Maratha Power - India
Chapter 1
India on the Eve of British Conquest
Maratha Power
Sambhaji (1680 – 1689) * Elder son from first wife of shivaji; Raja Ram – second son from second wife * Kavi Kalash ‘Instigator of strife’ – Brahmin from north India; detested by Maratha leaders * 1681 – Renewed war with Mughals, raided Burhanpur and attempted attack on Ahmadnagar. * Politically isolated after fall of Bijapur and Golconda, troubled by internal conspiracies & uprisings – slowly lost grip on affairs of state. * February 1689 – Sambhaji & Kavi Kalash captured & brutally executed in March at Sangameshwar * Treated as martyr for Maratha cause after death * Books – ‘Boodhbushanam’; ‘Nakshika’; ‘Nayika Bhed’
Raja Ram (1689 – 1700) * Sensing Mughal attack – moved capital from Raigar and settled in Jinji; remained centre of Maratha activity against Mughals till 1698. * October 1689 - Raigar captured; all members of family including Shahu imprisoned. * Maratha War of Independence – Recovered substantial part of territory from Mughals; However 1696 weakened by civil war; 1698 Jinji fell to Mughals * Raja Ram fled to Satara; became new capital * Died 1700
Tarabai (1700 – 1707) * Widow of Raja Ram; placed son Shivaji II on throne; de facto ruler of Maratha State * Attacked Berar, invaded Gujarat, sacked Baroda, threatened Mughals in Ahmadnagar and raided it Aurangabad * By 1707 regained Maratha independence
Period of civil war – Shahu and shivaji II (170 – 1714) * Shahu released in 1707 to create confusion and weaken Maratha War of Independence * Till 1714 - Civil war between Shahu and Tarabai; * 1708 - Shahu defeated Tarabai's forces; occupied Satara * Maratha kingdom two rival sub states; Shahu at Satara & Shivaji II at Kolhapur * New system of Maratha government evolved under Balaji Vishwanath; Peshwa of Shahu. * Began period of Peshwa domination – Turned Maratha state into empire
Maratha
India on the Eve of British Conquest
Maratha Power
Sambhaji (1680 – 1689) * Elder son from first wife of shivaji; Raja Ram – second son from second wife * Kavi Kalash ‘Instigator of strife’ – Brahmin from north India; detested by Maratha leaders * 1681 – Renewed war with Mughals, raided Burhanpur and attempted attack on Ahmadnagar. * Politically isolated after fall of Bijapur and Golconda, troubled by internal conspiracies & uprisings – slowly lost grip on affairs of state. * February 1689 – Sambhaji & Kavi Kalash captured & brutally executed in March at Sangameshwar * Treated as martyr for Maratha cause after death * Books – ‘Boodhbushanam’; ‘Nakshika’; ‘Nayika Bhed’
Raja Ram (1689 – 1700) * Sensing Mughal attack – moved capital from Raigar and settled in Jinji; remained centre of Maratha activity against Mughals till 1698. * October 1689 - Raigar captured; all members of family including Shahu imprisoned. * Maratha War of Independence – Recovered substantial part of territory from Mughals; However 1696 weakened by civil war; 1698 Jinji fell to Mughals * Raja Ram fled to Satara; became new capital * Died 1700
Tarabai (1700 – 1707) * Widow of Raja Ram; placed son Shivaji II on throne; de facto ruler of Maratha State * Attacked Berar, invaded Gujarat, sacked Baroda, threatened Mughals in Ahmadnagar and raided it Aurangabad * By 1707 regained Maratha independence
Period of civil war – Shahu and shivaji II (170 – 1714) * Shahu released in 1707 to create confusion and weaken Maratha War of Independence * Till 1714 - Civil war between Shahu and Tarabai; * 1708 - Shahu defeated Tarabai's forces; occupied Satara * Maratha kingdom two rival sub states; Shahu at Satara & Shivaji II at Kolhapur * New system of Maratha government evolved under Balaji Vishwanath; Peshwa of Shahu. * Began period of Peshwa domination – Turned Maratha state into empire
Maratha