Raghoji II Bhonsle
Encyclopedia
Raghoji II Bhonsle was the Maratha
ruler of the Kingdom of Nagpur in Central India from 1788 to 1816.
Raghoji was adopted as an infant by his uncle Janoji to be his chosen heir. Janoji died in 1772, and his brothers fought for succession, until Mudhoji until shot the other on the battlefield of Panchgaon, six miles south of Nagpur, and succeeded to the regency on behalf of Raghoji.
The Nagpur Kingdom reached its greatest extent in the first half of Raghoji's reign. In 1785 Mudhoji added Mandla
and the upper Narmada
valley to the Nagpur Kingdom through a with the Peshwa
, chief ruler of the Maratha Confederacy. Mudhoji had courted the favor of the British, and this policy was continued for some time by Raghoji II, who acquired Hoshangabad
and the lower Narmada valley.
In 1803 Ragoji united with Daulat Rao Sindhia of Gwalior against the British East India Company
in the Second Anglo-Maratha War
. The two Maratha rulers were decisively defeated at Assaye
and Battle of Argaon
, and by the Treaty of Deogaon of that year Raghoji ceded Cuttack
, southern Berar
, and Sambalpur
to the British, although Sambalpur was not relinquished until 1806.
To the close of the 18th century the Maratha administration had been on the whole good, and the country had prospered. The first four of the Bhonsles were military chiefs with the habits of rough soldiers, connected by blood and by constant familiar interaction with all their principal officers. Descended from a class of cultivators, they favored and fostered that order. They were rapacious, but seldom cruel to the lower castes. Up to 1792 their territories were seldom the theater of hostilities, and the area of cultivation and revenue continued to increase under a fairly equitable and extremely simple system of government. After the Treaty of Deogaon, however, all this had changed. Raghoji II was deprived of a third of his territories, and he attempted to make up the loss of revenue from the remainder. The villages were mercilessly rack-rented, and many new taxes imposed. The pay of the troops was in arrears, and they maintained themselves by plundering the cultivators, while at the same time commenced the raids of the Pindari
s, who became so bold that in 1811 they advanced to Nagpur and burnt the suburbs. It was at this time that most of the numerous village forts were built, to which on the approach of these marauders the peasant retired and fought for bare life, all he possessed outside the walls being already lost to him.
Raghoji died in 1816.
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
ruler of the Kingdom of Nagpur in Central India from 1788 to 1816.
Raghoji was adopted as an infant by his uncle Janoji to be his chosen heir. Janoji died in 1772, and his brothers fought for succession, until Mudhoji until shot the other on the battlefield of Panchgaon, six miles south of Nagpur, and succeeded to the regency on behalf of Raghoji.
The Nagpur Kingdom reached its greatest extent in the first half of Raghoji's reign. In 1785 Mudhoji added Mandla
Mandla
-Demographics: India census, Mandla had a population of 45,907. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Mandla has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 72%. Majority of Population belongs Adivasi, so...
and the upper Narmada
Narmada River
The Narmada , also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third largest river that completely flows within India after Ganges and Godavari...
valley to the Nagpur Kingdom through a with the Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
, chief ruler of the Maratha Confederacy. Mudhoji had courted the favor of the British, and this policy was continued for some time by Raghoji II, who acquired Hoshangabad
Hoshangabad
Hoshangabad is a city and a municipality in Hoshangabad district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a city in the central india region, located on the south bank of the Narmada River, and is the administrative center of Hoshangabad District.-History:mohammed bharmal & abdeali batawalaThe...
and the lower Narmada valley.
In 1803 Ragoji united with Daulat Rao Sindhia of Gwalior against the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in the Second Anglo-Maratha War
Second Anglo-Maratha War
The Second Anglo-Maratha War was the second conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India.-Background:...
. The two Maratha rulers were decisively defeated at Assaye
Battle of Assaye
The Battle of Assaye was a major battle of the Second Anglo-Maratha War fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company...
and Battle of Argaon
Adgaon
Adgaon, known as Argaon during the period of the British Raj, is a village located in the Telhara tehsil near Akot in the Akola district of Maharashtra, India...
, and by the Treaty of Deogaon of that year Raghoji ceded Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
, southern Berar
Berar Province
Berar Province, known also as the Hyderabad Assigned Districts, was a province of British India. The province, formerly ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad, was administered by the British after 1853, although the Nizam retained formal sovereignty over the province...
, and Sambalpur
Sambalpur
Sambalpur is a city in Sambalpur district in the Indian state of Orissa.It lies at a distance of 321 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar. In the year 1876, Sambalpur was established as a municipality. It is currently the headquarters and the largest city of Sambalpur district. It is also...
to the British, although Sambalpur was not relinquished until 1806.
To the close of the 18th century the Maratha administration had been on the whole good, and the country had prospered. The first four of the Bhonsles were military chiefs with the habits of rough soldiers, connected by blood and by constant familiar interaction with all their principal officers. Descended from a class of cultivators, they favored and fostered that order. They were rapacious, but seldom cruel to the lower castes. Up to 1792 their territories were seldom the theater of hostilities, and the area of cultivation and revenue continued to increase under a fairly equitable and extremely simple system of government. After the Treaty of Deogaon, however, all this had changed. Raghoji II was deprived of a third of his territories, and he attempted to make up the loss of revenue from the remainder. The villages were mercilessly rack-rented, and many new taxes imposed. The pay of the troops was in arrears, and they maintained themselves by plundering the cultivators, while at the same time commenced the raids of the Pindari
Pindari
The Pendharis or Free Companions were dispersed throughout the Maratha states and were countenanced and protected by the Maratha chiefs to whom they acted as agents for supplying all the commissariat required by their armies. They were composed of different tribes who congregated together solely...
s, who became so bold that in 1811 they advanced to Nagpur and burnt the suburbs. It was at this time that most of the numerous village forts were built, to which on the approach of these marauders the peasant retired and fought for bare life, all he possessed outside the walls being already lost to him.
Raghoji died in 1816.