Maratha Empire

• The ground for the establishment of an independent Maratha state was prepared by the advance of Mughal armies in the South. After the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Marathas emerged as a significant force that ruled in a larger part of India

Introduction

•  Within the administrative and military structures of the Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur and Ahmednagar, the Marathas held significant positions.
• However, the establishment of a formidable Maratha state is credited to Shahji Bhonsle and his son Shivaji. Several factors played a role in the ascension of the Marathas during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Shivaji (AD 1627-1680)

•  Born in the Fort of Shivner in AD 1627, Shivaji hailed from the Bhonsle family of the Poona district. The family gained military and political prominence in the Ahmednagar Kingdom toward the end of the 16th century.

• Shivaji was raised in Poona under the watchful eyes of his mother and the competent Brahman, Dadaji Kondadev. Additionally, Shivaji was influenced religiously by Guru Samarth Ramdas.
• In AD 1637, Shivaji's father entrusted the administration of the Pune Jagir to him. Dadaji continued to have de facto control over the administration until AD 1647 when Shivaji assumed full charge. Before that, at the age of 18, he successfully captured numerous hill forts near Poona, including the Fort of Torana in AD 1646. 
• Subsequently, he erected new forts such as Raigarh and Pratapgarh. Following Dadaji Kondadev's death in 1647, Shivaji took control of all his father's Jagirs. Marathas, under Shivaji's leadership, captured forts like Indapura, Purandhar, Baramati, and towns including Kondana and Kalyan.

• The Maratha Kingdom, founded by Shivaji, exerted dominance over Western India for almost a century and a half.

Conquests of Shivaji

• Shivaji initiated his significant conquests in AD 1656 by capturing Javli from Maratha Chief Chandra Rao More. Subsequently, in AD 1657-58, he launched an attack on the Adil Shahi Kingdom of Bijapur.
• After the death of Mohammad Adil Shah in November AD 1656, Adil Shah II took over, and Shivaji, along with the Sultan of Bijapur, had to make peace with Aurangzeb. Shivaji captured Kalyani, Parinder, and Bidar in AD 1657.

• A joint Mughal-Bijapuri campaign against Shivaji began in AD 1660, with Shaista Khan appointed as the Governor of Deccan by Aurangzeb to curb Shivaji's growing power.
• In AD 1663, Shivaji launched an attack on Shaista Khan's military camp, plundering Surat in AD 1664 and later Ahmednagar.
• Aurangzeb dispatched Prince Muazzam and later Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber against Shivaji. Jai Singh surrounded Shivaji in the Fort of Purandhar, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Purandhar in AD 1665. As per the treaty, Shivaji retained possession of 12 forts out of 35 and agreed to serve and remain loyal to the Mughal throne.
• Shivaji was granted the Balaghat territory of Bijapur and committed to visiting Aurangzeb's court in Agra. However, after being humiliated, Shivaji executed a miraculous escape in AD 1666.
• Renewing hostilities with the Mughals, Shivaji plundered Surat again in AD 1670 and gradually reclaimed many of his forts.
• Facing Mughal forces led by Diler Khan and Bahadur Khan, Shivaji emerged victorious in the Battle of Salher in AD 1672.

Deccan Campaigns

• Shivaji entered into a secret treaty with the Sultan of Golconda, promising certain territories.
• In AD 1674, Maratha General Venkoji, Shivaji's half-brother, ended Nayak rule in Tanjore by invading with Bijapur forces, establishing Maratha rule in the Tanjore region.

He passed away at Raigarh in AD 1680, after a reign lasting only 6 years.

Coronation of Shivaji

• Shivaji asserted his independence as the ruler of the Maratha Kingdom and was ceremoniously crowned Chhatrapati in AD 1674 at Raigarh. Establishing Raigarh as his capital, Shivaji's coronation symbolized the people's ascent to challenge the dominance of the Mughals.

Successors of Shivaji

• Following Shivaji's demise, his eldest son Sambhaji took over. Aurangzeb executed Sambhaji, leading to Rajaram, another son of Shivaji, assuming the role of Chhatrapati. After Rajaram's passing, his wife Tarabai assumed governance on behalf of their minor son Shivaji II.

