Key Highlights
- Rs 47.15 lakh paid for the sword at a London auction.
- The blade is a single‑edged, firangi‑style design with gold‑inlaid details.
- It bears a Devanagari inscription honoring Shrimant Raghuji Bhosale.
- Acquisition seeks to preserve Maratha heritage in Maharashtra.
- The basket‑hilt showcases 18th‑century European influence.
Detailed Insights
The purchase was executed by the Maharashtra government in April 2025, securing the sword from a London auction for Rs 47.15 lakh.
Design features include a single‑edged, slightly curved blade with two fullers; a basket‑hilt wrapped in *Mulheri* steel and gold inlays, and a Devanagari inscription that reads “Shrimant Raghuji Bhosale Sena Saheb Subah Firang.”
Historical context positions Raghuji Bhosale I as a pivotal Maratha ruler who founded the Nagpur Bhonsle dynasty, expanded Maratha control into central India, and revitalised the Jagannath Temple.
Heritage significance explains why the sword was deemed essential for Marathi cultural preservation – it represents the martial ethos and legacy of the Maratha Empire.
Journey to London is traced to the 1817 Battle of Sitabuldi, where British forces seized Bhonsle treasures after their defeat, eventually auctioning the sword overseas.
Key Concepts
- Firangi‑style blade – a single‑edged European‑inspired blade with subtle curvature.
- Basket‑hilt – a wrapped hilt design that provides grip and protects the wrist.
- Devanagari inscription – Sanskrit‑based script used to honor royalty on weaponry.
- Nagpur Bhonsle dynasty – a Maratha line founded by Raghuji Bhosale I in 1730.
- Battle of Sitabuldi – 1817 clash where the British defeated the Nagpur Bhonsles, leading to the loss of regalia.