Maratha Empire: (1674-1818) Kings List, History, Rulers, Wars & Dynasty

Maratha Empire History

The Maratha Empire was an early modern Indian empire. It rose to prominence in the 17th century. It dominated much of the Indian subcontinent during the 18th century. The Marathas were a Marathi-speaking warrior group from the western Deccan Plateau. They rose to prominence by establishing Hindavi Swarajya (meaning "self-rule of Hindus"). The Marathas became prominent in the 17th century under the leadership of Shivaji. Shivaji revolted against the Adil Shahi dynasty and the Mughals to carve out a kingdom. He chose Raigad as the capital of the Maratha kingdom. They are largely credited for ending Mughal control over the Indian subcontinent.

The Maratha Empire reached its peak in the early 18th century under the leadership of Bajirao I and his Peshwa successors. The Marathas conquered much of the Indian subcontinent, from the Deccan Plateau to the Ganges Valley. They also established a navy and conquered the Konkan coast and the Maldives.

The Maratha Empire began to decline in the late 18th century due to many factors. The Marathas were defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818), and the empire was dissolved. 

Map of Maratha Empire

The map of Maratha empire is shown below.

Maratha Empire Map

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Marathas During Peshwa Era

Maratha’s invasion did not stop even after the death of Shivaji in 1680. The Peshwa Maratha empire is discussed below.

Reign of Sambhaji

• After the death of Shivaji, the Maratha Empire flourished under the leadership of Shivaji’s son Sambhaji.
• The Maratha soldiers under Sambhaji never lost a fight to the Aurangzeb-led Mughal forces for eight years despite the persistent threat from Aurangzeb. But in 1689, Sambhaji was apprehended and put to death by the Mughals on various charges, including rape and murder.
• The Maratha Empire was thereafter ruled by a number of different people, including Sambhaji’s son Shahu, Rajaram, Tarabai, and Rajaram’s widow.
  • Balaji Vishwanath was chosen to serve as the Maratha Empire’s Prime Minister (Peshwa) during Shahu’s reign in 1713.
  • Shahu’s Prime Minister Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, used Shahu as a puppet as time went on, making important choices for the betterment of the empire.

Plan of Balaji Vishwanath

• In 1714, Balaji Vishwanath devised the ingenious plan to sign the Treaty of Lonavala (also known as the Lonavala Agreement) with Kanhoji Angre, granting the Maratha's access to the navy.
• The Marathas’ army continued to expand, giving them the assurance to advance on Delhi in 1719 when they were able to overthrow the Mughal governor Sayyid Hussain Ali before toppling the reigning Mughal emperor.
• Following the death of his father, Balaji Vishwanath, Baji Rao I was named the next Peshwa of the empire in 1720. 
• Baji Rao was instrumental in the Maratha Empire’s rapid expansion between 1720 and 1740, and he later rose to prominence as a Peshwa.

Baji Rai I

• Under Baji Rao I reign it has been said to fight more than 40 battles, including “The Battle of Palkhed” (1728), “Battle of Delhi” (1737), and “Battle of Bhopal,”.
• Balaji Baji Rao, Baji Rao’s 19-year-old son, was chosen by Shahu to succeed his father as Peshwa after Baji Rao’s death in April 1740.
  • Raghoji I Bhonsale, a Maratha general who oversaw the empire’s Nagpur Kingdom, was another crucial factor in the rapid rise of the Maratha empire. 
• The Maratha Empire was able to capture Odisha when Raghoji launched a series of six invasions into Bengal.
• The Maratha Empire’s wealth rose when the then-Nawab of Bengal, Alivardi Khan, consented to pay an annual levy of 1.2 million rupees.
• Marathas also won over the Afghan forces. The Marathas were now well-known in the north as well after capturing Peshawar on May 8, 1758.
• Shrimant Peshwa Baji Rao II was the last Peshwa of the Maratha Empire.

Baji Rai I

Also, check out the article on Babur Mughal Empire with this link!

Maratha Empire Kings

The table below is the Maratha Empire kings list, which discusses the important Maratha rulers and their tenure and achievements.

