UPSC Notes / Medieval Indian History / Chapter 17
Chapter 17 of 24

Maratha Empire

Shivaji's guerrilla genius, the Peshwa era's expansion, and the confederacy's dramatic rise and eventual fall to the British.

📖 ~15 min read 🕌 Medieval Indian History

Introduction

The Maratha Empire/Confederacy (c. 1674-1818 CE), founded by the extraordinary military and administrative leader Shivaji Maharaj, grew from a regional Deccan kingdom into the most powerful indigenous force challenging Mughal authority, before eventually falling to British expansion in the early 19th century.

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Image space — add illustration here
Suggested: Raigad Fort or a statue of Shivaji Maharaj
Suggested visual: Raigad Fort (Shivaji's capital) or Shivaji Maharaj statue

Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680 CE)

  • Built a formidable kingdom through a combination of guerrilla warfare tactics ("Ganimi Kava"), a strong network of hill forts, and effective administration.
  • Crowned himself Chhatrapati at Raigad Fort in 1674 CE, formally establishing an independent Maratha kingdom.
  • Famous episodes include his escape from Aurangzeb's custody at Agra, and the killing of Bijapur general Afzal Khan using a concealed "tiger claw" (Bagh Nakh) weapon during a treacherous meeting.

Ashtapradhan — Council of Eight Ministers

MinisterPortfolio
PeshwaPrime Minister — general administration (later became the most powerful hereditary office)
Amatya (Majumdar)Finance and accounts
SachivRoyal correspondence
MantriRecords and royal household affairs
SenapatiMilitary commander
Sumant (Dabir)Foreign affairs
NyayadhishJustice
PanditraoReligious/charitable affairs

Rise of the Peshwas

Flowchart — Shift of Power to the Peshwas
Shivaji's successors (weaker Chhatrapatis after his death)
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Balaji Vishwanath (first powerful Peshwa, early 18th century) consolidates real administrative and military power in the Peshwa's office
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Baji Rao I expands Maratha power across much of India — Chhatrapati becomes largely a symbolic figurehead at Satara, with the Peshwa (based at Pune) as the de facto ruler

Under the Peshwas, the Marathas evolved into a Confederacy of powerful chieftain families — the Scindias (Gwalior), Holkars (Indore), Gaekwads (Baroda), and Bhonsles (Nagpur) — each governing substantial semi-autonomous territories while owing nominal allegiance to the Peshwa.

Third Battle of Panipat (1761 CE)

⚖️ Major Setback: The Marathas suffered a devastating defeat against Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani) of Afghanistan at the Third Battle of Panipat — a huge blow in terms of both manpower and prestige, though the Confederacy did eventually recover much of its regional power within a couple of decades.

Decline — Anglo-Maratha Wars

Internal rivalries among the Confederacy's constituent chiefs, combined with British diplomatic and military pressure, led to three Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775-1818), culminating in the final defeat of Peshwa Baji Rao II and the complete absorption of Maratha territories into British India by 1818 — covered further in the Rise of Regional States and Modern History chapters.

✅ UPSC Focus: Shivaji's coronation (1674, Raigad) and guerrilla tactics · Ashtapradhan council's eight portfolios · Shift of real power from Chhatrapati to Peshwa · Four Confederacy chieftain families and their seats · Third Battle of Panipat (1761) as a major setback.

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