List of Marathi People - Rulers

Rulers

The Ancient Rulers

• Gautamiputra Satkarni (78AD-102AD) – A Satavahana emperor, defeated Vikramaditya and started the Shalivahan Shaka Calendar which is still used by Maharashtrians

The Bhosale (Maharashtra)

• Maloji Bhosale – First Bhosale to receive the title of "Raje", father of Shahaji Bhosale
• Shahaji Bhosale – Father of Shivaji, was an early exponent of guerilla warfare. He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul (present-day Ellora, Maharashtra)
• Jijabai – Mother of Shivaji, daughter of Lakhuji Jadhav, a nobleman from Sindkhed Raja, was born in present-day Buldhana district of Maharashtra State
• Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630–1680) – Founder of the Maratha Empire (Swarajya)
• Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj(1657–1689) – Son of Shivaji; Second Emperor of Maratha Empire
• Rajaram Chhatrapati (1670–1700) – Third Emperor of the Maratha Empire
• Tarabai (1675–1761) – Queen of the Maratha Empire. Wife of Chhatrapati Rajaram was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite, led the Maratha War of Independence (also termed the war for 27 years with the Mughals from 1681 to 1707). It is the longest recorded military engagement in history of India, the war which change the course of Indian History
• Shahu (1682–1749) – Fourth ruler of the Maratha Empire
• Ramaraja (1749–1777) – Fifth ruler of the Maratha Empire
• Raghoji I (1738–1755) – Expanded the empire up to Bengal, popularised the annual Jagannath Ratha Yatra, or "Festival of Chariots", at Puri in Orrisa

The Bhosale (Thanjavur-Tamil Nadu)

• Venkoji - Half-brother of the great Maratha king Shivaji was the first Raja of Thanjavur from the Bhosale dynasty
• Serfoji II (1777–1832) – Maratha King of Thanjavur, Pioneer in ophthalmology
• Shivaji II - Was the son of Raja Serfoji II,also contributed to the expansion of the Saraswathi Mahal Library and gave many useful books.

The Holkar (Indore-Madhya Pradesh)

• Shrimant Sardar Malharrao Holkar (1693–1766) – Ruler of Indore
• Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar (1725–1795) – Queen of Malwa She is often compared with Catherine II of Russia, Elizabeth I of England
• Yeshwantrao Holkar I (reigned 1798 – 27 October 1811) – He was a gifted military leader and educated in accountancy as well as literate in Persian and Marathi.
• Tukojirao Holkar II (reigned 27 June 1844 – 17 June 1886)- Lieutenant General Maharaja Sir Tukojirao Holkar XI Bahadur, GCSI, was the Maharaja Holkar of Indore from 1844–1886
• Shivajirao Holkar - He was the son of Tukojirao Holkar II
• Yeshwantrao Holkar II - He was educated at the Cheam School, Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford
• Tukojirao Holkar III - Was the Maharaja of Indore belonging to the Holkar dynasty of the Marathas

The Shinde/Scindia (Gwalior-Madhaya Pradesh)

• Ranojirao Scindia – He was the founder of princely Gwalior State of Scindias
• Jayapparao Scindia (1745 – 25 July 1755) – A Maratha general, ruler of Gwalior state
• Srimant Mahadji Shinde Srinath Bahadur (1730–1794) – Ruler of Gwalior state, Mahadaji was instrumental in resurrecting Maratha power after the debacle of the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761
• Daulatrao Scindia (12 February 1794 – 21 March 1827). Born 1779, died 1827 – Daulatrao played a significant role in the Second and Third Anglo-Maratha wars.
• Jayajirao Scindia (7 February 1843 – 20 June 1886).Jayajirao was created a Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India

The Ruler of Jhansi (Madhya Pradesh)

• Lakshmibai – The queen of Jhansi was one of the leading figures of Indian Rebellion of 1857 and a symbol of resistance to the rule of the British East India Company in subcontinent

The Gaekwad (Baroda-Gujarat)

• Pilaji Rao Gaekwad (1721–1732) – He is considered to be the founder of the Gaekwad dynasty, who became Maharaja of Baroda State.
• Shrimant Maharaja Sir Sayajirao III Gaekwad(1863–1939) – Ruler of Baroda, founder of Bank of Baroda
• Pratap Singh Gaekwad (1939–1951) – He founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1949 as per the wishes of his grandfather
• Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad (1951–1988) – Lieutenant-Colonel Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Fatehsinghrao Prataprao Gaekwad
• Maharani Gayatri Devi – Granddaughter of Shrimant Maharaja Sir Sayajirao III Gaekwad & Maharani of Jaipur, socialite, included in Vogue magazine's Ten Most Beautiful Women
• Indira Raje - Mother of Maharani Gayatri Devi,She served as regent of Cooch Behar during the minority of her son

The Peshwe

• Moropant Pingle – Was the First Peshwa Prime Minister in the court of Shivaji
• Peshwa Bajirao (1700–1740) – Expanded the Maratha empire in the North
• Raghunath Rao – Gifted Maratha General who defeated the Afghans and expanded the Maratha empire to its maximum limit, i.e. Attock (ahead of Peshawar)
• Madhavrao Peshwa – Under him Marathas re-captured delhi and restored there power in North India in 1771, just 10 years after there defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761