RajveerSingha1950 at 19:53, 3 April 2026

2026-04-03T19:53:34Z

New page

{{Short description|Titles used by Maratha community of India}}
[[File:Maratha darbar.jpg|thumb|right|A Maratha [[Durbar (court)|Durbar]] showing the Chief ([[Raja]]) and the nobles ([[Sardar]]s, [[Jagirdar]]s, Istamuradars & [[Mankari]]s) of the state.]]

The following list includes a brief about the [[Royal and noble ranks|titles of nobility]] or orders of chivalry used by the [[Maratha (caste)|'''Marathas''']] of [[India]] and by the [[Marathi people|Marathis]]/[[Konkani people|Konkanis]] in general.

==Titles used by the Maratha Royals==

The titles used by royalty, aristocracy and nobility of the [[Maratha Empire]]

*'''[[Chhatrapati]]''': Chhatrapati is an Indian royal title most equivalent to a [[King]] or an [[Emperor]]. It means the 'Lord of the Parasol'<ref name="Daniélou2003">{{cite book|author=Alain Daniélou|title=A Brief History of India|url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani|url-access=registration|date=11 February 2003|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-1-59477-794-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani/page/257 257]–}}</ref> and is a title conferred upon the founder of [[Maratha Empire]], [[Shivaji|Chhatrapati Shivaji]]. The title is also used by Shivaji's descendants.
*'''[[Maharaj]]''': The English equivalent of Maharaj is great king. It is a title first conferred upon Chhatrapati Shivaji's father Shahaji Raje Bhosale.
*'''[[Maharani]]''': The English equivalent of Maharani is great queen. It is a title first used by Tarabai, as regent of marathas empire .
*'''[[Raje]]''': The English equivalent of Raje is Your Majesty. It is a title first conferred upon Chhatrapati Shivaji's grandfather Maloji Raje Bhosale
*'''[[Kshatriya Kulavantas]]''': It means 'The Head of the Kshatriya varna' and was a title first given to [[Shivaji|Chhatrapati Shivaji]] at the time of his coronation<ref name="culturalindia.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-history/shivaji.html|title=The Fascinating Life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj!|website=www.culturalindia.net}}</ref>
*'''Sinhasanadhishwar''': It means 'the enthroned King' and was a title first given to Chhatrapati Shivaji at the time of his coronation<ref name="culturalindia.net"/>
*'''[[Peshwa]]''': It is a word of Persian origin and means 'Foremost' or 'the first minister'<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.8934|title=Sivaji and the rise of the mahrattas|last=Temple|first=Sir Richard Carnac|date=1953-01-01|publisher=Susil Gupta|language=en}}</ref> or 'Premier' (or Prime Minister). It was a title given to the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire
*'''Peshwin''': The wife of a [[Peshwa]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F51h6q-bB6sC&q=peshwin+feminine&pg=PA414|title=Hobson-Jobson: The Definitive Glossary of British India|last1=Yule|first1=Henry|last2=Burnell|first2=A. C.|last3=Teltscher|first3=Kate|date=2013-06-13|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780199601134|language=en}}</ref>
*'''[[Prataprao Gujar|Prataprao]]:''' An honor given by Chhattrapati or Peshwa to extraordinary warriors who were brave in the battlefield. Famous people who got the title were Prataprao gujar, Mallasarja Desai etc.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pradhan |first=Gautam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpzDDwAAQBAJ&dq=pratap+rao+honor+title&pg=PT276 |title=Lord of Royal Umbrella - Shivaji Trilogy Book II |date=2019-12-13 |publisher=One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-88942-77-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Naikar">{{Cite book |last=Naikar |first=Basavaraj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X61ODQAAQBAJ&dq=pratap+rao+honor+title&pg=PT39 |title=The Queen of Kittur: A Historical Novel |date=2016-10-17 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-1-4828-8619-1 |language=en}}</ref>