List of Maratha Rulers & Their Achievements
Rulers	Tenure	Achievements
Chhatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj	1627-1680	Founder of the Maratha Empire. Ransacked the Mughal port of Surat in 1664 Freedom of Hindus from Muslim sultans of Bijapur to the southeast. The forts of Chakan, Kondana, and Purandhar were occupied by Shivaji. He constructed Raigarh Fort. He captured a large number of Aurangzeb’s lands and forts.
Sambhaji	1681-1689	Sambhaji defeated the Portuguese and Chikka Deva Raya of Mysore.
Rajaram and Tarabai	1689-1707	In 1705, Tarabai commanded the Marathas in their battle with the Mughals after they had entered Malwa, which was then under the Mughal rule.
Shahu	1707-1749	The Maratha Empire greatly expanded while Shahu was emperor. He was also in charge of establishing the Peshwas’ reign within the Maratha Empire.
Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath	–	He is also regarded as the second founder of the Maratha Empire. Balaji Vishwanath was the sixth Prime Minister who took charge of the empire in the 18th century. As Prime Minister, he oversaw the Maratha Empire’s northward expansion.
Peshwa Baji Rao I	1720-1740	Maratha Empire continued to grow under Baji Rao. He was instrumental in helping the Maratha Empire flourish under his son’s rule. In 1723, he took control of Gujarat and Malwa. In 1728, the Maratha Empire’s administrative center was moved from Satara to the brand-new town of Pune. He is credited for founding the kingdoms of the Gaekwads (Pilaji) of Baroda, Scindias (Ranoji Shinde) of Gwalior, Pawars (Udaiji) of Dhar, and Holkars (Malharrao) of Indore under the Maratha Empire.
Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao	1740-1761	Balaji Baji Rao was also known as Nanasaheb. He promoted agriculture, safeguarded the locals, and significantly improved the condition of the region.
Peshwa Madhav Rao I	1761-1772	Madhav Rao I was the fourth Peshwa of the Maratha empire. He became a Maratha Peshwa after losing the third battle of Panipat at a critical time when the Marathas had lost the ‘Third Battle of Panipat 1761.’ Madhav Rao I largely restored the Maratha empire before it was finally captured by the Britishers.

Wars and Conquests of Maratha Empire

There were three Anglo-Maratha Wars between Britishers and Marathas from 1775-to 1818. The Anglo-Maratha wars are discussed below.

The First Anglo-Maratha War

The First Anglo-Maratha War was held in 1775 – 1782 between Maratha Empire in India and the British East India Company. The war started with the Treaty of Surat and ended with the Treaty of Salbai.

The Second Anglo-Maratha War

The Second Anglo-Maratha War took place between 1803 to 1805. It was the second war between Maratha Empire in India and the British East India Company. The war ended with the Treaty of Rajpurghat and the Marathas lost the war against the British. As a result, their power was shattered to a great extent.

The Third Anglo-Maratha War

The Third Anglo-Maratha War took place between 1817-1818. It was the last series of wars between the Maratha Empire in India and the British East India Company. This war was also known as the Pindaris war because it was fought between the Pindaris and the Britishers. The Marathas were defeated n the third Anglo-Maratha war by the British East India Company.

Also, check out the article on the Marathwada Liberation Day with this link!

Marathas and Mughals

Here are a few points on the relationship between the Marathas and the Mughals:

• The Marathas and the Mughals were two powerful dynasties in India during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• The Marathas wanted to establish their own independent kingdom. The Mughals were ruling over most of India.
• The Maratha warriors resisted Mughal rule and fought for their freedom and protection.
• The Marathas were skilled in guerrilla warfare. They used their knowledge of the land to challenge the mighty Mughal army.
• The Mughals tried to suppress the Marathas and bring them under their control.
• The Marathas faced Mughal opposition. Yet, they were able to establish their own kingdom in western India and expand their territory.
• The Marathas often formed alliances with other regional powers. They countered the Mughals to protect their interests.
• The conflict between the Marathas and the Mughals continued for many years. Both sides engaged in many battles and negotiations.
• Eventually, the Marathas became a major force in Indian politics. They challenged the authority of the Mughal Empire.
• The Marathas played a crucial role in weakening the Mughal Empire. They paved the way for the rise of other regional powers in India.

