The Marathas rose as a strong force in Indian history during medieval times, changing the power balance in many parts of the country. They came from the Deccan area and built a big empire through smart fights and good ruling. This notes will study their origins, leaders like Shivaji, and how they grew big before facing troubles.
Who Are the Marathas?
Definition and Origins
The Marathas are people from Deccan plateau, mainly in what is now Maharashtra state. They speak Marathi language, which has rich stories and poems going back to 12th century. These folks became a big political group that shaped India’s past a lot.
Historical Background
In 13th century, Yadava kings ruled most of Maharashtra with capital at Devagiri, now called Daulatabad. Early in 14th century, Khilji rulers from Delhi beat Yadavas and took over. Even with political shifts, old ways and culture stayed on.
Cultural Foundation through Bhakti Movement
From 7th to 17th centuries, many saints chose bhakti way for spiritual growth. These saints came from all kinds of people in society. They made songs and poems in simple languages that everyone could understand, so messages spread wide.
Imp Saints in Maharashtra
Saints such as Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, Ramdas became very popular. They turned big texts like Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita into Marathi. This made deep thoughts easy for normal folks to get. Some saints worked on bringing people together and making them aware of politics, much like Sikh gurus did. All this gave society a strong base in culture.
Early Political Attempts
By 17th century, few Maratha leaders tried to make their own rule, but it didn’t work well. Then Shivaji came and united Marathas into one strong political team.
Foundation of Maratha Power and the Rise of Shivaji
Early Life and Background
Shivaji was born in 1630 to Shahji and Jijabai in Bhonsle family. Shahji worked for Deccan sultans and stayed away mostly. Shivaji grew up in Pune area under Jijabai’s care. He got good teachings and values from trusted people. The Pune place suffered a lot from fights between Deccan rulers, causing trouble for common folks.
Early Military Campaigns
At just 16, Shivaji started army actions. He first took control of Pune area strongly. He grabbed forts that were ignored or empty and made their defences better. His dream of own kingdom or ‘Swarajya’ grew big, covering politics, money matters, and culture.
Naval Innovation
Shivaji’s rule reached India’s west coast. To keep coast safe and get resources, he made a navy. This was new and bold step then. Bijapur rulers had trade ships but no real navy force. Even Mughals didn’t use navy much. So Maratha navy started and its stories became famous.
Guerrilla Warfare Tactics
To fight strong enemies, Shivaji used guerrilla ways. Small teams attacked fast with surprise, using land knowledge to beat bigger armies. Wins made Bijapur rulers angry.
Battle with Afzal Khan
Bijapur sent old general Afzal Khan to fight Shivaji. Shivaji and team tricked Khan into one-to-one meet. It happened at Pratapgad fort base in thick woods. Shivaji used wagh nakh weapon to kill Khan. Marathas hiding in hills used guerrilla hits to smash Khan’s army.
Conflicts with Mughal Empire
Shaista Khan Episode
Mughal man Shaista Khan attacked Shivaji’s lands with huge army for three years. Shivaji did night raid on Khan’s camp with small group. Khan ran away losing some fingers and left Maharashtra fast. This bold move was like today’s surgical strike.
Sacking of Surat
To hit back, Shivaji attacked Surat, rich Mughal port. Got treasure worth almost one crore rupees. He didn’t touch holy places. Spared Mohandas Parekh’s house as he was kind man. Attacked Surat again later. These events got famous, even in London Gazette paper. Shivaji asked European traders for quick money gifts.
Treaty with Jai Singh
Surat attack shamed Mughal pride. Aurangzeb sent Rajput general Jai Singh to beat Shivaji. Shivaji lost at Purandar Fort near Pune. Had to give up big kingdom part by treaty. His son Sambhaji joined Mughal work.
Escape from Agra
Jai Singh convinced Shivaji to go to Mughal court in Agra. There he stood before Aurangzeb and a general he beat before, felt insulted and walked out angry. Aurangzeb kept him in house arrest. Shivaji planned to send gifts in big baskets to holy men and generals. Guards stopped checking after some time. Shivaji and Sambhaji hid in baskets and escaped. Aurangzeb couldn’t catch him again.
