BPSC / BSSC — Modern History

Chapter 21: Rise of Maratha Power

Shivaji · Peshwas · Anglo-Maratha Wars | 1627–1818 CE
⭐ High Weightage ⚔️ Shivaji & Peshwas 📜 13 Treaties ⚠️ 7 Exam Traps
Shivaji — Biography
Birth
1627 CE — Shivneri Fort
Mother
Jijabai
Father
Shahaji Bhonsle
Guru
Ramdas
Mentor / Protector
Dadoji Konddev
Capital
Raigarh
Titles
Haindava Dharmoddharak · Kshatriya · Chhatrapati
Death
1680 CE
👑 Coronation (Rajyabhishek)
Military Campaigns — Timeline
Year Event Key Fact
1643 Captured Sinhagad Fort (Bijapur)
1646 Captured Torna Fort
1648 Captured Purandar Fort
1656 Captured Raigarh Fort Later became capital
15 Apr 1663 Attacked Shaista Khan Mughal Governor of South (appointed by Aurangzeb)
1664 Attacked Surat Looted Mughal wealth
1665 Siege of Purandar Mughal General Jai Singh + Bijapur Sultan vs Shivaji
June 1665 Treaty of Purandar 23/35 forts to Mughals; Shambhaji got 5000 Jaat mansab
Ashtapradhan — Council of 8 Ministers
# Minister Role / Department
1 Peshwa Prime Minister
2 Sar-e-Naubat Head of Military Department
3 Amatya / Mazmuadar Minister of Finance and Revenue
4 Panditrao Chief Religious Officer
5 Nyayadhish Chief Judge
6 Sumant / Dabir Foreign Minister
7 Waqia-Navis Record Keeper
8 Secretary / Surunavis / Chitnis State correspondence
Provincial Admin Hierarchy
Mahal (State)
Pargana (Province)
Taraf (District) → Head: Karkoon
Mauza (Group of villages)
Village → Patel + Kulkarni
Revenue System
📏 Land Measurement
  • 20 Kathis (Mutha) = 1 Bigha
  • 120 Bighas = 1 Chavar
  • Based on model of Malik Ambar (Ahmednagar)
  • Land revenue rate: 33–40%
💰 Key Taxes
  • Chauth — 1/4 of state revenue from neighbouring states (for non-aggression)
  • Sardeshmukhi — 1/10 tribute by Sardeshmukhs
  • Saranjam (Mokasa) — land grants to Maratha chieftains
Revenue Officers
Officer Role
Karkoon Head of a Taraf
Subedar Officer of the province
Patel Land revenue collection
Kulkarni Land measurement officer
Military System
🐴 Cavalry Types
  • Bargir (Paga) — Regular cavalry soldiers
  • Silhedar — Irregular soldiers
⚓ Naval Development
  • Naval bases in Konkan region
  • Prominent naval base: Colaba
Military Hierarchy
Sar-e-Naubat — Highest Military Officer
Panchhazari — Commander of 5000 (controls 5 Ek Hazaris)
Ek Hazari — Commander of 1000 (controls 10 Jumladars)
Jumladar — Commander of 100 (controls 5 Havaldars)
Havaldar — Commander of 25 horsemen
Shivaji's Successors
Shambhaji1681–1689 CE
  • Period of conspiracies and rebellion
  • End of Ashtapradhan
  • Captured and executed by Aurangzeb
Rajaram1689–1700 CE
  • Shifted capital to Jinji (Karnataka)
  • Saranjami system restarted
Shivaji II & Tarabai (Regent)1700–1707 CE
  • Shivaji II ascended throne; Regent: Tarabai
  • Ruled: Satara, Raigarh, Sinhagad
  • Manucci's words: "Tarabai gave the Mughals a tough time"
Shahu1707–1749 CE
  • Released from 18 years of captivity (Mughal)
  • Battle of Kheda (Nov 1707): Tarabai defeated vs Shahu victorious
  • Appointed Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa
Peshwa Period
Balaji Vishwanath1713–1720 CE · First Peshwa
  • Appointed as Senakarta (Military Administrator) by Shahu in 1708 CE
  • Helped Sayyid Brothers depose Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar
  • Delhi treaty with Sayyid Brothers called Magna Carta of the Marathas
⭐ Baji Rao I1720–1740 CE · Fighting Peshwa
  • Son of Balaji Vishwanath
  • Founder of Maratha Confederacy
  • Capital: Pune (Poona)
  • Nickname: Fighting Peshwa
  • Battle of Dabhoi (1731 CE): Triyambakrao defeated
  • Victory at Bassein (1739 CE): Defeated Portuguese — captured Salsette and Bassein
  • Famous romantic relationship with Mastani (Muslim woman)
Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb)1740–1761 CE
  • Also known as Nana Saheb / Balaji II
  • Peshwa office became hereditary during his time
  • Pune became centre of Maratha politics
  • Maratha Empire reached greatest territorial extent
  • Third Battle of Panipat (14 Jan 1761):
      → Marathas defeated vs Ahmad Shah Abdali (Afghanistan) victorious
Other Peshwas
Peshwa Period
Madhav Rao I 1761–1772 CE
Madhav Rao Narayan 1774–1796 CE
Baji Rao II 1796–1818 CE
4 Prominent Maratha Clans
HolkarIndore
ScindiaGwalior
GaekwadBaroda
BhonsleNagpur
All Major Maratha Treaties
Treaty Year Between
Treaty of Purandar June 1665 Jai Singh & Shivaji
Treaty of Sangola 1750 Balaji Bajirao & Rajaram II
Treaty of Jalki 1752 Balaji Bajirao & Nizam
Treaty of Surat March 1775 Raghunath Rao & East India Company
Treaty of Purandar 1776 Madhavrao Narayan & British
Treaty of Wadgaon 1779 Madhavrao Narayan & British
Treaty of Salbai 1782 Madhavrao Narayan & British
Treaty of Bassein 31 Dec 1802 Bajirao II & British
Treaty of Deogaon 17 Dec 1803 Bhonsle (Berar) & British
Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon 1803 Scindia & British
Treaty of Rajpur Ghat 1804 Holkar & British
Treaty of Poona 13 June 1817 Bajirao II & British
Treaty of Mandasor 6 Jan 1818 Holkar & British
3 Anglo-Maratha Wars
War Period Governor-General Key Treaty
First Anglo-Maratha War 1775–1782 CE Warren Hastings Treaty of Salbai (1782)
Second Anglo-Maratha War 1803–1805 CE Lord Wellesley Treaty of Bassein, Deogaon, Surji-Anjangaon
Third Anglo-Maratha War 1817–1818 CE Lord Hastings Treaty of Poona, Mandasor
3 Battles of Panipat — Comparison
Battle Year Winner Loser
1st Battle of Panipat 1526 Babur Ibrahim Lodi
2nd Battle of Panipat 1556 Akbar (Bairam Khan) Hemu
3rd Battle of Panipat 14 Jan 1761 Ahmad Shah Abdali (Afghanistan) Marathas (Balaji Baji Rao's forces)
3rd Battle of Panipat — Key Details
Date?
14 January 1761
Maratha Peshwa at that time?
Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb)
Who defeated Marathas?
Ahmad Shah Abdali (Afghanistan)
⚠️ Exam Traps
Trap #1 — Shivaji ki 2 Coronations

