- Third Anglo-Martha war led to the end of the Maratha Empire. All the Maratha powers surrendered to the British.
- The Peshwa was eventually captured and placed on a small estate at Bithur, near Kanpur.
- The Maharaja of Satara was restored as the ruler of his territory as a princely state. Most of his territory was annexed and became part of the Bombay Presidency.
- In 1848 this territory was also annexed under the “doctrine of lapse policy” of Lord Dalhousie.
Chapter 17 : The Maratha and Other Indian States and Society in the 18th Century
The ruins of the Mughal Empire and its political system gave rise to a slew of independent and semi-independent powers, including Bengal, Hyderabad, Mysore, Rajputs and the Maratha Kingdom. Raigad was the capital of the Maratha Empire, which began as a small kingdom in western India. The famous Maratha Chief Shivaji Maharaj established a Hindavi-Swarajya by leading Marathas against the Sultan of Bijapur (Adil Shahi Dynasty).
Marathas – Background
- Raigad was the capital of the Maratha Empire, which began as a small kingdom in western India.
- The famous Maratha Chief Shivaji Maharaj established a Hindavi-Swarajya by leading Marathas against the Sultan of Bijapur (Adil Shahi Dynasty).
- Shivaji’s son, Sambhaji, was seized and executed by Aurangzeb’s army in Deccan, while his son, Shahu, was taken, prisoner.
- Bahadur Shah I liberated Shahu in 1707, and the Marathas quickly established themselves.
- The states of Satara and Kolhapur were established, and Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath to the position of Sena-Karte (Organizer of Forces). Later, the post of Peshwa, or Prime Minister, was created.
- Balaji and his successors played a significant role in Maratha’s growth.
Expansion Policy of Marathas
- With Baji Rao’s accession to the Peshwaship, the Maratha movement’s character shifted from defensive to offensive, from national survival to empire building.
- This transformation did not happen overnight. The Marathas began regular raids into Gujarat and Malwa during the last years of Aurangzeb’s reign, signalling a shift in the character of the struggle.
- But it wasn’t until Baji Rao arrived on the scene that the new trend took the form of a firm policy.
- A protracted legal battle between Baji Rao and Pratinidhi Shripat Rao in the Maratha court preceded the new policy’s implementation.
- The main issues with regards to this new policy were:
- The direction and timing of Maratha’s expansionist activities.
- Nizam-ul-Mulk’s attitude and the possibility of maintaining friendly relations with him.
- Internal administration, particularly the problem of controlling the Maratha Sardars and restoring order to the finances, army, and so on.
- Finally, there was the issue of power: who would preside over the King’s councils, the Peshwa or the Pratinidhi.
Expansion View of Pratinidhi
- The Pratinidhi was not opposed to an expansionist policy in general, but he desired that priority be given to the over-running of the Konkan, where the Sidi of Janjira had recovered many areas; and the completion of Shivaji’s conquest of Karnataka.
- After consolidating Maratha’s positions in the Deccan, they could consider expanding their conquests further north in India.
- The Pratinidhi emphasised the importance of being cautious and not provoking the Mughals too much, lest it leads to another invasion of the Maratha homeland.
- Above all, he wished to make friends with the powerful Nizam-ul-Mulk.
- He desired that large-scale expansionist activities be postponed until the finances were stabilised and a strong army and stable administrative system were established.
Expansion View of Baji Rao
- Baji Rao, on the other hand, emphasised the Mughal Court’s weakness and imbecility, which was torn apart by factions and internecine feuds, so that Maratha assistance was sought, and kings were made and unmade through its means.
- He dismissed the conquest of Karnataka as a domestic matter best left to the Hazarat (household) troops.
- He dwelt on the (alleged) friendship of the Hindu powers to the Marathas, and discounted the power of the Nizam, offering to hold him in check as well as to effect a northward drive, alluding to Shivaji’s dream of Hindu domination.
- Finally, he appealed to the Maratha Sardar’s predatory instincts by pointing to the riches of northern India, the Deccan having been reduced to ruins by prolonged warfare.
- He is said to have finished with the famous words, “Strike, strike at the trunk, and the branches will fall of their own.”
- It does not appear correct to assume that Baji Rao’s policy of northward expansion implied a lack of concern for the south.
- Baji Rao demanded the cession of the subah of Hyderabad and the virtual right to nominate the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan as early as 1724 when the Emperor asked for Maratha assistance against Nizam-ul-Mulk.
- As a result, Baji Rao was also interested in Maratha supremacy over the Deccan.
- But he did not share the Pratinidhi’s facile optimism that the Marathas could conquer Karnataka without the Nizam’s bitter opposition, or that they could conquer the Deccan with the resources of Maharashtra alone in the face of a cunning and determined foe like Nizam-ul-Mulk.
- As a result, he was adamant about conquering and bringing the prosperous provinces of Malwa and Gujarat under Maratha’s control.
- With the Marathas secure in Malwa and Gujarat, a schism would form between the Nizam and Delhi.
