Maratha Empire

The Maratha Empire, (also spelled Mahratta), was also called the Maratha Confederacy, of India. It was founded by Shivaji in 1674 when he carved out an independent Maratha zone around Pune from the Bijapur Sultanate. After a lifetime of exploits and guerilla warfare with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Shivaji died in 1680, leaving a Maratha kingdom of great but strategically located. Mughal invasion started around 1682 and lasted till 1707. Thus for 25 years ,Marathas fought one of the longest battles in human history.Ultimately they defeated Mughals who were forced to withdraw from the maratha possessions. Shahu, a grandson of Shivaji became Chatrapati and till his death in 1749 remained as a nucleaus of Maratha power. After his death, power passed into the hands of the Peshawa. The battle of Panipat in 1761 crippled the Maratha empire and corroded power of Peshwa forever. Now the Maratha confedercy was the real authority in power with titular king and prime minister. The last Peshwa, Baji Rao II, was defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War.But the memory of Shivaji kept their hurt burning and with late 19th century a wave of socio-political breakthrough revolutions caused transformation of the entire State and nation.

Shahu the Chatrapati

In 1713 Farrukhsiyar had declared himself Mughal emperor. His bid for power had depended heavily on two brothers, known as the Saiyids, one of whom had been the governor of Allahabad and the other of Patna. However, the brothers had a falling out with the emperor. Negotiations between the Saiyids and Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath ,a civilian representative of Shahu drew the Marathas into the vendatta against the emperor. An army of Marathas commanded by Parsoji Bhosale and Mughals marched up to Delhi unopposed and managed to depose the emperor. In return for this help, Balaji Vishwanath had managed to negotiate a substantial treaty. Shahuji would have to accept Mughal rule in the Deccan, furnish forces for the imperial army and pay an annual tribute. But in return he received a farman, or imperial directive, guaranteeing him Swaraj, or independance, in the Maratha homeland, plus rights to chauth and sardeshmukh (amounting to 35 percent of the toal revenue) throughout Gujarat, Malwa and the now six provinces of the Mughal Deccan.

Related Topics:
1713 - Farrukhsiyar - Saiyid - Allahabad - Patna - Farman - Swaraj - Chauth - Sardeshmukh - Gujarat - Malwa

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After Balaji Vishwanath's death in April, 1719, his son, Baji Rao I was appointed as Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahuji.Shahuji, was one of the most lenient emperor and possess a strong capacity to recognise the talents of any person.In fact he caused a social revolution by bringing new talents into power irrespective of their poor background.This a great sign of social mobility of Maratha empire.Precisely this enabled their rapid expansion.

Related Topics:
April - 1719 - Baji Rao I - Shahuji - Maratha empire

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A clerk like Balaji or his son , ordinary men like Shinde or Holkar owed their position to the aura of this great prince. Till his death in 1749 , he controlled Maratha empire with strong hands.Despite of opposition form other court faction, he recognised the talent of Baji rao and gave him the imperial army so well trained and experienced one of such long hard battles.Baji Rao, true to expectations of his master carried out his duties . They reached Rajasthan in 1735, Delhi in 1737 and Orissa and Bengal by 1740.Baji Rao died in 1740 after a series of conquests that had consolidated the power of the Marathas. He is regarded as one of the best general in contemporay world.

Related Topics:
Maratha empire - Baji Rao - Rajasthan - 1735 - Delhi - 1737 - Orissa - Bengal - 1740

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Baji Rao's son, Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb) was appointed as a Peshwa by Shahu after due consideration. The period between 1741 and 1745 was of comparative calm in the Deccan.Shahuji died in 1749 giving an authority to peshwa on his behalf.

Related Topics:
Balaji Bajirao - 1741 - 1745 - Deccan - Shahuji - 1749

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