Pratap Singh of Thanjavur
Pratap Singh | |
---|---|
Raja of Bhonsle | |
Father | Tukkoji |
Religion | Hinduism |
Pratap Singh Bhonsle or Pratapsinha (
and restored the state to its previous greatness. His reign witnessed the Carnatic Wars and the Seven Years' War.Early life
Pratapsinha was born to
Period of Anarchy 1736–1739
Following Tukkoji's death in 1736, a period of anarchy followed.
Ekoji died in 1737 succeeded by his wife Sujana Bai. Sayyid, the Governor of the Thanjavur Fort, rose into prominence during this period as a kingmaker and actively participated in court intrigues promoting one puppet ruler after another to the throne. He imprisoned Sujanbai in 1738 when the latter questioned his authority.
Shahuji returned in 1738 and ruled for about a year. In February 1739, Chanda Sahib forced Shahuji to cede Karaikal to the French and in April, the Raja confirmed the Grant. In July 1739, Shahuji prevented the French from landing in Karaikal. This resulted in invasion of Thanjavur by Chanda Sahib who captured Shahuji and imprisoned him on the pretext that he was not the actual Shahuji but an impostor. The Dutch East India Company based at Nagapattinam sent home the following report on the events at Thanjavur:
Chanda imprisoned Shahuji Maharaj in Tanjore under a pretext that he was not of royal blood. Pratap was placed on the throne against his own will. Having gone to prison and expressing his unwillingness to ascend the throne to Shagy's prejudice, Pratap was answered by Shagy, "If you do not accept the Government, both of us lose our heads, if, on the other hand, we continue alive, we may watch the course of events. Hence ascend the throne"
Reign
Pratapsinha ascended the throne in 1739. He was the last ruler of Thanjavur to be referred in the official records of the
As soon as Pratapsinha ascended the throne he had to contend with the intrigues of the pretender Shahuji in the company of a treacherous Maratha noble Koyaji Kattigai.[1] It was also evident that the conspirators were in league with Sayyid.[2] So immediately after ascending the throne, Pratapsingh ordered the death of Sayyid.
In 1748, the pretender Shahuji sent an envoy, first to
In the early part of his reign, Pratapsinha also had to deal with the imperious attitude of Dost Ali, the
The third and final expedition of the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1742, resulted in the deposition of Murari Rao and the annexation of Tiruchirapalli. As a result of this campaign, Thanjavur was forced to become a vassal of Hyderabad and pay annual tribute.
The Seven Years' War
During the Seven Years' War, Pratapsingh supported the English with arms and supplies. At Lawrences' behest, the great Thanjavur general Manoji took Coillady from the French and captured Chanda Sahib and beheaded him.[6]
However, the confederacy broke when Nanja Raja realized that he had been deceived by Muhammad Ali who had promised to give him Tiruchirapalli as per an early arrangement.[7] Pratapsingh supported his cause when the French under Dupleix tried to threaten him. Muhammad Ali and Murari Rao forged an alliance with the French.
In 1758, Lally marched to Thanjavur from Karaikal in order to force Thanjavur into subjugation but was repulsed by Manoji.[7] He had to retreat with an insignificant plunder at Nagore when an English fleet made its appearance off the coast at Karaikal.[7] The Thanjavur troops supported by a small English contingent harassed the French who eventually succumbed to starvation. The British inflicted a crshing defeat on the French in the siege of Puducherry in 1761.[8] This dealt a death-blow to the French power in India.
Loss of Independence
From the onset, the
Border disputes with Ramnad
There were frequent border disputes with the state of Ramnad on the Aranthangi frontier. Actively supported by the Tondaiman of Pudukkottai, Manoji once led a large army into the territory of the Sethupathy of Ramnad and even captured Aranthangi. The Nawab of Carnatic who was the actual overlord to whom Thanjavur paid tribute, stepped in and stopped the Raja from pursuing further hostilities.
Death
Pratapsinha died on 16 December 1763[10] after reigning for 24 years. His third and fifth queens committed Sati.[10] He was succeeded by his eldest son Thuljaji.[10]
See also
- Bhonsle
- Maratha Empire
- List of Maratha dynasties and states
- Thanjavur Maratha kingdom
- Seven Years' War
- Nawab of Carnatic
Notes
- ^ K. R. Subramanian, Pg 48
- ^ K. R. Subramanian, Pg 49
- ^ a b K. R. Subramanian, Pg 50
- ^ a b c K. R. Subramanian, Pg 51
- ^ a b K. R. Subramanian, Pg 52
- ^ K. R. Subramanian, Pg 53
- ^ a b c K. R. Subramanian, Pg 54
- ^ K. R. Subramanian, Pg 55
- ^ Ramaswami, N.S. (1984). Political History of Carnatic Under the Nawabs. India: Abhinav Publications. p. 253.
- ^ a b c K. R. Subramanian, Pg 57
References
- K. R. Subramanian(1928). The Maratha Rajas of Tanjore