In the eighteenth century, the Maratha Confederacy ruled over a sizable chunk of the Indian subcontinent. The official establishment of the empire dates back to 1674 when Shivaji was crowned as the Chhatrapati. It came to an end in 1818 when the British East India Company defeated Peshwa Bajirao II. Much of the credit for eliminating the Mughal Empire's rule over the Indian subcontinent goes to the Marathas.
A sizable chunk of India was ruled by the Maratha Empire, sometimes referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The ascent of Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1674 marked the official start of the Maratha Empire. The Maratha Empire stretched from Thanjavur in the south to Peshawar in the north at its height. Before their debauchery in the early nineteenth century, the Marathas, who began as a warrior clan originating from the Deccan Plateau, controlled most of the Indian subcontinent.
The Maratha Empire exerted control over a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent during the 17th century. Its official establishment dates back to 1674 when Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj was crowned, and it came to an end in 1818 following the defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II by the British East India Company.
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History of the Maratha Empire
The Marathas were an Indian warrior tribe that spoke Marathi and hailed primarily from what is now the state of Maharashtra. Several Islamic countries dominated subcontinental politics in the seventeenth century, with the Mughal Empire ruling most of northern India.
Five Deccan sultanates ruled over the Deccan region of central India, but by the 1630s, only three—Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bijapur—were still in power. A Maratha general named Shahaji Bhosale worked for these sultanates.
Shivaji Maharaj, a renowned warrior king, established a lasting legacy as the founder of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. On 6 June 1674, he assumed the throne as the Chhatrapati, the "supreme sovereign," with great pomp and show.
According to the Hindu calendar, his coronation took place on the 13th day (Trayodashi) of the first fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha in the year 1596. This significant event not only marked his formal ascension to kingship but also symbolized the recognition of the Maratha Empire as a sovereign and independent entity.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation was a pivotal moment that laid the groundwork for the future of the Hindu Empire, strengthening its power and ensuring its enduring heritage. As we celebrate the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, known as the 'Shivrajyabhishek Sohala' in the Shiva Shaka calendar, we honor his remarkable accomplishments and profound contributions to the establishment of the Hindu Kingdom.
During the ceremony, Shivaji was formally crowned as the Chhatrapati ("paramount sovereign") of the Maratha Empire.
The Maratha Empire, which was a prominent power in India from the late 17th to the early 19th century, had several notable rulers. Here's a list of some significant Maratha kings:
Shivaji Maharaj (1630–1680): The founder of the Maratha Empire and considered one of the greatest warriors and strategists in Indian history.
Sambhaji Maharaj (1657–1689): The eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj, who succeeded him as the second Chhatrapati (emperor) of the Maratha Empire.
Rajaram Maharaj (1670–1700): Son of Shivaji Maharaj and younger brother of Sambhaji Maharaj, who became the third Chhatrapati after the death of his brother.
Shahu Maharaj (1682–1749): Grandson of Shivaji Maharaj, who succeeded Rajaram Maharaj as the fourth Chhatrapati and played a significant role in the expansion and stabilization of the Maratha Empire.
Peshwa Baji Rao I (1699–1740): The first Peshwa (prime minister) of the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. He was a brilliant military leader and administrator.
Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb) (1721–1761): Also known as Nana Saheb, he was the son of Peshwa Baji Rao I and served as the Peshwa after his father's death.
Peshwa Madhavrao I (1745–1772): The son of Peshwa Baji Rao I and one of the most capable rulers of the Maratha Empire. He initiated reforms and stabilized the empire after a period of turmoil.
Peshwa Narayanrao (1755–1773): The son of Peshwa Madhavrao I, who briefly became the Peshwa but was assassinated at a young age, leading to a succession crisis known as the Narayanrao Peshwa Murder Case.
Peshwa Madhavrao II (1774–1796): The posthumous son of Narayanrao, who became the Peshwa under the regency of Nana Fadnavis. He faced significant challenges from both internal dissensions and external invasions.
The House of Shivaji
The son of Shahaji, Shivaji, rose against the Bijapur sultanate and took many forts in the Deccan to begin a campaign to establish Hindavi Svarajya or the self-rule of the Hindu people. He waged war against the Mughal Empire, the Deccan sultanates, and the recently formed English East India Company, which was active in western India's ports. Shivaji captured his first fort in 1645 and, with the help of strong Maratha warrior families, went on to build a stable kingdom with Raigad as its capital.
