Bhonsle of Satara

The Bhonsle of Satara, the main branch of the Bhonsle family, were the Maratha rulers holding the title of Chhatrapati in Satara from the 17th to the 19th century.

The Bhonsle of Satara represent the principal line of the dynasty founded by Shivaji Bhonsle, creator of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. After Shivaji’s death and subsequent succession disputes, Satara became the official seat of the Chhatrapati, the legitimate rulers of the Maratha realm.

Although real power gradually shifted to the Peshwas of Pune from the early 18th century onwards, the Bhonsle of Satara retained significant symbolic authority, serving as a legitimising reference for other Maratha leaders.

They ruled directly over the Satara region and nearby territories while confirming alliances and granting titles to secondary branches such as the Bhonsle of Nagpur.

Their political influence diminished after the Anglo‑Maratha Wars, especially following the 1818 treaty that placed Satara under indirect British control. In 1848, the annexation of Satara by the East India Company under the Doctrine of Lapse ended their dynastic rule.

Despite this loss of autonomy, the Bhonsle of Satara remain a major historical reference in Maratha history, embodying the historical legitimacy of the Chhatrapati title.

India • |1674/1761| • Maratha dynasty

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