Maratha Empire (1674-1818)

Subject: History | Unit: Medieval India | Topic: Maratha Empire Exam: AP Group 2 (APPSC) Prerequisites: Mughal Empire

Introduction

The Maratha Empire is the story of how a regional power born in the mountains of western India challenged the mighty Mughal Empire, spread across the subcontinent, and ultimately fell to the British. Founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — one of India's most revered historical figures — the Marathas pioneered guerrilla warfare, established a sophisticated cabinet government (Ashtapradhan), and created a naval force when no other Indian power had one.

For AP Group 2 candidates, the Maratha chapter matters because the Nizam-Maratha rivalry was the dominant political dynamic in 18th-century AP/Telangana. Bajirao I's victory at Palkhed (1728) humiliated the Nizam, Maratha chauth and sardeshmukhi collections drained the Nizam's resources, and the weakening of both powers after Panipat (1761) created the vacuum that allowed the British East India Company to establish control in AP.

Historical Context

By the mid-17th century, the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb was attempting to crush all independent powers in the Deccan. The Bijapur Sultanate (which controlled much of western India) was weakening. Into this environment, Shivaji Bhonsle — son of a Maratha general serving Bijapur — began carving out an independent Hindu kingdom in the rugged Sahyadri mountains (Western Ghats).

The Marathas were not a dynasty in the traditional sense but a martial people of western India — farmers, soldiers, and hill-dwellers who knew every pass, fort, and trail in the Western Ghats. Shivaji's genius was to harness this local knowledge, military skill, and Hindu revivalist sentiment into a political movement that would outlast the Mughals themselves.

Core Content

Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680): The Founder

Early Life and First Conquests:

• Born at Shivneri Fort, near Junnar (present-day Maharashtra)
• Father Shahaji Bhonsle was a Maratha general serving Bijapur and the Mughals
• Mother Jijabai deeply influenced his sense of Hindavi Swarajya (self-rule)
• Began conquests at age 16, capturing the fort of Torna (1645) from the Bijapur Sultanate — his first major military action

Killing of Afzal Khan (1659): Bijapur's general Afzal Khan was sent to crush Shivaji. At a personal meeting at Pratapgarh, Shivaji killed Afzal Khan using hidden tiger claws (wagh nakh). This decisive moment established Shivaji as a power that could not be subdued through treachery.

Shivaji vs the Mughals:

The Ashtapradhan: Council of Eight Ministers

Shivaji established the Ashtapradhan — a centralised cabinet system that is one of the most frequently tested topics in AP Group 2.

All ministers except the Panditrao and Nyayadhish were expected to lead military campaigns — the administration was militarised.

Other Administrative Reforms:

• Abolished the jagirdari system; replaced it with ryotwari system — revenue collected directly from farmers
• Promoted Marathi and Sanskrit over Persian as court languages
• Abolished hereditary posts — all officials appointed on merit and transferable

Military System

Guerrilla Warfare (Ganimi Kava): Shivaji pioneered guerrilla warfare — using knowledge of the Sahyadri mountains, small mobile forces, and surprise attacks against larger Mughal/Bijapur armies. This was his signature military strategy.

Revenue System

State officials collected taxes directly from ryots (farmers). Mirasidars (hereditary landholders) were kept under strict state control.

Shivaji's Successors

The Peshwa Era

The Peshwas transformed from prime ministers into the real rulers of the Maratha Empire. The Chhatrapati became a figurehead at Satara while the Peshwa governed from Pune.

Balaji Vishwanath (Peshwa, 1713-1720)

• Rose from a minor revenue official to become Peshwa
• Made the Peshwa position hereditary — a turning point in Maratha governance
• Treaty of Lonavala (1714): Negotiated with Kanhoji Angre (Maratha admiral) to accept Shahu's authority
• In 1719, obtained a farman from Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar recognising Shahu as Chhatrapati and granting Marathas the right to collect chauth and sardeshmukhi in the Deccan

Bajirao I (Peshwa, 1720-1740)

The most dynamic military leader of the Peshwa era.

Balaji Bajirao / Nanasaheb (Peshwa, 1740-1761)

• Succeeded his father at age 19
• 1752: Negotiated treaty — Marathas would protect the Mughal Empire in exchange for chauth from northwest provinces and revenue control of Agra and Ajmer
• This northward expansion brought the Marathas into direct conflict with Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani)

The Maratha Confederacy

Five major Maratha houses, each controlling semi-independent territories:

The Confederacy gave military reach across India but created internal rivalries that ultimately weakened the empire.

Third Battle of Panipat (14 January 1761)

One of the largest and bloodiest battles of the 18th century. This is a top PYQ topic.

