Maratha Empire After Shivaji By Omkar Chintamani Marathe Swarajya during Shivaji’s Reign Chhatrapati Sambhaji 3 Chhatrapati Sambhaji.. • April 1680 – Soyarabai started making plans to crown her son Rajaram. • May 1680 – Hambirrao Mohite was sent to imprison Sambhaji. • Hambirrao joined Sambhaji, imprisoned conspirators. • All were released, their political positions were restored. • January 1681 – Sambhaji coronated as Chhatrapati. 4 New Challenges • January 1681 – Akbar (Aurangazeb’s 4th son) revolted with aid of Rajput rulers of Marwar & Udaipur. • May 1681 – Akbar & Durgadas Rathod were given refuge by Sambhaji. • August 1681 - Soyarabai attempted to poison Sambhaji through Akbar. • All conspirators were executed. • October 1681 – Soyarabai committed suicide. 5 New Challenges.. • November 1681 – Aurangazeb with around 5,00,000 army entered Maharashtra. • Ordered Siddi, Portuguese to join campaign against Swarajya. • Aurangazeb’s campaigns in Konkan failed. • Attempt to capture Ramsej fort failed after siege of 6 months. 6 New Challenges.. • December 1681 – Mysore’s ruler allied with Mughals, captured major portion of Swarajya in Karnataka region. • November 1682 – Region was re-captured, Military base formed at Chitradurga. • April to November 1683 – Attacked and captured major Portuguese region except Vasai & Goa. • November 1683 – Attacked Goa, plundered Churches. 7 Fall of Adilshahi & Qutubshahi • September 1686 - Mughals conquered Adilshahi. • December 1686 to 1687 - Haraji Mahadik, Keshav Trimbak, Santaji Bhosale defeated Mughal troops in Karnatak-Tamilnadu. • September 1687 - Qutubshahi conquered by Mughals. • October 1687 – Hambirrao Mohite died in battle near Wai. 8 Sambhaji’s Death • February 1689 – Mukarrab Khan imprisoned Sambhaji near Sangameshwar. • Kavi Kalash – Sambhaji’s friend, Poet was also imprisoned. • Both were tortured for 1 month in prison. • 11th March 1689 (Phalgun Amavasya) – Both were executed publicly in Mughal camp. 9 After Sambhaji • Rajaram succeeded to Throne. • Mughals captured Raigad. • Yesubai (Sambhaji’s wife) & Shahu (son) were taken prisoners. • Rajaram fled from siege, shifted capital to Gingee (Tamilnadu). 10 Chhatrapati Rajaram • Continued the defense from Gingee. • Centre of war shifted to Tamilnadu. • Santaji Ghorpade & Dhanaji Jadhav defeated Mughal forces on all fronts in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu. • 1698 - Rajaram escaped from Gingee through Mughal siege, established new capital at Panhala. 11 Maharani Tarabai • 1700 – Rajaram died of illness. • Rajaram’s widow Tarabai continued resistance with the help of Dhanaji Jadhav, Ramchandrapant Amatya, Khando Ballal Chitnis, Khanderao Dabhade & other commanders. • Maratha forces crossed Narmada river, attacked Gujarat & Malwa regions. 12 Aurangazeb’s Death • February 1707 – Aurangazeb died at Khuldabad, near Aurangabad. • Resulted in Maratha’s victory after 25 years of war. • Mughal forces retreated to Delhi to participate in a battle for throne. • Muazzam killed Azam, succeeded to Throne. 13 Chhatrapati Shahu • 1707 – Shahu was released by Muazzam with some conditions. • Triggered war for Throne in Swarajya. • 1708 – Shahu succeded to Throne with the help of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, Dhanaji Jadhav, Khanderao Dabhade, Kanhoji Aangre & other commanders. • Swarajya started expanding as Maratha Empire. 14 Balaji Vishwanath Bhat 15 Balaji Vishwanath Bhat.. • Balaji Vishwanath Bhat – Clerk at Salt works in Shrivardhan owned by Siddi’s. • Migrated to Swarajya region in 1680’s. • Started working under Ramchandrapant Amatya – Peshwa (Prime Minister) during Rajaram’s reign. • Worked as head-administrator of Pune from 1699 to 1707. 16 Rise of Peshwai – Shift of Power • Balaji took part in many battles during Maratha’s War of Independence. • Started raising forces for different Maratha commanders like Dhanaji Jadhav, Khanderao Dabhade. • Became strong in administrative & military fronts. • Remained loyal to Swarajya. 17 Rise of Peshwai .. • 1707 A.D. – Balaji joined Shahu in a battle for Throne. • Shahu noticed his abilities & appointed him as his assistant. • Turned many commanders like Dhanaji Jadhav, Dabhade to Shahu’s side without battle. • Started working as Organizer of Maratha army. 18 Rise of Peshwai .. • 1713 – Admiral of Navy – Kanhoji Aangre revolted & declared himself ruler of Konkan. • Defeated & imprisoned Peshwa Bahiroji Pingale. • After Balaji’s negotiations, Aangre agreed to work as Admiral of Shahu’s kingdom. • Shahu appointed Balaji as new Peshwa – November 1713. 19 Instable Mughal Empire • Mughals lost control over major portion of North India during expedition in Maharashtra. • Bahadurshah succeeded Aurangaeb and became Emperor. • Bahadurshah died in 1712. • His son Jahaandar Shah was murdered in 1713. 