Marathas Period | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


Marathas
Page 2


Marathas
Chhatrapati Shivaji (1627 – 1680)
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Maratha aristocrat of the Bhosale clan who is considered to be the 
founder of the Maratha empire.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj led a resistance to free the people from the Sultanate of Bijapur in 1645
He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital and successfully fought 
against the Mughals to defend his kingdom. He was crowned as Chhatrapati (sovereign) of the new 
Maratha kingdom in 1674.
Shivaji had two sons: Sambhaji and Rajaram, who had different mothers and were half-brothers. 
Sambhaji, the elder son, was very popular among the courtiers. In 1681, Sambhaji succeeded to the 
crown after his father's death and resumed his expansionist policies
To nullify the alliance between his rebel son, Akbar, and the Maratha, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb 
headed south in 1681. With his entire imperial court, administration and an army of about 500,000 
troops, he proceeded to expand the Mughal empire, gaining territories such as the sultanates of 
Bijapur and Golconda
During the eight years that followed, Sambhaji led the Maratha, never losing any of battles and even 
forts to Aurangzeb.
Sambhaji was ambushed and captured by Mughal troops and executed.
Page 3


Marathas
Chhatrapati Shivaji (1627 – 1680)
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Maratha aristocrat of the Bhosale clan who is considered to be the 
founder of the Maratha empire.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj led a resistance to free the people from the Sultanate of Bijapur in 1645
He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital and successfully fought 
against the Mughals to defend his kingdom. He was crowned as Chhatrapati (sovereign) of the new 
Maratha kingdom in 1674.
Shivaji had two sons: Sambhaji and Rajaram, who had different mothers and were half-brothers. 
Sambhaji, the elder son, was very popular among the courtiers. In 1681, Sambhaji succeeded to the 
crown after his father's death and resumed his expansionist policies
To nullify the alliance between his rebel son, Akbar, and the Maratha, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb 
headed south in 1681. With his entire imperial court, administration and an army of about 500,000 
troops, he proceeded to expand the Mughal empire, gaining territories such as the sultanates of 
Bijapur and Golconda
During the eight years that followed, Sambhaji led the Maratha, never losing any of battles and even 
forts to Aurangzeb.
Sambhaji was ambushed and captured by Mughal troops and executed.
Marathas
Upon Sambhaji's death, his half-brother Rajaram assumed the throne. The Mughal siege of 
Raigad continued, and he had to flee for safety.
Rajaram died in 1700 at Sinhagad. His widow, Tarabai, assumed control in the name of her son, 
Ramaraja (Shivaji II). She led the Maratha against the Mughal.
After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Shahu, son of Sambhaji (and grandson of Shivaji), was released 
by Bahadur Shah I, the new Mughal emperor. Upon release, Shahu immediately claimed the 
Maratha throne and challenged his aunt Tarabai and her son.
Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa. The Peshwa was instrumental in securing Mughal 
recognition of Shahu as the rightful heir of Shivaji and the Chatrapati of the Maratha.
Page 4


Marathas
Chhatrapati Shivaji (1627 – 1680)
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Maratha aristocrat of the Bhosale clan who is considered to be the 
founder of the Maratha empire.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj led a resistance to free the people from the Sultanate of Bijapur in 1645
He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital and successfully fought 
against the Mughals to defend his kingdom. He was crowned as Chhatrapati (sovereign) of the new 
Maratha kingdom in 1674.
Shivaji had two sons: Sambhaji and Rajaram, who had different mothers and were half-brothers. 
Sambhaji, the elder son, was very popular among the courtiers. In 1681, Sambhaji succeeded to the 
crown after his father's death and resumed his expansionist policies
To nullify the alliance between his rebel son, Akbar, and the Maratha, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb 
headed south in 1681. With his entire imperial court, administration and an army of about 500,000 
troops, he proceeded to expand the Mughal empire, gaining territories such as the sultanates of 
Bijapur and Golconda
During the eight years that followed, Sambhaji led the Maratha, never losing any of battles and even 
forts to Aurangzeb.
Sambhaji was ambushed and captured by Mughal troops and executed.
Marathas
Upon Sambhaji's death, his half-brother Rajaram assumed the throne. The Mughal siege of 
Raigad continued, and he had to flee for safety.
Rajaram died in 1700 at Sinhagad. His widow, Tarabai, assumed control in the name of her son, 
Ramaraja (Shivaji II). She led the Maratha against the Mughal.
After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Shahu, son of Sambhaji (and grandson of Shivaji), was released 
by Bahadur Shah I, the new Mughal emperor. Upon release, Shahu immediately claimed the 
Maratha throne and challenged his aunt Tarabai and her son.
Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa. The Peshwa was instrumental in securing Mughal 
recognition of Shahu as the rightful heir of Shivaji and the Chatrapati of the Maratha.
The Peshwa Era
During this era, Peshwas belonging to the Bhat family controlled the Maratha Army and later became 
de facto rulers of the Maratha Empire. During their reign, the Maratha Empire dominated most of the 
Indian subcontinent.
Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath
Shahu appointed Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath in 1713. From his time, the office of Peshwa became 
supreme while Shahuji became a figurehead.
In 1719, an army of Marathas marched to Delhi after defeating Sayyid Hussain Ali, the Mughal 
governor of Deccan, and deposed the Mughal emperor.* The Mughal Emperors became puppets in 
the hands of their Maratha overlords from this point on.
Baji Rao I
After Balaji Vishwanath's death in April 1720, his son, Baji Rao I, was appointed Peshwa by Shahu. 
Bajirao is credited with expanding the Maratha Empire tenfold
Bajirao intended to plant the Maratha flag upon the walls of Delhi and other cities governed by the 
Mughals and their subjects. He intended to replace the Mughal Empire and create a Hindu-Pat-
Padshahi.
Page 5


