State of Kolhapur
1710–1949
Flag State Emblem
Kolhapur State Map, 1912
Status	Principality within theMaratha Confederacy (1707–1818) Protectorate of theEast India Company (1818–1857) Princely State of theIndia (1857–1947) State of theDominion of India (1947–1949)
Capital	Kolhapur
Raja/Maharaja
• 1710–1714 (first)	Shivaji II
• 1947–1949 (last)	Shahaji II
History
• Established	1710
• Acceded toDominion of India	1947
• Merged intoBombay State	1949
Area
1901	8,332 km2 (3,217 sq mi)
Population
• 1901	865,000
Preceded by Succeeded by Maratha Confederacy India
Today part of	Maharashtra,India

TheKolhapur State was aMarathaprincely state ofIndia, under theDeccan Division of theBombay Presidency, and later theDeccan States Agency.^[1] It was considered the most important of the Maratha principalities^{[citation needed]} with the others beingBaroda State,Gwalior State andIndore State. Its rulers, of theBhonsle dynasty, were entitled to a 19-gun salute – thusKolhapur was also known as a 19-gun state. The state flag was a swallow-tailed saffron pennant.^[2]

Kolhapur State, together with itsjagirs or feudatory vassal estates (includingIchalkaranji), covered an area of 3,165 square miles (8,200 km²).^[3] According to the 1901 census, the state population was 910,011, of which 54,373 resided in Kolhapur Town. In 1901, the state enjoyed an estimated revenue of £300,000.^[3][4]

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TheMaharajas of Kolhapur have a common ancestry with the Bhonsle dynasty ofSatara, being direct descendants of theMaratha KingShivaji. The states of Satara and Kolhapur came into being in 1707, because of the succession dispute over the Maratha throne.Shahuji, the heir apparent to the Maratha kingdom, captured by theMughals at the age of nine, remained their prisoner at the death of his fatherSambhaji, the elder son of Shivaji the founder of theMaratha Empire, in 1689. The Dowager MaharaniTarabai (widow ofRajaram I) proclaimed her sonShivaji 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 Rajasbai, the other widow of Rajaram. She installed her own son,Sambhaji II as the new ruler of Kolhapur.^[5] In early years of his rule, Sambhaji made alliance with theNizam to wrest the Maratha kingdom from his cousin, Shahuji.^[6] The defeat of the Nizam byBajirao I in theBattle of Palkhed in 1728 led to the former ending his support for Sambhaji.^[7] Sambhaji II signed the Treaty of Warna in 1731 with his cousinShahuji to formalize the two separate seats of Bhonsle family.^[6][8]

The British sent expeditions against Kolhapur in 1765 and 1792;^[3] Kolhapur entered into treaty relations with the British, after the collapse of the Maratha confederacy in 1818 . In the early years of the 19th century theBritish invaded again, and appointed a political officer to temporarily manage the state.^[3][9]

Aregent called Daji Krishna Panditwas installed by the British to govern the state in 1843 at a time when the natural heir to the throne was underage. He took direction from a political agent of theEast India Company and among their actions were reforms to the tax of land. These reforms caused much resentment and, despite Kolhapur having refrained from involvement in the previousAnglo-Maratha Wars, a revolt against the British began in 1844. The rebellion began with soldiers locking themselves into hill-forts such as those asPanhala andVishalgad, and then spread to Kolhapur itself. Both the regent and the political agent were captured by the militia forces led by Babaji Ahirekar. Ahirekar was killed in December 1844 and the revolt crushed.^[10]

The last ruler of Kolhapur was Maharaja Shahaji II. After Indianindependence in 1947, Kolhapur acceded to theDominion of India on 14 August 1947 and merged intoBombay State on 1 March 1949. In 1960 Bombay state was divided by languages into the states ofMaharashtra andGujarat.^{[citation needed]} The boundaries of former Kolhapur state correspond very closely with those of modern-day Kolhapur district inMaharashtra state.

All rulers have the personal title of 'Chhatrapati'.

