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Historic Sword of Maratha Warrior Raghuji Bhosale I
Significance of Sword of Maratha Warrior Raghuji Bhosale
Context: In a historic achievement, the Maharashtra government has successfully reclaimed the iconic sword of legendary Maratha warrior Raghuji Bhosale I at an auction conducted by Sotheby’s in London, Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced on Tuesday.
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- This marks the first time Maharashtra has recovered a cultural artifact of such immense historical significance from an international auction.
- The 18th-century sword, initially valued between £6,000 and £8,000 (approximately ₹6.84 lakh to ₹9.13 lakh), was secured by the Maharashtra government for £38,100 (around ₹43.49 lakh).
- Including handling, transportation, and insurance, the total cost amounts to ₹47.15 lakh.
Raghuji Bhosale I: A Legendary Maratha General
- Born in 1695, Raghuji Bhosale I rose to prominence as a distinguished Maratha general under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.
- Awarded the title of ‘Senasaheb Subha’ for his military prowess, Raghuji led successful campaigns in Bengal (1745 and 1755) and extended Maratha influence into Odisha, Chanda, Chhattisgarh, and Sambalpur.
- His victories in South India, including the defeat of the Nawabs of Kurnool and Cuddapah, further solidified Maratha dominance in the 18th century.
- The Nagpur Bhosales ruled over resource-rich regions known for their superior craftsmanship in weaponry, particularly using iron and copper.
- Raghuji Bhosale remains celebrated as one of the most valiant warriors of his time.
Historic Sword: A Rare Cultural Treasure
- The reclaimed sword is a rare example of firangi-style Maratha weaponry, combining a straight, single-edged European blade with a traditional Mulheri hilt.
- The sword is richly adorned with intricate gold inlay (koftgiri) and features a green cloth-wrapped grip.
- A gold-inlaid Devanagari inscription near the hilt reads: ‘Shrimant Raghoji Bhosale Senasaheb Subha Firang’, indicating that the sword was either personally commissioned by or used by Raghuji Bhosale.
- Notably, most medieval Indian weapons lack identifying inscriptions, making this sword an extraordinary historical artifact.
- The presence of a European blade also reflects the global arms trade that flourished in 18th-century India, blending Indian and European craftsmanship.
- Following the Battle of Sitabuldi in 1817, where the East India Company defeated the Nagpur Bhosales, British forces looted the Bhosale treasury.
- Experts believe this sword could either have been war loot or gifted to the British in the aftermath of the battle.
