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{{Short description|Raja of Nagpur from 1739 to 1755}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image =
| name = Raghuji I
| title = Senasaheb Subha{{efn|English: Lord of the Provinces and the Army}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ipcnbsBb5PcC&q=%22%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%22 | title=Vaidya-daptarantuna Nivadalele Kagada | last1=Vaidy | first1=Sankara | date=7 April 2024 }}</ref> Senadhurandhar{{efn|English: A highly distinguished and capable military commander}}
| caption = Portrait of Raghuji Bhonsle
| succession = 1st [[Raja]] of [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]]
| religion = Hinduism
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| serviceyears =
| battles =
{{Hidden begin}}{{Bulleted list|[[Second Maratha invasion of Bengal]]|[[Fourth Maratha invasion of Bengal]]|[[Siege of Barabati (1745)]]|[[Battle of Naubatpur (1745)]]}}{{Hidden end}}
}}
| full name =
| coronation =
| birth_name = Raghuji Bhonsle
| birth_date = {{C.}} 1695
| birth_place = {{unbulleted list|[[Satara (city)|Satara]], [[Maratha Kingdom]]|(modern day [[Maharashtra]], India)}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1755|02|14|1685|df=yes}}
| death_place = {{unbulleted list|[[Nagpur]], [[Maratha Empire]]|(modern day [[Maharashtra]], India)}}
| reign = 1739{{Spaced ndash}}14 February 1755
| predecessor = {{unbulleted list|''Position established''|(Burhan Shah as [[Gonds of Deogarh|Gond]] ruler)}}
| successor = [[Janoji Bhonsle|Janoji I]]
| house = [[House of Bhonsle|Bhonsle]] ([[Bhonsles of Nagpur|Nagpur]])
| spouse =
| father = Bimbaji
| mother = Kashibai
| issue = [[Janoji of Nagpur|Janoji I]] [[Mudhoji Bhonsle|Mudhoji]] [[Bimbaji Bhonsle|Bimbaji]] Sabaji
}}
'''Raghuji I''' (Raghuji Bhonsle, {{IPA|mr|ɾəɡud͡ʒi bʱoːsəleː}}; 1695 – 14 February 1755)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oe9tAAAAMAAJ&q=%22raghoji+the+great%22 |title=The Cyclopedia of India: Biographical, Historical, Administrative, Commercial |date=1992 |publisher=Book Traders |pages=312 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Prabhu Lal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WM5aAAAAIAAJ&q=%22raghoji+the+great%22 |title=The Political History of Chhattisgarh, 1740-1858 A.D. |date=1979 |publisher=Vishwa Bharati Prakashan |pages=38, 39, 88 |language=en}}</ref> was a [[Maratha]] general credited with the Maratha expansion into [[Gondwana (India)|Gondwana]], [[Odisha]], and [[Bengal]], establishing Maratha supremacy in those areas of South Asia. He was granted the title of ''Senasaheb Subha'', meaning "Lord of the Provinces and the Army", and a ''[[Saranjamdar|saranjam]]'' in the [[Vidarbha region]] by [[Shahu I]]. He is considered the founder of the [[Kingdom of Nagpur]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daniyal |first=Shoaib |date=2015-12-21 |title=Forgotten Indian history: The brutal Maratha invasions of Bengal |url=http://scroll.in/article/776978/forgotten-indian-history-the-brutal-maratha-invasions-of-bengal |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Origin==
The [[Bhonsle (clan)|Bhonsale]] family branch of Raghuji were known as 'Hinganikar' as they were originally chiefs from Berdi (near Hingani in [[Pune District]]) established by Bimbaji Bhonsle. Ancestors of Raghuji—namely his great-granduncle Rupaji I, great-grandfather Mudhoji, grandfather Bapuji, and Bapuji's two brothers Sabaji and Parsoji—fought in the armies of [[Shivaji]]. Mudhoji resided in [[Pandavgad]], ruling over a Mauza near [[Wai, Maharashtra|Wai]] in Maharashtra, which Shivaji had granted to him as [[jagir]] for his spectacular exploits, while his brother Rupaji I resided at Bham in the district of [[Yavatmal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Congress |first=Indian History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cOBtAAAAMAAJ&q=rupaji+pandogarh |title=Proceedings |date=1975 |publisher=Indian History Congress |pages=311 |language=en}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=July 2024}}

