Marathas

1 Bahamnai Kingdom and Deccan Sultante.
1. Bahmani - reached its peak under guidance of Mahmud Gawan (not a ruler). By the year 1526, the Bahmani kingdom had disintegrated into five independent sultanates. They were Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Berar, Golkonda and Bidar and known as Deccan Sultanates
2 Marathas:
1. Rose in 16th & 17th century, (a) physical environment - forests and hill forts (b) religious unity due to spread of Bhakti c) held admin and military positions in Deccan Sultanates - all of this ultimately led to their rise under Shivaji (1627-80)
2. Was jagirdar at Poona, consolidated power by annexing neighboring states esp Adilshahi of Bijapur Sultanate. 1665 Lost against Raja Jai Singh of Amber sent by Aurganzeb to fight him, forced to sign a treaty and surrender forts. Peace with Mughals till 1670, war again by plundering Surat (chief port of Mughals) in 1670.
3. Administration - great of course. Assisted by council of ministers called ashtapradhan. Peshwa (Finance + PM), Sar-i-naubat (army), Amatya (accountant), Waqnavis (intelligence, post, household), sachiv (correspondence), sumanta (master of ceremonies), nyayadhish (justice), panditarao (charities & religious). Most admin reforms based on practices of Sultanate. Lands were measured by using the measuring rod called kathi. Lands classified into three categories – paddy fields, garden lands and hilly tracks. Reduced the powers of the existing deshmuks and kulkarnis and appointed his own revenue officials called karkuns.
4. Army - well maintained and organized. Cavalry supervised by havildars (fixed salaries). Division of cavalry - Bargirs (paid by state) & silahdars (maintained by nobles). Great builder of forts, around 240 built during reign. His death led to succession wars among son & step son. Eventually Peshwas took over.
5. Peshwas - were revenue heads. Balaji Vishwanath becomes Peshwa in 1713 and made position most important and hereditary. He assisted a young Maratha Emperor Shahu to consolidate his grip on a kingdom that had been racked by civil war and persistent attack by the Mughals under Aurangzeb. He was called the second founder of the Maratha State. Negotiated treaty with Farukhsiyar to continue collecting chauth and sardeshmukhi.
6. Baji Rao I - The Maratha power reached its zenith under him. He initiated the system of confederacy among the Maratha chiefs. Under this system, each Maratha chief was assigned a territory which could be administered autonomously. As a result, many Maratha families became prominent and established their authority in different parts of India. They were the Gaekwad at Baroda, the Bhonsle at Nagpur.
7. Balaji Bajirao (Nana Saheb) - Ahamdiya treaty was signed between the Marathas and Mughals. Thus when Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani invasions) invaded India, it became the responsibility of the Marathas to protect India. The Marathas fought very bravely against Ahmad Shah Abdali in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 but were defeated. Was a death blow to the Maratha power. Thereafter, the Maratha confederacy weakened due to internal conflicts among the Maratha chiefs.




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