilakanth Moreshvar Pingale]]
|
|1683–1689
|1689
|
|-
|[[File:Ramchandrapant Amatya.jpg|80px]]
|[[Ramchandra Pant Amatya]]
|1650
|1689–1708
|1716
|
|-jAI GAGADAMB
|1708–1711
|Bahirojipant Pingale
|
|-
|
|[[Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi|Parshuram Trimbak Kulkarni]]
|1660
|1711–1713
|1718
|
|-
|}

=== Peshwas (Bhat family) ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Image
! Name
! Birth
! Reign
! Death
! Notes
|-
| [[File:His Highness Balaji Vishwanath Peshwa.jpg|80px]]
| [[Balaji Vishwanath]] (Sixth appointed Peshwa)
| 1 January 1662
| 16 November 1713 – 12 April 1720
| 12 April 1720
| Assisted the [[Sayyid Brothers|Syed Brothers]] in deposing the Mughal Emperor [[Farrukhsiyar]] in 1719
|-
| [[File:Peshwa Baji Rao I riding horse.jpg|80px]]
| [[Bajirao|Baji Rao I]] (Seventh appointed Peshwa)
| 18 August 1700
| 17 April 1720 – 28 April 1740
| 28 April 1740
| Known as Thorle (elder) Bajirao and acknowledged as the most influential of the nine Peshwas. Said to have fought for the establishment of "Hindu Pad Padshahi"(Hindu Empire). Helped conquer Central India ([[Malwa]]) and [[Rajputana]] and extended his dominions into [[Gujarat]] in the northwest and Deccan in the south. Attacked Delhi in 1737. Fought in over 41 battles and is one of the few to have never lost a single battle. Died at the age of 40 of sudden fever in camp en route to Delhi; he has been commemorated in the form of an equestrian statue erected at [[Shaniwar Wada]] in Pune.
|-
| [[File:Painting at Prince of Wales museum.jpg|80px]]
| [[Nanasaheb Peshwa|Balaji Bajirao]] (Eighth appointed Peshwa)
| 8 December 1720
| August 1740 – 23 June 1761
| 23 June 1761
| Known as Nanasaheb Peshwa. Managed to extend the Maratha territories into most of North-West, East and Central India. Captured [[Attock]] on the banks of the [[Indus River]] and [[Peshawar]] in 1758 in the [[Battle of Attock, 1758]]. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire reached its peak but his general and cousin lost the [[Third Battle of Panipat]] against Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761. Contributed to the development of the city of Pune which was the seat of the Peshwas. Built the famous [[Parvati Temple, Pune|Parvati Temple]], Lakdi Pool and established Nana Peth (area) in Pune. Built a water reservoir near [[Katraj]] to provide clean water to Pune city; this 250-year-old system is still functioning.
|-
| [[File:Madhavrao I Peshwa.png|80px]]
| [[Madhavrao I]] (First hereditary Peshwa)
| 15 February 1745
| 23 June 1761 – 18 November 1772
| 18 November 1772
| Fraught with internal dissensions and successful Wars with the [[Nizam]]. During his tenure, Maratha power recovered from the losses suffered during the Third Battle of Panipat, a phenomenon known as Maratha Resurrection. Repaired the recently weakened administration, treasury, and accounts of the Maratha Empire. He died of tuberculosis in 1772; a memorial commemorating his greatness stands at Peshwe Park in Pune. One of the theory says that he was assassinated by her aunt, Anandi Bai (wife of Raghunath Rao).
|-
|  [[File:Narayan Rao.jpg|80px]]
| [[Narayan Rao]]
| 10 August 1755
| 13 December 1772 – 30 August 1773
| 30 August 1773
| [[Assassination of Narayan Rao|Assassinated]] by Gardi guards. Raghunath Rao was in favor of just kidnapping him and accordingly he used the code "DHARA". But Anandi Bai (wife of Raghunath Rao) changed the code to "MAARA". Narayan Rao was assassinated in Shanivar Wada. Nowadays, it is considered one of the haunted place in Maharashtra.
|-
| [[File:Ragonath Row Ballajee.jpg|80px]]
| [[Raghunathrao]]
| 18 August 1734
| 5 December 1773 – 28 May 1774
