Maharaja

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Maharaja^[a] (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; lit. 'great ruler'; feminine: Maharani)^[2] is a South Asian royal title of Sanskrit origin. In modern India and medieval northern India, the title was equivalent to a prince. However in late ancient India and medieval south India, the title denoted a king.^[3]

The form "Maharaj" (without "-a") indicates a separation of noble and religious offices, although since in Marathi the suffix -a is silent, the two titles are near homophones. Historically, the title "Maharaja" was first used in the second century BC by the Indo-Greek rulers (such as the kings Apollodotus I and Menander I)^[4] and then later by the Indo-Scythians (such as the king Maues),^[5] and also the Kushans as a higher ranking variant of "Raja".^[3] Eventually, during the medieval era, the title "Maharaja" came to be used by sovereign princes and vassal princes, and the title "Maharajadhiraja" was used by sovereign kings. Eventually, during the Mughal and British eras, Maharajadhiraja too came to be used by princes, though it was used by sovereign kings as well, such as the King of Maratha.

The title ranks under the titles of Maharajadhiraja Bahadur, Maharajadhiraja and Maharaja Bahadur, equal to Maharana and Maharao and above Raja Bahadur, Raja and Rai.

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