Türkçe ansiklopedi, sözlük, genel başvuru ve bilgi sitesi   
  		  Yardım
  Rastgele    

Maratha Empire

This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.
You can assist by [ editing it] now. A how-to guide is available, as is general .
This article has been tagged since January 2007.
Enlarge picture
Extent of the Maratha Empire ca. 1760.


The Maratha Empire (Marathi: मराठा साम्राज्य Marāṭhā Sāmrājya; also transliterated Mahratta) or the Maratha Confederacy was a Hindu state located in present-day India that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire's territories covered 250 million acres (1 million km²) or one-third of South Asia.

History

Enlarge picture
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
After a lifetime of exploits and guerrilla warfare with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Shivaji founded an independent Maratha nation in 1674 from the Bijapur Sultanate, with Raigad as its capital. Shivaji died in 1680, leaving a large, but vulnerably located kingdom. The Mughals invaded, fighting an unsuccessful 25 year long war from 1682 to 1707. Shahu, a grandson of Shivaji, ruled as emperor until 1749. During his reign, Shahu appointed a Peshwa (prime minister) as head of government under certain conditions. The Peshwas became the de facto leaders of the Empire, while Shivaji's successors continued as nominal rulers from their base in Satara. Covering a large part of the subcontinent, the Maratha Empire kept the British forces at bay during much of the 18th century, until dissension between the peshwas and their sardars, or army commanders, tore at the state's cohesion.

The Maratha Empire was at its height in the 18th century under Shahu and the Peshwa Baji Rao I. Losses at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 halted further expansion of the empire and reduced the power of the peshwas. The empire gave way to a loose confederacy, with political power resting in a 'pentarchy' of five Maratha dynasties: the Peshwas of Pune; the Sindhias (originally "Shindes") of Malwa and Gwalior; the Holkars of Indore; the Bhonsles of Nagpur; and the Gaekwads of Baroda. A rivalry between the Sindhia and Holkar dominated the confederation's affairs into the early 19th century, as did the clashes with the British and the British East India Company in the three Anglo-Maratha wars. In the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II, was defeated by the British in 1818. Most of the former Maratha Empire was absorbed by British India, although some of the Maratha states persisted as quasi- independent princely states until India became independent in 1947.

Shivaji (c. 1627-1680)

History of South Asia and History of India

Stone Age70,000–3300 BCE
Mehrgarh Culture7000–3300 BCE
Indus Valley Civilization3300–1700 BCE
Late Harappan Culture1700–1300 BCE
Vedic period1500–500 BCE
Iron Age1200–300 BCE
Maha Janapadas700–300 BCE
Magadha Empire545–320 BCE
Maurya Empire321–184 BCE
Middle Kingdoms230 BCE–1279 CE
Satavahana Empire230 BCE–199 CE
Kushan Empire60–240
Gupta Empire280–550
Pala Empire750–1174
Chola Empire848–1070
Delhi Sultanate1206–1526
Deccan Sultanates1490–1596
Hoysala Empire1040–1346
Kakatiya Empire1083–1323
Vijayanagara Empire1336–1565
Maratha Empire1674–1818
Mughal Empire1526–1707
Sikh Confederacy Misls1716–1799
Sikh Rule in Delhi1772, 1778, 1783
Sikh Empire1799–1849
Punjab (British India)1849–1947
East Punjab1947–1966
Punjab (India) - Sikh State1966 - Present
Nation histories
Bangladesh Bhutan Republic of India
Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka
Regional histories
Bengal Himachal Pradesh Orissa
Pakistani Regions North India South India Tibet
Specialised histories
Dynasties Economy Indology Language Literature
Maritime Military Science and Technology Timeline
This box:  •  • [ edit]
The Hindu Marathas long had lived in the Desh region around Satara, in the western portion of the Deccan plateau, where the plateau meets the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats mountains. They had resisted incursions into the region by the Muslim Mughal rulers of northern India. Under their leader Shivaji, the Maratha freed themselves from the Muslim sultans of Bijapur to the southeast, and became much more aggressive and began to frequently raid Mughal territory, sacking the Mughal port of Surat in 1664. Shivaji proclaimed himself emperor (Chhatrapati) in 1674. The Marathas had spread and conquered some of central India by Shivaji's death in 1680, but later lost it to the Mughals and the British. According to historian Prof. T S Shejwalkar, Shivaji was inspired by the great Vijayanagara Empire, a bulwark against Muslim invasion of South India. The victories of the then king of Mysore, Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar against the Sultan of Bijapur also inspired Shivaji[1]. Shivaji was the first king in India whose vision encompassed the dev (god), desh (country) and dharma (religion).

