Thuljaji

{{Short description|Raja of Thanjavur Maratha kingdom from 1763–1773 and 1776-1787}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Thuljaji | title = | image = Tulaji Raje Bhosale.jpg | succession = Raja of Thanjavur | reign = 1763 to 1773 and 1776 to 1787 | birth_date = 1738 | birth_place = | death_date = 1787 | death_place = | predecessor = Pratap singh | successor = Serfoji II | royal house = Bhonsle | father = Pratapsingh of Thanjavur | religion = Hinduism }}

'''Thuljaji Bhonsle''' (Marathi: तुळजाजी, also known as Tullasu Rasa) (1738–1787) was the eldest son of Pratap Singh and the ruler of Thanjavur Bhonsle dynasty from 1763 to 1773 and 1776 to 1787. He was a weak-hearted ruler despite being extremely generous. His period is known for the treaties which made Thanjavur subordinate to the British East India Company.

== Invasion of Ramnad and the Occupation of the Nawab of the Carnatic == In 1771, Thuljaji invaded the dominion of the Polygar of Ramnad who had wrested Hanumantagudi from Thanjavur during the reign of Pratapsingh.<ref name="p60">Subramanian, Pg 60</ref> The Raja of Ramnad was a dependent of the Nawab of Carnatic and this act of aggression by Thuljaji forced the Nawab to interfere.<ref name="p60" /> The Nawab and the East India company laid siege to Tanjore, and forced the Raj to surrender. A humiliating treaty was forced upon the Raja and was later ratified by the officials of the British East India Company.<ref name="p61">Subramanian, Pg 61</ref> Eighty lakhs of arrears had to be paid apart from a war indemnity of thirty-two lakhs.<ref name="p61"/> Thuljaji also ceded two Subhas of Thanjavur to the Nawab. Arni and Hanumantagudi were taken from the Raja's hands and Thanjavur was to have the same foreign policy as the kingdom of the Nawab.<ref name="p61"/>

Humiliated and shaken by the provisions of the treaty, Thuljaji applied to the Peshwa for help. A large army commanded by Raghoba was dispatched to help Thuljaji.<ref name="p61"/> But court intrigues at Satara forced him to turn back.<ref name="p61"/> Thanjavur was taken by the forces of the Nawab of Carnatic and Thuljaji was deposed.<ref name="p61" /> Thanjavur loathed under the rule of the Nawab for three years (from 1773 to 1776).<ref name="p61"/>

== Restoration == In 1776, the Board of Directors of the British East India Company ordered the restoration of Thuljaji.<ref name="p62">Subramanian, Pg 62</ref> However, soon after his restoration a treaty was forced upon him by which he became a mere vassal of the British.<ref name="p62" /> His army was disbanded and replaced with Company troops. He was to pay regular tribute to both the Nawab and the Company.<ref name="p62"/>

== The Second Mysore War == The Second Mysore War broke out in 1780 between Hyder Ali and the Company. The very next year, along with his son Tipu Sultan he invaded Thanjavur.<ref name="p62" /> The Mysore army was in occupation of the kingdom for 6 months.<ref name="p62" /> The region was plundered and the people carried away. The missionary Schwartz records the abduction of 20,000 children from Thanjavur by Tipu Sultan in the year 1784 alone.<ref name="p62" /> The produce fell and a calamity ensued. Thanjavur did not recover from the impact of Tipu's invasion till the beginning of the 19th century.<ref name="p62" />

== Literature == Thuljaji was a fine writer and could compose in Sanskrit as well as Telugu and Marathi.<ref name="p58">Subramanian, Pg 58</ref> He conferred the title of ''Andhra Kalidasa'' on poet Aluri Kuppana.<ref name="p58" /> Kuppana wrote classics such as ''Acharyavijayamu'', ''Panchanada Sthalapurana'', ''Yakshaganas'' of Ramayana and the Bhagavata, ''Parana Bhagavatacharitra'', ''Indumati Parinaya'' and ''Karmavipaka''.<ref name="p58" />

Thuljaji was tolerant of other faiths and religions. He confided upon a Christian missionary called Schwartz who hoped to convert Thuljaji to Christianity.<ref name="p58" /><ref name="p66">Subramanian, Pg 66</ref> Thuljaji however remained a devout Hindu, drawn deeply to the Saivism sect.<ref name="p58" />

== Death == Thuljaji died in 1787<ref name="p66" /> at age 49 leaving behind an impoverished state. Two of his queens committed Sati.<ref name="p66" /> As two of his sons had predeceased him, he had adopted Serfoji from a collateral branch of the Bhonsle family.<ref name="p66" /> Serfoji II ascended the throne at the age of 10 with Thuljaji's brother Amarsingh as regent.<ref name="p67">Subramanian, Pg 67</ref>

== Footnotes ==

== References ==

# <cite id="Subramanian">K. R. Subramanian(1928). ''The Maratha Rajas of Tanjore''</cite> # [https://web.archive.org/web/20061127112850/http://www.sarasvatimahallibrary.tn.nic.in/Thanjavur/Maratha_Rulers/maratha_rulers.html Thuljaji II in Saraswathi Mahal Library website]

{{s-start}} {{succession box|title=Maratha Raja of Thanjavur|before=Pratapsingh|after=Serfoji II|years=1763–1787}} {{s-end}}

Category:1738 births Category:1787 deaths Category:Rajas of Thanjavur