The Marathas :Study Notes

Shivaji

1.Shivaji belonged to Bhonsle Clan.

2.Guru Ramdas was his political Guru.

3.His coronation was held at Raigarh in 1674. His kingdom was called Swaraj.

4.He adopted the titles of Chhatrapati, HaindavaDharmodharak& Kshatriya Kulavatamsa.

5.He had confrontation with Afzal Khan of Bijapur in 1659.

6.He also had confrontation with Shayista Khan in 1660.

7.He sacked Surat in 1664 again in 1670.

8.Died in 1680.

The Ashtapradhan (Ministers)

Peshwa / Mukhiya Pradhan -Prime Minister, General administration both civil and military.

Sar-i-Naubat                         -Chief of armed forces

Majumdar/ Amatya                -Finance , Revenue , Accounts

Sachiv/Surunavis/Chitnis -Royal Correspondence

Dabir/Sumant                         -Foreign Affiars/ Royal ceremonies

Mantri/Waqla-Nawis/Wakins -Incharge of records, intelligence and looked after king’s private affairs.

NayayadhishPandit Rao         -Justice Religious affairs and Charities

THE PESHAWAS

1. BalajiViswanath         1713-20

2. Baji Rao I                   1720-40

3. BalajiBaji Rao            1740-61

4. Mahadev Rao             1761-72

5. Narayan Rao              1772-73

6. Swami Madhav Rao   1773-95

7. Baji Rao Ji                 1795-1818

Maratha Families and Their Headquarters

1. Pashwa                 Poona

2. Scindia                 Gwalior (Initially Ujjain)

3. Gaekwad             Baroda

4. Bhonsle                Nagpur

5. Holker                 Indore

6. Pawar                 Dhar

Maratha Confederacy

BalajiViswanath

1.The first Peshwa, in 1713.

2.Induced Zulfiquar Khan to pay Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of Deccan.

3.Helped the Sayyid brothers to overthrow Farruksiyar

4.Introduced Saranjami System

Baji Rao I

1.The greatest exponent of Guerrilla tactics after Shivaji

2.Worsted Nizam-ul-Mulk twice.

3.Compaigned against the Portuguese-captured Salsette&Bassein

4.Compaigned against the Sidis of Janjira

5.Propounded concept of Hindu Pad Padshahi, Real architect of Maratha Empire.

BalajiBaji Rao (Nana Sahib)

1.Maratha families came into prominence.

2.By the will of the king Shahu the Peshwa became the official head.

3.Capital was shifted to Poona from Satara.

4.Invaded Bengal repeatedly – gained Orissa.

5.Helped Imad-ul-mulk to become Wazir.

6.Invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali – Battle of Panipat 1761 – the nominal head of the Maratha army was Viswas Rao and the actual commander was Sadasiva Rao Bhao (killed in the battle). Artillery was under the command of Ibrahim Gardi.

Madhav Rao

1.Defeated Haider Ali.

2.Brought back the Mughal Emperor Shah and became their Pensioner.

Narayan Rao

1.Conflict for power with Raghunath Rao.

2.Raghunath Rao tried to capture power with the British help.

3.First Anglo-Maratha war.

Baji Rao II

1.Son of Raghunath Rao.

2.MahadjiSchindia rose to prominence. He established control over Shah Alam and secured the appointment of Peshwas as the emperor’s deputy.