Marathas
Chhatrapati Shivaji (1627 – 1680)
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Maratha aristocrat of the Bhosale clan who is considered to be the 
founder of the Maratha empire.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj led a resistance to free the people from the Sultanate of Bijapur in 1645
He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital and successfully fought 
against the Mughals to defend his kingdom. He was crowned as Chhatrapati (sovereign) of the new 
Maratha kingdom in 1674.
Shivaji had two sons: Sambhaji and Rajaram, who had different mothers and were half-brothers. 
Sambhaji, the elder son, was very popular among the courtiers. In 1681, Sambhaji succeeded to the 
crown after his father's death and resumed his expansionist policies
To nullify the alliance between his rebel son, Akbar, and the Maratha, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb 
headed south in 1681. With his entire imperial court, administration and an army of about 500,000 
troops, he proceeded to expand the Mughal empire, gaining territories such as the sultanates of 
Bijapur and Golconda
During the eight years that followed, Sambhaji led the Maratha, never losing any of battles and even 
forts to Aurangzeb.
Sambhaji was ambushed and captured by Mughal troops and executed.
Marathas
Upon Sambhaji's death, his half-brother Rajaram assumed the throne. The Mughal siege of 
Raigad continued, and he had to flee for safety.
Rajaram died in 1700 at Sinhagad. His widow, Tarabai, assumed control in the name of her son, 
Ramaraja (Shivaji II). She led the Maratha against the Mughal.
After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Shahu, son of Sambhaji (and grandson of Shivaji), was released 
by Bahadur Shah I, the new Mughal emperor. Upon release, Shahu immediately claimed the 
Maratha throne and challenged his aunt Tarabai and her son.
Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa. The Peshwa was instrumental in securing Mughal 
recognition of Shahu as the rightful heir of Shivaji and the Chatrapati of the Maratha.
The Peshwa Era
During this era, Peshwas belonging to the Bhat family controlled the Maratha Army and later became 
de facto rulers of the Maratha Empire. During their reign, the Maratha Empire dominated most of the 
Indian subcontinent.
Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath
Shahu appointed Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath in 1713. From his time, the office of Peshwa became 
supreme while Shahuji became a figurehead.
In 1719, an army of Marathas marched to Delhi after defeating Sayyid Hussain Ali, the Mughal 
governor of Deccan, and deposed the Mughal emperor.* The Mughal Emperors became puppets in 
the hands of their Maratha overlords from this point on.
Baji Rao I
After Balaji Vishwanath's death in April 1720, his son, Baji Rao I, was appointed Peshwa by Shahu. 
Bajirao is credited with expanding the Maratha Empire tenfold
Bajirao intended to plant the Maratha flag upon the walls of Delhi and other cities governed by the 
Mughals and their subjects. He intended to replace the Mughal Empire and create a Hindu-Pat-
Padshahi.
The Maratha Overlordship
* - To rid himself of the tutelage of the Sayyids, in 1718 Farrukhsiyar dispatched Sayyid Hussain Ali Khan as 
Viceroy of the Deccan with orders to restore Mughal authority over the south. Farrukhsiyar sought the patronage 
of Marathas, which by then had conquered most of India and were planning to dispose of the Mughal throne in 
Delhi.
Weary of chasing after constantly marauding Maratha horsemen, Hussain Ali Khan sought to make peace with the 
Marathas.
In July 1718 Balaji negotiated a Maratha-Mughal treaty with Hussain Ali Khan, demanding the Maratha right of 
"Chauth" (literally: 1/4th of revenues) and "Sardeshmukhi" (an additional 10% of revenues) of the old Mughal 
provinces of the Deccan, in return for which Balaji promised that Shahu would acknowledge the nominal 
overlordship of the Mughal Emperor, and the Marathas would provide a force of 15,000 armed horsemen to the 
Mughal Empire.
Sayyid Hussain Ali Khan readily agreed, with a view to utilize the Maratha soldiers to their advantage in their 
struggle with the Emperor.
Farrukhsiyar refused to ratify this treaty and sought to depose and murder the Sayyids.
In September 1718, accompanied by Balaji Vishwanath and supported by (now) sixteen thousand Maratha 
horsemen, Maratha army reached Delhi. Most of Farrukhsiyar's supporters fled but the Emperor's partisans 
resisted but were overcome at the cost of two thousand Maratha soldiers. Farrukhsiyar was dethroned, blinded 
and imprisoned by the Sayyids.
The Mughals became a puppet government of Marathas and gave a quarter of their total revenue as Chauth and 
additional 10% for their protection.