Also, check out the article on the Mughal Maratha Relations with this link!

Life under Maratha Empire

The life under the Maratha Empire can be understood in terms of art, literature, and administration. Let’s discuss this in detail.

Art

During the Maratha empire, there was a significant advancement in the arts and paintings. Even though the Maratha School of painting also incorporated elements of European design, it did not achieve the same heights as the Mughal school. Anuprao, Mankoji, Ragho, Tanhaji, and others were Maratha artists.

Literature

Maratha literature flourished greatly during the reign of Shivaji. Later, scholars and poets were patronized by the Maratha Kings of Tanjore, Tukkoji, Tuljaji, and Sarfoji. They made significant contributions to the growth of literature. The written literature in Marathi dates back many years and is an ancient language. One of Maharashtra’s main languages is Marathi.

Administration

There were 4 types of administration during the Maratha Empire: Central, Provincial, Revenue, and military. Let’s discuss each type of administration in detail.

Central Administration

Ashtapradhan is the group of 8 ministers appointed by Shivaji‘. Each one of the Ashtapradhan was personally accountable to the emperor.

Provincial Administration

• Division of Parganas and Tarafs: Shivaji’s kingdom was divided into several provinces for taxation and administration.
  • The division of each province into Parganas and Tarafs was done on a two-tiered basis. The smallest unit was the village.
  • Shivaji ended the practice of contracting out land revenue at the time. Instead, he instituted having state officials collect taxes directly from the ryots.
• Prants and Sarsubedar: Conquered lands were divided into provinces called prants, each of which had subedar officers under the command of a sarsubedar.
  • The Havaldar served as the district’s officer. Provinces were divided into Tarafs (districts).
• The District was divided into Parganas (sub-districts), and Deshpande and Deshmukh were the officers in charge (for law and order).
• The Parganas were separated into the villages of Mauza, Kulkarni, and Patil (law and order).

Revenue Administration

• Kathi System: The revenue system was developed using Malik Amber’s Rod or Kathi system, which determined the value of the land.
• Chauth & Sardeshmukhi Tax: A new taxing system known as Chauthai or Chauth, which comprised one-fourth of the land earnings from the bordering Mughal domains, was instituted by Shivaji.
  • It served as a form of military assistance in exchange for defending them from outside threats.
  • In addition, a 10% supplemental tax known as Sardeshmukhi was imposed, with Shivaji claiming to be the kingdom’s master.
  • For land income, the local peasants were required to pay 40% of their harvest.
• Establishment of Ryotwari System: He created the Ryotwari agricultural system, in which the government had open lines of communication with the farmers, or Ryots.
  • The middleman corruption was reduced through the Ryotwari system.
• The Mirasdars, a group of people with inherited land rights, were under Shivaji’s strict control.
  • They maintained a strong position in the communities while paying very little tax.
  • They were attacked by Shivaji, who thereafter took control of this area.

Military Administration

• Cash Salaries: Shivaji had a remarkable military administration. He used to give salary in cash form to ordinary soldiers, and chieftains also received revenue payments known as Saranjam.
  • The establishment of military discipline was strict.
  • Tight regulations prohibited the army from being accompanied by women or dancing girls.
• During military assaults, the amount of treasure collected by each soldier was accurately recorded.
• Between 30 and 40, 000 cavalry served as part of the Silahdars‘ regular troop, known as Paga. They were all under the Havaldars’ control.
• Shivaji was the first Indian king to acknowledge the necessity of a naval force throughout the Middle Ages.
  • For both trade and defense, he constructed dockyards and ships. To prevent disloyalty, artillerymen and foot soldiers were assigned to forts.
• Soldiers from various Castes were appointed to promote justice and stability.
  • For instance, indigenous Pindaris from nearby villages served in the Maratha army.
• Guerilla Warfare: He trained his troops in guerilla warfare, a distinct fighting style, and mountain warfare skills in great detail.

