GK SERIES FOR SSC,IAS,PCS,HAS,HCS
AND OTHER COMPETITIVE EXAMS
(HISTORY-24)
MARATHA EMPIRE-2
Balaji Vishwanath (1713-20)
·
One
of the first things Balaji was called upon to do was to secure the restoration
of Sahu’s mother to him from the custody of Mughals who had detained her at
Delhi as hostage for the good behavior of her son Sahu.
·
Balaji
opened direct negotiations with the Saiyyid brothers and in February 1719 all
his demands were accepted. Accordingly Sahu’s mother and family were released,
he was recognized as the ruler of Shivaji’s home dominions and was allowed to
collect chauth and sardeshmukhi from the six subhas of the Deccan, as also in
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
·
In
return for all this, the Marathas were expected to keep a contingent on 15,000
horses in the service of the Mughals and to maintain order in the Deccan.
·
Bajaj’s
success in Delhi greatly increased his power and prestige. Balaji Vishwanath is
rightly called the second founder of the Maratha state.
·
Balaji
was credit with “a mastery of finance”. Solid foundations were laid for a
well-organized revenue system in the swaraj territory which was under direct
royal administration. Here Balaji adopted the assessments made by the Malik
Amber in Ahmadnagar. Gujarat was earmarked for the Senapati, Berar and Gondwana
for the Bhonsle of Nagpur, the Konkan for Kanhoji Angria, Karnataka for Fateh
Bhonsle, and Khandesh, Baglana and central India for the Peshwa.
·
They
collected the revenue, administered the territory, maintained the local army,
and contributed only a small share of their income to the royal exchequer.
·
Sometime
revenue officers (Darrackdars) were sent to their dominions from the central
government, but there was no real curb on their power.
·
Balaji’s
appointment as Peshwa in 1713 marks the end of the ‘royal phase’ in Maratha
history.
The new Maratha ‘mandala’ or confederacy
under Sahu:
·
During
the period of Rajaram, the office of Pratinidhi was created and the office of
the Peshwa was next to it in hierarchy. Thus in place of Ashta-Pradhan of
Shivaji, Sahu had nine ministers including the Pratinidhi. Sahu introduced the
Jagir system.
·
Some
capable and ambitious military leaders and officers were assigned ‘spheres of
influence’ which they were expected to bring under their control by their own
military strength without any support from the central government.
·
Thus
the Malwa was assigned to Nemaji Scindia (capital= Gwalior) , Gujarat and
Baglana to the Deshades (the Gaekwads of Baroda were their successors),
Khandesh and Balaghat to the Peshwa (cpital= Poona), Berar and Gondwana to the
Bhonsles (capital= Nagpur), the Konkan to the Angrias, Karnataka to Fateh Singh
Bhonsle, Indore to Holkars, etc.
·
The
new maratha state was neither centralized nor unitary. Both power and revenues
were shared amongst the four pillars of the Maratha state:
o
The
chhatrapath
o
The
ministers in the swaraj territory
o
The
sardars in the newly conquered areas and spheres of influence
o
The
local units
Peshwa Baji Rao I (1720-40)
·
After
the death of Balaji Vishwanath, his eldest son Baji Rao, a young man of hardly
20, was appointed the Peshwa by Sahu. He formulated the policy of northward
expansion of the Marathas, so that “the Maratha flag shall fly from the Krishna
to Attock”.
·
The
treaty of Delhi (Feb. 1719), which Balaji Vishwanath had entered into with the
Mughals, Baji Rao, after setting his own house in order, finally defeated the
Nizam near Bhopal and, by the convention of Durai Sarai (January 1738),
compelled the Nizam to agree to surrender to the Peshwa the whole of Malwa,
together with the complete sovereignty of the territory between the Narmada and
the Chambal rivers and to pay rates 50 lakh as war indemnity.
·
He
conquered Malwa, Bundelkhand, Bassein and Gujarat and reached up to Gujarat in
1737. The fall of Bassein marked the end of Portuguese rule in the north
Konkan. He also severely crippled the power of the Siddis of Janjira.
·
He
made Poona the centre of his activities and it soon came to be known as the
seat of the Peshwas.
·
Peshwa
Baji Rao I was the greatest Maratha leader. His policy of northward expansion
however, landed the Marathas into the ruinous the third battle of Panipat.
