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Medieval Indian History
The Marathas

Shivaji

  1. Shivaji belonged to Bhonsle Clan.
  2. Guru Ramdas was his political Guru.
  3. His coronation was held at Raigarh in 1674. His kingdom was called Swaraj.
  4. He adoped the titles of Chhatrapati, Haindava Dharmodharak & Kshatriya Kulavatamsa.
  5. He had confrontation with Afzal Khan of Bijapur in 1659.
  6. He also had confrontation with Shayista Khan in 1660.
  7. He sacked Surat in 1664 again in 1670.
  8. Died in 1680.

The Ashtapradhan

Peshwa / Mukhiya Pradhan Prime Minister, General administration both civil and military.
Sar-i-Naubat Chief of armed forces
Majumdar/ Amatya Finance , Revenue , Accounts
Sachiv/Surunavis/Chitnis Royal Correspondence
Dabir/Sumant Foreign Affiars/ Royal ceremonies
Mantri/Waqla-Nawis/Wakins Incharge of records, intelligence and looked after king’s private affairs.
Nayayadhish Pandit Rao Justice Religious affairs and Charities

THE PESHAWAS

1. Balaji Viswanath         1713-20
2. Baji Rao I                   1720-40
3. Balaji Baji Rao            1740-61
4. Mahadev Rao             1761-72
5. Narayan Rao              1772-73
6. Swami Madhav Rao   1773-95
7. Baji Rao Ji                 1795-1818

Maratha Families and Their Headquarters

1. Pashwa                 Poona
2. Scindia                 Gwalior (Initially Ujjain)
3. Gaekwad             Baroda
4. Bhonsle                Nagpur
5. Holker                 Indore
6. Pawar                 Dhar

Other Facts on Marathas

Swarajya Shivaji’s Kingdom
Raj Vyavahar Kosh Sanskrit dictionary compiled at the instance of Shivaji
Chautai/Chauth The levy on the neighbouring territories which was ¼ of the land revenue.
Haindava Dharmoddharak Title assumed by Shivaji which meant ‘Protector of the Hindu Faith’
Bakhar Shivaji’s Biography by Sabhasad written in 1677
Mirasis Resident owner cultivator
Watandars Local landed elements
Ashtapradhan Council of eightministers
Chitnis Secretary
Mauza Lowest unit of thecountry
Tarfs Second lowest unit of the country
Prants Provinces
Deshmukh Equivalent to chaudhuris (village headman) of North India and desais of Gujarat.
Kamavisdar Subedar of small provinces under the Peshwas
Mamlatdar Subedar of bigger provinces under the Peshwas
Watan Hereditary land holdings
Mirasdars Petty zamindars
Moksha Mahal Land grants
Saranjam Land grants
Sardeshmukhi 1/10 of produce taken by Shivaji being Sardeshmukh, head of Deshmukhs.

Maratha Confederacy

Balaji Viswanath

  1. The first Peshwa, in 1713.
  2. Induced Zulfiquar Khan to pay Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of Deccan.
  3. Helped the Sayyid brothers to overthrow Farruksiyar
  4. Introduced Saranjami System

Baji Rao I

  1. The greatest exponent of Guerrilla tactics after Shivaji
  2. Worsted Nizam-ul-Mulk twice.
  3. Compaigned against the Portuguese-captured Salsette & Bassein
  4. Compaigned against the Sidis of Janjira
  5. Propounded concept of Hindu Pad Padshahi, Real architect of Maratha Empire.

Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Sahib)

  1. Maratha families came into prominence.
  2. By the will of the king Shahu the Peshwa became the official head.
  3. Capital was shifted to Poona from Satara.
  4. Invaded Bengal repeatedly – gained Orissa.
  5. Helped Imad-ul-mulk to become Wazir.
  6. Invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali – Battle of Panipat 1761 – the nominal head of the Maratha army was Viswas Rao and the actual commander was Sadasiva Rao Bhao (killed in the battle). Artillery was under the command of Ibrahim Gardi.

Madhav Rao

  1. Defeated Haider Ali.
  2. Brought back the Mughal Emperor Shah who became their Pensioner.

Narayan Rao

  1. Conflict for power with Raghunath Rao.
  2. Raghunath Rao tried to capture power with the Brithish help.
  3. First Anglo-Maratha war.

Baji Rao II

  1. Son of Raghunath Rao.
  2. Mahadji Schindia rose to prominence. He established control over Shah Alam and secured the appointment of Peshwas as the emperor’s deputy.

Travellers During Medieval India

Travellers Rulers
Nicolo (1420-21 AD) Devaraya I
Abdur Razzaq (1443-44 AD) Devaraya II
Nikitin (1470-74) Firoz Shah Bahamani
Bardosa (1500-16 AD) Krishnadevaraya
Paes (1520-22 AD) Krishnadevaraya
Nuniz (1535-37 AD) Achyutdevaraya
Caeser Fredrick (1567-68 AD) Visited Vijay- nagara after the battle of Talikota.

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