Colaba State
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Colaba State, also known as Culaba State was a small princely state in India under the British Raj. The Rulers Of Colaba State were Mahadev Kolis of Maharashtra. It was founded by the famous Maratha Navy admiral Kanhoji Angre in 1698.[1] The ruling family of the state, the Angre, were skilled seafarers who controlled the western coast of India from the late 17th century- to the first half of the 18th century, until the Maratha Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao destroyed the major portion of their navy in the Battle of Vijaydurg.[2]
History
Kanhoji Angre was a highly successful Koli Maratha captain and rose through the ranks to become Grand Admiral of the Maratha Navy in 1707. Colaba was one of his major bases of privateering operations. In 1713, Kanhoji Angre started to grow increasingly independent, hence an army was sent against Kanhoji headed by the Peshwa Bahiroji Pingale. Bahiroji Pingale was thoroughly defeated by Kanhoji in this battle and was taken prisoner. After defeat of the Peshwa, Kanhoji was planning to march on Satara ruled by Shahu I. Shahu I negotiated with the latter for the release of Bahiroji Pingale and gave 26 Forts to Kanhoji, thus the Colaba State came into existence.[3][4]
The state was then successively ruled by the sons of Kanhoji: Sekhoji Angre (1729-1733), Sambhaji Angre (1733 To 1742), Tulaji Angre (1743 To 1756) and Manaji Angre (1733 To 1758). All of them were skilled seamen, however, the division of the Angre coastal territory into north and south under Manaji and Sambhaji respectively, greatly reduced the family's power. Tulaji Angre, according to many scholars, even surpassed the achievements of Kanhoji in capturing vessels and exercising influence on almost the whole west coast of India.
References
- ^ "Maratha Period- Kolaba district". Maharashtra Cultural gov. DIRECTORATE OF PRINTING AND STATIONARY MAHARASHTRA STATE, BOMBAY.
- ^ Kulkarni, Prof A. R. (1 July 2008). The Marathas. Diamond Publications. ISBN 978-81-8483-073-6.
- ^ Pawar, a g (1971). Maratha History Seminar Papers. p. 279.
- ^ Gordon, Stewart (16 September 1993). The Marathas 1600-1818. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7.