Coronation and Later Achievements
In 1674, Shivaji had full Vedic coronation at Raigad fort. Got title ‘Shri Raja Shiva Chhatrapati’. Started own time era called Rajyabhisheka shaka. Went on south conquest named dakshina-digvijaya, covering north Tamil Nadu and Karnataka parts. This south growth gave Marathas good defence against Mughal attacks.
Social Consciousness
In south, Shivaji stopped Dutch from slave trade. Europeans caught and sold Indians as slaves. No Indian powers stopped it till Shivaji did. Showed he cared deeply for his people.
Death and Legacy
Shivaji died at 50 from fever. He was great planner and dreamer. His stories became legends in India and outside. Europeans said he was like old generals such as Alexander. Bundela prince Chhatrasal got inspired to make Bundelkhand kingdom. Poet Bhushan from Hindi area came to meet Shivaji and wrote famous praise poems.
The Marathas After Shivaji
Succession and Early Challenges
Shivaji had sons Sambhaji and Rajaram. After death, Sambhaji became Chhatrapati. Marathas were main block to full Mughal control of Deccan. Aurangzeb attacked Deccan, took Bijapur and Golconda.
Sambhaji’s Fate
Aurangzeb caught Sambhaji, tortured badly and killed him. Took Raigad capital. Rajaram became Chhatrapati and ran to Gingee.
Expansion Under Tarabai
Mughal-Maratha fights spread to south India. Marathas defended forts well and often won. Aurangzeb couldn’t leave Deccan and died without beating Marathas. Marathas grew strong, no more defending, led by Tarabai who was Rajaram’s queen. She attacked Mughal lands big way. Conquered many India parts.
Structural Transformation
With fast growth, Marathas changed structure. Shivaji’s central rule became loose. Still had Chhatrapati in name, but chiefs got more power. Peshwa, meaning prime minister, had big say, even over Chhatrapati.
Imp Peshwas
Peshwa Bajirao I helped in all-India growth. His son Nanasaheb Peshwa kept expanding. Both were crucial for Maratha land increase.
Pan-Indian Expansion
Marathas controlled big India parts and ruled mostly well. But with chiefs getting power, sometimes bad behaviour happened, against Shivaji’s ways. Ten-year Bengal fight was cruel to normal people.
Northern Expansion
In north, they took Lahore, Attock, Peshawar for short time. Fought Afghans, lost badly at Panipat in 1761. Recovered fast under Peshwa Madhavrao I. Mahadji Shinde led to take Delhi back in 1771. Delhi stayed with Marathas till British took it after 30 years.
Decline and End
In late 18th century, British were main rivals to Marathas. Fought three Anglo-Maratha wars from 1775 to 1818. Marathas had inside fights. British had better setup and tech. British ended Maratha rule. They took India more from Marathas than Mughals or others.
Nana Phadnavis and Anti-British Alliance
Nana Phadnavis was strong official with Peshwas. He made first all-India group against British. Joined old enemies like Hyder Ali of Mysore and Nizam of Hyderabad.
Maratha Administration
Civilian Administration
Centralised System Under Shivaji
Shivaji made quite central admin for his kingdom. Stopped family jobs like in Sultan or Mughal times. No land gifts, paid salary to all officials from state money. Moved officials often so they don’t get too strong.
Care for Soldiers
Gave money to widows of dead soldiers. Gave army jobs to their sons. Showed he looked after fighters and families.
Administrative Values
Told officials strictly not to hurt people. Couldn’t take even grass blade by force. Needed okay to cut forest trees. Showed care for nature and folks’ lives. Believed oppressing others makes things fail soon.
Ashta Pradhan Mandala
Shivaji had eight ministers council for help. Pradhan was like prime minister. Amatya did finance. Mantri handled spy work. Sachiv looked at land money. Senapati led army. Sumant did foreign things. Nyayadhish was top judge. Panditrao headed religious stuff.
Revenue System
Marathas took chauth, 25 per cent, from areas not directly ruled. Also sardeshmukhi, extra 10 per cent. This was for Deccan and north places. In return, protected those areas, didn’t mess in their inside rule. Mughals okayed this by treaties. Later some areas joined Maratha empire.