*'''Daria Sarang''': It means the ''Chief'' or ''Admiral of the [[Maratha Navy]]''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sardesai|first1=HS|title=Shivaji, the Great Maratha, Volume 3|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|pages=649|isbn=9788177552874|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W6d-Hd5UceUC&q=darya+sarang+maratha&pg=PA649}}</ref>
*'''[[Senakhaskhel]]''': It means the Commander of the armies of the state ([[Maratha Army]]). It is a designation created by [[Rajaram I]].
*'''Shamsher Bahadur''': It is a title conferred upon the Maharajas of Baroda (the Gaekwads) and means a distinguished swordsman<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://coinindia.com/galleries-baroda.html |title = The COININDIA Coin Galleries: Baroda}}</ref>
*'''Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Alija Bahadur''': It is a title used by the [[House of Holkar|Maharajas of Indore (the Holkars)]]. For example, [[Yashwantrao Holkar|Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Alija Bahadur H.H. Yashwant Rao Holkar]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tuwNoJxH25QC|title=Geography and Politics in Central India: A Case Study of Erstwhile Indore State|last=Singh|first=Ravindra Pratap|date=1987-01-01|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=9788170220251|language=en}}</ref>
*'''Raj Rajeshwar''': It means 'king of kings' and is a title conferred upon the [[House of Holkar|Holkar (Maratha) Maharajas]].<ref name="books.google.co.in">{{cite book|author=Sir Roper Lethbridge|title=The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7iOsNUZ2MXgC&pg=PR22|year=2005|publisher=Aakar Books|isbn=978-81-87879-54-1|page=22}}</ref>
*'''Rajadhiraj''': It means 'King of Kings'. For example, it was conferred upon H.H. Rajadhiraj Jijasinghraje [[Gharge-Desai (Deshmukh)]]
*'''Maharajadhiraj''': It means 'Great King of Kings'.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IdigEPWerOwC|title=Social Science|date=2006-01-01|publisher=FK Publications|isbn=9788179730423|language=en}}</ref> For example, it was conferred upon H. H. Maharajadhiraj Rajeshwar Sawai Tukoji Rao Holkar Bahadur K.G.C.S.I.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Bt6WTrErH0C|title=The Indian Encyclopaedia: Biographical, Historical, Religious, Administrative, Ethnological, Commercial and Scientific|last=Kapoor|first=Subodh|date=2002-01-01|publisher=Cosmo Publications|isbn=9788177552577|language=en}}</ref>
*'''Naib Wakil-i-Mutlaq''': It means Deputy Regent of Mughal affairs. It was a title conferred upon [[Mahadaji Shinde|Shrimant Maharaja Mahadaji Shinde (Scindia)]] by the Mughals.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|author=Farooqui Salma Ahmed|title=A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxhAtCflwOMC&pg=PA334|year=2011|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-3202-1|page=334}}</ref>
*'''I'timad-al-Daula:''' It means Trusted of the State. It was title conferred to [[Gharge-Desai (Deshmukh)]] family by Mughals, since the family was important asset for throne of Delhi.
*'''[[Amir-al-Umara]]''': It means the Head of the Amirs and was a title conferred upon [[Mahadaji Shinde|Shrimant Maharaja Mahadaji Shinde (Scindia)]] by the Mughals, since he helped the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, ascend the throne of Delhi.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*'''Shrimant''': It is a title used by Maratha royals and nobles. It was also used in recent times to formally address well achieved members of society or upperclass men in [[Marathi language|Marathi]]. For example, [[Baji Rao I|'Shrimant' Bajirao Peshwa aka Baji Rao I]] or [[Dnyaneshwar Agashe|'Shrimant' Dnyaneshwar Agashe]].
*'''[[Sardar]]''': It is a title used by the most senior Mahratta nobles,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2O3W7mkAwAC|title=The Guru in South Asia: New Interdisciplinary Perspectives|last1=Copeman|first1=Jacob|last2=Ikegame|first2=Aya|date=2012-01-01|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780415510196|language=en}}</ref> for example [[Ranoji Scindia|Shrimant 'Sardar' Ranoji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Subedar of Malwa]]