As Rupaji I was childless, his property later passed to his brother Mudhoji; this subsequently gave Hinganikar Bhonsles a foothold in [[Amravati district|east Maharashtra]] for future conquests. Shivaji entrusted high military command and the collection of ''chauth'' (tribute) in [[Amravati district|Berar]] to the most distinguished of them. Mudhoji's son Sabaji was given villages of Rakhswari and Poorkikotar; however, it was Parsoji who attained highest position in the family.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} During [[Mughal-Maratha Wars|Mughal–Maratha Wars]] [[Rajaram I|Chhatrapati Rajaram Bhonsle]] bestowed the title of 'Senasahibsubha' (meaning 'Master of provinces and armies') on Parsoji Bhonsle along with rights to regions of [[Deogarh Fort|Devgad]], [[Gondwana]], [[Chandrapur|Chanda]], and [[Nagpur district|Varhad]], from where he could exact tribute.

Bapuji only had one son, Bimbaji, who was the father of Raghuji I. Parsoji had three sons: Santaji, Kanhoji, and Ranoji, each of whom had a distinguished career. Santaji was part of various campaigns of Shivaji and the other commanders until his murder in Delhi during the 1719 campaign to depose [[Farrukhsiyar]] led by Senapati [[Khanderao Dabhade]]. Ranoji was given the title of 'Sawai Santaji' (meaning 'Superior Santaji') along with other compensations for the loss of his brother's life.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In 1722, [[Shahu I]] presented Badnera and [[Amravati]] to Ranoji Bhonsle, further extending the Hinganikar Bhonsles' presence in the east. Kanhoji went on to rule for 20 years, securing the family title of 'Senasahibsubha' and paving the way for future conquests. The less-prominent Bimbaji Bhonsle was without a son until one was finally born, who Bimbaji believed to be a result of prayers of a pious [[Vaishnava]] saint Ramajipant Kolhatkar. On those grounds Bimbaji named his son Raghuji ([[Raghu|Raghava]]) after [[Rama]], an [[avatar]] of Vishnu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maharashtra state Gazetteer district Nagpur |url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Nagpur/his1.html |website=gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2024}}<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqYiBAAAQBAJ&dq=raghoji+i+bhonsle&pg=PA80 |title=Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas |date=2014-08-01 |publisher=Pratik gupta |language=en}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=July 2024}}

== Early life ==
Bimbaji died shortly after his son was born, and Raghuji grew up with his mother Kashibai and grandmother Baijabai at the same [[Pandavgad|Pandavavadi]] near Wai. On attaining maturity Raghuji served under his uncle Ranoji as a ''shiledar'' (cavalryman) in [[Amravati]], participating in various military operations.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Malik |first=Zahiruddin |date=1975 |title=Side Lights on the Administrative System of the Bhonsle State of Nagpur (1740-1772) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44138856 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=36 |pages=310–320 |jstor=44138856 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=July 2024}} His uncle Senasahibsubha Kanhoji Bhonsle, based at Bham sixteen miles south of [[Yavatmal]], invited him to his fief as he was heirless up to that point.

The city of Bham (or Bhambraja) was located on a small plateau near the [[Adan River|Adan]] river, raised 300 ft. above the level of the valley. Today it is a vast but completely abandoned site of immense stone ruins and traces of planted trees. The original settlement was expansive, with a tradition of 5,000 houses owned by [[Sadhu|Bairagis]] (ascetics) alone under the protection of [[Marathas]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maharashtra (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PlhuAAAAMAAJ&q=bham+bairagis |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Ahmadnagar |date=1960 |publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |pages=698 |language=en}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=July 2024}}

