227 / 822
LURE - THRU THE AGES
Eternal India
encyclopedia
MARATHAS 1627-1848 A.D.
Overview
*
Chhatrapathi Shivaji was the founder of
the Maratha empire.
*
The mountainous geography of the Ma-
ratha country had made them brave, self-
reliant and rugged people.
*
Spread of Bhakti movement by saints
Tukaram, Ramdas and Eknath fostered
unity among them.
*
At one time the Maratha empire ex-
tended under the Peshwas upto Punjab in
the north.
Advent
*
Oppression of the Hindus by Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb was the chief cause
of the rise of Maratha empire.
*
In the south the Marathas who lived in
mountainous regions of Western Ghats,
the Konkan and the Deccan were welded
together by Shivaji who was assisted in
this by several factors like a common
literature and language (Marathi) and
Marathi religious reformers.
Chronology
/
*
Chhatrapathi Shivaji (1627-80).
*
Sambhaji (eldest son of Shivaji) (1680-89)
*
Raja Ram (son of Shivaji by second wife) (1689-
1700)
*
Tarabai (widow of Raja Ram) (1700-1707)
*
Sahu (son of Sambhaji) (1707-49)
*
Ram Raja (grandson of Raja Ram) (1749-1777)
*
Sahu II (adopted son of Ram Raja) (1777-1808)
*
Pratap Sinh (son of Sahu II) (1808-1839)
*
Shahji Appasaheb (brother of Pratap Sinh)
(1839-1848).
Wars
1646
S hivaji captured fort of Toma and Raigarh
1659
Shivaji killed Mughal general Afzal Khan
1663
Shivaji defeated Shayista Khan
1664
Shivaji attacked and plundered Surat.
1761 Third battle of Panipat. Afghan invader
Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Marathas.
1778-82 First Maratha war ended with Treaty of
Salbai.
1802-04 Second Maratha War
1817-18 Third Maratha War
Shivaji
(
1627-1680)
Shivaji was bom in the hill-fort of Shivner
near Junnar in
1627
to Shahji Bhonsle and
Jijabai; brought up under the guidance of
Dadaji Kondadev; his mother infused in him
high and inspiring ideals with a deep zeal in
defence of religion; grew up as a brave and
adventurous soldier; born leader of
men, who could throw a spell over all
who came in contact with him; the
growing weakness of the Deccan Sul-
tanates, and the prolonged campaigns
of the imperialists in the north, fa-
voured the rise of the Maratha power
under the leadership of Shivaji.
Impact
The third battle of Panipat pro-
duced di sastrous consequences for the Mara-
thas. They could not regain the position they
had before 1761.
Friends
: Rajputs, Sikhs.
Foes
: Mughals; English East India Com-
pany; Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, the
rulers of Mysore; Afghan invader, Ahmed
Shan Abdali.
Achievements
*
The welding together of the Maratha race
scattered through many Deccan King-
doms.
*
The nation he built up defied the Mughal
empire during and after Aurangzeb's reign.
*
Competed with the English for suprem-
acy in India till its decline.
Administration
*
Shivaji was assisted by a Council of 8
ministers known as the
Ashta Pradhan.
Peshwa
(Prime Minister)
Amatya
(Finance Minister)
Mantri
(Chronicler)
Sumanth
(Foreign Secretary)
Sachiv
(Home Secretary)
Danadhyaksha
(Ecclesiastical Head)
Nyayadhish
(Chief Justice)
Senapathi
(Commander-in-Chief)
*
System of granting
Jagirs
was abolished.
*
He was a military genius and was very
anxious to maintain a disciplined army.
*
He abolished the system of taxing of
farmers; started the system of
Chauth
and
Sardeshmukhi.
*
Justice was of primitive nature; Panchayats
continued to decide disputes in the villages;
Hazir Majlis
was the final Court of Ap-
peal.
Strengths
*
His moral virtues were exceptionally high;
sincerely religious; tolerant of other faiths;
both in diplomacy and statecraft he had
no equal. A cheerful person, he always
strived to maintain the honour of people
in his territories; entirely abstained from
disgraceful acts and was careful to main-
tain the honour of women and children of
Mohammadans, when they fell into his
hands.
Weakness
*
Constant disputes among the Marathas,
no well-considered attempt was made to
educate the people of Maharashtra and to
improve their intellect and character; the
ignorance of the people was a great ob-
stacle in the way of the success of the
Maratha nation.
Decline
*
Inherent defects in the character of the
Maratha State; lack of a sound economic
policy; revival of the
jagir
after the death
of Shivaji; dependence on uncertain sources
of income like
chauth.