The Rise of the Marathas

The rise of the Marathas: Chhatrapati Shivaji and Swarajya, the ashta pradhan, forts and the navy, chauth and sardeshmukhi, and the Peshwas.

Key ideas

• The Marathas were people of the Deccan, mainly present-day Maharashtra, identified by the Marathi language.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji’s idea of a sovereign kingdom was Swarajya; he was crowned at Raigad in 1674.
• He was advised by a council of eight ministers, the ashta pradhan mandala.
• He abolished hereditary posts, paid officials salaries from the treasury and transferred them.
• Forts were the core of defence, and a full-time navy guarded the coast and trade.
• From areas they protected but did not rule directly, the Marathas collected chauth and sardeshmukhi.
• Later the Peshwa (prime minister) led the state; Maratha power ended with the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818.

Remember

Watch out

• Swapping the taxes: chauth is 25%, sardeshmukhi 10%.
• Mixing up a bargir and a shiledar.
• Thinking the Peshwa was the king: the word meant prime minister.

Worked example