Raja Serfoji Bhonsle (Sarabhoji Raja Bhonsle) |
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Raja of Thanjavur | |||||
Reign | 1787 (Date unknown) – 1793, 29 June 1798 – 7 March 1832 |
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Coronation | 1787 (Date unknown), 29 June 1798 | ||||
Predecessor | Thuljaji, Amar Singh | ||||
Successor | Amar Singh, Shivaji II | ||||
Born |
Unknown |
24 September 1777||||
Died | 7 March 1832 Thanjavur |
(aged 54)||||
Burial | Thanjavur | ||||
Consort | Muktambal | ||||
Issue | Shivaji | ||||
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House | House of Bhonsle | ||||
Dynasty | Maratha Dynasty |
Full name | |
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Serfoji Raja Bhonsle Chattrpathi |
Serfoji II Bhonsle (Marathi: सर्फोजी, Tamil: சரபோஜி) (September 24, 1777 – March 7, 1832) was the last ruler of the Bhonsle dynasty of the Maratha principality of Tanjore to exercise absolute sovereignty over his dominions. His descendants, however, have managed to thrive as titular Maharajahs of Thanjavur to the present day. Serfoji belonged to the Bhonsle clan of Marathas and was descended from Shivaji's half-brother Venkoji. He ruled Thanjavur from 1798 until his death in 1832.
Serfoji was born on September 24, 1777 in the royal house of the Maratha king, Chattrapati Shivaji. Raja Thulajah, the king of Thanjavur adopted him as his son on January 23, 1787 by duly performing all of the religious rites. The boy was entrusted to the care of Rev. Christian Freidrich Schwartz, a Danish missionary.
But Thulajah died soon afterwards and his half-brother Amar Singh who had earlier been appointed regent to the boy-king usurped the throne in 1787. Amar Singh denied the young prince the benefits of basic education.