Senasahibsubha Kanhoji looked after and mentored Raghuji, who was the son of his cousin Bimbaji, with hopes of gradually passing his duties to him. But after the birth of his son Rayaji Bhonsle, his plans for adopting Raghuji ended and their relations were disrupted.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F6thAAAAIAAJ&q=raghuji+tiger+shahu |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Akola |date=1977 |publisher=Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |pages=139 |language=en}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==Rise to power==
[[File:Raghuji Bhosale I.jpg|left|thumb|Raghoji I with his courtiers]]
Raghuji then left his uncle and travelled with 100 horsemen to offer his services to the [[Deogarh Fort|Gond Kingdom of Devgad]], then ruled by Chand Sultan, where he fought for many years and familiarised himself with local politics. Eventually Raghuji returned to [[Satara district|Satara]] to directly serve the [[Shahu I|Chhatrapati Shahu Bhonsle]]. Raghuji's status dramatically escalated when he bravely slew a tiger that threatened Shahu's life during a hunting expedition. Shahu rewarded Raghuji, most importantly by arranging the marriage of his own Shirke clan wife Rani Sagunabai's sister Salubai to Raghuji. This further bound the Chhatrapati Bhonsle and the Senasahibsubha Bhonsle families.<ref name=":0" />

This was simultaneously followed by the downfall of Senasahibsubha Kanhoji, who had entered into talks with the [[Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I|Nizam]]. For further examination he was invited by Shahu to Satara. On 23 August 1725 Kanhoji left Satara without permission, fleeing the officers sent after him. After three years of distant correspondence, Shahu finally appointed Raghuji as the new Senasahibsubha in 1728. Following Raghuji's appointment, Shahu granted him the [[deed|sanads]] for [[Vidarbha|Berar]] and [[Gondwana]] and the right to extend the levy of [[chauth|''chauth'']] to [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Patna]] in Bihar, [[Allahabad]] in [[Awadh|Awadh Subah]] and [[Murshidabad|Maksudabad]] in [[Bengal Subah]] serving as directives for his conquests.<ref name="books.google.com">{{Cite book |last=Maharashtra (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWpDAAAAYAAJ&q=raghuji+tukoji+gujar+kanhoji |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Akola District |date=1977 |publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |pages=134 |language=en}}</ref>

Raghuji's first campaign as Senasahibsubha was to bring his uncle Kanhoji to justice and restore centralization in the eastern provinces. He deployed an army of 30,000 cavalry. Raghuji's armies roved in all directions exacting the pending ''chauth'' and Sardeshmukhi, which served as return of central authority over the lands. In 1731 Raghuji Bhonsle killed Isa Khan and seized all the villages in [[Kingdom of Kherla|Kherla]] as well as the Fort of Salbardi.<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=unav |title=Eighteenth-Century South Asia and the Maratha Political |url=https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D88H03KJ/download |website=academiccommons.columbia.edu|date=2018 |doi=10.7916/D88H03KJ }}</ref>

Raghuji followed this by defeating Shujayat Khan of [[Akola]], the deputy of the Nawab of Ellichpur, and subjugating his territory. In this duration Kanhoji had prepared countermeasures by fortifying his base at Bham. Raghuji received the aid of his uncle Sawai Santaji Ranoji Bhonsle of [[Amravati]]. The two armies jointly besieged the fort of Bham and killed Kanhoji's general Tukoji [[Gurjar|Gujjar]], who death broke Kanhoji's patience and he fled from the fort, closely pursued by the allied cavalry. Raghuji and Ranoji overtook Kanhoji at Mandar near [[Yavatmal]] and defeated him in the fight. Kanhoji was imprisoned in the fort of Satara while his son Rayaji continued at Bham.<ref name="books.google.com" />

Tensions regarding Rayaji and Raghuji's rights as Senasahibsubha ended only by 1748 when Rayaji died childless, thus ensuring the supremacy of Raghuji Bhonsle's line. Shahu Chhatrapati then bestowed the authority to impose ''chauth'' and [[deed|mokasa]] of prominent Mughal cities and regions like [[Lucknow]], [[Allahabad]] in [[Awadh]], [[Murshidabad]] in [[Bengal Subah]], [[Vidarbha|Berar]] (claimed by [[Nizam]]), Bitia in [[Bundelkhand|Malwa Subah]], [[Hajipur]] and [[Patna]] in [[Bihar|Bihar Subah]] (under Nawab of [[Bengal Subah]]), and of the Gond Kingdoms of [[Deogarh Fort|Devagad]], [[Garha Kingdom|Gadha]], Bhavargad, and [[Chandrapur|Chanda]]. This ensured the direction of Raghuji's future expansions.<ref name="books.google.com" />

