NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday acquired the famed ‘Raghuji Sword’ for Rs 47.15 lakh, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced.
The centuries-old weapon, once wielded by Raje Raghuji Bhonsle—the founder of the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur—was secured through an intermediary due to technical complications, he said.
Sharing the development on social media platform X, Fadnavis said, “It is a historic sword belonging to Raje Raghuji Bhonsle, founder of the Bhonsle dynasty of Nagpur, who in 1745 led the battle against the Nawab of Bengal.”
The acquisition was made through an auction conducted by Sotheby’s in London, where the basket-hilt sword—also known as a khanda—was sold for £38,100 (approximately Rs 40 lakh). According to the auction house, the pre-sale estimate ranged between £6,000 and £8,000.
Sotheby’s described the sword as having a “slightly curved, European-style single-edged blade with two fullers and imitation maker’s marks towards the forte,” along with a spine inlaid with gold and bearing Devanagari script. The hilt is overlaid with worked gold, and the grip is wrapped in green woven wool.
According to the listing, “The inscription in Devanagari script on the spine suggests that it was made for the Maratha general Raghuji Bhonsle (1739-55), who established a large kingdom centred on the city of Nagpur in the north of the Deccan.”
The listing also noted the weapon’s European-style blade, known in India as firanghi (Frankish), which were once prized in Indian courts. “Swords mounted with European blades made in centres including Solingen in Germany and in Venice and Genoa were known as firanghi… William Hawkins, travelling in India from 1608–13, reported that Jahangir had 2,200 swords with German blades in his treasury,” it added, citing historical sources.
(With inputs from agencies)