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{{Short description|Indian princess and socialite (1917–1989)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Inline|date=August 2022}}
{{tone|date=February 2012}}
{{distinguish|Sita Devi (Maharani of Kapurthala)}}
{{Infobox royalty
| consort = yes
| name = Princess Sita Devi
| image = 
| alt = 
| caption =
| succession = Princess Consort of Vuyyur
| reign = 1935–1943
| succession1 = Co-Maharani Consort of Baroda
| reign1 = 1943–1948
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|05|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Madras]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|02|15|1917|05|12|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Paris]], [[France]]
| spouse = [[Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao|Prince Meka Appa Rao I, Prince of Vuyyuru]]<br>(m. 1935 - div. 1943)<br>[[Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad|Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad I of Baroda]]<br>(m. 1943 - div. 1956)
| issue =
| occupation =
| father = [[Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rau|Surya Rau I of Pithapuram]]
| mother =
}}

'''Princess Sita Devi of Pithapuram''' (formerly known as “Queen of [[Baroda]]”) (2 May 1917 – 15 February 1989)<ref>Acte de décès, Mairie de Paris, Registre 531, Numéro d'acte: 423</ref> was known as the "Indian [[Wallis Simpson]]".<ref name="autogenerated3">[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060813/society.htm#2 Tribune India 13 August 2006],</ref> She was a member of the international [[jet set]].

== Biography ==
Sita Devi was the daughter of the [[Maharaja]] of [[Pithapuram Estate|Pithapuram]] – Sri Raja [[Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rau]] Bahadur Garu and his wife Sri Rani Chinnamamba Devi (of Kapileswarapuram, [[Nuzvid Estate|Nuzvid Zamindari]]).

Sita Devi first married [[Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao]] Bahadur, Zamindar of [[Vuyyuru]].<ref name=autogenerated3 /> They had a son, Rajah M. Viduth Kumar Apparao. She was a close friend of [[Princess Niloufer]], daughter-in-law of the 7th [[Nizam]] of Hyderabad.<ref name="social friend">{{cite news |url=https://archive.siasat.com/news/princess-niloufer-hyderabad-1100759/ |title=A short biography of Princess Niloufer}}</ref>

She met her second husband, [[Pratap Singh Gaekwar|Pratap Singh Gaekwad]] of Baroda, at the [[Chennai|Madras]] horse races in 1943.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> The Gaekwad was, at that time, considered the eighth richest man in the world. It was also reported that he was the second richest Indian [[prince]]. The Gaekwad subsequently began a romantic relationship with Sita Devi. The lovers consulted with his legal team. The lawyers recommended that the Hindu Sita Devi convert to [[Islam]] to dissolve her marriage to the Zamindar under Indian law.<ref name=autogenerated3 />

After her conversion, Gaekwad took her as his second wife in 1943, which caused consternation with the British authorities, as this violated the [[bigamy|antibigamy laws]] that the previous Gaekwad of Baroda enacted. The British Viceroy in [[New Delhi]] summoned the Gaekwad to contest this marriage. The latter argued that the law applied to the subjects of Baroda, and that he being their monarch was exempt from this law. This was confirmed by the Viceroy's legal advisers. The British government accepted the marriage, but did not refer to the Maharani as "Her Highness" as was the protocol for the consorts of rulers of [[princely state]]s.<ref name=autogenerated3 />

In 1946, the Gaekwad took his second wife on a tour of Europe. The reason for their visit was to find a suitable residence away from India.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> They found that the independent Principality of [[Monaco]] was a suitable place to set up their second home. They bought a mansion in [[Monte Carlo]] and the Maharani took up permanent residence there.<ref name=autogenerated3 />

The Gaekwad visited often, bringing some of the great treasures of Baroda to Monaco. The Maharani became the custodian of these treasures.<ref name=autogenerated4>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020818/spectrum/heritage.htm Tribune India 18 August 2002]</ref>

The couple also made two trips to the [[United States]] after the war. They went on a spending spree, buying all types of luxurious items. It was widely reported they spent $10 million on one of those trips. Indian officials audited the principality's finances. They concluded the Gaekwad had taken several large interest-free loans from the Baroda treasury. They demanded that these be returned. The prince complied by making several payments from his $8 million-a-year income.<ref name=autogenerated3 />

The princely couple transferred a copious amount from the Baroda treasury, including some of its most famous jewellery, including four celebrated pearl carpets,<ref name=autogenerated4 /> a famed seven-strand necklace of priceless pearls (called the Baroda pearls), a three-strand diamond necklace with the famous Pink Brazilian [[Star of the South]] {{convert|128.80|carat|g|adj=on}} diamond and the [[English Dresden]] {{convert|78.53|carat|g|adj=on}} diamond. The princely couple also had custody of the [[Empress Eugénie (diamond)|Empress Eugenie]] diamond. When Baroda was integrated into the newly independent [[India]], Indian officials were eventually able to recover some of the items, but some of the jewels had been transferred to the Maharani's ownership.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

In 1965, she purchased a painting in Paris from [[Daniel Wildenstein]], believing it to be ''La Poésie'' by [[François Boucher]]. When it was discovered to be a fake, she sued Wildenstein in an English court despite both her and him residing in France. The case, ''[[Maharanee of Baroda v Wildenstein]]'', established an important rule regarding the presence of a defendant in [[conflict of laws]].

