GUICOWAR, or "the Herdsman," the designation of a. powerful Mahratta prince, whose dominions at the present time include most of Guzerat (q.v.), with Baro,da for capital. The Guicowar originally, as the name denotes, was an officer in the establish ment of the rajahs of Satara, the supreme rulers of the Mahrattas (q.v.), and after a time rose high in rank from his military services, being ultimately appointed hereditary second in command of the Mahratta armies, of which the command-in-chief was vested in the family of Sindia. Pelajee, who became Guicowar, in 1721, by predatory excur sions gradually acquired authority over Guzerat ; and his son Dainajee, who succeeded in 1732, still further extended the bounds of this ample dominion. The latter then threw off his allegiance to the Peishwa, but being taken prisoner by treachery, he was com pelled to yield one half of his dominions, and do homage for the other half. Annund Rao, who ascended the throne in 1800, was the first prince of the line who had inter course with the British Indian government; and it is worthy of remark that, down to the present time, the relations of the British with these Mahratta princes have been un interruptedly friendly. The two powers came into contact on the occasion of a civil' war between the reigning wince and an illegitimate brother who aspired to the throne; and in consideration of the aid afforded him by the Bombay government, the Guicowar agreed by treaty to disband his Arab soldiers, and receive a British subsidiary force, Mar. 15, 1802. A treaty of general defensive alliance was concluded April 21, 1805, by
which a British subsidiary force is maintained by the Guicowar. In 1816 the Guicowar quarreled with the Peishwa about some districts claimed by each. The Peishwa caused the ambassador of the Guicowar to be assassinated; and his refusal to give up his agent involved him in war with the Calcutta government, which terminated in the annexation of his state. Syajee Rao, who became Guicowar, in 1819, was frequently reprimanded by the British government, and in 1833 part of his state was sequestrated. In 1840 he made his submission. and aniong other concessions abolished suttee. His successor, Mulhar Rao. inherited the family vices, and in 1878 a commission inquired into his conduct. Ile was subsequently accused of attempting to poison Colonel Phayre, the British resident, and tried before it commission which disagreed about his guilt; hut he was deposed on account of his general misrule, and Gopal Rao, a prince of the Candeish line, was appointed his successor. Sec BAnonA.