Raje Raghuji Bhonsle I

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.