Years after the Maharani's death some of the precious items were discovered. In 1994 the pearl carpet was found in a [[Swiss bank|Geneva vault]].<ref name="autogenerated4" /> It was sold to an Arab prince for $31 million.<ref name="autogenerated3" /> Currently this carpet is displayed at the [[Museum of Islamic Art, Doha]], in Qatar, even though it was commissioned by an Indian Hindu Maharaja and not by an Islamic ruler. The Star of the South and other gems were located with jewellers in [[Amsterdam]].<ref name="autogenerated3" />

After the Maharani's death, a part of her inheritance was transferred to her niece (daughter of Rani Manjula Devi of the Sidli family) Anangarekha Devi who currently lives in Assam with her family.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

Eventually, [[India]], due to the discrepancies and possible fraud, deposed the Gaekwad in 1951 and his eldest son by his first wife succeeded him. Technically, the couple were not heads of state any longer, but they insisted on still being referred to by their former titles.<ref name=autogenerated2>''The Maharajahs''; by John Lord (1971) Random House; {{ISBN|0-394-46145-2}}</ref>

She bore Gaekwad one child, a son, [[Saji rao gaekwad|Sayaji Rao Gaekwad]] (8 March 1945 – 8 May 1985). Nicknamed "Princie", he was the apple of her eye. She attended exclusive events<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101029081118/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,838691,00.html Time Magazine Sept 13, 1968]</ref> and partied with other international luminaries, such as [[Aristotle Onassis]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604105633/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839901-2,00.html Profile], Time Magazine, 21 March 1969.</ref>

In 1953, she sold a pair of bejewelled anklets to [[Harry Winston]]. They had several large emeralds and diamonds. The jeweller set these stones into a spectacular necklace that was bought by the [[Wallis Simpson|Wallis, Duchess of Windsor]]. The Duchess wore this to a 1957 New York ball also attended by Sita Devi. When other guests were admiring the necklace. The Maharani was heard to exclaim that those jewels looked just as nice on her feet. The embarrassed Duchess returned the necklace to Winston.<ref name=autogenerated5>[http://www.internetstones.com/claire-roy-chalk-emerald-ring.html Internetstones.com]</ref>

The Maharani was a car enthusiast and was reportedly very fond of her Mercedes W126, which was custom made for her by [[Mercedes-Benz]]. At the 1969 [[Ascot Gold Cup]] she invited guests to touch the {{convert|30|carat|g|adj=on}} sapphire on her right hand for good luck.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> ''[[Esquire Magazine]]'' included Sita Devi and Princie on its list of "fun couples" for 1969.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Sita Devi divorced the Gaekwad in 1956. He promptly moved to London.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081214104024/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,824154,00.html Divorce of Sita Devi and the Gaekwad], ''Time Magazine'', 26 March 1956.</ref>

After the dissolution of her second marriage, she clung to her exalted title. Her Rolls-Royce still sported the armorial insignia of Baroda. She would reminisce about the days when she was a Queen and received 101-gun salutes. [[Prince Rainier]] awarded citizenship of [[Monaco]] to both Sita Devi and Princie.<ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080531170216/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,912731-3,00.html Monaco], Time Magazine, 20 January 1975.</ref>

She maintained a Paris apartment as well. She continued to live in grand style, drinking Baron de Rothschild's Bordeaux, rearranging her Louis XVI furniture and attending exclusive parties. When travelling she brought along a large wardrobe, reported to be a thousand saris, hundreds of pairs of shoes and of course her jewellery.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> But her finances were eventually reduced enough for her to secretly auction some of her beloved jewels in 1974.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

The Maharani suffered a tragedy in 1985, when Prince died by committing suicide at age 40. His death was attributed to alcoholism and drug addiction.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> Sita Devi died four years later of natural causes.

==Titles==
*1917–1935 : [[Maharajkumari]] Sita Devi of [[Pithapuram]]
*1935–1943 : [[Her Highness]] [[Queen regnant|Rani]] Sita Devi, [[Queen regnant|Rani]] of Vuyyur
*1943–1955 : [[Maharani]] Sita Devi, [[Maharani]] of [[Baroda]]

== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.antique-jewelry-investor.com/baroda-pearls.html Baroda Pearl & Sita Devi]
*[http://www.karipearls.com/baroda.html Baroda Pearl]
*[http://www.christies.com/presscenter/pdf/04112007/105315.pdf Baroda Pearl Auction]
*[http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/starofthesouthdiamond.html The Star of the South]
*[http://www.internetstones.com/pearl-carpet-of-baroda-rectangular-shaped-deer-hyde-silk-glass-beads-pearls.html The Pearl Carpet of Baroda]
*[http://www.rugrag.com/post/Detail-Images-of-Pearl-Carpet-of-Baroda-Rare-Carpet-to-be-Auctioned.aspx Images of Pearl Carpet of Baroda]
*[http://www.diamonddivas.be/index.php?id=65 Moon of Baroda on Diamond Divas]
{{Vadodara topics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baroda, Sita Devi, Maharani of}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Baroda State]]
[[Category:History of Vadodara]]
[[Category:Indian socialites]]
[[Category:Indian princesses]]
[[Category:People from East Godavari district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Converts to Islam from Hinduism]]
[[Category:Converts to Hinduism from Islam]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]

Sita Devi, Maharani of Baroda - Revision history

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