==Military campaigns==
{{More citations needed|date=July 2025}}
[[File:Nagardhan-Fort-Main-Entrance.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Main entrance of the Nagardhan Fort near [[Nagpur]] city, commissioned by Raghoji Bhonsale]]
Bold and decisive in action, Raghuji was an archetypical Maratha leader; he saw in the troubles of other states an opening for his own ambition, and did not even require a pretext for invasion. Twice his armies occupied [[Bengal]], and it was he who attained the conquest of [[Cuttack]]. [[Chandrapur|Chanda]], [[Chhattisgarh]], and [[Sambalpur]] were added to his dominions between 1745 and 1755, the year of his death. He was succeeded by his son [[Janoji Bhonsle]].<ref name="generals">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqYiBAAAQBAJ&dq=raghoji+i+bhonsle&pg=PA80 |title=Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas |date=1 August 2014 |publisher=Pratik gupta |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Handwriting of Raghuji Bhonsle.jpg|thumb|left|Seal, signature, and handwriting of Maratha Senadhurandar Sarkar Senasahibsubha Raghuji Bhonsle I of Nagpur]]

===Campaigns in South India===
The Nawab of Carnatic Dost, Ali Khan, sent his son Safdar Ali and [[Chanda Sahib|Husayn Dost Khan]] (better known as Chanda Sahib) to extort tribute from the Hindu states of Deccan. Through treachery Chanda brought about the abdication of the queen of [[Tiruchirappalli]]. After entering the fort by swearing on the [[Quran]] sacred oaths of peace and behaving like a brother to the widowed queen, Husayn facilitated the storming of the fort by having his men enter through the adjoining palace known as Dilwar Mandap. Heartbroken on such betrayal the widowed queen [[Self-immolation|burnt herself]] in disgrace.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

The extension of the Muslim power in the far south had set in motion a Hindu reaction led by Vangaru Tirumala, a member of the [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]] and a former rival of queen Minakṣhi, and Sayaji Bhonsle, the deposed Maratha ruler of Tanjore, who appealed for aid to [[Chhatrapati Shahu]], the most powerful Hindu ruler at the time. Hindu Kingdoms such as [[Ramnad estate|Ramnad]], [[Sivaganga estate|Sivaganga]], [[Pudukkottai State|Pudukkottai]], and the [[Kingdom of Mysore]] called upon the Marathas for intervention, and offered cooperation against the Arcot Nawab.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kunju |first=A. P. Ibrahim |date=1959 |title=TRAVANCORE AND THE CARNATIC IN THE XVIII CENTURY: Fresh Light Thrown by the Matilakam Records |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44304325 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=22 |pages=368–377 |jstor=44304325 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=July 2024}} They demanded the expulsion of the Navayet Nawabs. Even the [[Nizam]] supported Maratha intervention against them.

Pratapsingh Bhonsle of Tanjore was neither regular in the payment of tribute nor obedient to the Subehdar, causing the Nawab to remove him from Tanjore by force and install a Muslim deputy. Finally incensed by the atrocities of the Nawab, Shahu deployed Raghuji Bhonsle of [[Nagpur]] and Fatehsingh Bhonsle of [[Akkalkot]] with army of 40,000 to wreak vengeance on the wrongdoers. Raghuji defeated the Nawab of [[Kadapa|Cuddappah]], exacted tribute from the Nawab of [[Karnool]], and advanced southwards into the subah of [[Arcot]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

