HistOry Of Royal KingdOm Of Sawantwadi

Sawantwadi was the former capital of the erstwhile Kingdom Of Sawantwadi during the pre-independence era. It was ruled by the Bhonsale clan. In 1947, it was merged with the Independent Republic of India. At once (till 18th Century) the Kingdom of Sawantwadi included major portion of today's North Goa district (Pedne,Bicholim,Sattari) and present day's Kudal and Vengurla from Sindhudurg district. Pedne,Bicholim,Sattari were later taken over by Portuguese as a part of New Conquest(somewhere between 1765-1788) and merged with then Old Conquest to form present day's Goa. The bulk of the people, the Marathas, Bandharis, and Mhars were formerly famous, both by land and sea, for their fierce cruelty. Even since the establishment of order under the British, Savantvadi has more than once been the scene of revolt and disturbance. But now for nearly thirty-five years peace has been unbroken and the old pirate and freebooting classes have settled as quiet husbandmen. The only remaining signs of special enterprise and vigour were, till a few years ago, their readiness to cross the sea to Mauritius in search of work, and the fondness that still remains for military and police service.