PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: The
city
of Nagpur was founded in 1702 by the Gond King, Raja Bakht
Buland Shah of Devagad, on the banks of Nag River, hence
its name. He founded the city by joining 12 small hamlets
formerly known as 'Rajapur Baraasa' or 'Barasa'. His
successor, Raja Chand Sultan, further developed the city,
but on his death in 1742 (or 1739), there were disputes as
to his succession, and his widow invoked the aid of the
Maratha leader Raghoji Bhonsle who was governing Berar on
behalf of the Maratha Peshwa. He intervened again in 1743,
but this time he retained Nagpur, and it became his
capital. The Bhonsle family were originally headmen from
Deora, a village in Satara District. Raghoji's grandfather
and his two brothers had fought in the armies of Shivaji,
and to the most distinguished of them was entrusted a high
military command and the collection of chauth
(tribute) in Berar. In 1853, on the death of Raghoji III,
the state lapsed due to failure of heirs and was annexed
to British India. After annexation the family received
pensions totalling 203,000Rs yearly. Nagpur province,
which consisted of the present Nagpur region, Chhindwara
and Chhatisgarh, was administered by a commissioner under
the central government from 1853 to 1861, when it became
part of the Central Provinces, ruled by a British
governor, with Nagpur as its capital. Berar was added in
1903. Rulers were...
- Unknown
- Shrimant Rupaji Bhonsle
- Shrimant Mudhoji Bhonsle, married and had issue.
- Shrimant Parsoji Bhonsle Sena Saheb Subha,
married Shrimant Baiya Bai, and had issue. He died
1709 at Khed.
- Shrimant Vimboji Bhonsle, married Shrimant
Kasi Bai, and had issue.
- Maharaja Chhatrapati Raghuji Bhonsle I (qv)
- Shrimant Kanhoji Bhonsle Sena Saheb Subha,
married and had issue.
- Shrimant Ranoji Bhonsle
- Shrimant Sabaji Bhonsle
- Shrimant Sabaji Bhonsle
- Maharaja
Chhatrapati RAGHUJI BHONSLE I, 1st Maharaja
of Nagpur 1734/1755, he was bold and decisive in
action, twice his armies invaded Bengal, and he
obtained the cession of Cuttack. In addition, Chanda,
Chhattisgarh, and Sambalpur were added to his
dominions between 1745 and 1755, the year of his
death; he married and had issue. He died 14th February
1755 at Nagpur.
- Maharaja Chhatrapati Janoji Bhonsle (qv)
- Maharaja Chhatrapati Madhoji [Raghunathrao]
Bhonsle I (qv)
- Maharajkumar Bimbaji Bhonsle
- Maharajkumar Sabhaji Bhonsle, died in battle, 26th
January 1775.
- Maharaja
Chhatrapati JANOJI BHONSLE, 2nd Maharaja of
Nagpur 1755/1773, he took part in the wars between the
Peshwa and the Nizam of Hyderabad, and after he had in
turn betrayed both of them, they united against him
and sacked and burnt Nagpur in 1765; married Maharani
Darya Bai, and had adoptive issue. He died sp
on 21st May 1773.
- (A) Maharaja Chhatrapati Raghoji Bhonsle II
(qv)
- Maharaja
Chhatrapati MADHOJI RAGHUNATHRAO BHONSLE I,
3rd Maharaja of Nagpur 1773/1788 (Regent), Senadhurandhar,
fought for the succession with his brother, until the
battlefield of Panchgaon, and succeeded to the regency
on behalf of his infant son Raghoji II who was
Janoji's adopted heir. In 1785 Mandla and the upper
Narmada valley were added to the Nagpur dominions by
treaty with the Peshwa; married and had issue. He died
19th May 1788 at Nagpur.
- Maharaja Chhatrapati Raghoji Bhonsle II (qv)
- Maharajkumar Vyankoji Bhonsle [Manyabapu], Senadhurandhar,
married and had issue. He died 1811 at Kasi.
- Maharaja Chhatrapati Madhoji Appasaheb Bhonsle
II (qv)
- Maharajkumar Chimnaji Bhonsle, died 1789.
- Maharajkumar Lachman Dada
- Maharaja Senasaheb
Subha Chhatrapati RAGHOJI BHONSLE II, 4th
Maharaja of Nagpur 1788/1816, Senasaheb Subha
[cr.1775], his predecessor had courted the favor of
the British East India Company, and this policy was
continued for some time by Raghoji II, who acquired
Hoshangabad and the lower Narmada valley between 1796
and 1798, in 1803 he united with Daulatrao Scindia of
Gwalior against the British, but the two leaders were
decisively defeated at the battles of Assaye and
Argaon, and, by the Treaty of Deogaon of that year,
Raghoji ceded Cuttack, southern Berar, and Sambalpur
to the British, although Sambalpur was not
relinquished until 1806; he married (amongst others),
Maharani Baka Bai, died 7th September 1858 at Nagpur,
aged 77 years, having received a pension of 120,000Rs,
and had issue, as well as further issue. He died 22nd
March 1816.