Shivaji ki do coronations hui: 6 June 1674 aur 24 September 1674 — ek nahi. Dono same year mein. Scholar: Gaga Bhatta (Kashi).

Trap #2 — Treaty of Purandar — Do Alag Treaties

Treaty of Purandar = 2 alag treaties: (1) 1665 CE — Shivaji + Jai Singh. 23/35 forts to Mughals. (2) 1776 CE — Madhavrao Narayan + British. Dono alag hain.

Trap #3 — Chauth vs Sardeshmukhi

Chauth = 1/4 (25%) share — from neighbouring states for non-aggression. Sardeshmukhi = 1/10 (10%) tribute. Dono alag taxes — confuse mat karo.

Trap #4 — Magna Carta of Marathas

Magna Carta of Marathas = Delhi treaty between Balaji Vishwanath and Sayyid Brothers — NOT Treaty of Purandar. Aksar log confuse karte hain.

Trap #5 — 3rd Battle of Panipat — Date

3rd Battle of Panipat = 14 January 1761. Marathas defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali (Afghanistan) — not Mughals. Peshwa at time = Balaji Baji Rao.

Trap #6 — Peshwa vs Ashtapradhan

Peshwa was 1 minister in the Ashtapradhan (Prime Minister role). Later, Peshwa became hereditary during Balaji Baji Rao's time and got supreme power — Chhatrapati puppet bane.

Trap #7 — Anglo-Maratha Wars GG

1st = Warren Hastings. 2nd = Lord Wellesley. 3rd = Lord Hastings. Warren Hastings ≠ Lord Hastings — dono alag hain (different people, different wars).

⚡ Quick Recall Cards
Shivaji — Fast Facts
Birth place?
Shivneri Fort — 1627 CE
Guru?
Ramdas
Mentor?
Dadoji Konddev
Capital?
Raigarh
Coronation scholar?
Gaga Bhatta (Kashi)
Shaista Khan — kya tha?
Mughal Governor of South — appointed by Aurangzeb
Ashtapradhan — Key Posts
Prime Minister?
Peshwa
Military Head?
Sar-e-Naubat
Finance Minister?
Amatya / Mazmuadar
Foreign Minister?
Sumant / Dabir
Chief Judge?
Nyayadhish
Record Keeper?
Waqia-Navis
Revenue — Key Numbers
Chauth = ?
1/4 (25%) from neighbouring states
Sardeshmukhi = ?
1/10 (10%) tribute
Land revenue rate?
33–40%
20 Kathis = ?
1 Bigha | 120 Bighas = 1 Chavar
Peshwas
Magna Carta of Marathas = ?
Delhi treaty — Balaji Vishwanath + Sayyid Brothers
Fighting Peshwa?
Baji Rao I — Founder of Maratha Confederacy
Baji Rao I ne 1739 mein kya kiya?
Defeated Portuguese — captured Salsette & Bassein
Maratha ka max expansion — kiske time?
Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb)
4 Maratha clans?
Holkar (Indore), Scindia (Gwalior), Gaekwad (Baroda), Bhonsle (Nagpur)
Anglo-Maratha Wars
1st War (1775–82) — Governor-General?
Warren Hastings
2nd War (1803–05) — Governor-General?
Lord Wellesley
3rd War (1817–18) — Governor-General?
Lord Hastings
Treaty of Bassein — kab, kiske beech?
31 Dec 1802 — Bajirao II & British
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