- The Marathas would then encircle the Nizam’s territories on three sides, allowing them to turn against him without fear of receiving assistance from Delhi, or raid the doab and the areas to its east and west at their leisure.
- Thus, establishing a Maratha dominance in Malwa and Gujarat was the first step toward establishing a large and powerful Maratha empire.
- His rant about the Maratha flag being planted on the Attock was merely political hyperbole.
- For a long time, the task was clearly beyond Maratha’s strength, and Baji Rao was far too practical a statesman to set himself such impossible goals.
SHIVAJI MAHARAJ (1627-1680)
- Born at Shivneri fort. Father Shahaji Bhosle initially served Nizam ruler of Ahmednagar. Later he joined the Bijapur.
- He inherited the jagir of Poona from his father in 1637. At the age of 16 he captured the Torna fort, followed by many more forts.
- He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital.
- He captured Javali from Chandrarao More in 1656. At the Battle of Pratapgarh (1659) he killed Afzal Khan (Adil shah’s general).
- Battle of Pavankhind (1660) – smaller Maratha force led by Baji Prabhu Deshpande held back the larger enemy to buy time for Shivaji to escape.
- Shivaji was defeated by Shaista Khan (sent by Aurangzeb). Later He made a bold attack on Shaista Khan’s military camp at Poona in 1663 & wounded him.
- Treaty of Purander (1665)
- Signed between Raja Jai Singh (under Aurangzeb) and Shivaji.
- Shivaji ceded some forts to Mughals & visited Agra to meet Aurangzeb.
- He defeated Mughals in Battle of Salher (1672). He was crowned & assumed the title Maharaja Chhatrapati in 1674 at Raigad fort.
- He died in 1680 at the age of 52.
SHIVAJI’S ADMINISTRATION:
- He divided the territory into three provinces. Provinces were divided into Prants which were subdivided into Parganas or Tarafs.
- Shivaji had well organized Army & Navy. The regular army was called Paga, while the loose auxiliaries called silahdars & were supervised by havildars.
- Salary in cash was paid to the regular soldier, though sometime the chiefs received revenue grants (saranjam).
- He was assisted by a council of ministers called “Ashtapradhan” Mandal. Each minister was directly responsible to Shivaji. (No collective responsibility).
ASHTAPRADHAN MANDAL:
| Peshwa (Mukhya Pradhan) | Finance & general administration. Later became prime minister |
| Senapati (Sar-i-Naubat) | Military commander |
| Majumdar (Amatya) | Accountant General |
| Waqenavis (Mantri) | Intelligence, posts and household affairs |
| Sachiv (Surnavis) | Correspondence |
| Dabir (Sumant) | Foreign minister & Master of ceremonies. |
| Nyayadhish | Justice |
| Panditrao (Sadar) | High Priest, managing internal religious matters |
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REVENUE
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SAMBHAJI (1680-1689)
- Sambhaji was the son of Shivaji Maharaj and as per Treaty of Purandar was a Mansabdar of Mughals.
- His rule was largely shaped by the ongoing wars between the Maratha kingdom and Mughal Empire as well as other neighbouring powers such as Siddis, Mysore and the Portuguese in Goa.
- In 1687, at the Battle of Wai he defeated Mughal forces.
- In 1689, Sambhaji was captured, tortured and executed by the Mughals.
- He was succeeded by his brother Rajaram I.
SHAHU (1707-1749)
- Shahu’s reign saw the rise of Peshwas & reducing Bhosale’s to mere figureheads.
- By the time of Rajaram II/Ram raja the power of Chhatrapati was almost overshadowed by that of Peshwa.
Balaji Vishwanath (1713-1818): First Peshwa
- He started his career as a small revenue official. He was given a title of Sena Karte in 1708 by Shahu.
- He became a Peshwa in 1713 & made the post most important and powerful as well as hereditary.
The Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk
- The connection between the Maratha and the Nizam-ul-Mulk passed through numerous stages and had a considerable impact on Maratha activity in Malwa and Gujarat.
- As Viceroy of the Deccan from 1715 to 1717, Nizam-ul-Mulk fought the Maratha for control of the Deccan’s Chauth and Sardeshmukhi and was nearly always at war with them – though with limited success.
- After Nizam’s victorious revolt against the Sayyids, Nizam-ul-Mulk praised the Imperial Farman for handing the Marathas the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of the Deccan.
- Nizam met Baji Rao for the first time on January 4, 1721.
- Despite Nizam-ul- Mulk’s best efforts to establish close ties with the young Peshwa, no long-term understanding was achieved.
- The most important point of dispute between the Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk was Karnataka.
- Nizam-ul-Mulk regarded Karnataka as his by right of succession to the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda.
- The Marathas, on the other hand, had been interested in Karnataka since at least Shahji’s time and had always seen it as a delightful hunting field that they were resolved to plunder and put under tribute, paying little mind to his claims.
The Maratha Advance into Gujarat and Malwa
- Maratha’s empire rose to prominence after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707.
- This was followed by a 50-year period of rapid Maratha Empire expansion into North India under the great Peshwa Baji Rao I.