Sambhaji (c 1681-1689)

Shivaji had two sons: Sambhaji and Rajaram. Sambhaji, the elder son, although was short-tempered but was very popular among the courtiers. In 1681, Sambhaji had himself crowned and resumed his father's expansionist policies. Sambhaji had earlier defeated the Portuguese and Chikka Deva Raya of Mysore. To nullify any Rajput-Maratha alliance, as well as all Deccan Sultanates, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb himself headed south in 1682. With his entire imperial court, administration, and an army of about 400,000 troops he proceeded to conquer the sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda. During the eight years that followed, Sambhaji led the Marathas, never losing a battle or a fort to Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb had almost lost the battle. However, in 1688, Sambhaji was killed by Aurangzeb with the help of Sambhaji's own relatives.Aurangzeb was succeeded in turning them to his side. They all betrayed Sambhaji and in turn Swarajya.

Rajaram & Tarabai (c 1689-1707)

Rajaram, Sambhaji's brother, now assumed the throne. Satara, whence Rajaram had moved the capital, came under siege in 1700 and eventually was surrendered to the Mughals. At about the same time Rajaram died. His widow, Tarabai, assumed control in the name of her son Shivaji. Although she offered a truce, this was rejected by the emperor. Then Tarabai heroically led the Marathas against the Mughals; by 1705, they had crossed the Narmada River and entered Malwa, then in Mughal possession.

Malwa was a decisive battle for the Maratha empire. The Mughals lost their eminent position on the Indian subcontinent forever and the subsequent Mughal Emperors became titular kings. The Marathas emerged as victorious after a long drawn-out and fiercely-fought battle. The soldiers and commanders who participated in this war achieved the real expansion of the Maratha empire. The victory also set the foundations for the imperial conquests achieved later, under the servants Peshwas.

Shahu (c 1707-1749)

Enlarge picture
Extent of the Maratha Empire ca. 1760
(shown here in yellow)
After Emperor Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Shahuji, son of Sambhaji (and grandson of Shivaji), was released by Bahadur Shah, the next Mughal emperor. He immediately claimed the Maratha throne and challenged his aunt Tarabai and her son. This promptly turned the now-spluttering Mughal-Maratha war into a three-cornered affair. The states of Satara and Kolhapur came into being in 1707, because of the succession dispute over the Maratha kingship. By 1710 two separate principalities had become an established fact, eventually confirmed by the Treaty of Warna in 1731.

In 1713 Farrukhsiyar had declared himself Mughal emperor. His bid for power had depended heavily on two brothers, known as the Saiyids, one of whom had been the governor of Allahabad and the other the governor of Patna. However, the brothers had a falling-out with the emperor. Negotiations between the Saiyids and Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, a civilian representative of Shahu, drew the Marathas into the vendetta against the emperor.

An army of Marathas commanded by Parsoji Bhosale, and Mughals, marched up to Delhi unopposed and managed to depose the emperor. In return for this help, Balaji Vishwanath managed to negotiate a substantial treaty. Shahuji would have to accept Mughal rule in the Deccan, furnish forces for the imperial army, and pay an annual tribute. But in return he received a firman, or imperial directive, guaranteeing him Swaraj, or independence, in the Maratha homeland, plus rights to chauth and sardeshmukh (amounting to 35 percent of the toal revenue) throughout Gujarat, Malwa, and the now six provinces of the Mughal Deccan. This treaty also released Yesubai, Shahuji's mother, from Mughal prison.

Amatya RamchandraPant Bawdekar (1650-1716)

(Peshwa period: 1689-1708)

He was basically a good administrator who rose from LocalKulkarni Level to later in ranks of Ashtapradhan only because of guidance and support from Shivaji Maharaj. This is one of the prominent peshwa earlier from 1700.

