Notes-Class 7-History-Chapter 11-Marathas: The Protectors of the Nation -Maharashtra Board

Appointment of Nanasaheb Peshwa :

• After the death of Bajirao I, Shahu Maharaj appointed his son Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb) as the Peshwa.
• Nanasaheb tried to stabilise the Maratha rule in the north.

Situation in the north :

• The Pathans who had migrated from Afganistan were known as Rohillas. They had settled in the region north-west of Ayodhya province, known as Rohilkhand.
• The Rohillas had wrought havoc in Doab region.
• On the invitation of the Nawab of Ayodhya, the Marathas had chastised the Rohillas.

Conflict with the Afghans :

• In 1751, Ahmadshah Abdali invaded India, drawn by its riches.
• Facing the threat of Abdali's invasion, the Mughal emperor sought the assistance of the Marathas.
• In April 1752, he reached an agreement with the Marathas.
• The Marathas agreed to defend Mughal power from the Afghans, Jats, Rajputs, and Rohillas. In exchange, the Marathas were granted the right to collect Chauthai in Punjab, Multan, Rajputana, Sindh, and Rohillakhand, as well as Subhedari in Agra and Ajmer.
• As a result, the Peshwa dispatched the Shinde-Holkar armies to protect Delhi.
• However, after learning that the Marathas were marching to Delhi. Abdali returned to Afghanistan.
• In recognition of this, the Mughal emperor granted the right to collect Chauthai in Kabul, Kandahar, and Peshawar, which were now part of Abdali's kingdom.
• As a result of this treaty, the Marathas were obligated to reclaim these subhas and attach them to the Mughal empire.

Begin of conflict between the Marathas and Abdali  :

• Abdali desired control over the region up to Punjab, making conflict between the Marathas and Abdali inevitable.
• Raghunathrao, Peshwa Nanasaheb's brother, undertook a campaign of North India to combat Abdali, accompanied by Jayappa Shinde and Malharrao Holkar.
• The local rulers in the North did not assist the Marathas in their campaign because they opposed Maratha supremacy.
• Some orthodox sects saw Marathas as belonging to another religion and persuaded Abdali to invade India.

The Maratha standard on Attock :

• At the behest of Najibkhan, the Rohilla chief, Abdali invaded India for the fifth time. He captured Delhi, collected a huge booty and returned to Afghanistan.
• Raghunathrao and Malharrao Holkar recaptured Delhi, Punjab and pursued Abdali’s army upto Attock and raised Maratha standard at Attock in 1758.
• The Marathas pushed the campaign upto Peshawar but did not make proper arrangement to look after this newly captured territory.

Dattaji’s valour :

• Dattaji Shinde and Jankoji Shinde were sent to get firm hold over Punjab and to crush Najibkhan.
• To help Najibkhan, Abdali invaded India once again.
• In the fierce battle at Buradi Ghat, Dattaji fought with great valour and met heroic death.

Sadashivraobhau :

• Nanasaheb Peshwa sent his cousin Sadashivraobhau and eldest son Vishwasrao to North to crush Abdali.
• Ibrahimkhan Gardi was the chief of artillery.
• Many sardars joined this campaign.

The Battle of Panipat :

• With the broader perception that India is for Indians, the Marathas engaged in battle at Panipat.
• The Battle between Ahmadshah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, and the Maratha army led by Sadashivaraobhau, the cousin of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao, on 14^th January, 1761 is known as the Third Battle of Panipat.
• Sadashivraobhau was accompanied by Vishwasrao, the eldest son of the Peshwa.
• Ibrahimkhan Gardi wasthe chief of the powerful artillery of the Marathas.
• Vishwasrao fell a victim to the enemy bullet.
• When Sadashivraobhau learnt this, he fiercely attacked enemy in frenzy. He disappeared in the battle fray.
• Seeing their leaders had disappeared, the Maratha soldiers lost courage and thus they were defeated.
• A whole generation of young men in Maharashtra and many brave Sardars were killed in the battlefield.

Peshwa Madhavrao :

• Peshwa Madhavrao took over as Peshwa after Nanasaheb died, and he kept Nizam and Hyder Ali at bay.
• He restored the Marathas' supremacy in the north. At Rakshasbhuvan, Madhavrao defeated Nizam.
• At Moti Talav, the Marathas defeated Hyder Ali. Hyder Ali agreed to hand over the region north of the Tungbhadra River to the Marathas.
• The Marathas suffered an irreparable loss when Madhavrao died in 1772.
• He was a trustworthy, hardworking administrator who cared deeply about public welfare.
• Narayanrao and Sawai Madhavrao's terms were brief after him.
• Raghunathrao sought the assistance of the British to satisfy his desire for power.

Tipu Sultan :

• After the death of Hyder Ali in 1782, his son Tipu became the Sultan of Mysore.
• He was a skilled warrior who established contact with French and challenged the British.
• He died in a battle against the British in 1799.

The Maratha Supremacy rises once again :

• Peshwa Madhavrao dispatched Mahadji Shinde, Tukoji Holkar, Ramchandra Kanade and Visajipant Biniwale to re-establish the Maratha rule in the north.
• The Maratha army defeated the Jats, the Rohillas and the Rajputs.
• Emperor Shah Alam was restored to the throne under the protection of the Marathas.
• Neither Abdali nor his descendants dared to invade India again. In fact, they sent a messenger to Pune to establish cordial relations with the Marathas.
• Malharrao Holkar, Ahilyabai Holkar and Mahadji Shinde played an important role in re-establishment of the Maratha supremacy in the north.