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Venkatji
| Venkatji Bhonsle | |
|---|---|
| Raja of Satara Kshatriya Kulavantas Chhatrapati Sinhasanadhishwar | |
 | |
| Raja of Satara | |
| Reign | 1848–1864 |
| Predecessor | Shahaji |
| Successor | Pratap Singh II |
| Born | Satara, Maratha Empire (present-day Maharashtra, India) |
| Died | Satara, British India (present-day Maharashtra, India) |
| Spouse | Bai Shahib Bhonsle |
| Issue | Sahibjibai |
| Dynasty | House of Bhonsle |
| Father | Ambajirao Bhonsle |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Venkatji Bhonsle ruled the principality of Satara from 1848 to 1864. He was the adoptive son of Shahaji and a descendant of Shahaji I's brother Sharifji Bhonsale. The East India Company questioned the irregularity of the adoption, refused to recognise the succession, and annexed the state of Satara to the Presidency of Bombay under the doctrine of lapse, 1st May 1849. Venkatji Bhonsle being recognised in certain styles and titles as a non-ruling prince, and received a grant of a generous pension for his maintenance, together with certain heritable palaces, lands and properties.[1]
Annexation of Satara[edit]
Following the removal of Chhatrapati Pratapsinh by the British in 1839, his brother Shahaji assumed the rulership of Satara and reigned for the next seven years. Upon Shahaji's death on 5 April 1848, he left behind an adopted successor, Venkoji of Shedgaon, who traced his lineage to Sharifaji, the uncle of Chhatrapati Shivaji.[2]
The adoption was conducted in the absence of the British Resident, Mr. Frere, who was away in Mahabaleshwar at the time. In his place, Dr. Murray, the Civil Surgeon at Satara, officiated the ceremony. However, the British authorities later rejected the legitimacy of this adoption, citing the lack of prior sanction. On 1 May 1849, under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the British annexed Satara, declaring the absence of a valid heir as justification.[3]
This move was viewed by many as unjust, especially given Satara’s historical association with Shivaji. The annexation fueled discontent among the local population, contributing to the region’s strong participation in the Revolt of 1857, where deep-seated grievances over British policies found expression in open resistance.[4]
Reference[edit]
- ↑ "satara3". www.royalark.net. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ↑ "Annexation of Satara". Government of India.
- ↑ Rajadhyaksha, Abhijit. "The Marathas: Post Shahu Chatrapatis of Satara". The History Files. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ↑ "Indian states before 1947 K-W". rulers.org. Retrieved 2025-07-04.