Gaekwad dynasty

Gaekwad dynasty
Flag (1936–1949)
CountryBaroda State
Place of originMaharashtra, India
Founded1721
FounderPilaji Rao Gaekwad
Current headSamarjitsinh Gaekwad
Final rulerPratap Singh Rao Gaekwad (Baroda)
Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad (Rajpramukh)
Titles
Deposition1949
Websitehttps://gaekwadsofbaroda.in/

Gaekwads (also spelled as Gaikwads, Guicowars, Gaekwars) (IAST: Gāyakavāḍa), a Hindu Maratha dynasty of the former Maratha Empire and its subsequent (erstwhile) princely state of Baroda in western India from the early 18th century until 1947. The ruling prince was known as the Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda. With the city of Baroda (Vadodara) as its capital, during the British Raj its relations with the British were managed by the Baroda Residency. It was one of the largest and wealthiest princely states of British India, with its wealth coming from the lucrative cotton business as well as rice, wheat and sugar production.