Chintaman Rao I Patwardhan

Chintaman Rao I Patwardhan (1775/1776-1851); known as Appasaheb was first the Ruler of Miraj and then Sangli between 1783 and 1851.

Chintamanrao I Patwardhan
Raja of Miraj, then Sangli
Portrait of the Ruler (19th century)
Reign	1783-1851
Coronation	6 February 1783 (Miraj) 1801 (Sangli)
Predecessor	Hariharrao Patwardhan (Miraj)
Successor	Dhundi Rao Chintaman Rao Patwardhan (Sangli)
Born	1776
Died	15 July 1851(1851-07-15) (aged 74–75)
House	Patwardhan

Reign

Born sometime in the mid 1770s (likely 1775 or 1776) he was the son of Panduragrao Patwardhan who died in 1777. He succeeded his brother Hariharrao Patwardhan who died as a minor in the early 1780s (probably late 1782/early 1783) at the age of about 7. While he was away, rumours started that he died and therefore his uncle, Gangadharrao crowned himself as Raja of Miraj. When Raja Chintamanrao returned he was angry and left the state with only an idol of Lord Ganesha and he vowed to set up another Capital for his Jagir, and thus he became the first Ruler of Sangli. His state later became a British Protectorate. He established the well known Ganapati Panchayatan Sansthan Temple as per his vow to his family Deity, and the Ganesh Durg Palace in 1801, he was regarded even by his foes as an enlightened, valoursome and a compassionate Ruler, he encouraged the development of trade and commerce in Sangli and established trade districts known as Peths. He started a printing press in 1821/1822 in Sangli, the first of its kind in the state. He married and had issue, as well as an adopted son (Dhundi Rao Chintaman Rao). He died on 15 July 1851 at the age of about 75.