Maratha Empire — Shivaji, Peshwas, Battles, Administration, and Decline

The Maratha Empire (1674–1818) was the last major Hindu empire in India and a dominant power that challenged Mughal supremacy and later resisted British expansion.

Shivaji Bhosale (1630–1680)

Aspect	Details
Born	19 February 1630, Shivneri Fort (near Pune)
Father	Shahaji Bhosale (Adilshahi nobleman)
Mother	Jijabai (major influence on Shivaji’s character)
Guru/Mentor	Dadaji Kondadeo (early administrator-guardian)
Spiritual guide	Samarth Ramdas
Coronation	6 June 1674 at Raigad Fort — took title Chhatrapati
Title	Chhatrapati, Haindava Dharmodharak (protector of Hindu faith)
Capital	Raigad
Death	3 April 1680 at Raigad

Key Events under Shivaji

Year	Event
1646	Captured Torna Fort (first fort, age 16)
1659	Killed Afzal Khan at Pratapgad using the wagh nakh (tiger claws)
1664	Sack of Surat — raided the wealthy Mughal port city
1665	Treaty of Purandar with Jai Singh I — surrendered 23 of 35 forts to Mughals
1666	Visited Agra; placed under house arrest by Aurangzeb; escaped dramatically
1670	Recaptured most forts; second raid on Surat
1674	Coronation at Raigad — established sovereign Maratha kingdom

Shivaji’s Administration (Ashtapradhan)

Title	Role	Equivalent
Peshwa	Prime Minister and general administration	PM
Amatya	Finance Minister	FM
Sachiv	Correspondence	Secretary
Mantri	Record-keeper of court affairs	Chronicler
Senapati	Commander-in-Chief	Army Chief
Sumant	Foreign affairs	External Affairs
Nyayadhish	Justice	Chief Justice
Panditrao	Religious and charitable affairs	Ecclesiastical head

Key features:

• Ministers were paid in cash salaries (not jagirs) to prevent feudalism
• Revenue system: Shivaji adopted Malik Ambar’s revenue system; land measured and assessed directly
• Chauth (1/4 of revenue) and Sardeshmukhi (additional 1/10) collected from neighbouring territories
• Navy: Shivaji built a strong navy; admirals called Sarkhel (first was Kanhoji Angre’s predecessor)

After Shivaji: Sambhaji and Rajaram

Ruler	Reign	Key Facts
Sambhaji	1680–1689	Shivaji’s elder son; captured and executed by Aurangzeb
Rajaram	1689–1700	Shivaji’s younger son; ruled from Jinji (Gingee) Fort in Tamil Nadu
Tarabai	1700–1707	Rajaram’s wife; acted as regent for infant son Shivaji II; fierce resistance against Mughals
Shahu	1707–1749	Sambhaji’s son; released by Mughals after Aurangzeb’s death; appointed Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa

The Peshwa Era (1713–1818)

Peshwa	Tenure	Key Achievements
Balaji Vishwanath	1713–1720	First powerful Peshwa; secured Mughal recognition of Maratha rights to Chauth and Sardeshmukhi (Treaty with Syed Brothers, 1719)
Baji Rao I	1720–1740	Greatest Peshwa; never lost a battle; expanded Maratha territory to Delhi, Gujarat, Malwa; defeated Nizam at Palkhed (1728)
Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb)	1740–1761	Peak territorial expansion; lost prestige at Third Battle of Panipat (1761)
Madhav Rao I	1761–1772	Restored Maratha power after Panipat; died young
Narayan Rao	1772–1773	Murdered in palace conspiracy
Baji Rao II	1796–1818	Last Peshwa; signed Treaty of Bassein (1802) with British; lost sovereignty

Third Battle of Panipat (14 January 1761)

Aspect	Details
Parties	Marathas (Sadashivrao Bhau) vs Ahmad Shah Abdali (Afghanistan)
Location	Panipat, Haryana
Result	Decisive Maratha defeat
Losses	Vishwasrao (heir) and Sadashivrao Bhau killed; estimated 40,000–70,000 Maratha casualties
Consequence	Ended Maratha dream of replacing Mughals at Delhi; power fragmented among confederacy chiefs

Maratha Confederacy Chiefs

House	Base	Notable Leader
Gaekwad	Baroda (Vadodara)	Pilaji Gaekwad
Holkar	Indore	Malhar Rao Holkar, Ahilyabai Holkar
Scindia (Shinde)	Gwalior	Mahadji Scindia
Bhonsle	Nagpur	Raghuji Bhonsle
Peshwa	Pune	Central authority (weakened over time)

Anglo-Maratha Wars

War	Period	Key Events	Outcome
First	1775–1782	British backed Raghunathrao; Treaty of Salbai (1782)	Status quo; Scindia became mediator
Second	1803–1805	Wellesley’s policy; Battles of Assaye and Laswari	Scindia and Bhonsle defeated; Treaty of Surji-Arjungaon (Scindia), Treaty of Deogaon (Bhonsle)
Third	1817–1818	Final showdown; Battles of Kirkee, Sitabaldi, Mahidpur	Complete British victory; Peshwa abolished; Maratha power ended

Decline of the Maratha Empire — Causes

Factor	Explanation
Lack of unity	Confederacy chiefs acted independently; no central command
Third Panipat	Massive military and psychological blow
Treaty of Bassein (1802)	Baji Rao II became British subsidiary; lost sovereignty
No modernisation	Did not adopt European military techniques early enough
Internal rivalries	Constant power struggles among Peshwa, Holkar, Scindia

Important PSC-Focused Facts

Question Pattern	Answer
First fort captured by Shivaji	Torna Fort (1646)
Shivaji’s council of 8 ministers	Ashtapradhan
Who killed Afzal Khan?	Shivaji at Pratapgad (1659)
Treaty of Purandar (1665) signed with	Raja Jai Singh I (Mughal general)
Coronation year of Shivaji	1674 at Raigad
Revenue terms	Chauth (1/4) and Sardeshmukhi (1/10)
Greatest Peshwa	Baji Rao I (undefeated)
Third Battle of Panipat year	1761
Treaty of Bassein (1802)	Between Baji Rao II and British
Last Peshwa	Baji Rao II
Who built a Maratha navy?	Shivaji (Sarkhel = admiral)