When Chatrapati Rajaram fled toJinji in 1689 then before leaving from Maharastra, he gave “ Hukumat panha” (King Status) to Pant. Ramchandra Pant managed entire state under many challenges like influx of Moguls, betrayals Vatandars, Scarcity of food. He with the help of Pantpratindhi, Sachiv, kept economic condition of Maratha State in proper way. He got tremendous military help from Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav the great Maratha warriors. Many times he directly participated in war against Moguls or played a role of Shadow king in absence of Chatrapati Rajaram.

In 1698, he happily stepped down from the post of “Hukumatpanha” and Rajaram offered this post his wife to Tarabai. Tarabai gave important position to Pant in senior administration of Maratha State. He wrote “Adnyapatra” मराठी: आज्ञापञ who have explained different techniques of war, maintance of forts and administration etc.

The concept of Adnyapatra (rules and steps) and wisdom and leadership of Tararani helped Maratha empire a lot in building foundation of state. As he was Loyal to Tararani than Shahu so he was sidelined after arrival of Shahu and later Peshawa post was given to Balaji Vishwanath in 1713. RamchandraPant died in 1716 on Panhala fort.

Peshwa Baji Rao I (1720-1740)

After Balaji Vishwanath's death in April, 1719, his son, Baji Rao I was appointed as Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahuji, one of the most lenient emperors. Shahuji possessed a strong capacity for recognising talent, and actually caused a social revolution by bringing capable people into power irrespective of their social status. This was an indication of a great social mobility within the Maratha empire, enabling its rapid expansion.

Shrimant Baji Rao Vishwanath Bhatt (August 18, 1699- April 25, 1740), also known as Baji Rao I, was a noted general who served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu between 1719 until Baji Rao's death. He is also known as Thorala (Marathi for Elder) Baji Rao. Like his father, despite being a Brahmin, he took up leading his troops. During his lifetime, he never lost a battle. He is credited with expanding the Maratha Empire created by its founder, Shivaji, which reached its zenith twenty years after his death. Baji Rao is thus acknowledged as the most famous of the nine Peshwas.

Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (1740-1761)

Baji Rao's son, Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb), was appointed as a Peshwa by Shahu. The period between 1741 and 1745 was one of comparative calm in the Deccan. Shahuji died in 1749.

Nanasaheb encouraged agriculture, protected the villagers, and brought about a marked improvement in the state of the territory. Continued expansion saw Raghunath Rao, the brother of Nanasaheb, pushing into Punjab in the wake of the Afghan withdrawal after Ahmed Shah Abdali's plunder of Delhi in 1756. In Lahore, as in Delhi, the Marathas were now major players. By 1760, with a defeat of the Nizam in the Deccan, Maratha power had reached its zenith with a territory of over 250 million acres (1 million km²) or one-third of South Asia.

Enlarge picture
Eighteenth century painting of a Maratha Soldier ( by François Balthazar Solvyns)

The Decline of the Empire

Enlarge picture
Shaniwar Wada: The palace of the Peshwas, founded by Peshwa Baji Rao I. The view looks towards the entrance gatehouse and outer walls of the palace, with a vegetable market on the open space in the foreground. Cira 1860


The Peshwa sent an army to challenge the Afghan led alliance of Indian muslims that included Rohillas, Shujah-ud-dowlah, Nujeeb-ud-dowlah, and the Maratha army was decisively defeated on January 13 1761 at the Third Battle of Panipat. The marathas were abandoned by Suraj Mal and Rajputs who quit the maratha alliance a decisive moments leading to the great battle. Their supply chains cut off, the marathas attacked the Afghans in an act of desperation as their forces had not had a meal in three days. The defeat at Paniput checked Maratha expansion and fragmented the empire. After the battle, the maratha confederacy never fought again as one unit. Delhi/Agra was controlled by Mahadji Shinde from Gwalior, Central India was controlled by Holkars from Indore and Western India was controlled by Gaikwars from Baroda.

Even today the phrase in Marathi, "meet your Panipat", has a similar meaning as the phrase "meet your Waterloo" does in English.

