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News: The Maharashtra government has reclaimed the iconic sword of Maratha warrior Raje Raghuji Bhonsle I at an auction in London.
About Raje Raghuji Bhonsle I
- Raghuji Bhosale I (also spelt Raghoji Bhonsle) was a Maratha ruler and military commander born in 1695.
- He played a significant role in the expansion of the Maratha Empire in the 18th century, carving out the Nagpur Kingdom in east-central India under Chhatrapati Shahu I.
- He hailed from the Hingankar Bhosale clan, and his family had deep roots in Maratha military tradition.
- His rise started under the mentorship of his uncle Kanhoji Bhosale.
- Raghuji extended his authority over the Berar and Gondwana regions.
- He led campaigns in Bengal (1745–1755), and expanded Maratha rule to Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
- The Maratha warrior’s strategic acumen and undeterred ambition earned him the prestigious title of Senasahib Subha from Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.
Features of his Sword
- The basket-hilt sword has a European-style single-edged blade, which is slightly curved, and two fullers — grooves or channels that run the length of the sword.
- The spine of the sword is inlaid in gold with an inscription in Devanagari script.
- The inscription reads Shrimant Raghuji Bhosale Sena Saheb Subah Firang, suggesting that the sword could be ceremonial.
- Following the 1817 Battle of Sitabuldi, the British East India Company defeated the Nagpur Bhonsles and looted the Bhonsle treasury, including this sword.