Raja ofKolhapur
State emblem
Last to reign Shahu 2 April 1894 – 1900
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Shivaji II
Last monarch	Shahu
Formation	1710
Abolition	1900 (succeeded byMaharaja of Kolhapur)
Pretender	Shahu II of Kolhapur (1983–present)

• 1710 – 2 Aug 1714Shivaji II (b. 1696 – d. 1726)
• 2 Aug 1714 – 18 Dec 1760Sambhaji II (b. 1698 – d. 1760)
• 20 Dec 1760 – 17 Feb 1773 RaniJiji Bai (f) – Regent(b. 1716 – d. 1773)
• 22 Sep 1762 – 24 Apr 1813Shivaji III(b. 1756 – d. 1813)
• 24 Apr 1813 – 2 Jul 1821Sambhaji III (b. 1801 – d. 1821)
• 2 Jul 1821 – 3 Jan 1822Shivaji IV (b. 1816 – d. 1822)
• 2 Jul 1821 – 3 Jan 1822 Shahaji -Regent (b. 1802 – d. 1838)
• 3 Jan 1822 – 29 Nov 1838Shahaji
• 29 Nov 1838 – 4 Aug 1866Shivaji V (b. 1830 – d. 1866)
• 29 Nov 1838 – 1845 RaniSai Bai (f) -Regent (d. 1861)
• 4 Aug 1866 – 30 Nov 1870Rajaram II Nagaji Rao (b. 1850 – d. 1870)
• 30 Nov 1870 – 12 Oct 1871 RaniTara Bai (f) – Regent (b. 1855 – d. 1874)
• 12 Oct 1871 – 25 Dec 1883Shivaji VI Chhatrapati Narayana Rao (b. 1863 – d. 1883)
• 25 Dec 1883 – 17 Mar 1884 RaniAnand Bai (f) – Regent
• 17 Mar 1884 – 1900Shahu Chhatrapati Jashwant (b. 1874 –see below)

Maharaja ofKolhapur
State emblem
Last to reign Shahaji II 1947 – 1949
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Shahu
Last monarch	Shahaji II
Formation	1900 (preceded byMaharaja of Kolhapur)
Abolition	1949
Pretender	Shahu II of Kolhapur (1983–present)

• 1900 – 6 May 1922Shahu Chhatrapati (see above; d. 1922)
• 6 May 1922 – 26 Nov 1940Rajaram III Chhatrapati (b. 1897 – d. 1940)
• 26 Nov 1940 – 18 Nov 1942Tara Bai (f) -Regent (1st time) (b. 1904 – d. ....)
• 18 Nov 1942 – 28 Sep 1946Shivaji VII Chhatrapati (b. 1941 – d. 1946)
• 22 Nov 1942 – 31 Mar 1947 Tara Bai (f) -Regent (2nd time) (s.a.)
• 31 Mar 1947 – 14 Aug 1947Shahaji II Chhatrapati (b. 1910 – d. 1983)

• 15 Aug 1947 – 9 May 1983Shahaji II
• 1983 – presentShahu II

^{[citation needed]}

There were Eleven Feudatory Jagirdars of Kolhapur. They all paid Nazar on succession equal to a year's net income of their Jagirs and also an annual contribution towards the maintenance of military force. They are:^[11]

• Vishalgad
• Bavda
• Kagal (Senior)
• Kagal (Junior)
• Kapshi
• Torgal
• Ichalkaranji
• Himmat Bahadur
• SarLashkar Bahadur
• Shahi Sarnobat
• Raovishvasrao

• Maratha
• Maratha Empire
• List of Maratha dynasties and states
• List of princely states of British India (alphabetical)
• Maharajas of Kolhapur
• Panhala Fort

• Copland, Ian (1973). "The Maharaja of Kolhapur and the Non-Brahmin Movement 1902–10".Modern Asian Studies.7 (2):209–225.doi:10.1017/s0026749x0000456x.JSTOR 311776.S2CID 145214015.

• Media related toKolhapur State at Wikimedia Commons
• Mumbai and Princely States Heraldry

16°41′N74°14′E / 16.683°N 74.233°E /16.683; 74.233

• Princely states of Maharashtra
• Kolhapur
• History of Maharashtra
• States and territories established in 1710
• States and territories disestablished in 1949
• Maratha Empire
• 1710 establishments in India
• 1949 disestablishments in India
• Gun salute princely states

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