Raje Raghuji Bhonsle I |ForumIAS

ForumIAS LATEST

1. 1. SFG FRC 2027 | Program starts from 15th Dec. 2026 | Admissions open for Tranche-1 Entrance Test till 25th Oct. 2026 Click Here to know more →
  2. Prelims Test Series (PTS) for Prelims 2027 starts 11th Oct. 2026 Click Here to know more →
  3. [Pre-order] Ethics Redbook 3rd Edition: Delivery starts from 21st October onwards Click Here to Read More →
  4. 21 Sept. | GS Advance Program (GSAP) for UPSC 2027 Mains starts from 11th Oct. Click Here to Read More →

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.

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.