Release and coronation of Shahu Maharaj
We often see a third person gain from a quarrel between two brothers. Shahu Maharaj got released through the throne-quarrel among Aurangzeb’s sons.
At the start of the war of independence the Mughals attacked and the Marathas defended; by the end this was reversed. Later the Marathas spread their power over almost all of India.
Key idea 1 : Release of Shahu Maharaj — After Aurangzeb’s death a struggle for the Delhi throne began among his sons. Prince Azamshah was in the South; he set off for Delhi to seize the throne. Shahu Maharaj was in his captivity. He thought that if Shahu was released, a conflict for the gadi would arise between Shahu and Tarabai and Maratha strength would be sapped; so he released Shahu Maharaj.
Key idea 2 : Battle of Khed and coronation — After release Shahu Maharaj marched towards Maharashtra. Some Maratha sardars joined him, but Tarabai did not accept his claim to the throne. The two armies fought a battle at Khed on the bank of the Bhima. Shahu Maharaj won, captured Satara and had himself crowned. Satara became the capital of the Maratha kingdom.
Key idea 3 : The Kolhapur gadi — For some time the mutual opposition of Tarabai and Shahu Maharaj continued. In 1710 Tarabai proclaimed her minor son Shivaji II as Chhatrapati at Panhala. So besides Satara a second independent Maratha kingdom arose at Kolhapur. Shahu Maharaj’s early life was spent in Mughal camps; so he knew the finer points of Mughal and North Indian politics well. Aurangzeb’s successors gave up the policy of destroying the Marathas, so the Marathas adopted a new policy: instead of fighting the Mughals, to expand their own empire in the role of their protector.
- Easy : Which became the capital of the Maratha kingdom? — Satara.
- Medium : The battle of Khed was on the bank of which river? — Bhima.
- Exam-type : Who started the Kolhapur gadi? — Tarabai (in 1710).
In the figure: Steps from release to two gadis.
What happened before Shahu Maharaj’s release? After Aurangzeb’s death his son Azamshah set off to seize the Delhi throne. Calculating that the Marathas would split, he released the captive Shahu.
What happened after Shahu Maharaj’s release? Shahu Maharaj was crowned at Satara and Tarabai ran a separate gadi at Panhala. The Maratha state split into two, but the Satara centre of Shahu later proved influential.
Release = Azamshah; Khed = Bhima; Satara = capital; 1710 = Kolhapur.
Shahu Maharaj did not get the gadi without a fight; at Khed he defeated Tarabai’s army.
Memory clue: Khed + Satara = Shahu; Panhala-Kolhapur = Tarabai.
Spot the difference
| Gadi | Capital | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Satara | Satara | Shahu Maharaj |
| Kolhapur | Panhala | Shivaji II (Tarabai) |
Practice questions
- 1Why did Azamshah release Shahu Maharaj?
- 2Between whom was the battle of Khed fought?
- 3How did Satara become the capital?
- 4How did the Kolhapur gadi arise?
- 5What helped Shahu Maharaj?
- 6What new policy did the Marathas adopt?
- 7Compare the situation at the start and the end of the war of independence.
- 8Show the Bhima river on a map.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1He felt a quarrel between Shahu and Tarabai would weaken the Marathas.
- 2Between the armies of Shahu Maharaj and Tarabai.
- 3Shahu Maharaj won the battle, took Satara and was crowned.
- 4Tarabai proclaimed Shivaji II Chhatrapati at Panhala in 1710.
- 5His knowledge of Mughal politics.
- 6To protect the Mughals rather than fight them and expand their own empire.
- 7At the start Mughals offensive, Marathas defensive; at the end the reverse.
- 8On the map of Maharashtra near Pune (Bhima river).
Balaji Vishwanath and the sanads of 1719
If you settle a matter by friendship rather than quarrel with a neighbour, effort is saved. Balaji Vishwanath did this with Kanhoji Angre.
A sanad is an official written grant of right issued by a ruler. Chauthai is the right to collect one-fourth of the revenue and sardeshmukhi one-tenth.
