Maratha Empire

The beginning of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century AD was an important landmark for the state of Maharashtra. The Maratha Empire was started by Shivaji in the year 1674 in the Bijapur Sultanate. Before the establishment of the Maratha Empire the cause of the natives were put forward through the Yadavas. But under the leadership of the able Shivaji the Maratha Power gained a new momentum.

Shivaji unchained the Marathas from the rule of the Muslim ruler of Bijapur. The reign of the Marathas proved dangerous for the Mughal emperors, whose territory was continuously attacked by the army of Shivaji. Successful campaigns against the Mughals included the capturing of the port of Surat. Ten years later Shivaji crowned himself the king of the Marathas or the Chhatrapati. After his death in the year 1680, the two sons of Shivaji, Shambhaji and Rajaram both ruled the empire for a considerable amount of time

Rajaram’s death in 1700, prompted his widow Tarabai to enthrone her son, Shahu. After his death in the year 1712, his prime minister or Peshwa, Balaji Vishwanath ascended the throne and thus started the Peshwa Dynasty. His son Bajirao brought the Maratha Empire into the centre of Indian politics. An interesting fact about the rule of the Peshwas is that during their Reign the Marathas and the Mughals formed an alliance.

The Third Battle of Panipat in the year 1761 played a decisive role for the future of the empire. The Peshwa dynasty came to an end with the fall of the Ahmadnagar fort and the long rule of the British started.