===Battle of Damalcherry Pass===
The rapid advance of the Marathas filled the Nawab [[Dost Ali Khan]] with dismay. Soon afterwards, on May 20, 1740, the Battle of Damalcherry took place, which was a major confrontation between the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]], Dost Ali Khan of Arcot, and the Maratha Senasahibsubha Raghuji I Bhonsle of Nagpur.<ref name="Jeremy Black">{{cite book|author=Jeremy Black|title=War in the Eighteenth-Century World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcEcBQAAQBAJ&dq=battle+of+Damalcherry&pg=PA60|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year= 2012|isbn=9780230370005|pages=280}}</ref> The battle was a victory for the Marathas in which Dost Ali Khan, his son, and nearly all his officers were killed. Dost Ali Khan's diwan Mir Assud was taken captive. The Nawab's capital city of Arcot was plundered and the rich treasures were taken as booty by the triumphant Marathas.<ref name="Saswadkar">{{cite journal |last= Saswadkar|first= P. L.|title=Prohibition under the Peshwas in the latter half of the eighteenth century|journal= Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|year= 1965|volume= 27|pages= 326–328|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44140671|publisher=JSOR|jstor= 44140671|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="TN Gov">{{cite web |title=Brief history of Arcot|url=https://www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/2020/08/briefhistory-PB-Arcot.pdf|publisher=Tamil Nadu Govt|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> The news of this defeat spread dismay and consternation in the country. Safdar had by then only reached Arcot. He started negotiations for a truce with the Marathas through Mir Assud who was in captivity in the Maratha camp. The Marathas were disappointed by the desolate condition of the country and many in the circles were ready to come to terms. Raghuji however demanded a high fee for sparing Chanda Sahib, who offered only seven lakhs with a statement threatening to continue the conflict if the terms were rejected.

===Siege of Trichinopoly===
{{Main|Siege of Trichinopoly (1741)}}

Raghuji discarded the meagre offer and deployed his men against [[Tiruchirappalli]]. The main body of the Maratha cavalry took positions before the city and cut off its communications. Meanwhile, a large body of Nevayet troops under Chanda Sahib's brother Zaynut Abdul Khan, known as Bada Sahib, marched to the northern borders of their territory to prevent a total encirclement.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=fH9CAAAAYAAJ&q=Zaynut+Abdul+Khan Proceedings of the Indian History Congress Pg. 277]</ref> The Maratha contingents attempted to intercept the march of Bada Sahib, but the flank of his brother Sadak Sahib defeated their stretched lines at [[Dindigul]]. The two then merged their forces and rushed to Tiruchirappalli to aid their brother but were intercepted by Raghuji at [[Manapparai]]. In the fierce battle which lasted for nine hours the Marathas emerged victorious. Raghuji killed Bada Sahib and Sadak Sahib with more than 3,000 men in each of their contingents slain. This decisive Maratha victory considerably helped their siege of Tiruchirappalli. Despite the formidable odds, Chanda Sahib resisted the onslaught for more than a month.<ref name="jstor.org">{{Cite journal |last=Rajayyan |first=K. |date=1970 |title=The Marathas at Trichinopoly: 1741-1743 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41688690 |journal=Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute |volume=51 |issue=1/4 |pages=222–230 |jstor=41688690 |issn=0378-1143}}</ref>

On the 16th of March 1741, the Marathas finally scaled the walls of the ramparts of Tiruchirappalli fort, surprised the garrison, and conquered the Nevayet stronghold. The fort was surrendered to Raghuji on the day of [[Ram Navami]], but it was the banner of Fatehsingh Bhonsle which was raised on the fort. Chanda Sahib negotiated for peace by offering to pay twelve lakhs of rupees for his safe departure, but the Marathas demanded one crore. Eventually the talks broke down and the Marathas carried away the Husayn Dost Khan together with his son Abid Ali as prisoner to [[Vidarbha|Berar]] and then to [[Satara (city)|Satara]]. Raghuji appointed [[Murari Rao|Murari Rao Ghorpade]] as the new ruler at Tiruchirappalli, which marked the end of the Nevayets and the culmination of the Maratha campaign.<ref name="jstor.org"/>

According to Ramesan, it must have been at this time of his invasion in 1740, while in the [[Chittoor district]] and very near to [[Tirupati]], that Raghuji took the opportunity to visit the [[Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala|Venkateswara temple]] and offer his obeisance to the deity with offerings of many valuable jewels. These jewels are still preserved in the temple in a chest known as "Raghojivari Pette".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramesan |first=n |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.162281 |title=The Tirumala Temple |date=1999}}</ref>

===Conquest of Chhattisgarh===
{{Main|Siege of Ratanpur}}

Raghoji's Diwan Pandit [[Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar|Bhaskar Ram]] invaded and placed Mohansingh, an illegitimate son of Raghuji, in charge of the states of [[Raipur]], [[Ratanpur, Chhattisgarh|Ratanpur]], [[Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]], and [[Sambalpur]] in Chhattisgarh before advancing on to Orissa.