·
During
this period, Ranoji Sindhia was the founder of the Sindhia dynasty of Malwa
with his headquarters at Ujjain.
·
Malahar
Rao Holker also had given a part of Malwa, who became the founder of the Holker
house of Indore.
·
The
Gaekwads established themselves in the Gujarat with headquarters at Baroda.
·
Two
other regional kingdoms: Kolhapur was ruled by the junior branch of Shivaji’s
family and Bhonsles of Nagpur claimed close kinship with the Maratha king Sahu.
·
Baji
Rao founded the Maratha Empire through his conquest, but he didn’t consolidate
it through administrative organization.
Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao or Nana Sahib
(1740-61)
·
Peshwa
Baji Rao died at the young age of 40 and was succeeded by his son Balaji Baji
Rao (popularly called Nana Sahib) who, throughout his Peshwa-ship, remained
dependent on the advice and guidance of his cousin Sada Shiva Rao Bhau.
·
One
of the earliest achievements of Nana Sahib was better financial management of
the empire by exercising careful supervision over all financial transactions.
He later discussed the affairs of north India with Holkher and Sindhia and in
April 1742 marched northward to consolidate the Maratha authority in
Bhundelkhand.
·
In
1743, he undertook the second expedition to the north to help Alivardhi Khan
(in Bengal) whose territories had been ravaged by Raghuji Bhonsle. The Peshwa
reached Murshidabad and met Alivardi Khan who agreed to pay Sahu the chauth for
Bengal and Rs. 22 lakhs to Peshwa for the expenses of his expedition.
·
On
December 15, 1749 Sahu died childless. Before his death he had nominated Rama
Raja, a grandson of Tarabai, as his successor. Rama raja was crowned as
chhatrapati in January 1750. Since he was weak and incompetent, Tarabai tried
to make him a puppet in her own hands, which caused utter confusion and crisis
in the Maratha kingdom.
·
It
deepened further when the Peshwa learnt that Rama Raja was not grandson of
Tarabai but an imposter. When this fact came to knowledge, the chhatrapati was
virtually confined in the fort at Satara and lost all contacts with political
developments.
·
Henceforth
Poona became the real capital of Maratha confederacy, and the Peshwa its
virtual ruler.
·
During
the second of Balaji regime (1751-61), four campaigns were organized in the
north. The Punjab politics was at the time in a confused state and as a result
of the first two invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the subhas of Lahore, Multan
and Kashmir were annexed by Abdali to his dominions.
·
After
the third invasion, the Mughal Wazir Safdarjang persuaded the emperor to the
enter into an agreement with the Marathas in May 1752 for undertaking the
defense of the empire against its internal and external foes.
·
In
return, the Marathas were to get the chauth of northwestern provinces usurped
and occupied by the Afghans. However, the chauth could only be secured by
actual conquest. The Marathas were also given the subhas of Agra and Ajmer.
·
As
a result of this agreement the Maratha military force was posted at Delhi and
they repeatedly interfered in the politics of north India and established their
supremacy at Delhi.
·
Safdarjung
lost his wazir-ship and retired to Awadh in 1753, and power in the imperial
court passed to Imad-ul-Mulk, a grandson of Nizam-ul-Mulk.
·
He
terrorized the helpless emperor with Maratha help and secured the office of
wazir, de-throne Ahmad Shah and placed Alamgir II, a grandson of Bahadur Shah
on the imperial throne (1754).
·
He
agreed to Ahmad Shah Abdali’s project of ousting the Marathas from the Doab and
Suja-ud-Daula of Awadh, son and successor of Safdarjung, from provincial
governor-ship (1757).
·
This
drew Suja-ud-Daula, Suraj Mal Jat and the Marathas together, and left
Imad-ul-Mulk utterly friendless during the absence of Abdali from India.
·
As
per the above arrangements, early in 1758, Raghunath Rao, accompanied by Malhar
Rao Holkar, entered the Punjab. He was joined by Adina Beg Khan and the Sikhs.
·
Sirhind
fell, Lahore was occupied and the Afghans were expelled (April 1758). Timur
Shah fled, persuaded by the Marathas up to the Chenab. They didn’t cross the
river because it was too deep for fording and the districts beyond it were
inhabited mostly by the Afghans.
·
Raghunath
Rao returned from the Punjab after leaving the province in-charge of Adina Beg
Khan.