After 1761, young Madhavrao Peshwa tried his best to rebuild the empire in spite of his frail health. In a bid to effectively manage the large empire, semi-autonomy was given to strongest of the knights. Thus, the autonomous Maratha states of the Gaekwads of Baroda, the Holkars of Indore & Malwa, the Scindias (or Shinde's) of Gwalior (and Ujjain), Pawars of Udgir and Bhonsales of Nagpur (no blood relation with Shivaji's or Tarabai's family) came into being in far flung regions of the empire. Even in the Maharashtra itself many knights were given semi-autonomous charges of small districts which led to princely states like Sangli, Aundh, Miraj etc.

In 1775 the British East India Company, from its base in Bombay, intervened in a succession struggle in Pune, on behalf of Raghunathrao (also called Raghobadada), which became the First Anglo-Maratha War. That ended in 1782 with a restoration of the pre-war status quo. In 1802 the British intervened in Baroda to support the heir to the throne against rival claimants, and they signed a treaty with the new Maharaja recognizing his independence from the Maratha empire in return for his acknowledgement of British paramountcy. In the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805), the Peshwa Baji Rao II signed a similar treaty. The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818), a last-ditch effort to regain sovereignty, resulted in the loss of Maratha independence: it left Britain in control of most of India. The Peshwa was exiled to Bithoor (near Kanpur, U.P.) as a pensioner of the British. The Maratha heartland of Desh, including Pune, came under direct British rule, with the exception of the states of Kolhapur and Satara, which retained local Maratha rulers. The Maratha-ruled states of Gwalior, Indore, and Nagpur all lost territory, and came under subordinate alliance with the British Raj as princely states that retained internal sovereignty under British 'paramountcy'. Other small princely states of Maratha knights were retained under the British Raj as well.

The last Peshwa, Nana Sahib, born as Govind Dhondu Pant, was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II. He was one of the main leaders of the 1857 battles against British rule. He encouraged the people and the Indian Princes to fight against the British. Tantya Tope, his general, led the war and struck terror into the hearts of the British. Rani Lakshmibai was his childhood playmate and he had brotherly relations with her. Both of them fought against the British. He encouraged Indian soldiers to rise against the British. Though he was defeated in this war of independence his name is glorious in Indian history. The name of the Empire today is preserved in the Indian state of Maharashtra, which was created in 1960 as a Marathi-speaking state.

Legacy of the Empire

Enlarge picture
Ruins of the Raigad fort, which served as a capital for Maratha Empire
Often painted as a kind of loose military organization, the Maratha empire was actually revolutionary in nature. It did bring certain fundamental changes initiated by the genius of its founder, the celebrated Shivaji. They can be summarized as below:

Maratha rulers

The Royal House of Chhatrapati Shivaji

The Royal House of Kolhapur

Maharani Tarabai was the daughter of General Hambirarao Mohite from Talbid

Peshwa

See also

References

1. ^ Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002), p243.
2. ^ Deshpande, S.R. - Marathyanchi Manaswini, Lalit Publications, Marathi book


(Reprinted 2002), OCLC: 7796041.
Marathi}}} 
Writing system: Devanagari script, Modi script (traditional) 
Official status
Official language of: States of Maharashtra and Goa , Union territories of Daman-Diu<ref name="goa" /> and Dadra Nagar Haveli<ref name="dadra"
..... Click the link for more information.
Transliteration is the practice of transcribing a word or text written in one writing system into another writing system. It is also the system of rules for that practice.

Technically, from a linguistic point of view, it is a mapping from one system of writing into another.
..... Click the link for more information.
Hindu ( pronunciation   (help info ) , Devanagari: हिन्दु), as per modern definition, is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, and the
..... Click the link for more information.
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is a southern geopolitical region of the Asian continent comprising territories on and in proximity to the Indian subcontinent. It is surrounded by (from west to east) Western Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Asia, and Southeastern Asia.
..... Click the link for more information.
Guerrilla warfare (also guerilla) is the unconventional warfare and combat with which small group combatants (usually civilians) use mobile tactics (ambushes, raids, etc) to combat a larger, less mobile formal army.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Mughal Empire (Persian: سلطنت مغولی هند,
..... Click the link for more information.