*'''[[Mankari]]''': Mānkari (Maankari) is a hereditary title used by [[Maratha]] [[Nobility|nobles]] who held land grants, and cash allowances.<ref>{{cite book|author=Central India|title=The Central India State Gazetteer Series|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_4bAQAAIAAJ|year=1908|publisher=Thacker, Spink}}</ref> They were entitled to certain ceremonial honours and held an official position at the [[Durbar (court)|Darbar]] ([[royal court|court]]).<ref name="google">{{cite book|author=T. N. Madan|title=Way of Life: King, Householder, Renouncer : Essays in Honour of Louis Dumont|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_qMH9PY9fQC&pg=PA129%7CPAGE%3D129%7CACCESSDATE%3D2015-07-04%7D%7D%3C%2FREF%3E%3CREF%3E%7B%7BCITE+WEB%7CURL%3DHTTPS%3A%2F%2FBOOKS.GOOGLE.COM%2FBOOKS%3FEI%3DOZGCVZGQA8XF0GTW8QSWDQ|year=1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|isbn=978-81-208-0527-9|page=129}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Rosalind O'Hanlon|title=Caste, Conflict and Ideology: Mahatma Jotirao Phule and Low Caste Protest in Nineteenth-Century Western India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kMrsTj1NeYC&pg=PA45|year=2002|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-52308-0|page=45}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=[[Balkrishna Govind Gokhale]]|title=Poona in the eighteenth century: an urban history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=THR5AAAAIAAJ|year=1988|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195621372}}</ref>
*'''[[Sawai (title)|Sawai]]''': 'Sawai' in Marathi means 'a notch above the rest'. For example, it was a title conferred upon [[Madhavrao II|His Highness Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa aka Madhu Rao II Narayan]]
*'''Pant Pratinidhi''': It means a [[vicegerent]]; title borne by a distinguished [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] family.<ref name="books.google.co.in"/>
*'''[[Nawab]]''': It is a title used by the Nawabs of Banda (a vassal of [[Maratha Empire|Maratha polity]]), such as the [[Ali Bahadur I|Nawab of Banda, Ali Bahadur]], the grandson of [[Bajirao I|Shreemant Bajirao I]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ViSYYQZZWEcC|title=Fall of the Mughal Empire|last=Sarkar|first=Jadunath|date=1992-01-01|publisher=Sangam|isbn=9780861317493|language=en}}</ref>
*'''[[Desai]]''': It was a title given to [[feudal]] [[lord]]s, and others who were granted a village or group of villages in [[Maharashtra]], and [[North Karnataka]]. The title Desai should not be associated with a particular religion or caste, though a Desai would use the title of Rao or Rai or Raje as a suffix to his name denoting he is a king of those villages, The "Desai" title was given by [[Maratha emperors]], [[Mughal emperors]] and by the [[Deccan sultanates]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Raj Kumar |year=2003 |title=Essays on Modern India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5L_2-w13fMMC |publisher=Discovery Publishing House |page=73|isbn=9788171416905 }}</ref> In Maharashtra, the title ''Desai'' is conferred to feudal lords and village council members. Most of them were either [[Gaud Saraswat Brahmin]]s, [[Deshastha Brahmin]]s,<ref>{{cite book|author=Syed Siraj ul Hassan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lYSd-3yL9h0C&pg=PA111|title=The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions, Volume 1|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1989|page=111|isbn = 9788120604889}}</ref> [[Karhade Brahmin]]s, Lingayat Vani and [[Maratha (caste)]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Chitpavans: Social Ascendancy of a Creative Minority in Maharashtra, 1818-1918|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ez4wAQAAIAAJ|page=28|author=Sandhya Gokhale|publisher=Shubhi Publications|year=2008|isbn = 9788182901322|quote=Hereditary rights of Karhades were those of Desai, district officer, or Deshmukh, and Sardesai, senior district officer.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=V. D. Divekar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XZNuAAAAMAAJ|title=South India in 1857 War of Independence|publisher=Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust|year=1993|page=148}}</ref><ref name="Naikar"/>
Desais were the rulers of [[Kudal]] ([[Sindhudurg]]) in [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SAWANTS OF WADI Coastal Politics in 18th and 19th Centuries | year=1984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUZSHKhKJ4gC&dq=kudal+rulers+desai&pg=PA3 |publisher=S. K. Mhamai}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |title=Anthropological Society of Bombay | year=1909 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uACbgzsHn3gC&q=kudal+desai |publisher=Anthropological Society of Bombay}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |title=Numismatic Digest | year=1997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=01JmAAAAMAAJ&q=kudal+rulers+desai |publisher=Numismatic Digest}}</ref>
Desai, or a loftier compound, was a rare title for rulers of a few [[princely state]]s, notably - Raja Sar Desai in the Maratha [[Savantvadi State]] from 1627 until the adoption of "Raja Bahadur" in 1763.