Sambhaji, Shivaji's son, succeeded him to the throne in 1680 after his death and ruled until 1689 when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb took him prisoner and put him to death. Sambhaji's son Shahu was also taken prisoner by Aurangzeb, which led to the ascent of Sambhaji's half-brother Rajaram to the throne.
Peshwa Era
Following the death of Aurangzeb, civil war broke out in 1707 when Shahu was freed by the newly installed Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah I. Shahu quickly declared his intention to usurp the kingdom from Shivaji II, the son of Ramanujam, who was in power with Tarabai's assistance. Balaji Viswanath was named Peshwa (chief minister) by Shahu in 1713. This marked the start of the Maratha empire's Peshwa era, in which the Peshwa had absolute control.
The Maratha empire grew quickly between 1720 and 1761, increasingly annexing Mughal lands. The Marathas invaded Delhi in 1737 after seizing control of Gujarat and Malwa in the 1720s. At their height of power, the Marathas ruled over the majority of the subcontinent, extending from Tanjore in the south to Bengal and Orissa in the east, and Rajasthan and Punjab in the north. During this time, the Maratha king was acknowledged as the Deccan's master and was entitled to collect chauth, or "one-fourth," a tribute of 25% of the zamindars' (landlords') land earnings.
Third Battle of Panipat
The founder of the Afghan Durrani dynasty, Ahmad Shah Durrani, invaded Northern India in 1761. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Afghan and Maratha armies clashed. A major Maratha defeat occurred at Panipat as a result of the Rajputs and other local lords' lack of support for the Marathas due to historical animosities. Even though a peace treaty followed the engagement, the battle drastically reduced Maratha supremacy in the subcontinent as the majority of the Maratha army was decimated.
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Maratha Confederacy
Following the defeat at Panipat, Madhavrao I rose to the position of Peshwa and contributed to the restoration of the Marathas' dominance in many of their principal lands. He granted many of his chieftains authority to better administer the Maratha empire, which resulted in the creation of a Maratha confederacy. Among them were prominent families that formed independent kingdoms following the fall of the Maratha empire: the Gaekwars of Baroda, the Sindhias of Gwalior, and the Holkars of Indore. However, Madhavrao's passing in 1772 left a void in the empire's leadership. From now on, the Maratha chieftains would hold authority, with the Peshwa merely having nominal control.
Anglo-Maratha Wars
Wars with the East India Company and the kingdom of Mysore typified the later Maratha era. The Maratha people emerged victorious from the First Anglo-Maratha War, which lasted from 1775 to 1782. The First Maratha-Mysore War, which broke out between 1785 and 1787, caused hostility toward Tippu Sultan, who was Mysore's de facto ruler. Following that, the Marathas supported the British in the latter two of the four Anglo-Mysore wars, which helped shift the balance of power away from Mysore and resulted in a British victory in 1799.
The Marathas suffered a great loss of land during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, which raged from 1803 to 1805, as a result of British meddling in the chieftains' affairs. With the Maratha defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the exile of the Peshwa, Bajirao II, and the direct British domination of Maratha territory, the Marathas were the last significant force resisting the British in the subcontinent. This ended in 1818. Under the British, several regions, like Baroda and Indore, maintained their princely status and nominal independence.
Maratha Legacy
The Maratha empire was renowned for creating a well-functioning administrative structure and for strongly promoting trade and agriculture. It was also renowned for constructing many forts on India's western coast and a potent navy under Kanhoji Angre. Following the Indian independence movement, Hindu nationalists defined the Marathas as champions of Hindu nationalism against Mughal oppression, and they placed great emphasis on Shivaji and the Maratha kingdom.
Sari-i-Naubat (Senapati) - The supreme military commander
Peshwa - Head of financial and administrative matters
Dabir - Overseer of foreign relations
Panditrao - Leader of religious affairs
Nyayadhish - Head of the judicial system
Amatya - Manager of state finances and expenditures
Surunavis or Chitnis - King's aide in official communication
Waqenavis - Manager of personal and family affairs
Shivaji Maharaj's kingdom was organized into various provinces for taxation and administration. Each province was further divided into Parganas and Tarafs, with the village being the smallest unit. Shivaji put an end to the practice of leasing out land revenue, and instead implemented the direct collection of taxes from the ryots by state officials.
Conquered territories were divided into provinces known as prants, each of which had subedar officers under the command of a sarsubedar. The district was overseen by a Havaldar. Provinces were further divided into Tarafs (districts).