20 Instable Mughal Empire .. • Sayyid brothers – Sayyid Hussain Ali & Sayyid Abdulla had turned king-makers in Mughal court. • Sayyid brothers were claiming themselves as descendants of Paigambar. • Farrukhsiyar became Emperor in 1713 with their support. • Chin Qilich Khan (Nizam) declared himself independent in Deccan. 21 Conspiracy against Sayyids • Foreseeing threat from Sayyid brothers, Farrukhsiyar planned to eliminate them. • 1718 - Hussain Ali was appointed as viceroy of Deccan. • Emperor requested Marathas & Nizam to attack & eliminate Hussain Ali. • Marathas defeated Hussain Ali with continuous Guerrilla war. 22 Key to Northward expansion • During treaty Peshwa Balaji Bhat convinced Hussain Ali for Maratha favored agreement- – To handover entire Maratha region & forts to Marathas. – To handover recently conquered region in Karnataka & Hyderabad to Marathas. – Rights to collect taxes from Mughal regions in Deccan. – Troop of 15,000 Marathas to be kept in Delhi for emperor. – Marathas to pay 10,00,000 Rupees annual ransom to emperor. – Releasing Shahu’s family members (mother & half brothers) in Mughal prison. 23 Plan of Duplicate Mughal Heir • Emperor refused to approve the agreement. • Balaji Bhat & Hussain Ali searched a person look alike of Moinuddin Hussain - Aurangazeb’s grandson (Akbar’s son). • Hussain Ali marched to Delhi with Aurangazeb’s grandson, Balaji Bhat & 15,000 Maratha force commanded by Khanderao Dabhade. • Duplicate was introduced in Mughal court. 24 Orders of the Agreement • Maratha forces were attacked in Delhi – some soldiers were killed. • Farrukhsiyar was blinded & imprisoned. • Rafi-Ud-Darjat was appoined as puppet emperor – signed the agreement with Marathas. • Gave the boost for rising power of Maratha Empire. 25 Vishwanath Balaji Bhat - Bajirao 26 Peshwa Bajirao • Accompanied Balaji Bhat during various expeditions – Notable was Delhi in 1719. • Bajirao had led siege at one of the gates of Red Fort during this expedition. • Sensed declining power of Mughals & vacuum being formed in Delhi. • Strongest nominee for the post of Peshwa, after Balaji’s death in April 1720. 27 Peshwa Bajirao • Chimanaji Damodar Moghe was nominated by group of ministers against Bhat family. • Shahu also consulted his spiritual mentor ‘Brahmendra Swami’. • Bajirao was appointed as Peshwa at age of 20. • “Strike the roots & branches will fall off” – Statement in Shahu’s court after appointment. 28 Challenges for Bajirao • Jealousy from senior officers & ministers like Shripatrao Pratinidhi. • Challenge from Nizam for rights to collect taxes in Deccan. • Disputes in territories of Malwa & Gujarat. • Siddis & Portuguese in Konkan. 29 Disputes with Nizam • Nizam initially resisted to pay taxes to Marathas. • Asked Bajirao for help against Mughal armies sent to crush Nizam’s rebel. • 1723 - Marathas under Bajirao defeated Mughal forces at Sakharkheda. • Nizam accepted Maratha’s authority - resumed paying taxes. 30 Disputes with Nizam • 1725 - Nizam again rebelled, refused to pay taxes, attacked Maratha tax collectors. • 1726 - Nizam started interfering disputes between Satara & Kolhapur kingdoms. • Sambhaji-II allied with Nizam. • Allied forces started attacking Pune, Nashik, Sangamner & borders of Satara. 31 Expedition Against Nizam • Bajirao was called back from Chitradurga. • September 1727 – Maratha forces under Bajirao marched towards Aurangabad, plundered Sindakhed & Jalna. • Bajirao retreated, marched towards Burhanpur, Nizam started chasing Marathas. • Bajirao bypassed Burhanpur, entered Gujarat. 32 Battle of Palkhed • Nizam attacked Pune – Attempted to bring Bajirao in open field. • Attempted to coronate Sambhaji-II as Chhatrapati. • Bajirao marched towards Aurangabad, Nizam started chasing Marathas. • Nizam was trapped at Palkhed. • February 1728 – Nizam surrendered, started paying taxes 33 Bajirao’s moves against Nizam 34 Effects of Palkhed Battle • Nizam accepted Maratha’s authority to collect taxes in Deccan. • Chhatrapati Shahu recognized as only Maratha King. • Bajirao gained identity as outstanding Cavalry General & Warrior. • Boost for Maratha’s campaigns in Malwa & Gujarat. 35 New Capital - Pune 36 Malwa Campaign • 1723 – Commanders like Ranoji Shinde, Malharrao Holkar, Udaji Pawar were appointed in Malwa to collect taxes. • October 1728 – Chimaji Appa with other commanders defeated Mughal Governor of Malwa – sent to counter increasing Maratha power. • November 1728 – Maratha forces marched till the borders of Rajputana. 37 Bundelkhand Campaign 38 Bundelkhand Campaign • Chhatrasal Bundela – Inspired from Chhatrapati Shivaji. • Established Swarajya in Bundelkhand. • 1728 –Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked Bundelkhand, defeated Maharaja Chhatrasal. • Chhatrasal was kept in house arrest. • Chhatrasal