Marathas
Rise of Peshwa & Anglo-Maratha Wars
Founder of Maratha empire - Chhatrapati Shivaji
Timeline
- 1680 - Shivaji died
- 1680-89 - Shambha ji
- 1689 - Aurangzeb captured Shambha ji and executed him. Also, Aurangzeb captured Shambha ji's wife and son, Shahu.
- 1689-1700 - Shiva Ji's second son, Raja Ram
- 1700-1707 - Widow of Raja Ram, Tarabai ruling of the behalf of his minor son Shiva Ji II.
- 1707 - Bahadur Shah released Shahu, Which led to the war of succession between Shahu and Tarabai.
- 1713 - Rise of Peshwa (Shahu won the war of succession with the help from Balaji Vishwanath)
Rise of Peshwa
Balaji Vishwanath (1713-20)
In 1707 Shahu was released from the Mughal captivity which led to the intense court factionalism in Maratha politics. The house of Maratha was claimed by both Shahu and Tarabai.
In this situation the post of Peshwa emerged as the most powerful.
Balaji Vishwanath helped Shahu in securing the throne.
Using his diplomatic tactics, balaji Vishwanath made house of Peshwa, a hereditary post. He also became the functional head of the Maratha empire.
He secured the Mughal order, right to collect chauth and sardeshmukhi of Deccan. He also attributed for consolidating Maratha confederacy through Saranjami system.
Saranjami System - (It is similar as Jagirdari System but with some difference) Saranjam was a piece of land granted to Maratha sardars for providing military support to the Maratha king. It was initiated by Raja Ram as a political measure to secure loyalty of important Maratha Sardars. Under Balaji Vishwanath, it became hereditary and liable to partitioned as well.
Peshwa Baji Rao I (1720-40)
He was considered as the greatest exponents of the guerilla warfare after Shivaji. He was often termed as 'Fighting Peshwa'.
He decided to expand the Maratha empire beyond Narmada river. he made a statement - "Let's strike at the trunk of the withering tree (Mughals) and the branches will fall off themselves (Autonomous and Successor states)."
He wanted to establish 'Hindu Padpadshahi' which means the empire of Hinduism.
He was the one who picked up Scindia and Holkar who played a decisive role in Maratha polity.
In 1739, he defeated Mughal army led by Nizam of Hyderabad which resulted into 'Treaty of Bhopal' whereby Malwa was given to the Marathas.
In his military career of 20 years, he never lost a single battle.
Story of Baji Rao and Mastani
Balaji Vishwanath was a Chitpavan Brahmin who followed the tradition of Monogamous marriage.
His son Baji Rao I was married to Kashi bai with whom he had a son Nana Sahib who became the next Peshwa.
Ruler of Bundelkhand, Chhatrasal who was the follower of Paranami Sampradai, which is associated with lord Krishna worship. He had a Muslim wife with whom he had a daughter named Mastani.
In 1728, Mughal army led by Muhammad Bangash attacked Bundelkhand. Chhatrasal wrote a letter of help to Baji Rao who was fighting some war in Malwa. So, Baji Rao did not come immediately. Then, Chhatrasal sent his daughter Mastani for convincing Baji Rao. Baji Rao came to BundelKhand and defeated Bangash in 1729.
Chhatrasal was so obliged that he offered him few areas like Kalpi, Jhansi, etc. He also presented him 33 lakh gold coins and offered the hand of his daughter to Baji Rao.
Despite of so much opposition from the family, he married with Mastani. He had a son with Mastani, named Shamsher Bahadur.
In 1740, Baji Rao died and so did Mastani died. Kashi Bai looked after Shamsher Bahadur like his own son who later fought along side of Marathas in 3rd Battle of Panipath where he martyred.
Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Sahib) - 1740-61
Sangola Agreement - After the death of Maratha king Shahu in 1749, Sangola Agreement was signed whereby Nana Sahib (Peshwa) became the supreme authority in Maratha polity.
From 1745 onwards, Nana Sahib raided Odisha, Bengal and Bihar. In 1751, an agreement was signed with Alivardi Khan of Bengal who agreed to pay the Chauth of Bengal to Maratha and also handed over Odisha to them.
When Marathas overran Punjab and drove out Afghans and Rohillas from Delhi, Marathas came in confrontation with Ahmed Shah Abdali (as Punjab was captured by Abdali from Mughals).
Third Battle of Panipath (1761)
Even when Marathas had gained large part of North India, there was never an attempt to establish an empire. It was only in Khandesh, Malwa and Gujarat that they tried to put in some kind of administration. Their conquest elsewhere would rarely go beyond the collection of chauth and sardeshmukhi.
As a result it was difficult to maintain hold over the entire region and soon the Afghan invasion under Ahmed Shah Abdali (Ahmed Shah Durrani) dealt a heavy blow to Maratha glory.
In this battle, Abdali was supported by jats, Rohillas and Awadh ruler, Shuja-ud-daula. Maratha army was led by Sadashiv Rao Bhau and son of Nana Sahib, Vishwas Rao.
