The
Bhonsle (or
Bhonsale,
Bhosale,
Bhonslà,
Bhosle) are a prominent warrior clan in the
Maratha clan system who served as rulers of several states in India. The most prominent member of the royal clan was
Shivaji, the founder of the
Maratha Empire. His successors ruled as
chhatrapatis (emperors/maharajas) from their capital at
Satara, although
de facto rule of the empire passed to the
Peshwas, the
Maratha hereditary chief ministers, during the reign of
Shahu I. In addition to the Bhonsle chhatrapatis of Satara, rulers of the Bhonsle clan established themselves as junior branch of
Chhatrapatis at
Kolhapur, and as
Maharajas of
Nagpur in modern-day
Maharashtra in the 18th century.