·
The
Peshwa sent a large army under Dattaji Sindhia who reached the eastern bank of
the Sutlej (April 1759), and sent Sabaji Sindhia to Lahore to take over the
governorship of the province.
·
Within
a few months, a strong army sent by Abdali crossed the Indus. Sabaji fell back
precipitately, abandoning the entire province of the Punjab to the Afghans.
·
Abdali
established his government at Lahore, resumed his march and entered Sirhind
(November 1759).
·
On
return towards Delhi (May 1759) after the re-conquest of the Punjab, Dattaji
Sindha was involved in hostilities with Janib-ud-daula in Rohilkhand. He
suffered defeats and retreated towards Panipat (December 1759), and heard that
Abdali’s forces, advancing from Sirhind, had occupied Ambala.
·
His
resistance failed; he was killed in the battle with Abdali at Barari, some 16
km north of Delhi (January 1760).
·
Malahar
Rao Holkher was rooted by the Afghans at Sikandrabad. The Peshwa dispatched the
Maratha troops under his cousin Sada Shiva Rao Bhau and his eldest son Vishwas
Rao. The Maratha artillery was to be commanded by Ibrahim Khan Gardi.
·
In
july 1760, the Marathas occupied Delhi. This small success added to the
prestige of the Marathas, but they were friendless in the whole of the north
India. Even the Jat king Suraj Mal deserted them at the last movement.
·
On
the other hand, Ahmad Shah Abadli had been able to secure the support of Rohila
chief Naib-ud-daula, Nawab Suja-ud-daula of Awadh etc.
·
During
this period some futile attempts were made for peace between Ahmad Shah Abdali
and the Peshwa, but they could not succeeded due to the exorbitant demands of
Marathas and self-interest of the Muslim rulers. This culminated in the
unfortunate and disastrous battle of Panipat.
Peshwa Madhava Rao I (1761-72)
·
After
the death of Balaji Baji Rao, his younger son Madhava Rao was placed on the
Peshwa’s gaddi. Since the new Peshwa was only 17 years old, his uncle
Raghunatha Rao, the eldest surviving member of the Peshwa’s family, became his
regent and the de facto ruler of the state.
·
During
this period, serious differences broke out between the Peshwa and his uncle,
leading to war between two in 1762, in which the Peshwa’s army was defeated.
·
In
1765, Raghunatha Rao demanded the partition of the Maratha state between
himself and the Peshwa.
·
Haider
Ali of Mysore ravaged the Maratha territories in Karnataka but the first
Anglo-Mysore war involved Haider Ali in a greater crisis.
·
In
January 1771, Mahadaji Sindhia occupied Delhi and succeeded in exacting money
from the leading Rajput princes but the pre-matured death of Madhava Rao in
November 1772 placed the Maratha dominion in a deep crisis.
·
Madhava
Rao was the last great Peshwa. After Madhava Rao’s death the fortunes of
Maratha kingdom and the prestige of Peshwas under Narayana Rao (1772-74),
Madhava Rao Narayan (1774-95), and Baji Rao II (1796-1818) rapidly declined.
The last Peshwa surrendered to the English and the Peshwa-ship was abolished
(1818).
MARATHA ADMINSTRATION UNDER THE PESHWAS
·
The
de-facto ruler of the Maratha Empire was the Peshwa. Originally the Peshwa was
the chief among the eight ministers consisting Shivaji’s council (Asta
Pradhan); but he came to occupy the second rank when Raja Ram created the
office of Prathinidhi in 1698.
·
The
Peshwa’s office became hereditary. The principle of hereditary emerged in the
reign of Sahu; Balaji Vishwanath and his descendants held the office from 1713
till its extinction in 1818.
·
The
old nobles, the Angrias, the Bhonsles, the Gaikwars regarded the Peshwa as
their equal and obeyed him only as the deputy of Chhatrapati. The new nobles
who rose into prominence under the Peshwas patronage, the Sindhias, the
Holkhers, the Rastias regarded themselves as his servants.
·
Estates
or fiefs – Saranjams, The diwans of the Gaikhwar, the Holker and the Sindhia
were always appointed by the Peshwa.
·
The
Peshwa’s primacy became nominal after the death of Madhav Rao I (1772).
·
During
the first Anglo-Maratha war (1775-82) and the long minority of Peshwa Madhav
Rao Narayan (1774-96), not only the great Maratha chiefs Sindhia, Holkar,
Bhonsle, Gaikwar but also many lesser nobles, followed their own interests and
acted on their own.