In this battle near about 50,000 causalities happened. Also, Sadashiv Rao Bhau and Vishwas Rao was killed in this battle. Moreover, when the Peshwa heard this news, he also died of shock.
Impact of the 3rd Battle of Panipath
Neither the Marathas not the Afghans benefitted from this battle. In fact, the Third Battle of Panipath did not decided who would rule India rather who would not. It therefore cleared the way for the British power in India.
Peshwa Madhav Rao (1761-72)
Within a short period of time, Maratha fortune was restored. The Maratha resurgence was possible due to the able minister 'Nana Fadnis (Nana Phadnavis)' and also because of Mahadji Scindia who rescued Mughal emperor Shah Alam to Delhi.
It was Mahadji Scindia who subdued Jats and Rohillas.
Peshwa Narayan Rao (1772-73)
He was assassinated by his uncle Raghunath Rao.
Peshwa Raghunath Rao (1773-74)
Hw was deposed by Nana Fadnis and 11 other administrators. They appointed the minor son of Narayan Rao, Sawai Madhav Rao as the next Peshwa.
Sawai Madhav Rao (1774-95)
The actual control was in the hands of Nana Fadnis. In 1795, Sawai Madhav Rao committed suicide due to high handedness of Nana Fadnis.
Raghunath Rao signed a secret agreement 'Treaty of Surat' with British whereby he assured them the territory of Salsette and Bassein, which provided reason for the 1st Anglo-Maratha war.
Anglo-Maratha Wars
1. 1st Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82)
When Fadnis granted a port to the French on the west coast, English replied by sending forces towards Pune. Maratha forces were led by Mahadji Scindia who thoroughly defeated English forces at the 'Battle of Wadagaon'.
Later, the Governor General of Bengal, Warren Hasting led the British forces and defeated Mahadji Scindia.
The war ended with the 'Treaty of Salbai' (1782).
Treaty of Salbai -
- East India company retained the control of Salsette and Bharuch and Bassein was restored to Marathas.
- Marathas also guaranteed that French would be prohibited from establishing any settlement on their territory.
- Marathas were also forced to give assurance that in future they will fight along side of British. As such Marathas fought with Mysore ruler.
- Britishers agreed to pension off their protégé Raghunath Rao.
- Britishers also recognised the claim of Mahadsi Scindia (Marathas) west of river Yamuna.
The treaty of Salbai resulted into a relative 20 years of peace between Marathas and Britishers.
Baji Rao II (1795-1819)
Baji Rao II was the son of Raghunath Rao. He was the last Peshwa. Initially, he was under the control of Maratha sardars. He also wanted to get rid of Nana Fadnis who died in 1800 due to some illness.
After the death of Nana Fadnis, Maratha sardars were divided on the question of support to Baji Rao II. While Scindias supported Baji Rao II, Holkars were against Baji Rao II.
In this scenario, Peshwa Baji Rao II planned and executed brutal killing of Vithoji Rao Holkar as such his brother Yashwant Rao Holkar attacked on Pune to take revenge. Yashwant Rao Holkar thoroughly defeated the Peshwa forces led by Scindias and plundered the city of Pune.
The terrified Peshwa fled to Bassein and approached Lord Wellesley for help which resulted into 'Treaty of Bassein' or 'Subsidiary Alliance'.
Subsidiary Alliance system of Lord Wellesley
It was introduced by Lord Wellesley in between 1798 to 1805. This policy played a major role in the expansion of British empire in India.
Provisions of Subsidiary Alliance -
- An Indian ruler entering into Subsidiary alliance with British had to accept British forced within his territory and he will also have to bear the maintenance cost of British forces.
- The ruler would accept a British resident in his court.
- He will not enter into any further alliance with any other power nor would he declare war against any power without the permission of the British, i.e., the ruler had no sovereign power on its own.
- They will not employ any European other than British.
- If the Indian ruler fails to make the payment required by the alliance, then part of his territory was to be taken as penalty. As done in case of Awadh and Hyderabad.
- In return company undertook to protect the state from external as well as internal dangers.
The Treaty of Bassein or the Subsidiary alliance with the British resulted into 2nd Anglo-Maratha War.
2. 2nd Anglo-Maratha War (1803-05)
Britishers thoroughly defeated Holkars and they imposed heavy penalty on Holkars. Moreover, Baji Rao II was reappointed as the Peshwa at Pune.
Houses of Marathas -
- Peshwa - Pune
- Bhonsale - Nagpur
- Scindia - Gwalior
- Gaekwad - Baroda
- Holkar - Indore
3. 3rd Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1819)
Treaty of Bassein or Subsidiary alliance with British wounded the feelings of the Maratha Sardars. They say the treaty as an absolute surrender of Maratha pride and independence.
A repentant Baji Rao II made a last bid in 1817 to regain independence from the British by rallying all the Maratha sardars with him.
In this war, Holkars who were leading the Marathas were thoroughly defeated and British took complete control of Peshwa's dominion and abolished the house of Peshwa.
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Notes on other subjects
Optional Notes
Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own.
Hope! It will help you to achieve your dream of getting selected in Civil Services Examination 👍
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