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The word “Maratha” derives from “Mara which means a horseman or an archer or a fighter.” Generally, they are a group of people who dominate and control territory (otherwise known as their region) through military force. So, it follows that they are often historically famous for their battle skills. Maharathi refers to warriors and soldiers who belong to the group called Maratha caste. It was an ancient Indian royal clan who controlled a large area of India between North and Central India during the 16th and 17th century. They were also referred to as Marathas. The origins of Maratha wars can be traced back to the period when Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor, tried to subjugate certain parts of India (namely Maharashtra) which were ruled by various clans. Out of these various clans only one which was called Peshwa (who later become known as Maratha) managed to withstand the initial attack by Shah Jahan’s forces and were able to retain their territories even after being defeated once again in successive battles by Mughals.
Founder of Maratha Empire:
Shivaji Bhosale was the founder of the Maratha Empire in India. He was born in the year 1627. He is also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In his childhood days Shivaji Bhosale suffered from a disease and it left one of his legs slightly lame. He was a brave and intelligent person. At the young age of 16, he took part in his first battle against the army of Bijapur sultanate.
Shivaji Bhosale established three Hindavi Swaraj (self-rule) village republics that did not rely upon Mughal rule and refused to pay them taxes. These three villages were taken from Muslim rulers by Shivaji Bhosale. The names of these villages are Pratapgad, Raigad and Rajgad. He also established a code of conduct for his soldiers in which all the soldiers were known as soldiers or ‘Swarajya’.
Ashtapradhan:
The Ashtapradhan refers to the eight ministers who assisted Shivaji Bhosale in running the administration of his kingdom. They are:
- Balaji Vishwanath Bhat (Mahajan)
- Keshav Pandit
- Netaji Palkar (Mantri)
- Hambirrao Mohite (Peshwa)
- Prataprao Gujar (Hazari )
- Bajirao Mohite(Senapati)
- Pant Pratinidhi (Sar-Sadar)
- Moropanta Dabhade
The Maratha Empire
The empire was founded in 1674 and it covered most of the present-day state of Maharashtra, along with parts of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. The capital of the Maratha Empire was located at Raigad. Shivaji Bhosale was a great military leader who conquered many forts and defeated many Mughal rulers. One remarkable feature about Shivaji Bhosale was that he never attacked a fort which did not belong to an enemy or did not have wealth or weapons inside it.
The Marathas
The Marathas or Mughals. The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty founded by Babar in 14th century. They ruled most of the present-day Indian subcontinent and parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and also Persia and Central Asia. The rulers of the Mughal empire were originally Turkic (or Turko-Mongolian) speaking. Later on following the defeat of the Lodhi dynasty, they became a culturally Persianate and Turkic speaking people with an Indo-Persian culture and a New Persian language originated from them. Aurangzeb was the last great Mughal Emperor who tried to assert control over all India but he failed to do that.
The Peshwas:
The Peshwas were a Sunni Muslim dynasty who had been entrusted with the administration of the Maratha Empire by the Marhattas. They held the hereditary title of Sardars or chiefs. The first Peshwa was Balaji Vishwanath Bhat (Mahajan). He ruled till 1720, when he stepped down and handed over power to his son Narayanrao.
Balaji Baji Rao:
The third ruler of the Peshwas was Balaji Baji Rao, who ruled from 1720 to 1740. He played an important role in increasing the strength of the Maratha Kingdom and Sikh King Banda Singh Bahadur, who was a Sikhs king in Punjab and had captured Lahore from Mughal rulers, was supported by Balaji Baji Rao. As a result of this assistance Banda Singh Bahadur captured Delhi.
After Bharatpur raja Suraj Mal had defeated one sikh king Madho singh in a war-battle at Amritsar and thus Madho singh attacked Bharatpur after that Suraj Mal also came out to attack Madho Singh. The saffron forces were defeated by Madho singh. Balaji Baji Rao had the idea to make a compromise with the Marathas and he also taught his son Vithal that he should get good relations with the Mughals and Vithal became Peshwa Balaji Bajiraoi. Balaji Bajiraoi defeated Jagmeet singh, Rathore and Dhillon.
After the death of Balaji Bajirao, his son Rajaram Bhosale succeeded him as the Peshwa. He started the process of expansion into Nizam’s territories, Malva-Nad-Sabha and Karnataka from Maharashtra. He was known as the most powerful and ruthless person due to his brutality against the Konkani and Maratha people.
Significance and Contribution of Marathas in India:
Marathas are known as the great Hindu warrior tribe of India who had built a vast empire that included most parts of present-day India. The Maratha Empire was founded by Rajaram Bhosale, who was a Hindu warrior and freedom fighter. The Marathas were known for their military might and their valour to fight for independence and freedom against the Mughal Empire. Rajaram Bhosale was a brave and disciplined Indian chieftain who not only fought against Mughals but also fought against British colonial powers like the East India Company. He promoted education among his people, protected tribal rights and opposed caste discrimination. Rajaram Bhosale is one of the most prominent figures in Indian history.
Historians believe that the Maratha empire played a vital role in Indian independence. The Marathas had been present in the region of India for centuries and their power is believed to have contributed greatly to the emergence of modern India. When Shivaji was able to defeat Mughals, they became regarded as heroes and founders of the freedom movement in India. These people are known as brave warriors who fought against British forces in India.
Conclusion:
It can be concluded that Shivaji Bhosale was a great Hindu warrior who fought against Muslim rule and established an empire in India. The Marathas were known for their bravery and they played a vital role in India’s history.