·
Huzur
daftar: Peshwa’s administrative secretariat at Poona.
Village communities:
·
The
chief man in the village was the Patil. He was the chief revenue officer, the
chief police magistrate as also the chief judicial officer. He was paid by the
villagers, not by the Peshwa.
·
He
was assisted by the Kulkarni, the village clerk and Record-keeper.
·
The
Potdar tested the coins to see whether they really had the prescribed weight
and proportion of metal.
·
The
industrial requirements of the village were met by twelve artisans (Balutas)
who received a share of the crops and other perquisites in return for their
services to the community.
District and provincial administration:
·
Different
terms (Taraf, Pargana, Sarkar, Subah) were used indiscriminately to indicate
administrative divisions.
·
The
officers incharge of the bigger divisions were the Kamavisdars. They were
directly subordinate to the Huzur Daftar, but in Khandesh, Gujarat and
Karnataka, the Kamavisdars were subordinate to Sarsubahdars.
·
Local
militia – Sihbandis.
·
Some
restraint was put on the Mamlatdar’s opportunities for peculation and mal-administration
by the Deshmukh and the Deshpande. The Deshmukh maintained records relating to
estates, alienations and transfer of properties, and these were called for it
all disputes connected with lands. The functions of the Deshmukhs and the Deshpandes
as agents for controlling corruption were supplemented by those entrusted to
the provincial hereditary officers called Darakhdars.
·
Extraordinary
levy on landholders known as Karja Patti or Jasti Patti.
·
Custom
duties - Mohatarfa or taxes on trades and professions, and zakat or duties on
purchase and sale.
·
The
proceeds of the Chauth were divided into four shares:
o
25%
(Babti) reserved for the head of the state
o
66%
(Mokasa) granted to the feudal chiefs for the maintenance of troops.
o
3%
(Sahotra) granted to the Sachiv
o
3%
(Nadgaunda) granted to various persons at the pleasure of the head of state.
Land revenue:
·
Agricultural
lands in the villages were generally divided between two classes of holders.
·
The
Mirasdars represented the descendants of original settlers who cleared the
forest and introduced cultivation. They had permanent proprietary rights. Their
lands were heritable and saleable. They were immune from eviction as long as
they paid rent.
·
The
Upris were strangers and tenants at will. Leases were generally granted to the
Upris under the authority of the Mamlatdar or Kamavisdar.
Justice and Police:
·
There
were no codified laws or rules of procedure. The judicial officer in the
village was the Patil. Above him were the Mamlatdar and the Sarsubahdar represented
the Chhatrapati.
·
Capital
punishment was seems to have been unknown in the days of the first three
Peshwas.
·
In
the detection of crimes, the village watchmen (Jaglas) usually the degraded
Mahars and Mangs were helped by criminal tribes such as the Ramoshis, Bhils and
Kolis.
·
The
village police was under the Patil, the district police under the Mamlatdar. In
big cities the police was placed under the Kotwal whose duties included the
regulation of prices and taking of census.
·
Outside
the Swaraj, the Maratha system of government was “almost predatory”.
·
After
Shambaji’s death (1689), when the monarchy was virtually in abeyance, central
control disappeared.
·
The
Maratha soldiers fighting against the Mughals were irregular groups led by
different chiefs. This system was formalised during the reign of Sahu.
·
The
feudalisation of the state resulted in the feudalisation in the army.
·
In
the 18th century, Mahadaji Sindhia had disciplined battalions under European
officers and used them effectively against his Indian enemies.
·
The
Pindaris, who were plunderers by profession, were allowed to accompany the
Maratha armies on every expedition in return of a tax (Palpatti). They shared
their spoils with the government which took 25% of their booty.
ANGLO-MARATHA WARS:
·
1st
Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82): In tussle for Peshwaship,
Britishers supported Raghunath Rao but were defeated and Treaty of Wadgaon
(1779) and Treaty of Salbai (1782) were signed.
·
2nd
Anglo-Maratha War (1803-06): the Subsidiary Alliance
Treaty of Bassein (1802) signed by Maratha Peshwa was not acceptable to Maratha
confederacy but they were defeated by Britishers.
·
3rd
Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18): Lord
Hastings move against Pindaris to establish British paramountcy transgressed
sovereignty of Maratha chiefs and the war started. Marathas were defeated.
