Maratha

  

• Marathas during leadership of Shivaji, Strong challenge to Mughal power during the 1670s (Reason for Mughal decline).
• Maratha General Venkoji leading the Bijapur forces invaded Thanjavur and succeeded in establishing Maratha rule in the Tamil region.
• Ruled thanjavur from 1674 to till death of Serfoji II in 1832.

Rise of Maratha

• The degeneration of Bijapur and Golkonda prompted the Marathas to unite and fight together.
• The Deccan wars against the Sultans of Bijapur, Golkonda and Ahmednagar had exhausted the Mughal treasury.
• Shivaji rallied the Marathas who lay scattered in many parts of Deccan under his leadership and built a mighty kingdom, with Raigad as the capital.

Shivaji (1627-1680 CE)

• Son of Shahji Bhonsle by his first wife Jijabai. Born near Shivner near Junnar.
• Descendant.
• Yadava rulers of Devagiri from his mother’s side.
• Sisodias of Mewar on his father’s side.
• Shahji Bhonsle served under Malik Ambar (158-1626) former slave, and the Abyssinian minister of Ahmed Shah of Ahmednagar.
• After the death of Malik Ambar, Shahji played a vital role in its politics.
• After the annexation of Ahmednagar by the Mughals, he entered the service of the Sultan of Bijapur.
• Shivaji and his mother were left under the care of Dadaji Kondadev who administered Shahji Bhonsle’s jagirs (land grants given in recognition of military or administrative services rendered) at Poona.
• Shivaji earned the goodwill of the Mavali peasants and chiefs, who were a martial people with knowledge about the hilly areas around Poona.
• Shivaji made himself familiar with the hilly areas around Poona. Religious heads, Ramdas and Tukaram, also influenced Shivaji. Ramdas was regarded by Shivaji as his guru.

Military Conquests

• 1646, captured the fortress of Torna from the Sultan of Bijapur and fort of Raigad captured and wholly rebuilt.
• Death of dadaji in 1647, so Shivaji took over all jagirs.
• Forts of Baramati, Indapura, Purandhar and Kondana came under his direct control. Already capture Kalyan (Important city in region).
• Sivaji father prisoned by sultan of Bijapur.
• Sultan of Bijapur release his father in 1649 on some conditions.
• 1649 – 1655, Refrained from his military activity and consolidated his power and toned up his administration.
• 1656, Shivaji re-started his military activities and captured Javli. A new fort, Pratapgarh, was built two miles west of Javli.

Confrontation against Bijapur

• November 1656, Mohammad Adilshah of Bijapur death, Adilshah II succeeded him.
• In 1657, Aurangzeb captured Bidar, Kalyani and Parinder.
• Sivaji & Bijapur sultan force to make peace with Aurangzeb.
• Shah Jahan fell ill, So Aurangzeb left for Delhi.
• Using this opportunity, Shivaji invaded north Konkan and captured the cities of Kalyan, Bhivandi and fort of Mahuli.

Shivaji and Afzal Khan, 1659.

• Bijapur Sultan decided to attack Shivaji. Afzal khan was sent with huge army but, battle on mountain extremely difficult.
• The Maratha forces ravaged South Konkan and Kolhapur district and captured the fort of Panhala.
• Sultan of Bijapur led the army and the war dragged on for more than a year but Nothing gained.
• Shivaji was recognised as the ruler of the territories in his possession.

Shivaji and the Mughals

• In 1658, Aurangzeb ascended throne.
• In1660, Appoint Shaista Khan as governor of Deccanfor crushing Shivaji.
• Shivaji attack Shaista Khan home.
• Aurangzeb was forced to recall Shaista Khan from the Deccan in December 1663.

Shivaji and Jaisingh

• In 1664, Shivaji attack Surat.
• Aurangzeb despatched an army under the command of the Rajput general Raja Jai Singh to defeat Shivaji and annex Bijapur.
• Prince Muazzam, later Bahadur Shah I, Governor of Deccan.
• Jai Singh made elaborate plans to encircle Shivaji on all sides. Shivaji became futile.
• Treaty of Purandar signed on 11 June 1665 (Negotiate with Jai Singh).
• Shivaji serve as a mansabdar and assist the Mughals in conquering Bijapur.

Visit to Agra

• Shivaji and his son Sambhaji reached Agra in May 1666.
• Mughal not give respect to Shivaji, he burst out. So he is imprisoned, he managed to escape.
• In 1666, Shivaji resume let Maratha soldiers in new conquests.
• Mughal busy with Afghan rising in North-West.
• Raja Jaswant Singh was friendly towards Shivaji. Sambhaji was also made a mansabdar of 5000.