===Campaigns in Bengal and Odisha===
{{Main|Maratha invasions of Bengal}}

The Maratha Empire undertook an expedition in Bengal after the successful campaign in [[Carnatic region|Carnatic]] at the [[Siege of Trichinopoly (1741)|Battle of Trichinopolly]]. Raghoji led this expedition. Raghoji was able to annex [[Orissa, India|Orissa]] permanently, as he successfully exploited the chaotic conditions prevailing in the region after the death of the Orissa governor [[Murshid Quli Khan]] in 1727.<ref>{{cite book |last=Government of Maharashtra |year=1974 |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Wardha District |edition=2nd |location=Bombay |publisher=Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State |page=63 |oclc=77864804}}</ref> The Nawab of Bengal ceded territory up to the river Suvarnarekha to the Marathas, and agreeing to pay Rs. 20 lacs as [[chauth]] for [[Bengal]] (including both West Bengal and Bangladesh) and 12 lacs for Bihar (including Jharkhand); Bengal thus became a tributary of the Marathas.<ref>Fall Of The Mughal Empire- Volume 1 (4Th Edn.), J.N.Sarkar</ref>

===Final takeover of Devagad===

Dissensions continued between the [[Deogarh Fort|Devgad]] Gond brothers and once again, the elder brother Burhan Shah requested the aid of Raghoji. Akbar Shah was driven into exile and finally poisoned at [[Hyderabad]]. However, this time Raghoji did not pass the opportunity of conquering such a plentiful and rich country.<ref name="hunter">{{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=William Wilson |title=Naaf to Rangmagiri |date=1881 |publisher=Trübner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYoIAAAAQAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=PA30 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="society">{{cite book |last1=Society (MANCHESTER) |first1=Northern Central British India |title=Proceedings of a Public Meeting for the formation of The Northern Central British India Society held in the Corn Exchange, Manchester, on Wednesday evening, August 26th, 1840 |date=1840 |publisher=Northern Central British India Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSFYAAAAcAAJ&dq=bakht+buland+shah&pg=RA2-PA8 |language=en}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2024}}

He declared himself 'protector' of the Gond king. Thus in 1743, Burhan Shah was practically made a state pensionary, with real power being in the hands of the Maratha ruler. After this event the role of the Gonds in politics of the Deogarh region faded from history.<ref name="community">{{cite book |last1=Kurup |first1=Ayyappan Madhava |title=Continuity and Change in a Little Community |date=1986 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCNfWRGXd04C&q=king+of+deogarh+chand+sultan&pg=PA8 |language=en}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
[[File:Raghuji Raje Bhonsle.jpg|thumb|Statue of Raghuji I at Sakkardara Square]]
King of Nagpur Raghuji Bhonsle died on February 14, 1755. He left behind four legitimate sons—Janoji, Mudhoji, Sabaji, and Bimbaji—and one known natural son, Mohansingh.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group="Notes"}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist}}

===Notes===
#Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908). ''Imperial Gazetteer of India'' 1908–1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.

{{commons category|Raghuji I of Nagpur}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box |
before=Raja Gond |
title=[[Nagpur kingdom|King of Nagpur]] |
years=1739–1755 | after=[[Janoji Bhonsle|Janoji]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{MarathaEmpire|state=expanded}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raghoji 01 Bhosale}}
[[Category:Maratha Chiefs in the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:People from the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:1755 deaths]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Nagpur]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Indian military leaders]]
[[Category:1685 births]]

Raghuji I - Revision history

LolitaErurf: put up new details initial version