- While the Marathas had sometimes raided Gujarat since 1705 and Malwa since 1699, these invasions didn’t start to become frequent or well-planned until 1720.
- Initially Chauth was taken from these provinces, later on, they were merged.
- Maratha’s demanded acknowledgement of their claims to Gujarat and Malwa.
- During his return to Delhi in 1719, Balaji Vishwanath received the command to gain the chauth of these two provinces as well.
- To establish their stronghold, Marathas’ attacks into the two regions became more frequent.
- The Marathas pressed for the reinstatement of their claims to Gujarat and Malwa.
- However, despite the financial and geopolitical significance of the provinces, neither Nizam nor the Mughals was eager to make such a commitment to the Marathas.
The Maratha Advance into Doab and Punjab
- Maratha’s advancement into Doab and Punjab was divided into two distinct periods from 1741 to 1761.
- The first phase occurred between 1741 and 1752. It began with Baji Rao’s death and the final Mughal cession of Malwa and Gujarat.
- Marathas gained the Chauth right over the area of Rajasthan, which opened the way for the Doab and Punjab region, while the entry of Marathas into the doab and Ahmad Shah Abdali into Punjab in 1752 marked a new chapter in Northern Indian politics.
- The preparations for the showdown between the Marathas and the Abdali for control of North India were in full swing between 1752 and 1761.
Baji Rao I (1720-40)
- Succeeded Balaji Vishwanath. Maratha power reached its zenith under him.
- Was one of the greatest exponents of guerrilla tactics after Shivaji.
- Initiated the system of confederacy. Thus, many families became prominent and established their authority.
- He captured Salsette and Bassein from Portuguese in Battle of Vasai (1733). He defeated Nizam-ul-Mulk in 1737 & concluded Treaty of Durai Sarai.
- His several expeditions in the north weakened the Mughal and made Marathas supreme power in India.
- He said about Mughal: “Let us strike at the trunk of the withering tree and the branches will fall of themselves”.
| KINGDOMS | TERRITORY |
| Scindia | Gwalior |
| Holkar | Indore |
| Pawar | Dhar |
| Gaekwad | Baroda |
| Bhosale | Nagpur |
| Peshwa | Poona |
| Balaji Baji Rao I/ Nana Sahib I: (1740-1761) |
- Defeated Nawab of Bengal Alivardi Khan in 1751 and 1/3rd of Indian Subcontinent came under Martha empire.
- Signed agreement with Ahmad Shah (Mughal emperor) – Peshwas assured to protect the Mughal from internal and external enemies in return for the Chauth of the north-west provinces, total revenue of Agra & Ajmer provinces.
- Defeat at the 3rd Battle of Panipat 1761 by Ahmad Shah Durrani checked the expansion of Marathas and fragmented the empire.
- He and his son Vishwas Rao died in Panipat battle.
- Successor: Madhav Rao à Narayan Rao à Sawai Madhav Rao à Baji Rao II.
Third Battle of Panipat
- The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761 at Panipat, between a northern expeditionary force of the Maratha Empire and the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani, with two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab and Shuja-Ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh.
- The battle is regarded as one of the largest fought battles in the 18th century with possibly the highest number of fatalities reported in a single day in a classic formation battle between two armies.
- The Mughal Empire’s decline following the 27-year Mughal-Maratha war (1680–1707) resulted in rapid territorial gains for the Maratha Empire.
- Gujarat and Malwa came under Maratha control under Peshwa Baji Rao.
- Finally, on the outskirts of Delhi in 1737, Baji Rao defeated the Mughals, bringing much of the former Mughal territory south of Delhi under Maratha control.
- Baji Rao’s son, Balaji Baji Rao (popularly known as Nana Saheb), expanded Maratha control by invading Punjab in 1758.
- This brought the Marathas into direct conflict with Ahmad Shah Abdali’s Durrani empire.
- In 1759, he raised a Pashtun army and made several gains against the smaller Maratha garrisons in Punjab.
- He then formed a broad coalition against the Marathas with his Indian allies, the Rohilla Afghans of the Gangetic Doab.
- The Marathas, led by Sadashivrao Bhau, responded by amassing an army of 45,000–60,000 men, accompanied by approximately 200,000 non-combatants, many of whom were pilgrims on their way to Hindu holy sites in northern India.
- On March 14, 1760, the Marathas began their northward journey from Patdur.
- Both sides attempted to bring the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-Ud-Daulah, into their respective camps.
- By late July, Shuja-Ud-Daulah had decided to join the Afghan-Rohilla coalition, preferring to join the ‘army of Islam.’
- Shuja provided much-needed funds for the Afghans’ lengthy stay in North India.
- It is doubtful that the Afghan-Rohilla coalition would be able to continue fighting the Marathas without Shuja’s assistance.
ANGLO-MARATHA WARS
There were three wars fought between the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company over territory.
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First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782)
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Second Anglo- Maratha War (1803–05)
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Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818)
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End of Maratha Kingdom