Military Administration
Structure of Armed Forces
Maratha forces had three parts: foot soldiers, horse riders, navy. Cavalry had two kinds. Bargirs got horses and gear from state. Shiledars paid for own horses and gear. In 18th century, saw European tight troops better. Tried to make such armies. Mahadji Shinde had big European-style force.
Weapons and Equipment
Liked swords and spears. Used guns a lot too. Rockets from Shivaji days. By 1770, metal tube rockets also.
Importance of Forts
Forts were main strength at first. Shivaji controlled and built many. Needed to watch imp paths. Gave army hideouts for guerrilla fights. Ramachandrapant Amatya said forts are state heart. Without them, land ruins in attacks. Maratha kingdom born from forts. Helped survive Aurangzeb’s long attacks.
Maritime Supremacy
Shivaji made navy for west coast safety. In 18th century, Kanhoji Angre led Marathas to win sea fights. Used smart land and fight ways. Even if ships not as good as European. Europeans strong in India by navies. Made Indians buy sea trade passes or cartaz for money. Ships without were taken. Marathas fought this, asked passes from Europeans. Europeans called Kanhoji Angre pirate in anger.
Naval Reach
In 1665, four Shivaji ships went to Muscat, Oman capital. Ruler there caught them and men. Planned attack on Shivaji coasts. Heard Shivaji navy had over hundred ships, backed off.
Judicial System
Marathas had good justice setup. Didn’t use death penalty much, which was nice. Panchayat was local group of officials and big men for justice. Could appeal to Maratha head if not happy. In big towns, kotwal or police kept order.
Trade Networks
Shivaji pushed trade and did sea foreign trade himself. He and officials had own ships. Sent to ports like Mocha in Yemen, Muscat in Oman, Malacca in Malaysia. Carried gold, cloths. Built and kept roads. Had ferry nets for river travel in places like Odisha. Made bridges over rivers and streams.
Cultural Revival
Shivaji’s Cultural Vision
Marathas added much to India’s culture growth. Shivaji’s Swarajya dream seen in his seal with Sanskrit words. Different from common Persian seals. Words said his rule for people’s good.
Language Promotion
Made book called Rajya-Vyavahara-Kosha to push Marathi. Gave Sanskrit words for Persian ones used. Used in talks with others. Foreign words in Maratha letters dropped a lot.
Religious and Cultural Practices
Shivaji was strong Hindu but respected other faiths. Kept his belief with tolerance. All Marathas used saffron flag. Fixed broken temples. Pushed Sanskrit and Marathi writings. Helped religious places and old arts.
Demonstration of Possibility
Biggest gift was showing big kingdoms can be beaten. Proved Marathas could keep, grow, rule own empire. Gave folks real example of self-rule.
The Mighty Maratha Women
Tarabai
Brave Maratha queen who ruled early 18th century. After husband Rajaram died, she ruled. Saw Aurangzeb in Deccan left north open. Sent big Maratha armies to attack Mughal lands. Planned north growth of Marathas. Her plans and toughness beat Mughal empire. Kept Maratha freedom in hard times.
Ahilyabai Holkar
From Holkar family, big in Maratha growth. In 18th century, ruled central India kingdom. After losing husband and son, ruled bravely for 30 years. Ruled wisely, cared for people. Built hundreds of temples, ghats, wells, roads all over India. From Kedarnath north to Rameswaram south. Fixed Kashi Vishwanath temple Aurangzeb broke. Fixed Somnath temple Ghazni broke. Pushed Maheshwar weaving in Madhya Pradesh. Brought back old handloom works that still go on.
Script and Communication
Modi script, curly Devanagari form, was main for Marathas. Used for letters and official papers. Shivaji’s way inspired later ones.
Support for Traditional Practices
Nagpur Bhonsles strongly backed local culture. Helped old ways and habits. Jagannath worship at Puri stopped often in Mughal time. Marathas brought it back.
In Focus: Thanjavur
Establishment of Maratha Rule
Ekoji, Shivaji half-brother, took Thanjavur area in late 17th century. In today’s Tamil Nadu. Started Maratha rule there. Thanjavur Marathas made mixed culture rich with new ideas. Big supporters of arts. Many rulers wrote poems and plays.