| 11 December 1783
| Responsible for extending the Maratha empire to the zenith in the North as a General and also saw the decline of Maratha power in North India. Deposed by [[Nana Phadnis]] and 11 other administrators in what is now called "The Baarbhai Conspiracy"
|-
| [[File:Madhu Rao Narayan the Maratha Peshwa with Nana Fadnavis and attendants Poona 1792 by James Wales.jpg|80px]]
| [[Madhavrao II]]
| 18 April 1774
| 28 May 1774 – 27 October 1795
| 27 October 1795
| Appointed Peshwa as an infant with a council of Maratha Generals and ministers as regents. Era dominated by the political intrigues of [[Nana Phadnis]]. Saw the resurgence of Maratha power in North India.
|-
| [[File:Baji Rao II.jpg|80px]]
| [[Baji Rao II]]
| 10 January 1775
| 6 December 1796 – 25 October 1802
| 28 January 1851
| ''1st Reign'' – Was defeated by [[Yashwantrao Holkar]], ruler of [[Indore]], at the [[Battle of Poona]]. Fled to [[East India Company|British]] protection, and in December 1802, concluded the [[Treaty of Bassein (1802)|Treaty of Bassein]] with the [[British East India Company]], ceding territory for the maintenance of a subsidiary force and agreeing to treaty with no other power. This provoked the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]] that began the breakup of the [[Maratha confederacy]].
|-
|
| [[Amrut Rao]]<ref>Wg Cdr (Retd.) Dr. M. S. Narawane, Battles of the Honourable East India Company. pg 65</ref><ref>Jadunath Sarkar, Fall of the Mughal Empire:1789–1803. pg 179</ref> (Appointed as Peshwa by [[Yashwantrao Holkar]])
|{{circa|1770}}
| 25 October 1802 – 13 May 1803
| 6 September 1824
| Appointed Peshwa by [[Yashwantrao Holkar]] after defeating [[Baji Rao II]] and [[Daulat Rao Sindhia]] in [[Battle of Poona]].
|-
| [[File:Baji Rao II.jpg|80px]]
| [[Baji Rao II]]
| 10 January 1775
| 13 May 1803 – 3 June 1818
| 28 January 1851
| ''2nd Reign'' – During his second reign began the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]]. After the defeat at the [[Battle of Koregaon]] in January 1818, he was on the run from the British. Eventually, the British took over his dominion and made the Maratha King Pratap Singh of Satara declare in favour of the British. This ended the Peshwa's legal position as head of the [[Maratha confederacy]]. On 3 June 1818, Baji Rao surrendered to the British; he was banished to [[Bithur]] near [[Kanpur]].
|-
| [[File:Peshwa of Kanpur.jpg|80px]]
| [[Nana Sahib]] (Pretender of the position of the Peshwa)
| 19 May 1824
| 1 February 1851 – 30 June 1857 (unrecognized)
| after 1857
| Was a leader during the [[Rebellion of 1857|Indian Uprising of 1857]]. As the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, he sought to restore the [[Maratha confederacy]] and the Peshwa tradition.

|}

== Principalities ==
=== Baroda State ===
{{main|Gaekwad dynasty}}

=== Indore State ===
{{main|Holkar Dynasty}}

=== Gwalior State ===
{{main|Scindia Dynasty}}

=== Nagpur State ===
{{main|Bhonsles of Nagpur}}

=== Thanjavur State ===
{{main|Thanjavur Maratha kingdom}}

=== Akkalkot State ===
{{Main|Akkalkot State}}

=== Jhansi State ===
{{Main|Newalkar dynasty}}

=== Bhor State ===
{{Main|Gandekar}}

=== Colaba State ===
{{Main|Angre}}

=== Sawantwadi State ===
{{Main|Sawant Bhonsale}}

=== Mudhol State ===
{{Main|Ghorpade Dynasty}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== External links ==
{{Maratha Empire}}
{{Peshawe family}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maratha Emperors}}
[[Category:Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:India history-related lists]]

List of Maratha rulers-291669 - Revision history

Locweld at 20:16, 7 May 2026