Notes-Class 7-History-Chapter 10-The Expansion of the Maratha Power -Maharashtra Board

Marathas go on the offensive :

• Towards the end of the 17th century, the Mughals were on the offensive while the Marathas were on the back foot.
• In the latter half of the 18th century, this situation changed, and the Maratha power effectively extended all of India.

Release of Shahu Maharaj :

• After Aurangzeb's death, the struggle for the throne of Delhi began among his sons.
• Prince Azamshah, who was in the south, marched towards Delhi to seize the imperial throne.
• He released Shahu Maharaj with the intention of inciting conflict among the Marathas, which would sap their strength.

Coronation of Shahu Maharaj :

• Immediately after his release, Shahu Maharaj staked his claim on throne, which was not accepted by Maharani Tarabai.
• Due to this, the armies of Shahu Maharaj and Maharani Tarabai fought a battle at Khen, in which Shahu Maharaj won.
• Shahu Maharaj captured Satara and got himself coronated.
• Maharani Tarabai proclaimed her minor son Shivaji II as Chhatrapati at Panhala in 1710.
• This gave rise to two Maratha kingdoms, at Satara and Kolhapur.

Shahu Maharaj gained knowledge while imprisoned by the Mughals :

As the early part of Shahu Maharaj’s life was spent in the Mughal camps he knew :

• Finger points of the Mughal and north Indian politics.
• Strength and weaknesses of the Mughal.
• Acquaintance with the influential courtiers in the Mughal court.

All these factors helped him deciding the new direction of Maratha politics in the changing circumstances.

Change in the policy of Maratha :

• As the Mughal power was threatened by Iranian and Afghani invaders in the north-west and by Rajputs, Jats, Rohilas, and local Pathans within India, the successors of Aurangzeb gave up their goal of destroying the Maratha power.
• Since Delhi court needed the Marathas' help and support, the Marathas adopted a new policy. Instead of fighting with the Mughal power, they decided to protect it and expand their own empire in that role.

Balaji Vishwanath :

• Shahu Maharaj made Balaji Vishwanath, a peshwa, from Shrivardhan in Konkan.
• He was competent and experienced, who convinced many sardars that Shahu
• Maharaj was the real heir of the Maratha empire.
• Kanhoji Angre, chief of Maratha Navy, had taken the side of Maharani Tarabai.
• However, Balaji won over Kanhoji Angre on the side of Shahu Maharaj.

Chauthai and Sardeshmukhi :

• After the death of Aurangzeb, the Sayyid brothers Abdulla (Hasan) and Hussein Ali became very influential.
• With their help, Balaji obtain Sanads to collect Chauthai (one-fourth part) and Sardeshmukhi (one-tenth part) of the revenue from the Mughal territory in Deccan.

Bajirao I :

• On the death of Balaji Vishwanath, his son Bajirao I was appointed as Peshwa by Shahu Maharaj in 1720 CE.
• As the Mughal power had become weak, Bajirao knew that there was more scope to expand the empire towards northern side. Shahu Maharaj supported his policy.

Expansion of Maratha Power under the leadership of Bajirao I:

Nizam’s defeat at Palkhed :

• The Mughal emperor Farukhsea appointed Nizam-ul-Mulk, the Subhedar of Deccan, who tried to establish his separate existence at Hyderabad.
• Bajirao defeated Nizam at Palkhed, and Nizam accepted the right of the Marathas to collect Chauthai and Sardeshmukhi in Deccan.

Malwa :

• Malwa in Madhya Pradesh was part of the Mughal empire.
• Bajirao despatched Maratha army under the leadership of Chimajiappa to strengthen the Maratha power in Malwa.

Bundelkhand:

• King Chhatrasal of Bundelkhand was attacked and defeated by the Mughal Subhedar Mohmnmad Khan Bangush of Allahabad.
• On appeal of King Chhatrasal, Bajirao, with his huge army, defeated Bangush and established Maratha supermacy in Malwa and Bundelkhand.

The battle of Bhopal :

• Bajirao demanded the Subhedari of Malwa from the Emperor. As the Emparor declined this demand, he marched on Delhi in 1737.
• Bajirao defeated Nizam, who had proceeded to Delhi to defend the Mughal power, at Bhopal.
• Nizam agreed to secure the Subhedari of Malwa to the Marathas from the Emperor.

The defeat of Portuguese :

• Bajirao sent Chimajiappa to Vasai as the Portuguese were oppressing their subjects.
• Chimajiappa conquered Thane, defeated the Portuguese.
• The fort of Vasai and large parts of the Portuguese territory passed into the hands of the Marathas.

Death of Bajirao :

• On receiving the news of invasion by Nadirshah, Bajirao setout for the North to defend the Mughal power. However, Nadirshah had returned to Iran by the time Bajirao reached Burhanpur.
• Bajirao breathed his last at Raverkhedi on the banks of the Narmada in April, 1740.
• Bajirao was a great general. He had established the Marathas supremacy in the north. He had made the Marathas a formidable power in the whole of India.