Maratha State

Maratha State (1674–1720)

Shivaji (1674–1680)

• Shivaji was born in 1627 at Shivneri Fort.
• His father was Shahji Bhonsle, his mother Jijabai, and his spiritual mentor Samarth Ramdas.
• In 1637, Shivaji inherited the Jagir of Poona from his father.
• After the death of his guardian Dadaji Kondadev in 1647, he assumed complete control over the Jagir.

Military Conquests

Shivaji gradually expanded his kingdom by capturing several strategic forts, including:

• • Kondana (Sinhgarh) – 1643
  • Rohida and Chakan – 1644–45
  • Torna – 1646
  • Purandar – 1648
  • Rajgarh (Raigarh) – 1656
  • Supa – 1656
  • Panhala – 1659

Conflict with Bijapur

• Adil Shah of Bijapur sent Afzal Khan to suppress Shivaji.
• In 1659, Shivaji killed Afzal Khan, marking a major turning point in Maratha history.

Conflict with the Mughals

• Shaista Khan, the Mughal Governor of the Deccan, was deputed by Aurangzeb to curb Shivaji’s growing power.
• Shivaji launched a surprise attack on Shaista Khan in 1663.
• He later plundered Surat (1664) and Ahmednagar, demonstrating his military strength.

Treaty of Purandar (1665)

• Aurangzeb appointed Raja Jai Singh of Amber to lead the Mughal campaign against Shivaji.
• Jai Singh besieged Purandar Fort, leading to the Treaty of Purandar (1665).
• Under the treaty, Shivaji:
  
  • Surrendered several forts to the Mughals.
  • Visited the Mughal court at Agra.

Coronation

• In 1674, Shivaji was crowned at Raigarh.
• He assumed the title “Haindava Dharmoddharak” (Protector of Hindu Dharma).

Southern Campaign

• After escaping from Agra, Shivaji resumed his campaigns against the Mughals and the Siddis of Janjira.
• Between 1677 and 1680, he successfully conquered large parts of Karnataka.

Shivaji’s Administration

  Administrative Structure

• • Shivaji organised his kingdom (Swarajya) into three provinces, each governed by a Viceroy.
  • Provinces were divided into Prants, which were further subdivided into Parganas (Tarafs).
  • The smallest administrative unit was the village, headed by the Patil.

  Ashtapradhan Council

Shivaji was assisted by the Ashtapradhan (Council of Eight Ministers). Unlike a modern cabinet, each minister was individually responsible to Shivaji.

Revenue Administration

• Most of Shivaji’s administrative reforms were inspired by the Malik Ambar system of Ahmadnagar.
• Land revenue was assessed through measurement of land.
• The Kathi of Malik Ambar served as the standard unit of measurement.
• Initially, land revenue was fixed at 1/3 (33%) of the gross produce, later revised to 2/5 (40%).

Special Taxes

• Chauth – A tax equal to 25% of the land revenue, collected from neighbouring territories in return for protection against Maratha raids.
• Sardeshmukhi – An additional levy of 10%, imposed on territories where the Marathas claimed hereditary rights, particularly within the Mughal Empire.

Successors of Shivaji

Sambhaji (1680–1689)

• Sambhaji, the eldest son of Shivaji, emerged victorious over his younger brother Rajaram in the war of succession.
• He extended protection and support to Akbar II, the rebellious son of Aurangzeb.
• Sambhaji was captured at Sangameshwar by the Mughals and was subsequently executed.

Rajaram (1689–1700)

• Rajaram ascended the throne with the support of the ministers at Raigarh.
• In 1689, due to the Mughal capture of Raigarh, he shifted his capital to Jinji (Gingee). During the Mughal occupation, Sambhaji’s wife and son (Shahu) were taken captive.
• After the fall of Jinji, Rajaram shifted the capital to Satara.
• Rajaram introduced a new ministerial post called Pratinidhi, thereby increasing the Ashtapradhan Council from eight to nine members.

Tarabai (1700–1707)

• After Rajaram’s death, his minor son Shivaji II became ruler under the regency of his mother Tarabai.
• Tarabai successfully continued the Maratha resistance against the Mughals.