Conflict with the Mughals (1670)

• Aurangzeb took back a part of the jagir in Berar which was once given to Shivaji.
• Shivaji got annoyed and recalled his troops from Mughal service.
• Recapture all ports that ceded to Mughal by the treaty of Purandar.
• In 1670, Again sacked Surat. 1672, the Marathas imposed chauth or one fourth of the revenue as annual tribute on Surat.
• On 6^th June 1674, Shivaji was crowned at Raigad, Assumed title of “Chhatrapathi”

Deccan Campaigns, 1676

• A secret treaty was signed with the Sultan of Golkonda (some territories in return for his support).
• He captured Senji and Vellore.
• His half-brother Venkoji or Ekoji to administering Thanjavur.
• The Nayaks of Madurai promised a huge amount as tribute.

Last days of Shivaji

• Eldest son Sambhaji deserted him and joined the Mughal camp.
• At the time of Death, Western Ghats and the Konkan between Kalyan and Goa.

Marathas after Shivaji

• Death of Shivaji, his eldest son and successor Sambhaji led a Maratha army into Mughal territory, captured Bahadurpur in Berar, and plundered its wealth.
• Aurangzeb struck, Mewar Rajputs and led an army into the Deccan.
•  Bijapur and Golkonda were annexed in 1686 and 1687 respectively.
• In 1689 the Mughal forces captured Sambhaji and killed him.
• His younger brother Rajaram renewed the fight from the fortress of Senji in the Tamil country.
• The fight continued for many years. After the death of Rajaram in 1700,
• Leadership of his widow, Tara Bai, trade in Masulipatnam, the major port of the region, remained disrupted for years.
• At the time of Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 Marathas still had many fortified places under their control.
• After Aurangzeb’s death, Sambhaji’s son Shahu was released from prison and claimed the Maratha throne.
• Balaji Viswanath was very supportive of Shahu and helped him ascend to the throne in 1708. Balaji Viswanath became Peshwa in 1713.
• Peshwa rule starts at Poona.
• Tara Bai carried on a parallel rival government with Kolhapur as capital.
• But Raja Bai, the second wife of Rajaram and her son Sambhaji II ascended the throne of Kolhapur and imprisoned Tara Bai and her son in 1714. Sambhaji II. Accept the overlordship of Shahu.
• After Shahu died in 1749, Rama Raja who ascended the throne.
• Tara Bai and Rama Raja died in 1761 and 1777 respectively.
• Shahu II, the adopted son of Rama Raja, ruled till his death in 1808 as a nonentity.
• His son Pratap Singh who came to the throne next was deposed by the British government in 1839. he plotted against the British Government. Pratap Singh died as a prisoner in 1847.
• His younger brother Shaji Appa Saheb, Shaji II, was made king by the British in 1839. Shahji II died in 1848 without a successor.

Marathas Administration

Central Government

• This council of eight ministers was known as Ashta Pradhan.
• Mukhya Pradhan or Peshwa or prime minister.
• Amatya or finance minister.
• Walkia-NawisorMantrimaintained the records.
• SummantorDabiror foreign secretary.
• Sachiv or ShuruNawisorhomesecretary.
• Pandit RaoorDanadhyakshaorSadarandMuhtasiborecclesiastical. head was in charge of religion, ceremonies and charities.
• Nyayadhishorchief justice - civil and military justice.
• Naubatorcommander-in-chief - recruitment, organization and discipline of the Army.

Provincial Government

• Four provinces, each province were divided into a number of Pranths.
• Practice of granting jagirs.
• No office was to be hereditary.

Revenue System

• Humane and beneficent to the cultivators.
• 30% of the gross produce to be payable in cash or kind. Later, increase to 40%.
• Liberal Loans.

Chauth and Sardeshmukhi (Tax system)

• Chauth was one-fourth of the revenue of the district conquered by the Marthas.
• Sardeshmukhi was an additional 10% of the revenue which Shivaji collected by virtue of his position as Sardeshmukh.
• Sardeshmukh was the superior head of many Desais or Deshmukhs.

Military Organization

• Practice of granting jagirs and making hereditary appointments. Guerrilla warfare.
• Infantry, cavalry, an elephant corps and artillery. Solders with Quarters & Regular salary.
• Infantry Division.
• Nine soldiers were headed by a Naik.
• 25 horsemen were placed under one havildar.
• Over five havildars were placed under one jamaladar.
• Ten jamaladars under one hazari.
• Sari Naubat was the supreme commander of cavalry. Cavalry Division are
• The bargirs (soldiers whose horses were given by the state).
• The shiledars (mercenary horsemen who had to find their own horses.

Justice

• Rudimentary nature. No regular courts and regular procedures. Panchayat functioned.
• Criminal cases were tried by the Patels.
• Appeals in both civil and criminal cases were heard by the Nyayadhish (chief justice) with the guidance of the smritis.
• Hazir Majlim – Final court of appeal.