| Chhatrapati ofMaratha Empire | |
|---|---|
| कुलदेवताप्रसादात् क्षत्रियकुलावतंसः सिंहासनाधीश्वरः श्रीमन्तः श्रीछत्रपती महाराजः | |
Imperial | |
 | |
 First to reign:Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 6 June 1674 – 3 April 1680 | |
| Details | |
| Style | Kuladevatāprasādāt Kshatriyakulāvataṃsaḥ Siṃhāsanādhiśvaraḥ Śrīmantaḥ Śrī Chhatrapatī Mahārājaḥ |
| First monarch | Shivaji |
| Last monarch | Shahaji (Satara) Shahaji II (Kolhapur) |
| Formation | 6 June 1674 |
| Abolition | 1818 (Maratha Empire) 5 April 1848 (Satara State) 15 August 1947 (Kolhapur State) |
| Residence | Raigad Fort |
| Appointer | Hereditary |
TheMaratha rulers, from the early 17th century to the early 18th century, built and ruled theMaratha Empire on theIndian subcontinent.[1][note 1] It was established by theChhatrapati (the Marathaking) in 1670s. Starting in 1720s, thePeshwa were instrumental in expanding the Maratha Empire to cover large areas of the Indian subcontinent. At their empire's greatest extent in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, they controlled much of theIndian subcontinent. Peshwas served as subordinates to the Chhatrapati, but later, they became the leaders of the Marathas, 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 laterBritish East India Company. The last Peshwa was deposed in 1818. The Satara Chhatrapati continued to nominally rule over Satara state till 1848 and Kolhapur Chhatrapati continued to nominally rule over Kolhapur state till 1947.[3][4][5]
This is the list of the initial Chhatrapatis.
| Image | Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shivaji | 19 February 1630[6] | 6 June 1674 – 3 April 1680 | 3 April 1680 | The founder of the Maratha Kingdom, which eventually grew into theMaratha Empire. He defeated formidable enemies with a small, skilled army usingguerrilla warfare. Known as the Father of the Indian Navy, he established a strongMaratha 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 appointedKanhoji Angre as the Maratha naval chief. His spy network was highly efficient, well-organized, and deeply embedded within enemy territories. He appointedBahirji 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 successfulSack of Surat. His assassination of the Mughal generalAfzal Khan in theBattle of Pratapgad during a parlay was achieved through deception. |
 | Sambhaji | 14 May 1657 | 16 January 1681 – 11 March 1689 | 11 March 1689 | |
 | 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 | ||
 | Shahu | 18 May 1682 | 12 January 1708 – 15 December 1749 | 15 December 1749 |
This is the list of the Chhatrapatis ofSatara.[7]
| Image | Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shahu I | 18 May 1682 | 12 January 1708 – 15 December 1749 | 15 December 1749 | |
| Rajaram II | June 1726 | 15 December 1749 – 11 December 1777 | 11 December 1777 | ||
| Shahu II | 1763 | 11 December 1777 – 3 May 1808 | 3 May 1808 | ||
 | Pratapsingh | 18 January 1793 | 1818 – 5 September 1839 | 14 October 1847 | |
 | Shahaji | 1802 | 5 September 1839 – 5 April 1848 | 5 April 1848 |
This is the list of the Chhatrapatis ofKolhapur.[7]
| Image | Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shivaji II | 9 June 1696 | 1700–1707, 1710–1714 (Kolhapur State) | 14 March 1726 | ||
.jpg) | Sambhaji II | 1698 | 1714–1760 | 18 December 1760 | |
 | 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 I | 22 January 1802 | 3 January 1822 – 29 November 1838 | 29 November 1838 | ||
 | Shivaji V | 26 December 1830 | 1838–1866 | 4 August 1866 | |
 | Rajaram II | April 13, 1850 | August 18, 1866 – November 30, 1870 | November 30, 1870 | |
 | Shivaji VI | April 5, 1863 | 1871–1883 | December 25, 1883 | |
 | Shahu IV (overall) Shahu I of Kolhapur | 26 June 1874 | 2 April 1894 – 6 May 1922 | 6 May 1922 | |
 | Rajaram III | 31 July 1897 | 1922–1940 | 26 November 1940 | |
 | Shivaji VII | 22 November 1941 | 31 December 1941 – 28 September 1946 | 28 September 1946 | |
 | Shahaji II | 4 April 1910 | 1947–1971 | 9 May 1983 |
| Image | Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moropant Trimbak Pingle | 1620 | 1674–1683 | 1683 | ||
| Nilakanth Moreshvar Pingale | 1683–1689 | 1689 | |||
 | Ramchandra Pant Amatya | 1650 | 1689–1708 | 1716 | |
| 1708–1711 | Bahirojipant Pingale | ||||
| Parshuram Trimbak Kulkarni | 1660 | 1711–1713 | 1718 |
| Image | Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Balaji Vishwanath (Sixth appointed Peshwa) | 1 January 1662 | 16 November 1713 – 12 April 1720 | 12 April 1720 | Assisted theSyed Brothers in deposing the Mughal EmperorFarrukhsiyar in 1719 |
 | 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) andRajputana and extended his dominions intoGujarat 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 atShaniwar Wada in Pune. |
 | 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. CapturedAttock on the banks of theIndus River andPeshawar in 1758 in theBattle of Attock, 1758. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire reached its peak but his general and cousin lost theThird 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 famousParvati Temple, Lakdi Pool and established Nana Peth (area) in Pune. Built a water reservoir nearKatraj to provide clean water to Pune city; this 250-year-old system is still functioning. |
 | 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 theNizam. 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). |
 | Narayan Rao | 10 August 1755 | 13 December 1772 – 30 August 1773 | 30 August 1773 | 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. |
 | 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 byNana Phadnis and 11 other administrators in what is now called "The Baarbhai Conspiracy" |
 | 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 ofNana Phadnis. Saw the resurgence of Maratha power in North India. |
 | Baji Rao II | 10 January 1775 | 6 December 1796 – 25 October 1802 | 28 January 1851 | 1st Reign – Was defeated byYashwantrao Holkar, ruler ofIndore, at theBattle of Poona. Fled toBritish protection, and in December 1802, concluded theTreaty of Bassein with theBritish East India Company, ceding territory for the maintenance of a subsidiary force and agreeing to treaty with no other power. This provoked theSecond Anglo-Maratha War that began the breakup of theMaratha confederacy. |
| Amrut Rao[9][10] (Appointed as Peshwa byYashwantrao Holkar) | c. 1770 | 25 October 1802 – 13 May 1803 | 6 September 1824 | Appointed Peshwa byYashwantrao Holkar after defeatingBaji Rao II andDaulat Rao Sindhia inBattle of Poona. | |
| Baji Rao II | 10 January 1775 | 13 May 1803 – 3 June 1818 | 28 January 1851 | 2nd Reign – During his second reign began theThird Anglo-Maratha War. After the defeat at theBattle 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 theMaratha confederacy. On 3 June 1818, Baji Rao surrendered to the British; he was banished toBithur nearKanpur. |
 | 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 theIndian Uprising of 1857. As the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, he sought to restore theMaratha confederacy and the Peshwa tradition. |
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