Overview of Maratha Empire

When we study the history of medieval India, especially the later half of the 17th century, we notice a grand empire in decline—the Mughal Empire, once mighty under Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, now struggling under the strain of over-centralization, religious orthodoxy, and never-ending military campaigns. In such a backdrop of political uncertainty and social unrest, rose a new force from the rugged hills of western India—the Marathas, led by a visionary leader, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Shivaji was not born into royalty. He was the son of a Maratha jagirdar serving the Bijapur Sultanate, but he dreamed of something larger—Swarajya, self-rule for his people. It was an idea rooted not just in political ambition, but in cultural confidence and administrative vision. He challenged powerful sultans and even dared to defy the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, not by direct confrontation, but through a bold new military strategy—guerrilla warfare or ganimi kava. Using the terrain of the Sahyadri hills to his advantage, Shivaji built a chain of forts, created a disciplined administration, and established a formidable naval force, earning him the title “Father of the Indian Navy.”

But Shivaji was more than a warrior. He was a statesman who believed in dharma, not religious fanaticism. His administration respected religious pluralism, his revenue system was just, and his governance was rooted in people-centric ethics. The Maratha Empire under him wasn’t merely about territory—it was a model of decentralized administration, strategic warfare, and local empowerment.

After Shivaji’s death in 1680, the Maratha state faced brutal repression from Aurangzeb, especially under his Deccan campaigns. His successor, Sambhaji Maharaj, was captured and executed, and yet the spirit of resistance never died. Leaders like Rajaram, Tarabai, and eventually Shahu Maharaj kept the flame burning. The Marathas transformed from a regional force to a pan-Indian power under the stewardship of their Brahmin prime ministers—the Peshwas.

The Peshwa era marked the Maratha Empire’s peak. Balaji Vishwanath, the first Peshwa, stabilized the kingdom. His son, Baji Rao I, a military genius, expanded Maratha influence from the Narmada to the Yamuna and even to the outskirts of Delhi. He is famously remembered as “the greatest exponent of guerrilla tactics after Shivaji.” Under Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb), the Marathas reached the zenith of their territorial might, becoming the most powerful Indian force after the decline of the Mughals.

However, with great expansion came overreach. The Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 was a tragic turning point. The Marathas, though brave and determined, suffered a devastating defeat against the Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali. It shattered their dream of replacing the Mughals as the all-India empire. Yet, the Marathas quickly regrouped and revived their power in the following decades—a rare example of resilience in Indian history.

Eventually, it was not on the battlefield but in the realm of diplomacy and deceit that the Marathas were undone. The British East India Company, through clever alliances and divide-and-rule policies, weakened the unity of Maratha sardars. The Second and Third Anglo-Maratha Wars (1803–1805 and 1817–1819) effectively ended their political dominance. The Peshwa’s power was abolished, and although some Maratha princely states survived as British allies, the dream of Swarajya was again deferred—this time not to a sultan or a Mughal emperor, but to a foreign company.

But the Maratha legacy endured. Their contribution to Indian polity, military strategy, and the vision of indigenous rule remained alive in memory and in spirit. In a sense, the nationalist leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries saw in Shivaji and the Marathas a prototype of Indian resistance—grounded in courage, unity, and self-belief.

So, when we begin our study of the Maratha Empire, we are not just studying the story of another regional kingdom. We are exploring a unique Indian response to foreign rule—a people’s movement that grew into an empire, led by hillsmen who dared to dream beyond the mountains.

Here is a detailed timeline of Maratha Empire:

🟠 Phase I: Maratha State under the Chhatrapatis (1674–1720)

This was the foundational phase, led by the Bhonsle rulers from Shivaji to Shahu, where the idea of Swarajya was established and defended.

Year(s)	Event / Reign	Details and Importance
1674	Coronation of Shivaji Maharaj at Raigad	Formally declared Chhatrapati; established Maratha sovereignty.
1674–1680	Shivaji’s rule	Built a centralized administration, forts, a navy; challenged Mughals and Bijapur.
1680	Death of Shivaji	Power struggle followed between his sons Sambhaji and Rajaram.
1680–1689	Sambhaji Maharaj	Fought Aurangzeb relentlessly; was captured and executed in 1689.
1689–1700	Rajaram Maharaj	Fought a guerrilla resistance from Gingee Fort; key in Maratha revival.
1700–1707	Tarabai (regent for her son Shivaji II)	Continued anti-Mughal resistance; strong leadership during crisis.
1707	Death of Aurangzeb	Marked a turning point in Mughal-Maratha struggle.
1707–1749	Shahu Maharaj	Released by Mughals; won civil war against Tarabai; empowered the Peshwas.
1713–1720	Balaji Vishwanath becomes Peshwa	Negotiated Mughal grants; laid foundations for Maratha Confederacy.

🟠 Phase II: Maratha Confederacy under the Peshwas (1720–1761)

The Peshwas took over as de facto rulers, expanding Maratha influence across India.

Year(s)	Event / Reign	Details and Importance
1720–1740	Peshwa Baji Rao I	Military genius; expanded Maratha power to Delhi and beyond; never lost a battle.
1731	Battle of Dabhoi	Marathas defeated Dabhade faction; consolidated Peshwa control.
1737	Maratha raid on Delhi	Baji Rao reached the outskirts of Delhi; weakened Mughal prestige.
1740–1761	Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb)	Zenith of Maratha territorial power; internal unity began to weaken.
1741	Battle of Vasai	Marathas defeated Portuguese; gained Vasai and nearby regions.
1751–52	Treaty of Bhalki	Marathas received revenue rights from the Nizam in Deccan.
1757	Marathas recapture Delhi from Abdali’s allies	Acted as protectors of the Mughal throne.
1761	Third Battle of Panipat	Massive defeat against Ahmad Shah Abdali; over 100,000 Marathas died. Turning point.

🟠 Phase III: Fragmentation, British Diplomacy, and Decline (1761–1818)

After Panipat, the Maratha Confederacy revived but became divided among regional power centers (Gaekwads, Holkars, Scindias, Bhonsles), eventually succumbing to British power.

Year(s)	Event / Ruler / Region	Details and Importance
1761–1772	Madhav Rao I (Peshwa)	Restored Maratha prestige post-Panipat; defeated Hyder Ali and Nizam.
1772	Death of Madhav Rao I	Power struggles re-emerged; internal divisions grew.
1775–1782	First Anglo-Maratha War	Marathas defeated British (Treaty of Salbai); proved their strength.
1782–1795	Rise of Mahadji Scindia	Dominated North India; revived Maratha influence at Mughal court.
1795	Battle of Kharda	Marathas defeated Nizam; last major Maratha military success.
1796–1802	Peshwa Baji Rao II’s reign	Weak leadership; internal feuds with Holkars and Scindias.
1803–1805	Second Anglo-Maratha War	Marathas decisively defeated; Peshwa accepted Subsidiary Alliance.
1806–1817	Nominal rule of Peshwa Baji Rao II	Became a puppet in British hands; Maratha unity shattered.
1817–1818	Third Anglo-Maratha War	Final defeat; Peshwa’s office abolished; British annexed his territory.
1818	End of Maratha Empire	Confederacy dissolved; princely states like Gwalior, Indore, Baroda continued under British paramountcy.