Shahu (1707–1749)

• Shahu, the son of Sambhaji, was released by Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah I.
• He defeated Tarabai’s forces in the Battle of Khed (1707) and established his authority over Satara.
• The southern Maratha kingdom, with its capital at Kolhapur, remained under the descendants of Rajaram—first Shivaji II and later Shambhaji II.
• During Shahu’s reign, the Peshwas emerged as the real centres of power, and the Maratha kingdom gradually transformed into a Maratha Confederacy.

Balaji Vishwanath (1713–1720) – The First Peshwa

    Rise to Power

• • Balaji Vishwanath began his career as a small revenue official.
  • In 1708, Shahu appointed him as Senakarte (Organiser of the Army).
  • In 1713, he was appointed Peshwa, making the office both hereditary and the most powerful position in the Maratha administration.

    Achievements

• • He played a decisive role in consolidating Shahu’s authority by persuading most Maratha Sardars to support him.
  • In 1719, he concluded an agreement with the Sayyid Brothers (King Makers).
  • As a result of this agreement, Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar formally recognised Shahu as the rightful ruler of Swarajya.

Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)

Baji Rao I (1720–1740)

  Rise as Peshwa

• • Baji Rao I, the eldest son of Balaji Vishwanath, became Peshwa at the young age of 20.
  • He is regarded as the greatest exponent of Guerrilla Warfare after Shivaji.
  • Under his leadership, Maratha power reached its zenith.

  Expansion of the Maratha Confederacy

• • During his reign, several powerful Maratha houses emerged and established their authority in different regions of India.

  Military Achievements

• • In 1722, Baji Rao defeated the Siddis of Janjira and drove them out of the mainland.
  • In 1739, he captured Bassein and Salsette from the Portuguese.
  • He defeated Nizam-ul-Mulk near Bhopal and signed the Treaty of Doraha Sarai (1738), through which the Marathas gained Malwa and Bundelkhand.
  • He led several successful campaigns in North India, making the Marathas the dominant political power.
  • His famous statement was: “Let us strike at the trunk of the withering tree and the branches will fall of themselves.” (Referring to the weakening Mughal Empire.)

Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb) (1740–1761)

    Rise to Power

• • Balaji Baji Rao, popularly known as Nana Saheb, succeeded his father Baji Rao I as Peshwa at the age of 20.
  • After the death of Shahu (1749), the entire administration of the Maratha State came under the effective control of the Peshwa.

    Agreement with the Mughal Emperor

• • Balaji Baji Rao entered into an agreement with Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah.
  • The Peshwa agreed to protect the Mughal Empire from both internal and external threats (including Ahmad Shah Abdali).
  • In return, he obtained the right to collect Chauth (1752).

    Third Battle of Panipat (14 January 1761)

• • The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on 14 January 1761 between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
  • The Marathas suffered a decisive defeat.
  • Vishwas Rao and Sadashiv Rao Bhau were killed in the battle.
  • The defeat severely weakened Maratha supremacy.
  • Balaji Baji Rao died about six months later, deeply affected by the disaster.

    Successors of Balaji Baji Rao

• • Madhav Rao I (1761–1772)
  • Narayan Rao (1772–1773)
  • Sawai Madhav Rao (1773–1795)
  • Baji Rao II (1795–1818)

Anglo-Maratha Wars

First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782)

• The war began over the British support for Raghunath Rao (Raghoba) in his claim to the Peshwaship.
• The British under Warren Hastings fought the Marathas.
• The British suffered a major setback and were compelled to sign the Convention of Wadgaon (1779).
• The conflict ended with the Treaty of Salbai (1782), under which the British abandoned the cause of Raghoba.

Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1806)

• The conflict followed the Treaty of Bassein (1802), through which Peshwa Baji Rao II accepted the Subsidiary Alliance with the British.
• Several Maratha chiefs opposed this treaty but were ultimately defeated by the British.

Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818)

• Lord Hastings launched a campaign against the Pindaris, leading to a direct conflict with the Marathas.
• The British declared paramountcy in India and decisively defeated the Maratha Confederacy.
• The war marked the end of Maratha political supremacy and established British dominance over India.