Serfoji II’s Contributions
Among Thanjavur Maratha kings, Serfoji II did most. Knew many Indian and European tongues. Wrote Marathi play Devendra Kuravanji. Told about world places as known then. Supported talented singers. In his time, modern Carnatic music formed. Early Bharatanatyam dance grew.
Medical and Educational Contributions
Liked medicine, made Dhanwantari Mahal for free disease treatment. Used Indian and Western ways. Started printing press, first by Indian ruler. Put Bhonsle family history on Brihadishwara temple walls. One of biggest single writings in India, for future records.
Multilingual Cultural Environment
Thanjavur culture had many languages. Mixed freely. Local Tamil with old Telugu rulers’ ways. Added Marathi from current kings. All mixed open.
Connection to Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam dance linked deep to Marathas. Grew under Maratha support. Thanjavur became big centre for this old art.
The Maratha Legacy
Political Impact
Maratha rule fought Mughal top spot. Made biggest Indian empire before British. Controlled much central and north India. Set new ruling way with good admin. Brought back local Hindu ways without faith bias.
Inspirational Value
Brave stand against bad rule and outside power. Driven by Swarajya fire. Later made many Indians think they can rule self. Sowed early seeds for freedom fight. Showed self-rule possible for Indians.
Administrative Innovations
Made good ruling systems. Balanced centre and area freedom. Set examples for Indian admin ways. Showed other way than foreign rule.
Questions and Answers
1. Who were main Maratha leaders and what did they do?
Answer:
Main leaders were Shivaji who started Maratha power with Swarajya dream, fought Mughals and Bijapur. Sambhaji kept fighting but got killed. Rajaram and Tarabai grew the empire north. Peshwas like Bajirao I and Nanasaheb expanded all over India. They built navy, used guerrilla ways, made admin systems.
2. How did Marathas fight big enemies?
Answer:
They used guerrilla tactics with small fast groups, surprise attacks, knowing land well. Built forts for safety. Made navy to control coasts. Later had European-style troops. Rockets and guns helped. United under leaders like Shivaji and Tarabai to beat Mughals and others.
3. What was Maratha admin like?
Answer:
Shivaji made central system with paid officials, no family jobs. Had eight ministers for different works. Took chauth and sardeshmukhi for money. Cared for soldiers’ families. Justice by panchayat, less death penalty. Pushed trade with own ships and roads.
4. How did Marathas help culture?
Answer:
Promoted Marathi and Sanskrit. Fixed temples, supported arts. Used saffron flag. Made books for language. In Thanjavur, grew Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam. Serfoji II did medicine centre and printing. Showed tolerance to faiths.
5. What caused Maratha decline?
Answer:
Inside fights among chiefs. Three wars with British who had better tech and setup. Lost at Panipat to Afghans but recovered. British took over by 1818. But legacy inspired freedom movement.
6. What role women played in Marathas?
Answer:
Tarabai led attacks and expanded north after husband’s death. Ahilyabai Holkar ruled 30 years wisely, built temples and roads everywhere, pushed weaving. Jijabai raised Shivaji with good values.
7. Why forts were imp for Marathas?
Answer:
Forts controlled paths, gave hideouts for fights. Helped survive Aurangzeb attacks. Were core of state as per Ramachandrapant Amatya. Shivaji built and fixed many to make kingdom strong.
8. How Marathas did trade?
Answer:
Encouraged sea trade with own ships to Yemen, Oman, Malaysia. Built roads, bridges, ferries. Got money from chauth without ruling directly. Protected areas for tax. Balanced import export.
9. What was Swarajya vision?
Answer:
Shivaji’s dream of own rule covering politics, money, culture. Not just land but people’s welfare. Seal in Sanskrit showed it. Inspired unity and self-governance.
10. How Marathas challenged Europeans?
Answer:
Made navy under Kanhoji Angre to fight sea control. Demanded passes from them instead of buying. Stopped slave trade by Dutch. Ships reached Muscat and scared Oman ruler.
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