tanjore2

TANJORE

(Thanjavur)

The Bhonsle Dynasty

GENEALOGY

1676 - 1685 H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Venkoji [Ekoji] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore. b. after 1630, youngest son of Meherban Srimant Farzand Shahaji Raje Sahib Bhonsle Maharaj, of Poona and Satara, sometime Regent of the Kingdom of Bijapur, by his second wife, Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Tukabai Raje Bhonsle Maharaj [Annu Sahib], daughter of Srimant Ry. Bajirao Mohite Pognwadikar, of Bijapur - (see India Pensioners (Satara), educ. privately. Sent with a large army to secure the south for the Marathas, by his his half-brother, Shivaji the Great. Wrested control of the strategic fortress of Tanjore and seized the surrounding territories from the decaying Vijayanager Empire, 12^th January 1676. Installed on the gadi, at Tanjore Fort, 5^th March 1676. Ruled as a vassal of his half-brother, but gradually consolidated his power, extended his territories and established his own independence, shortly after the death of Shivaji the Great in 1680. m. (first) Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Dipabai Chhatrapati Maharani Sahib, a lady from the Ingle family. m. (second) Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati ...bai Chhatrapati Maharani Sahib. He also m. nine secondary wives or concubines. He d. at Tanjore Fort, January 1685 (when he divided the government of his kingdom between three of his surviving sons), having had issue, ten sons, including:

1) H.H. Choladesadhipati Shrimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Shahji II Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore (s/o Dipabai) - see below.
2) Shrimant Rajkumar Sharfoji Raje Sahib Bhonsle (s/o Dipabai).
3) H.H. Choladesadhipati Shrimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Tukoji [Thulaja I] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore (s/o Dipabai) - see below.
4) H.H. Choladesadhipati Shrimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Sarabhoji [Serfoji I] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore - see below.
5) Shrimant Rajkumar Raibhan Raje Sahib Bhonsle, educ. privately. Entered the Mughal service and appointed to an Imperial mansab of 6,000 zat and 6,000 sowar 1^st July 1703.

1685 - 1712 H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Shahji II Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, joint Raja of Tanjore. b. 1672, eldest son and principal heir of H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Venkoji Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore, by his first wife, Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Dipabai Chhatrapati Maharani Sahib, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his father as joint ruler of his father's domains, together with his two younger brothers, January 1685. Submitted to the Mughals under Zulfiqar Khan, 17^th May 1694. A great patron of the arts, he restored and embellished the ancient Nayaka fort with new halls and apartments, elaborately decorated with frescos, painted walls, pillars and ceilings. He d.s.p. at Tanjore Fort, 1712.

1712 - 1729 H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Sarabhoji [Serfoji I] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, joint Raja of Tanjore. b. at Tanjore Fort, 1679, youngest son of H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Venkoji Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore, by his first wife, Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Dipabai Chhatrapati Maharani Sahib, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his father as Raja of Mahadevaputanam, January 1685. Succeeded as ruler of Tanjore on the death of his eldest brother, 1712. m. (first) a lady from Satara. m. (second) a lady from the Ghatge family. m. (third) a lady from the Shirke family. m. (fourth) a lady from the Mohite family. He d. at Tanjore Fort, 1729.

1729 - 1736 H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Tukoji [Thulaja I] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore. b. at Tanjore Fort, 1677, second son of H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati SriVenkoji Raje Sahib BhonsleChhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore, by his second wife, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his father as Raja of Sukuti, January 1685. Became sole ruler of Tanjore on the death of his younger half-brother, Raja Sarabhoji [Serfoji] I, 1729. A gifted musician and linguist, composer of Sanghita Saramrita and author of Uttararamacgaritra and Grihamatya. m. five wives, including (first) Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sundaribai Chhatrapati Maharani Sahib. m. (second) Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Kamalabai Chhatrapati Maharani Sahib. m. (a) (morganatic) Annapurnabai Sahib, a "sword wife". He d. at Tanjore Fort, 1736, having had issue, two sons:

1) H.H. Umdat ul-Mulk, Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Ekoji II [Bawa Sahib] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore (s/o a Rani) - see below.
2) Srimant Rajkumar Saiyaji Raje Sahib Bhonsle.

Maharaja Tukoji Raje Sahib Bhonsle, had further issue by his morganatic wife, who was subsequently adopted by his sister-in-law and succeeded as:

3) H.M. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Pratapsinha Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore (s/o Annapurna) - see below.

Maharaja Tukoji Raje Sahib Bhonsle also had two other sons by, his Naidu concubines.

1736 - 1737 H.H. Umdat ul-Mulk, Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Ekoji II [Bawa Sahib] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore. b. at Sukuti, 1694, eldest son of H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Tukoji [Tuloji I] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore, by one of his Maharanis, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his father, 1736. m. six wives, including Srimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sijanabai Chhatrapati Maharani Sahib, Regent for her adopted son and brother-in-law 1737, until deposed by Kattu Raje in 1740. He d. at Tanjore Fort, 1737, when his widow adopted his younger brother as his son and successor.

1740 - 1741 H.H. Choladesadhipati Srimant Rajasri Maharaja Kshatrapati Sri Sawai Shahji [Kattu] Raje Sahib Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Tanjore, a pretended son of Raja Sarabhoji [Serfoji] I Raje Sahib Bhonsle, educ. privately. Seized the fort of Tanjore and was proclaimed as Raja, 1740. Deposed when discovered to be a son of Kuppi or Rup, a common washerwoman, 1741. He was k. by an agent of the Nawab of the Carnatic, 1741.

continued on the next page.

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