Miraj State (ca. 1750 - 1820) Miraj Senior State (1820 - 1948)
Princely State of British India
1820–1948
Flag
Miraj in the Imperial Gazetteer of India
Area
• 1901	886 km2 (342 sq mi)
Population
• 1901	81,467
History
• Established	1820
• Independence of India	1948
Preceded by Succeeded by Maratha Empire India

Miraj Senior was one of two Maratha princely states during the British Raj: 'Miraj Junior' and Miraj Senior.^[1] The two states separated in 1820.^[1] It was under the southern division of the Bombay Presidency, forming part of the southern Mahratta Jagirs, and later the Deccan States Agency.

Miraj Senior measured 339 square miles (880 km²) in area. According to the 1901 census, the population was 81,467. In 1901, the state enjoyed revenue estimated at £23,000, and paid £800 in tribute to the British Raj.^[1] The Raja resided in the town of Miraj (population 18,425 in 1901), which was a junction on the Southern Maratha Railway.

History

The State of Miraj was founded before 1750 and was the former capital of the pre-British State of Sangli. In 1820, the state was divided between a Senior and Junior branch. The territory of both branches was widely scattered among other native states and British districts.^[1]

The rulers of the Patwardhan dynasty used the title of Raja, and were of the same clan that ruled nearby Jamkhandi. Raja Govind Rao Patwardhan, 1st Ruler of Miraj, began as a cavalry commander, distinguished himself in several expeditions against the Nizam of Hyderabad and Hyder Ali of Mysore, established the Maratha ascendancy in southern India and pushed the Maratha conquests to the frontier of Mysore.

Miraj Senior acceded to the Dominion of India on 8 March 1948 and is currently a part of Maharashtra state. Miraj is also famous for its musicians, and doctors. In the mid-nineties it had municipal corporation in combination with Sangli and thus lost the edge it had over the neighboring twin city of Sangli for two centuries.

Rulers

The rulers of Miraj state belonged to the Patwardhan dynasty and bore the title 'Rao'.^[2]

Raos

• 17.. - 1771 Govindrao (d. 1771)
• 1771 - 1775 Vamanrao (d. 1775)
• 1777 - 1782 Hariharrao (b. c.1765 - d. 1782)
• 1782 - 1801 Chintamanrao (b. 1775 - d. 1801)
• 1801 - 1820 Gangadharrao I

After the split

• 1820 - 1833 Ganpatrao I
• 1833 - 1855? Narayanrao I
• 1855? - 1870 Gangadharrao II
• 1833 - 1875 Ganpatrao II "Tatya Sahib Patwardhan"
• 6 June 1875 - 1939 Gangadharrao III "Bala Sahib Patwardhan" (b. 1866 - d. 1939) (from 1 January 1903, Sir Gangadhar Rao II)
• 11 Dec 1939 – 15 August 1947 Narayanrao II "Tatya Sahib Patwardhan" (b. 1898 - d. 1984)
• Shrimant Madhavrao “Rao Saheb” Patwardhan I (b. 1923 - d. 1999)
• Shrimant Gangadharrao IV “Bala Saheb” Patwardhan (b. 1946 -
• Shrimant Vasant Raje Patwardhan (b. 1944 - d. 1991)
• Rajkumari Yamuna Vasant Patwardhan / Naykude (b. 1948 -
• Yuvraj Agastyanand Vasant Raje Patwardhan (b. 1974 -
• Shrimant Keshav Rao/Patwardhan (b. 1985 -
• Shrimant Arjun Rao/Patwardhan (b. 1992 -