Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/46

 Kolhapur.

KOLHAPUR claims a very high rank among Native States, as the ruler is the direct descendant of Shiwaji the Great, the founder of the Mahratta Empire, and bears the distinctive and honorific title of "Chhatrapati Maharaj ". The Rajas of Kolhapur are the representatives of the junior branch of the family of Shiwaji as the Rajas of Satara were of the senior branch. After the death, in 1 700 A.D., of Rajaram, ( Shiwaji's younger son, who was the head of the Mahratta power during the captivity of his nephew Shahu in the Mogul camp ) his widow Tara Bai placed her son Shiwaji en the gadi. In 1707 A.D. Shahu, the rightful heir, was released from the captivity of the Moguls, and came to Satara to claim the Mahratta Raj. After a short struggle, Shahu was successful in his object, and fixed his capital at Satara. Shiwaji, with his ambitious mother, repaired to Kolhapur and established a separate principality for himself. He died in 1712 A.D. and was succeeded by Sambhaji, son of Rajaram's younger widow. The Kolhapur family, supported by Ramchandra Pant Amatya, Sarje Rao Ghatage of Kagal, and other powerful chiefs, endeavoured hard to retain its supremacy among the Mahrattas; but tbey were compelled to yield precedence to Shahu, who, by the treaty of 1731 A.D., recognised Kolhapur as a distinct and independent State.

On the death of Sambhaji in 1760 A.D. the direct descendants of Shiwaji became extinct. A member of the Bhonsle family was adopted as his successor under the name of Shiwaji II., and the dowager Rani, Jijabai, conducted the administration during the minority of her adopted son. After her death in 1772 A.D., the young Raja, was for a long while, engaged in war with other states, particularly with the Patwardhans, the Sanwants, and the Nipanikars; and, moreover, his government was weakened by internal factions. On several occasions, during these struggles, the British Government were requested to interfere but they declined. In 1811 A.D. during a war between the Nipanikar and Kolhapur, when the British Resident at Poona was engaged in the settlement of the Southern Mahratta Country, a peace was negotiated between the contending parties, and the Raja of Kolhapur concluded a treaty of friendship with the British Government. Shiwaji II died in 1812 A.D. and was succeeded by Sambhaji II or Abasaheb (1812' 1821 A.D.) He was followed by Shahaji 'or Bawasaheb (1821 to 1837 A.D.) who was a quarrelsome and extravagant ruler. On his death in 1837 A.D. a Council of Regency was formed to govern the State during the minority of his successor Shiwaji, 111 or Babasaheb, who ruled till 1866 A.D.; but the members of the council fell out and the British Government appointed a minister of its own selection in 1844 A.D.

It was only after this that Kolhapur enjoyed some peace and happiness. It remained a faithful ally to the British Government during the critical times of the Munity in 1857 A.D. A treaty, whereby the Maharaja of Kolhapur agreed to be guided by the advice of the Paramount Power in all important matters, was concluded with the British Government in 1 862 A.D. when the administration of the State was handed over to its ruler Shiwaji IV, who died shortly after in 1 866 A.D. He was succeeded by Rajaram, who died at Florence in 1870 A.D. during his tour in Europe. His widow adopted Shiwaji V who also did not survive long. He died in 1884 A.D. at Ahmednagar and was succeeded, by adoption, by the present Maharaja H.H. Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj.