Gaekwad dynasty

British suzerainty

The Gaekwads, together with several Maratha chieftains, fought the British in the First Anglo-Maratha War.

On 15 March 1802, the British intervened to defend the Gaekwad Maharaja, Anand Rao Gaekwad, who had recently inherited the throne against rival claimants, and the Gaekwads concluded the Treaty of Cambey with the British that recognized their independence from the Maratha Confederacy and guaranteed the Maharajas of Baroda local autonomy in return for recognizing British suzerainty, though it was a result of an inability to overpower them.

Maharaja Sayaji Rao III, who took the throne in 1875, did much to modernize Baroda, establishing compulsory primary education, a library system and the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He also encouraged the setting up of textile factories, which helped create Baroda's textile industry. He is known for offering B. R. Ambedkar a scholarship to study at Columbia University.

Upon India attaining its independence in 1947, the last ruling Maharaja of Baroda, Pratapsinhrao, acceded to India. Baroda was eventually merged with Bombay State, which was later divided, based on linguistic principle, into the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960.

Gaekwad or Gayakwad also survives as a fairly common Maratha surname, found mainly in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Gaikwad Maharajas of Baroda

• Nandaji Rao Gaikwad, died May 1721
  • Kerojirao
    • Jhingojirao
      • Pilaji Rao Gaikwad, reigned from 1721, died 14 May 1732
        • I. Damaji Rao, reigned from 1732, died 18 August 1768
          • II. Sayaji Rao I, reigned 1768–1778, died 1792
          • III. Fateh Singh Rao I, born before April 1751, reigned from 1778, died 26 December 1789
          • IV. Manaji Rao, born before April 1751, reigned from 1789, died 27 July 1793
          • V. Govind Rao, born 175?, reigned from 1793, died 19 September 1800
            • VI. Anand Rao, born 179?, reigned from 1800, died 2 October 1819
            • VI. Sayajirao II, born 3 May 1800, reigned from 1819, died 28 December 1847
              • VII. Ganpat Rao, born 1816, reigned from 1847, died 1856
              • VIII. Khanderao II GCSI, born 1828, reigned from 1856, died 14 June 1870
              • IX. Malhar Rao, born 1831, reigned 1870 – 19 April 1875, died in obscurity in 1882
        • Prataprao (d. 1737 Kavlana branch)
          • Kalojirao
            • Gabajirao
              • Bhikajirao
                • Kashirao (1832-1877)
                  • X. Sayajirao III GCSI, GCIE, born 10 March 1863, reigned from 1875, died 6 February 1939
                    • Yuvraja Fatehsinhrao (1883-1908)
                      • XI. Pratap Singh Rao GCIE, born 29 June 1908, reigned from 1939, titular Maharaja from 1949, deposed 1951, died 19 July 1968
                        • XII. Fatehsinhrao II, born 2 April 1930, titular Maharaja 1951–1971, family head: 1971–1988, died 1 September 1988
                        • XIII. Ranjitsinh, born 8 May 1938, family head from 1988, died 9 May 2012
                          • XIV. Samarjitsinh, born 25 April 1967, family head since 2012

Family tree