Akkalkot State


Akkalkot State during the British Raj, was a Maratha princely state ruled by the Bhonsle dynasty. The non-salute state came under the Deccan States Agency and was bordered by Hyderabad State and the Bombay Presidency.
The area of the state was ; its population in 1901 was 82,047, while the population of Akkalkot town itself was 8,348 in that year. In 1911, the state enjoyed a revenue estimated at Rs.26,586/- and paid a tribute to the British Raj of Rs.1,000/-.

History

The ruling dynasty were descendants of Fattesing Bhosle, who was adopted by Chhattrapati Shahu, grandson of Chhattrapati Shivaji, around the year 1708. Upon his adoption, Ranoji assumed the name 'Fatehsinh Bhonsle' and received in appenage the town of Akkalkot and surrounding areas. These estates remained a fief within the state of Satara until 1848, when the rulers of Satara were deposed by the British. Akkalkot then became one of several vassals of Satara to be recognised as separate princely states by the British Raj. The political history of the state is remarkable in having been altogether free of major incident. However, given their stability and association with the dynasty of Chhattrapati Shivaji, the family came to be linked by marriage to nearly every major Maratha ruling family in India.
Upon the termination of British rule in India in 1947, Akkalkot state acceded unto the Dominion of India, and was later merged with Bombay Presidency. Nirmalaraje Bhosale, wife of Vijayasinhrao Bhosale and a princess of Baroda by birth, served as Minister for States in the government of Bombay.

Rulers

The ruling chiefs of Akkalkot were:
  1. 1707-1760 Fatehsinh I Raje Bhosle
  2. 1760-1789 Shahaji I Raje Bhosle
  3. 1789-1822 Fatehsinh II Raje Bhosle
  4. 1822-1823 Maloji I Raje Bhosle
  5. 1823-1857 Shahaji II Raje Bhosle
  6. 1857-1870 Maloji II Raje Bhosle
  7. 1870-1896 Shahaji III Raje Bhosle
  8. 1896-1923 Cpt. Fatehsinhrao III Raje Bhosle
  9. 1915-1952 Vijayasinhrao Fatehsinhrao III Raje Bhosle
  10. 1952-1965 Jayasinhrao Fatehsinhrao III Raje Bhosle
  11. : 1965 onwards: Regency of Sanyuktaraje Jaysinhrao Bhonsle, elder daughter of Jaysinhrao. She has adopted Malojiraje III Sanyuktaraje Bhosle, a patrilineal descendant of Shahaji I, as the legal heir to Akalkot state.
  12. Malojiraje III Sanyuktaraje Bhosle, adopted heir of his predecessor