Aurangzeb (Persian: اورنگ‌زیب)

Also known by his chosen Imperial title Alamgir I (Conquerer of the Universe) (Persian:
..... Click the link for more information.
This page contains Indic text. Without rendering support you may see irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts.

Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle
..... Click the link for more information.
Adil Shahi, Adilshahi or Bijapur Sultanate were a dynasty of Indian sultans, who ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur from 1490 to 1686. The Adil Shahis were originally provincial rulers of the Bahmani Sultanate, but with the breakup of the Bahmani state after 1518, Ismail
..... Click the link for more information.
Raigad is a hill fortress situated in the modern day Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. The great Maratha king Shivaji made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned king of a Marathi kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire.
..... Click the link for more information.
Shrimant Shahu Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj (1682-1749) was the fourth ruler of the Maratha Empire created by his grandfather, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and was officially the Raja of Satara (now in state of Maharashtra, India).
..... Click the link for more information.
This page contains Indic text. Without rendering support you may see irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts.

Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle
..... Click the link for more information.
The Peshwa(Marathi:पेशवे or पेशवा) (also known in Marathi as Peshwe) were Brahmin Prime Ministers to the Maratha Chattrapatis
..... Click the link for more information.
Satara pronunciation   (help info ) (Marathi:सातारा) is a town located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India.
..... Click the link for more information.
British Empire was the largest empire in history and for a substantial time was the foremost global power. It was a product of the European age of discovery, which began with the maritime explorations of the 15th century, that sparked the era of the European colonial empires.
..... Click the link for more information.
Sardar, in some senses also Sirdar (Persian: سردار ) (Sardār
..... Click the link for more information.
Shrimant Baji Rao Balaji Bhatt (August 181699- April 25 1740), also known as Baji Rao I, was a noted general who served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu between 1719 until Baji Rao's death.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Third Battle of Panipat took place on January 14, 1761 at Panipat (Haryana State, India), situated at about 80 miles (130 km) north of Delhi.
..... Click the link for more information.
Coordinates: Pune (IPA: puːneɪ, Marathi: पुणे) is a city located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.
..... Click the link for more information.
Scindia, also spelled Sindhia, Sindia, or Shinde, are a prominent Maratha family in India. The dynasty was founded by Ranoji Rao Scindia.

Meharban Srimant Ranoji Rao Shinde was the founder of Gwalior Dominious.
..... Click the link for more information.
Malwa (Malvi:माळवा, IAST: Māļavā) is a region in west-central northern India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin in the western part of Madhya Pradesh state.
..... Click the link for more information.
Gwalior State was an Indian kingdom ruled by the Sindhia dynasty. The state took its name from the old town of Gwalior, which, although never the actual capital, was an important place because of its strategic location and the strength of its fort.
..... Click the link for more information.
Holkar were a prominent Dhangar family, who ruled as Rajas and later Maharajas of Indaur (better known as Indore) in Central India as an independent member of the Maratha Confederacy until 1818, and afterwards as a princely state -under protectorate- of British India with a 19-guns
..... Click the link for more information.
Indore (Hindi:इन्दौर ,Marathi:इंदूर) pronunciation   (help info )
..... Click the link for more information.
The Bhonsle or Bhonsale (pronounced Bhoslay) were a prominent Maratha clan who served as rulers of several states in India .

The most prominent member of the clan was Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Kingdom of Nagpur was a kingdom in east-central India founded by the Gond rulers of Deogarh in the early 18th century. It came under the rule of Marathas of the Bhonsle dynasty in the mid-18th century.
..... Click the link for more information.
Gaekwad or Gaekwar (once rendered as Guicowar) (Gujarati: ગાયકવાડ ; Marathi: गायकवाड) was a Maratha dynasty that ruled the princely state of Baroda in western India from the
..... Click the link for more information.
Vadodara (Gujarati: વડોદરા   (help info ) , Marathi: बडोदा), also known as Baroda
..... Click the link for more information.
Honourable East India Company (HEIC), often colloquially referred to as "John Company", and "Company Bahadur" in India, was an early joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock).
..... Click the link for more information.
The Anglo-Maratha Wars were three wars fought in India between the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company.
..... Click the link for more information.


This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.