Key idea 1 : Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath — After release Shahu Maharaj made Balaji Vishwanath the Peshwa. Balaji hailed from Shrivardhan in Konkan; he was competent and experienced. He convinced many sardars that Shahu Maharaj was the real heir of the Maratha State and brought them to Shahu’s side.
Key idea 2 : Winning over Kanhoji Angre — Kanhoji Angre, chief of the Maratha navy, sided with Tarabai and attacked Shahu Maharaj’s territory; the situation became difficult. Shahu Maharaj sent Balaji against Angre, but Balaji avoided war and won Kanhoji over to Shahu’s side.
Key idea 3 : Sanads of chauthai and sardeshmukhi — After strengthening Shahu’s position in Maharashtra Balaji turned to politics in the North. After Aurangzeb’s death the Delhi court was marked by bickering and confusion; the Sayyid brothers (Abdulla and Hussein Ali) had become influential. With their help in 1719 Balaji obtained from the Mughal Emperor sanads to collect chauthai and sardeshmukhi from the Mughal territory in the Deccan. These gave the Marathas the right to one-fourth and one-tenth of the revenue there.
- Easy : How much is chauthai? — One-fourth.
- Medium : How much is sardeshmukhi? — One-tenth.
- Exam-type : Where was Balaji Vishwanath from? — Shrivardhan (Konkan).
In the figure: Main works of Balaji Vishwanath.
What happened before The sanads of 1719? Kanhoji Angre was on Tarabai’s side and attacking Shahu’s territory. Balaji avoided war and chose to win Angre over.
What happened after The sanads of 1719? After the sanads of 1719 the Maratha administration and finances expanded in the Deccan, and the Marathas’ attention turned to the North.
As per the textbook the sanads gave the Marathas an official right to revenue from Mughal territory; the Sayyid brothers helped in this.
1/4 = chauthai; 1/10 = sardeshmukhi; sanads = 1719.
Chauthai is not the whole tax; only one-fourth.
Memory clue: Chau = 4 (chauthai); dash = 10 (sardeshmukhi).
Spot the difference
| Right | Share | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chauthai | 1/4 | Quarter of revenue |
| Sardeshmukhi | 1/10 | Tenth of revenue |
Practice questions
- 1Who was Balaji Vishwanath?
- 2Who was Kanhoji Angre?
- 3How did Balaji win over Angre?
- 4What is chauthai?
- 5What is sardeshmukhi?
- 6With whose help were the sanads of 1719 obtained?
- 7What benefit did the sanads give the Marathas?
- 8If revenue is Rs 100, how much is chauthai?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Peshwa of Shahu Maharaj.
- 2Chief of the Maratha navy.
- 3Without fighting, he brought him to Shahu’s side through talks.
- 4Right to collect one-fourth of the revenue.
- 5Right to collect one-tenth of the revenue.
- 6With the help of the Sayyid brothers.
- 7An official right to revenue and political recognition.
- 8Rs 25.
Peshwa Bajirao I and the Nizam
Once you beat a rival in sport, the others also respect you. Bajirao beat the Nizam at Palkhed and created awe.
Peshwa means the prime minister of the Maratha State. Bajirao I held the Peshwa post for twenty years, from 1720 to 1740.
Key idea 1 : Policies of Bajirao — After Balaji Vishwanath’s death Shahu Maharaj made his son Bajirao the Peshwa in 1720. Bajirao realised that, as Mughal power had weakened, there was more scope to expand the empire in the North, and Shahu Maharaj supported his policy.
Key idea 2 : Nizam’s defeat at Palkhed — The Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar appointed Nizam-ul-Mulk Subhedar of the Deccan. In 1713 the Nizam tried to establish a separate rule at Hyderabad. The emperor had given the Marathas the right to collect chauthai-sardeshmukhi, but the Nizam opposed it; he captured some part of Pune pargana. Bajirao decided to check him and defeated him at Palkhed near Aurangabad. The Nizam accepted the Maratha right to chauthai-sardeshmukhi.