Within the district, there were sub-districts known as Parganas, with Deshpande and Deshmukh serving as the officers in charge of law and order. The Parganas were further divided into villages, including Mauza, Kulkarni, and Patil, each with its own law and order officers.
Guerrilla warfare was honed by the Marathas, who employed it successfully against the Mughals. It has been said that the repair of several temples, like the Saptakoteshwar Temple in Goa, is proof of the Marathas' struggle for Hindu independence. Although the Maratha empire was frequently depicted as a disorganized military organization, its true essence was revolutionary. It did bring about some significant improvements that were started by the brilliant creator, the renowned Shivaji.
- Since Shivaji, the empire's founder, held these principles to be crucial, religious tolerance and pluralism were significant foundational elements of the nation-state from the outset.
- The caste system was not followed by the Maratha Empire, which made it distinct.
- Since its founding, the Maratha Empire had a large number of gifted individuals in its leadership, making it one of the most socially mobile empires. Observe that the Peshwas of the Bhatt dynasty were from ordinary origins, the rulers of Gwalior and Baroda were from ordinary peasant families, the king of Indore was a Dhangar, a shepherd, and Haider Ali Kohari, Shivaji's most trusted secretary, came from an ordinary household.
- Large areas were under the Marathas' military rule. Their policy of religious tolerance served as a crucial check on the growing Mughal influence by giving Hindu interests equal weight.
Important Maratha Empire UPSC Notes
- According to certain historians, the Maratha Navy was instrumental in transforming maritime combat and establishing the groundwork for the Indian Navy.
- The Marathas constructed almost all of the hill forts that dot the terrain of modern-day western Maharashtra.
- The Peshwas of Pune made major improvements to the town in the eighteenth century by erecting bridges, dams, and an underground water delivery system.
- It has been reported that Queen Ahilyabai Holkar was a righteous monarch and ardent supporter of religion. She is recognized for creating and maintaining a large number of temples in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, as well as other parts of North India.
- The Maratha dynasty, which ruled Tanjore (modern-day Tamil Nadu) for a long time, remembered as the city's golden age, was known for its support of the arts. During their reign, culture and art reached unprecedented heights.
- The Maratha chiefs constructed some magnificent palaces, such as the Shaniwar Wada (built by the Peshwas of Pune).
Important Rulers
- Shivaji: In addition to founding the empire, Shivaji was in charge of elevating the Maratha authority to a position of prominence.
- Sambhaji: Following Shivaji's death, Sambhaji, his eldest son, took the throne and carried on his father's territorial expansion.
- Shahu: The Maratha Empire greatly expanded during Shahu's rule, who was also in charge of establishing Peshwa control.
- Tarabai Bhosale: Tarabai presided over the Empire as regent from 1700 till 1708. Much of her credit for preventing the Mughals from entering the region comes from her husband, Chhatrapati Rajaram Bhosale, who passed away.
- Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath: In the eighteenth century, Balaji Vishwanath emerged as the Empire's sixth prime minister. The Maratha Empire grew northward during his tenure.
- Baji Rao: Baji Rao carried on the Maratha Empire's expansion. Throughout the whole of his brilliant military career, which lasted two decades, Baji Rao never lost a fight.
- Balaji Baji Rao: Also known as Nana Saheb, he served as the Empire's most significant prime minister during a time when the real king was reduced to a symbolic role.
- Madhav Rao I: The Empire's fourth Peshwa was Madhav Rao I. At a pivotal moment, following the Marathas' defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat, he became a Maratha Peshwa. Thus, before the British eventually destroyed the empire, Madhav Rao I was mostly in charge of its reconstruction.
Maratha History: FAQs
Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
Born into a family of administrators, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born at Shivneri, a hill fort near Junnar, Poona. His father, Shahji Bhonsale, served in the Bijapur Sultanate's army, while Jijabai, his mother, was a fervent religious follower. As one of the most courageous kings of 17th-century India, Shivaji established the Maratha kingdom.
Before the Delhi Sultanate period, the Gupta Empire took the lead in promoting India's art and architecture.
Why did the three Anglo-Maratha wars happen?
The Anglo-Maratha Wars were three territorial wars fought in India between the Maratha kingdom and the British East India Company. The main causes of the wars were the internal Maratha power struggle and the growing interference of the British in both internal and external Maratha affairs.
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