- Maharaja Chhatrapati Parsoji Raghoji Bhonsle (qv)
- Maharajkumari Banu Bai, married and had issue.
- Maharaja Chhatrapati Raghoji Bapusaheb
Bhonsle III (qv)
- generation, married Shrimant
Nana Ahira Rao, and had issue.
- Shrimant Yashwant Rao Bhonsle, he was
the Heir in 1853, and succeeded in the dignity
of Maharaja of Nagpur (qv).
- Maharajkumar Dharmaji Bhonsle (natural son),
murdered 5th May 1816.
- Maharaja Senasaheb
Subha Chhatrapati PARSOJI BHONSLE, 5th
Maharaja of Nagpur 1816/1817, born 1778, deposed and
murdered by Madhoji II on 2nd February 1817.
- Maharaja Senasaheb
Subha Chhatrapati MADHOJI APPASAHEB BHONSLE II,
6th Maharaja of Nagpur 1816/1818, born 1796, in 1817,
on the outbreak of war between the British and the
Peshwa, Appa Sahib threw off his cloak of friendship,
and accepted an embassy and title from the Peshwa. His
troops attacked the British, and were defeated in the
action at Sitabaldi, and a second time near Nagpur
city. As a result of these battles, the remaining
portion of Berar and the territories in the Narmada
valley were ceded to the British. Appa Sahib was
reinstated to the throne, but shortly afterwards was
discovered to be again conspiring, and was deposed and
moved to Allahabad in custody. On the way, however, he
bribed his guards and escaped, first to the Mahadeo
Hills and subsequently to the Punjab; he married (a),
Maharani Savitri Bai, received a pension of 10,000Rs,
married (b), Maharani Uma Bai. He died sp in 1840 in
Jodhpur.
- Maharaja Senasaheb
Subha Chhatrapati RAGHOJI BAPUSAHEB BHONSLE III,
7th Maharaja of Nagpur 1818/1853, born 1808 (1806),
due to his young age, the territories were
administered by the resident from 1818 to 1830, when
he was allowed to assume ruling powers; he married
(a), Maharani Annapurna Bai, received a pension of
50,000Rs, married (b), Maharani Dariya Bai, received a
pension of 25,000Rs. He died spm on 11th
December 1853. The state lapsed with his death
(annexed by the British under the Doctrine of Lapse
due to failure of Heirs).
- Maharajkumar (name unknown), died 22nd
October 1831.
- Maharajkumar Bhimbaji Bhonsle, born 4th May 1831 (#2).
- Maharajkumari Bannu Bai, died 12th September 1833
(#3).
- Maharaja Senasaheb
Subha Chhatrapati JANOJI II YASHWANTRAO BHONSLE,
8th Maharaja of Nagpur, son of Nana Ahirarao (a nephew
of Raghuji III) 1853/1881, adopted by Maharani Dariya
Bai after 1853, Raja Bahadur of Devur or Deor
[cr.1861](Hereditary title), he was granted a pension
of 120,000Rs, (subject to revision after his death),
his villages were taken under management in 1873 until
a debt of five and a half lakhs was repaid; married
and had issue. He died 1881.
- Raja Bahadur Raghoji Deo Janoji Bhonsle (qv)
- Raja Bahadur
RAGHOJI DEO JANOJI BHONSLE, 9th Raja of Deor
1881/-, born 7th November 1872 (#1).
Title confirmed as hereditary.
OTHER MEMBERS:
- Rajaramsinhrao Bhonsle, married Shaliniraje Puar,
daughter of HH Maharaja Chhatrapati Shahaji II Puar of
Kolhapur and Dewas-Snr,
and had issue.
- HH Maharaja Chhatrapati Shahu II Bhonsle of Kolhapur.
- Shri Raje Laxman Rao Bhonsle, of the Junior Palace,
married and had issue. (Junior Bhonsle Palace,
Mahal, Nagpur - 440002, Maharashtra, India)
- Shri Tejsingrao Raje Bhonsle B.A., born 17th March
1932 in Nagpur, Maharashtra; educated at Nagpur
University; married 25th December 1959, Shrimant
Rani Chitralekha Raje Bhonsle (n�e Chitralekha
Kadam), born 26th February 1941 in Baroda, daughter
of Shri Sharas Chandra Kadam, educated at Sayajirao
Gaekwad College and M.S. University, Baroda (B.A.),
Member of the 12th Lok Sabha 1998/-, Member,
Committee on Energy and its Sub-Committee-II on Coal
1998/1999, Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry
of Coal Social and Cultural Activities, Chairperson,
Mahalaxmi Jagdamba Trust, Koradi, Nagpur
(Maharashtra), Chairperson, Distt. Volleyball
Association, Nagpur, interests are Painting and
reading; and has issue, two sons and three
daughters. (Junior Bhosla Palace Mahal,
Nagpur - 440002, Maharashtra, India)
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