Sambhaji (AD 1680-1689)

• The succession war between Sambhaji, the elder son, and Rajaram, the younger son of Shivaji, concluded with the victory of the former and the imprisonment of the latter. Sambhaji ascended the throne on July 20, 1680.
•  Distrust in Maratha leaders prompted him to place confidence in a Brahmin named Kanhoji, whom he endowed with supreme control of the administration and the title of Kavi Kalash in AD 1680-81. Sambhaji extended protection and support to Akbar II, the rebellious son of Aurangzeb.

Rajaram (AD 1689-1700)

• Rajaram, the younger brother of Sambhaji, ruled on behalf of Sahu. Crowned at Raigarh in February AD 1689, he soon left Raigarh, anticipating a Mughal attack, and wandered from place to place, ultimately reaching Jinji or Gingee in Karnataka.
• The Maratha Council of Ministers and other officials also rallied around him at Jinji, which, until AD 1698, served as the focal point of Maratha resistance against the Mughals.
• With the support of his capable Generals, Santaji Ghorpade and Dharaji Jadav, Rajaram initiated an offensive against Mughal territories in Deccan.
• Rajaram implemented administrative changes, introducing the new position of Pratinidhi, thereby expanding the Ashtapradhan to a total of nine ministers.
• Although Sahu received the title of Raja and a Mansab, he remained essentially under Mughal captivity until the death of Aurangzeb in 1707.
• Jinji eventually fell to the Mughals in AD 1698, prompting Rajaram to escape to Visalgarh in Maharashtra. He passed away in March AD 1700 at Satara, which had become the capital after Jinji's fall.

Shivaji II and Tarabai (AD 1700-1707)

• Following Rajaram's demise, Tarabai, the widow of Rajaram, installed her other son, Shivaji II, on the throne and assumed the role of regent. Tarabai's vigor and competence elevated her to the position of de facto ruler, steering the Maratha state through a severe crisis. She adeptly managed both civil and military affairs, showcasing equal success in both domains.
• During this period, the Marathas launched attacks on Berar (AD 1703), Baroda (AD 1706), and Aurangabad. In the midst of the resulting confusion and disorder, Aurangzeb passed away on 3rd March 1707, while Tarabai still held sway.
• The Mughals, however, successfully sowed discord among the Marathas, creating two opposing factions: one led by Tarabai and the other by Sambhaji's son, Sahu. Eventually, Sahu managed to depose Tarabai with the assistance of Chitpavan Brahman Balaji Vishwanath.

Sahu (AD 1707-1749)

• Emancipated by the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah, Sahu's release marked the commencement of a civil war (AD 1707-14) between him and Tarabai. Sahu emerged victorious at the Battle of Khed on 12th October 1707, leading to his occupation of Satara.
• In 1719, Sahu collaborated with the Sayyid brothers to facilitate the execution of Farrukhsiyar and secure the release of his mother.
• Subsequently, the Maratha Kingdom underwent a division into two sub-states. Sahu assumed leadership at Satara, while Shivaji II, supported by Tarabai, became the head at Kolhapur upon ascending the throne.
• The longstanding feud between these two rivals found resolution through the Treaty of Warna in 1731. According to the treaty, Sambhaji II would govern the Southern division of the Maratha Kingdom with Kolhapur as its capital, while the Northern part, centered at Satara, would remain under Sahu's control.
• Sahu's reign witnessed the emergence of Peshwaship and the transformation of the Maratha Kingdom into an empire based on the principle of confederacy.

Rajaram II (AD 1749-1777)

• Rajaram II (AD 1749-1777), also known as Ramaraja, served as the sixth monarch of the Maratha Empire. Adopted by Chhatrapati Sahu, he was presented to Sahu by Tarabai as her own grandson, a move aimed at seizing power after Sahu's demise. 
• During Rajaram II's rule, executive power rested primarily with the Peshwa and other chiefs, relegating him to a figurehead role.

Administration Under Shivaji

• Shivaji laid the foundation of a sound system of administration.
• Shivaji's system of administration was largely borrowed from the administrative practices of the Deccan states.
• Most of the administrative reforms of Shiv