The
Gaekwad or
Gaikwad (once rendered as
Guicowar, also given (incorrectly) as
Gaekwar) (
Gāyǎkǎvāḍǎ) are a
Hindu Maratha clan. A dynasty belonging to this clan ruled the
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 existing alongside
British India, with wealth coming from the lucrative cotton business as well as rice, wheat and sugar production.