Causes of Defeat:

1. Extended supply lines — Marathas fought far from Maharashtra
2. Lack of allies in the north
3. Internal rivalries — Holkars did not fully commit troops
4. Afghan cavalry superiority

Consequences:

• Ended Maratha dreams of replacing the Mughals as the paramount Indian power
• Created a political vacuum in North India that the British would eventually fill
• Peshwa Balaji Bajirao died of shock upon hearing the news (June 1761)

Post-Panipat Recovery and Final Decline

Madhavrao I (Peshwa, 1761-1772): Achieved a remarkable recovery. Restored Maratha authority in the Deccan and North India. Defeated the Nizam and Hyder Ali of Mysore. Died young at age 27.

After Madhavrao I, internal power struggles weakened the Peshwa's authority, and the Confederacy chiefs became increasingly independent.

The Anglo-Maratha Wars

Causes of Decline

1. Loose Confederacy structure — competing semi-independent chiefs undermined central authority
2. Internal rivalries and succession disputes among Peshwa claimants
3. Third Battle of Panipat (1761) — psychological and military blow never fully recovered from
4. British diplomatic superiority — "divide and conquer" strategy exploiting Maratha disunity
5. Lack of modern artillery and unified military command compared to the British
6. Absence of naval power after the 18th century — British controlled the seas

AP Connection

The Maratha Empire shaped AP's political trajectory in the 18th century:

1. Battle of Palkhed (1728): Bajirao I's defeat of the Nizam of Hyderabad directly affected power dynamics in AP/Telangana — forced the Nizam to cede territories.

2. Chauth and Sardeshmukhi Collections: Maratha revenue extractions from the Deccan (including parts of present-day AP) were a persistent drain on the Nizam's resources.

3. Nizam-Maratha Rivalry: The dominant political dynamic in 18th-century AP/Telangana. Both powers competed for territory between the Krishna and Godavari rivers.

4. Madhavrao I vs the Nizam: His defeat of the Nizam and Hyder Ali (1760s-70s) reinforced Maratha influence over Deccan regions now in AP.

5. Post-Panipat Vacuum: The weakening of both Maratha and Nizam powers after Panipat (1761) created the vacuum that allowed the British East India Company to establish control in AP through the Subsidiary Alliance with the Nizam (1798).

6. Northern Circars: The Bhonsle Marathas of Nagpur controlled the Northern Circars (coastal Andhra) for periods, before ceding them to the British (Treaty of 1768).

Master Timeline

Key Points for Revision

1. Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680) founded the Maratha Empire with Raigad as capital.
2. Shivaji's mother Jijabai inspired his vision of Hindavi Swarajya (self-rule).
3. Killed Afzal Khan (1659) at Pratapgarh using wagh nakh (tiger claws).
4. Treaty of Purandar (1665): ceded 23 of 35 forts to Mughals.
5. Escaped from Agra (1666) after being humiliated at Aurangzeb's court.
6. Crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad on 6 June 1674.
7. Ashtapradhan: Council of Eight Ministers — Peshwa (PM), Amatya (Finance), Sachiv (Secretary), Mantri (Interior), Senapati (Military), Sumant (Foreign), Nyayadhish (Justice), Panditrao (Religious).
8. Shivaji pioneered guerrilla warfare (ganimi kava) in the Western Ghats.
9. Shivaji was the first Indian ruler to establish a navy.
10. Two key taxes: Chauth (25%) and Sardeshmukhi (10%).
11. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath made the Peshwa position hereditary (1713).
12. Bajirao I: greatest Peshwa general; 40+ battles; Battle of Palkhed (1728) defeated the Nizam.
13. Five Confederacy houses: Peshwas (Pune), Gaekwads (Baroda), Scindias (Gwalior), Holkars (Indore), Bhonsles (Nagpur).
14. Third Battle of Panipat (14 January 1761): Marathas vs Ahmad Shah Abdali; devastating defeat; 60,000-70,000 killed.
15. Madhavrao I achieved remarkable post-Panipat recovery but died young at 27.
16. Treaty of Bassein (1802): Peshwa Bajirao II accepted British subsidiary alliance.
17. Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818): Peshwa title abolished; empire ends.
18. Decline causes: Confederacy disunity, Panipat defeat, British divide-and-conquer, lack of modern artillery.

Exam Strategy

Question Patterns

Exam Tips

• Ashtapradhan — memorise all 8 titles and roles. This appears in almost every AP Group 2 cycle.
• Shivaji's TWO taxes: Chauth (25%) and Sardeshmukhi (10%) — know the percentages and the distinction.
• Third Battle of Panipat (14 January 1761): Date, opponents (Sadashivrao Bhau vs Ahmad Shah Abdali), outcome, consequences. Top PYQ topic.
• Shivaji was the first Indian ruler with a navy — this specific fact is a recurring MCQ.
• Treaty of Bassein (1802) marks the beginning of the end — Peshwa accepted British subsidiary alliance.
• Know the five Confederacy houses with their capitals (Pune, Baroda, Gwalior, Indore, Nagpur).
• Guerrilla warfare (ganimi kava) was Shivaji's signature strategy.

Key Terms Glossary