Religion

• Shivaji was a liberal and secular ruler. He was hailed as the defender of Brahmins, cows, and Hindus.
• Shivaji exhibited respect for all religious literature. None of the mosques were destroyed by him.
• During the war, Shivaji also provided protection for Muslim women and children.
• Academic Financial Support: He gave Muslim saints and academics financial support. In the civil and military agencies, he appointed Muslims.
• Secular Environment was built under the Maratha Empire.

Judicial Systems

• The highest judicial authority in the state was called the ‘Sultan.’ A court of justice that was chosen from among the top state officials provided him with assistance.
• The chief justice, often referred to as the sadra under bahamanis or the chief qazi under the rulers of Ahmednagar and Bijapur stood next to him.
• At the lesser level, since the qazis were also included in the province and district authorities, these authorities—or their representatives usually enforced the verdicts of the Gotsabha or the majlis in cases of contention.
• Early in his life, while serving as a jagirdar for the Bijapur government, Shivaji administered the country.

Study in detail about the Land Revenue System in India with this link!

Decline of the Maratha Empire

The British East India Company had taken control of the eastern part of India after defeating the Nawab of Bengal, and they were now eyeing the northern region of India, which was mostly governed by the Marathas. Under General Lake’s command, the English forces beat the Marathas at the “Battle of Delhi” in 1803. Several treaties in the British favor were established due to the British soldiers’ victory over the Marathas in the “Second Anglo-Maratha War,” which lasted from 1803 to 1805. Peshwa Baji Rao II was finally overthrown by the British during the “Third Anglo-Maratha War,” which resulted in the fall of the Maratha Empire and ended.

Also, check out the article on the Decline of the Maratha Empire with this link!

Maratha Empires’ Legacy

• The Maratha Empire was a powerful regional power in India. It challenged the Mughal Empire and ruled independently.
• The Marathas were known for their strong military skills. They were well known for their clever strategies in battles.
• The Marathas helped to spread Hindu culture and values throughout the subcontinent. 
• They promoted and preserved the Marathi language, culture, and traditions. They created a distinct regional identity.
• The Marathas resisted European colonial powers, such as the British. This inspired later movements for independence.
• The Marathas introduced several administrative reforms. This included the decentralization of power and using a merit-based civil service. These reforms helped to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the government.
• The Marathas encouraged trade and commerce, boosting economic growth in the region.
• They constructed impressive forts, palaces, and temples, leaving a rich architectural heritage behind them.
• The Marathas were also a force for social reform. They abolished the practice of sati, and they promoted education for women.
• The Maratha Empire's influence still inspires the Maharashtra movement for the rights of Marathi-speaking people.

Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants Foundation under Shivaji Maharaj: Emerged in the 17th century, with Shivaji establishing the Maratha Empire through military and administrative reforms. Guerrilla Warfare Tactics: Shivaji used innovative warfare strategies and fort-building to counter Mughal expansion. Expansion after Shivaji’s Death: Post-Shivaji, leaders like Shambhuji, Rajaram, and the Peshwas continued the Maratha Empire’s expansion. Role of the Peshwas: Baji Rao I and subsequent Peshwas strengthened administrative structure and military forces, increasing Maratha power. Maratha Confederacy: Comprised factions like Holkars, Scindias, Bhonsles, and Gaekwads, which led to internal power struggles. Battle of Panipat (1761): A major defeat, which weakened Maratha power and delayed their national dominance. Decline of the Mughal Empire: Marathas played a key role in weakening the Mughal Empire, influencing central and northern India.

Conclusion

The founder of the Empire did not religiously dominate Maratha Empire; Shivaji was secular in nature. Battles and wars with the Britishers and Mughals largely dominated the Maratha Empire period. The Peshwas play a large part in the upliftment of the Maratha rule in India. However, the decline of the Maratha Empire is also associated with the loss of the Anglo-Maratha wars and the weakening of the Peshwa rulers.

Also, check out the article on the British Empire with this link!

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