maharaja

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Maharaja (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; lit. 'great ruler'; feminine: Maharani or Maharajin) is a royal title in the Indian subcontinent 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. 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" has been used by kings since Vedic times, in the second century by the Indo-Greek rulers (such as the kings Apollodotus I and Menander I), then later by the Indo-Scythians (such as the king Maues), and by the Kushans as a higher ranking variant of "Raja". 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, Maharaja too came to be used by princes, though it was used by sovereign kings as well, such as the King of Maratha.