Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/290

 Sawantwadi.

SAWANTWADI is a State in the Bombay Presidency. The rulers of the State are Mahrattas, surnamed Sawant Bhonsle. At the close of the fifteenth century, Sawantwadi became a part of the territory of the Bijapur kings. Mang Sawant of the Bhonsle family, however, revolted from Bijapur. and established his capital at Hadowra, a small village nine miles from Wadi. He is reputed to be the founder of the Sawants of Wadi.

The Chief who finally freed his country from Mahomedan yoke was Khem Sawant Bhonsle. He ruled from 1627 A.D. to 1640 A.D. He was succeeded by his son, Som Sawant, who ruled for only eighteen months, and was followed by his brother, Lakhman Sawant. When the power of Shiwaji seemed in the ascendant (1650 A.D.), Lakhman Sawant tendered allegiance to him, and was confirmed as Sar Desai of the whole Southern Konkan. He died in 1 665 A.D. and was succeeded by his brother, Phond Sawant, who, after ruling for ten years was succeeded by his son, Khem Sawant II; and he was confirmed in his possessions by Shahu. It was during the time of Khem's successor ( 1707-1737 A.D.) that the Sawantwadi State first entered into treaty relations with the British Government against the piratical chieftain, Kanhoji Angria of Kolaba.

The Chief, who ruled from 1755 to 1803 A.D. under the name of Khem Sawant the Great, married the daughter of Jayaji Sindhia in 1 703 A.D. and gained the title of 'Raja Bahadur' from the Emperor of Delhi. Khem Sawant, not content with wars on land, took to piracy. His rule was a continuous contest with Kolhapur, the Peshwa, the Portuguese, and the British. He died childless in 1803 A.D. and the question of succession was not decided till 1805 A. D., when Khem Sawant's widow, Lakshmi Bai, adopted a child, Ramchandra Sawant alias Bhausaheb. This child lived for three years, when it was strangled in bed. Phond Sawant, a minor, was chosen to fill his place. During these years of disorder, the ports swarmed with pirates. So severely did British commerce suffer, that in 1812 A.D. Phoad Sawant was forced to enter into a treaty with the British, ceding the port of Vengurla to them, and engaging to give up all his vessels of war. Soon after the conclusion of this treaty, Phond Sawant HI died, and was succeeded by his brother, Khem Sawant IV., a child of eight. This Chief, when he came of age was found to be unable to manage his State, and at last in 1838 A.D. he agreed to make over the administration to the British Government. The State was eventually restored in 1861 A.D. to the Chief on his undertaking to defray the expenses of the last rebellion, to pay one year's revenue as succession-fee, to protect his subjects, and to meet the expenses of a British Resident and his establishment.

The area of the State is 925 square miles with a population of 2,17,732 inhabitants and a revenue of about Rs. 4 J lacs.

The present ruler of Sawantwadi is Shri Raw Sawant Bhonsle Raje Bahadur Sar Desai and is entitled to a salute of 9 guns.