Maratha titles

Updated on Dec 26, 2024

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The following list includes a brief about the titles of nobility or orders of chivalry used by the Marathas of India and by the Marathis/Konkanis in general.

Titles used by the Maratha Royals

Chhatrapati: Chhatrapati is an Indian royal title most equivalent to an King. It means the 'Lord of the Parasol' and is a title conferred upon the founder of Maratha Empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji. The title is also used by Shivaji’s descendents

Maharaj: The English equivalent of Maharaj is great king. It is a title first conferred upon Chhatrapati Shivaji’s father Shahaji Raje Bhosale by Adilshah.

Maharani: The English equivalent of Maharani is great queen. It is a title first used by Tarabai , as regent of marathas empire .

Raje: The English equivalent of Raje is Your Majesty. It is a title first conferred upon Chhatrapati Shivaji’s grandfather Maloji Raje Bhosale

Kshatriya Kulavantas: It means 'The Head of the Kshatriya race' and was a title first given to Chhatrapati Shivaji at the time of his coronation

Sinhasanadheeshwar: It means 'the enthroned King' and was a title first given to Chhatrapati Shivaji at the time of his coronation

Peshwa: It is a word of Persian origin and means 'Foremost' or 'the first minister' or 'Premier' (or Prime Minister). It was a title given to the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire

Peshwin: The wife of a Peshwa

Daria Sarang: It means the Chief or Admiral of the Mahratta Navy

Sena Khas Khel: It means the Commander of the armies of the state. It is a designation created by the Peshwas of Pune and was conferred upon the Gaekwads of Vadodara

Shamsher Bahadur: It is a title conferred upon the Maharajas of Baroda (the Gaekwads) and means a distinguished swordsman

Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Alija Bahadur: It is a title used by the Maharajas of Indore (the Holkars). For example, Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Alija Bahadur H.H. Yashwant Rao Holkar

Raj Rajeshwar: It means 'king of kings' and is a title conferred upon the Holkar (Maratha) Maharajas.

Maharajadhiraj: It means 'Great King of Kings'. For example, it was conferred upon H. H. Maharajadhiraj Rajeshwar Sawai Tukoji Rao Holkar Bahadur K.G.C.S.I.

Naib Wakil-i-Mutlaq: It means Deputy Regent of Mughal affairs. It was a title conferred upon Shrimant Maharaja Mahadaji Shinde (Scindia) by the Mughals, since he helped the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, ascend the throne of Delhi.

Amir-al-Umara: It means the Head of the Amirs and was a title conferred upon Shrimant Maharaja Mahadaji Shinde (Scindia) by the Mughals, since he helped the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, ascend the throne of Delhi.

Shrimant: It is a title used by Maratha royals and nobles. It was also used in recent times to formally address well achieved members of society or upperclass men in Marathi. For example, 'Shrimant' Bajirao Peshwa aka Baji Rao I or 'Shrimant' Dnyaneshwar Agashe.

Sardar: It is a title used by the most senior Mahratta nobles, for example Shrimant 'Sardar' Ranoji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Subedar of Malwa

Mankari: Mānkari (Maankari) is a hereditary title used by Maratha nobles who held land grants, and cash allowances. They were entitled to certain ceremonial honours and held an official position at the Darbar (court).

Sawai: 'Sawai' in Marathi means 'a notch above the rest'. For example, it was a title conferred upon His Highness Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa aka Madhu Rao II Narayan

Pant Pratinidhi: It means a vicegerent; title borne by a distinguished Maratha family.

Nawab: It is a title used by the Nawabs of Banda (a vassal of Maratha polity), such as The Nawab of Banda, Ali Bahadur, the grandson of Shreemant Bajirao I

Titles given by the British

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI): It is a title created by the British Empire in India and was conferred upon Indian nobles. For example, it was bestowed upon His Highness Khanderao Gaekwad of Baroda

His Highness: It is a title created by the British Empire in India and was conferred upon Indian nobles. For example, it was bestowed upon His Highness Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda

Knight Grand Commander (GCIE): It is a title created by the British and is a part of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. For example, it was bestowed upon His Highness Colonel Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj G.C.I.E, G.C.S.I, G.C.V.O Maharaja of Kolhapur

Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCVO): It is a title created by the British and is a part of The Royal Victorian Order. For example, it was bestowed upon His Highness Colonel Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj G.C.I.E, G.C.S.I, G.C.V.O Maharaja of Kolhapur

Kaiser-i-Hind (KIH): It was first instituted by Queen Victoria in 1900 on April 10 and is literally translated to mean 'Emperor of India'. For example, it was conferred upon His Highness Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the Maratha Maharaja of Baroda

Knight Grand Cross (GCB): It is the most honourable Order of the Bath and is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. For example, it was conferred upon General His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCB, GCSI, CIE, KIH

Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia: It means the 'Favoured son of the English nation'. For example, it was conferred upon the Maratha Maharajas of Baroda

Other titles

Rao: It is an honorary title used by men as a suffix to their first name, example Malhar Rao Holkar, the prince of Indore

Sinh: It is a word derived from the Sanskrit word siḿha, meaning 'lion'. It is used as a suffix to the first name, example Maharaja Pratapsinh Gaekwad or H.H. Meherban Shrimant Raja Vijaysinhrao Madhavrao Patwardhan, Raja of Sangli

Shett/Sheth: Shett/Sheth is a name given to the Daivajnas of Konkani origin residing on the west coast of India. For example, the Saldanha-Shet family is one of the well known Konkani Catholic families from Mangalore.

References

Maratha titles Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Titles used by the Maratha Royals

Titles given by the British

Other titles

References