==Titles given by the British to Maratha Royals during the [[British Raj]]==
*'''[[Order of the Star of India|Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)]]''': It is a title created by the British Empire in India and was conferred upon Indian nobles. For example, it was bestowed upon His Highness [[Khanderao Gaekwad]] of [[Baroda]]<ref>
{{London Gazette |issue=22523 |date=25 June 1861 |page=2622}}</ref> and Asaf Jah VI [[Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI|His Highness Mir Mahbub Ali Khan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/180816/picturing-the-beloved.html|title = Picturing the 'Beloved'|date = 18 August 2016}}</ref>

*'''His Highness''': It is a title created by the British Empire in India and was conferred upon Indian nobles. For example, it was bestowed upon [[Sayajirao Gaekwad III|His Highness Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda]]
*'''[[Order of the Indian Empire|Knight Grand Commander (GCIE)]]''': It is a title created by the British and is a part of [[Order of the Indian Empire|The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire]], an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. For example, it was bestowed upon [[Shahaji II|His Highness Colonel Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj G.C.I.E, G.C.S.I, G.C.V.O Maharaja of Kolhapur]]<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w6RHAAAAMAAJ&q=GCIE|title=Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati papers|year=1997}}</ref>
*'''[[Royal Victorian Order|Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCVO)]]''': It is a title created by the British and is a part of The [[Royal Victorian Order]]. For example, it was bestowed upon [[Shahaji II|His Highness Colonel Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj G.C.I.E, G.C.S.I, G.C.V.O Maharaja of Kolhapur]]<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
*'''[[Kaisar-i-Hind Medal|Kaiser-i-Hind (KIH)]]''': It was first instituted by Queen Victoria on 10 April 1900 and is literally translated to mean 'Emperor of India'.<ref>[http://www.britishmilitarymedals.co.uk/kaiser-i-hind-medal/ British Military Medals. Kaiser-i-Hind medal] {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527111627/http://www.britishmilitarymedals.co.uk/kaiser-i-hind-medal/|date=2010-05-27}}
</ref> For example, it was conferred upon [[Sayajirao Gaekwad III|His Highness Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the Maratha Maharaja of Baroda]]

*'''[[Order of the Bath|Knight Grand Cross (GCB)]]''': It is the most honourable Order of the Bath and is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. For example, it was conferred upon [[Jayajirao Scindia|General His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCB, GCSI, CIE, KIH]]{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
*'''[[Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia]]''': It means the 'Favoured son of the English nation'. For example, it was conferred upon the [[Baroda State|Maratha Maharajas of Baroda]]{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==Other titles==
*'''[[Rao (title)|Rao]]''': The word "Rao" comes from the Sanskrit word "rājā," meaning "king" or "Prince". In Marathi, it be a form of the word "Raja" (king), a associated with the [[Kshatriya|Kshatriya varna]], or warrior class.
*'''Raut''': is a title, ance within the [[Marathi people|Maratha community]], historically referring to a warrior or horseman in Deccan. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "rajaputra," meaning "son of a king," and is associated with the ruling class. Today, "Raut/rautta" remains a common surname and title among Marathas, and is associated with traditional landholding and military communities.
*[[Appa (title)|'''Appa''']]: It is a title used to indicate administrator of a city which means 'head' or 'Father'.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqYiBAAAQBAJ&dq=chimaji+balaji+bhat&pg=PA34 |title=Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas |date=2014-08-01 |publisher=Pratik gupta |language=en}}</ref>
*'''[[Deshmukh|Dēśamukh]]''': is a historical title conferred to the rulers of a {{IAST|Dēśamukhi}}. It is used as a surname in certain regions of India, especially in the states of [[Maharashtra]], [[Karnataka]] and [[Telangana]] and also in [[Andhra Pradesh]] and northern parts of [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Gujarat]], [[Goa]] whose family received it as a title.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=Healer: Dr Prathap Chandra Reddy and the Transformation of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MxFMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT578|page=578|author=Pranay Gupte|date = 15 December 2013|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn = 9789351185666|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref>
*'''Sinh''': It is a word derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word siḿha, meaning 'lion'.<ref>
*'''Saheb''': It is an honorary title used by men as a suffix to their first name, example AnnaSaheb Magar, a politician in Maharashtra
*'''Bai''': It is an honorary title used by women as a suffix to their first name, example [[Rani Lakshmibai|Rani Laxmibai, the Queen of Jhansi]]
*'''Devi''': It is an honorary title used by women as a suffix to their first name.
</ref> It is used as a suffix to the first name, example Maharaja Pratapsinh Gaekwad<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wYFXvx0JCCAC|title=Strange But True Facts|last=Sawhney|first=Clifford|date=2004-12-01|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=9788122308396|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Indian honorifics]], Filipino, Indonesian, Malay and Thai titles originated from these
* [[Indian feudalism]]
* [[Maratha]]
* [[Kshatriya]]
* [[Maratha Empire]]
* [[List of Maratha dynasties and states]]
* [[Salute state]]
* [[Princely state]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{List of titles and honours of the Countries Crown}}

[[Category:Titles in India]]
[[Category:Noble titles]]
[[Category:Royal titles]]
[[Category:Maratha Empire]]

Maratha titles - Revision history

RajveerSingha1950 at 19:53, 3 April 2026