The Marathas in Indian History:
- The first great leader of the Marathas was Chatrapathi Shivaji.
- The Marathas became prominent in the later half of the 17th century.
- Shivaji belonged to the Bhonsle clan of the Marathas.
- Shaji Bhonsle and Jiga Bai were the Parents of Shivaji.
- He was born in 1627 February 19 at the fort of Shivner near Junnar.
- His father was a military commander under the Nizam Shahi rulers of Ahmedanagar and later of Bijapur.
- Shivaji’s tutor was Dadaji Kondadev
- Shivaji received the help of Malavi tribe to capture the territories of Bijapur Sulthan.
- Torna was the first place captured by Shivaji in 1646.
- Shivaji came to conflict with the Mughals for the first time in 1657, during the period of Shah Jahan
- In 1659 Bijapur Sulthan Ali Adilshah sent Afzal Khan to kill Shivaji. But he killed Afsal Khan.
- In 1660 Aurangazeb deputed his viceroy of Deccan, Shaisthakhan to kill Shivaji.
- 1665, Shivaji signed the treaty of Purandar with Raja Jai Singh of Ambher, who was deputed by Aurangazeb.
- In 1666 Shivaji visited Aurangazeb in his court at Agra. But he and his son Sambaji were imprisoned by Aurangazeb in the Jaipur Bhavan.
- On 16th June 1674 Shivaji crowned himself an independent Hindu king became the Chatrapathi and assumed the title ‘Haidavadhasmodharak’.
- Shivaji died in 1680 at the age of 53.
- Shahu became the Chatrapathi in 1708 and his period witnessed the rise of Peshwaship.
- Balaji Vishwanath (1712 – 1720) Baji Rao (1720 – 40) Balaji BajiRao I (1740 – 61) and Madhav Rao I (1761 – 1772) were the Peshwas who ruled Maharashtra.
- Baji Rao popularised the idea of Hindu Padpadshahi or Hindu Empire.
- Balaji Baji Rao’s period witnessed the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. In this battle Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan defeated the Marathas.
- Madhava Rao was the last great Peshwa.
- Last Peshwa was Baji Rao II.
- Madhava Rao’s period witnessed the disintegration of the Maratha power and the formation of independent kingdoms – Holkarofindor, Bhonsle of Nagpur, Sindhya of Gwalior and Gaekwad of Baroda
- Shivaji’s Council of Ministers was known as Ashtapradhan. They were Peshwa, Pandit Rao, Sumant, Sachiva, Senapathi, Amatya, Mantri and Nyayadhyaksha.
- Peshwa was the Maratha Chief Minister.
- Chaudh and Sardesh Mukhi were two special laxes collected by the Marathas.
- The first Maratha war (1775 -82) Swai Madhav Rao Vs Raghunath Rao with English support.
- Second Maratha war 1803 – 05.
- Third Maratha war 1816 – 19.
- The last great Soldier and statesman of Maratha was Nana Phadavnis (1800)
- The Maratha script was called Modiscript.
- Peshwaship was abolished in 1818
- Baji Rao was the ablest of the Peshwas.
- Shivaji did not allow women in his military camp.
- The Marathas were equipped with an efficient naval system under Shivaji.
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