Key idea 3 : Towards Malwa — Malwa in today’s Madhya Pradesh was part of the Mughal empire. Bajirao sent Malharrao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde and Udaji Pawar under the leadership of his brother Chimajiappa to Malwa. They strengthened the posts there. Later the Holkar, Shinde and Pawar states arose at Indore, Gwalior and Dhar.
- Easy : The battle of Palkhed was against whom? — The Nizam.
- Medium : When did Bajirao become Peshwa? — In 1720.
- Exam-type : Which three sardars went to Malwa? — Holkar, Shinde, Pawar.
In the figure: Steps from Peshwa post to Malwa.
What happened before The battle of Palkhed? The Nizam tried to set up a separate rule at Hyderabad, refused to accept the Maratha right to chauthai-sardeshmukhi and seized a part of Pune pargana.
What happened after The battle of Palkhed? After the victory at Palkhed the Nizam accepted the Maratha right; the Marathas gained a major position in the Deccan and Bajirao got freedom to turn to the North.
As per the textbook, after the battle of Palkhed the Nizam accepted the Maratha right to chauthai-sardeshmukhi.
20 years Peshwa; Palkhed = Nizam; Malwa = Holkar-Shinde-Pawar.
Palkhed was not against the Mughal emperor; it was against the Nizam.
Memory clue: Palkhed = Nizam; Malwa = three.
Spot the difference
| Place | Opponent/Region | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Palkhed | Nizam | Nizam defeated |
| Malwa | Mughal region | Maratha posts strengthened |
Practice questions
- 1Who is the Peshwa?
- 2When did Bajirao become Peshwa?
- 3What did the Nizam try?
- 4Where and between whom was the battle of Palkhed fought?
- 5State the result of the victory at Palkhed.
- 6Who went to Malwa?
- 7Where did the states of Holkar, Shinde and Pawar arise?
- 8Write two sentences on Bajirao’s North India policy.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Prime minister of the Maratha State.
- 2In 1720.
- 3To establish an independent rule at Hyderabad.
- 4Near Aurangabad; between Bajirao and the Nizam.
- 5The Nizam accepted the Maratha right.
- 6Holkar, Shinde, Pawar under Chimajiappa.
- 7At Indore, Gwalior and Dhar.
- 8With the Mughals weak, there was scope in the North; Shahu supported.
Bundelkhand, Delhi and the last years of Bajirao
A true friend runs to help when a friend in trouble calls. Bajirao ran in this way to Chhatrasal’s call.
Bundelkhand means a part of today’s Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — the area around Jhansi, Panna and Sagar.
Key idea 1 : Helping Chhatrasal in Bundelkhand — King Chhatrasal had set up his own kingdom in Bundelkhand. The Mughal Subhedar Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked him. Chhatrasal asked Bajirao for help. Bajirao defeated Bangash and established his influence in Bundelkhand. In gratitude Chhatrasal is said to have treated Bajirao as a son and given him a third of his kingdom.
Key idea 2 : March on Delhi — In 1737 Bajirao marched north and reached near Delhi. The Mughal emperor realised the strength of the Marathas. Then the Nizam came to the emperor’s aid and faced Bajirao near Bhopal; Bajirao defeated him (1737-38). (The year differs slightly in sources; check with the textbook.)
Key idea 3 : Campaign of Vasai and death of Bajirao — In 1739 Chimajiappa captured Vasai fort from the Portuguese. About this time Nadirshah of Iran invaded India and plundered Delhi. In the instability that followed the importance of Maratha power grew. In April 1740 Bajirao died at Raverkhedi. In his 20-year career he took the Maratha borders up to the North.
- Easy : Whom did Bajirao defeat in Bundelkhand? — Bangash.
- Medium : Who captured Vasai? — Chimajiappa (1739).
- Exam-type : Where did Bajirao die? — Raverkhedi.
In the figure: Steps from Bundelkhand to his death.
What happened before Bajirao’s help to Chhatrasal? The Mughal Subhedar Bangash attacked King Chhatrasal of Bundelkhand. Chhatrasal sent a message to Bajirao for help.
What happened after Bajirao’s help to Chhatrasal? Bajirao defeated Bangash and Maratha influence grew in Bundelkhand; later Maratha power settled around Jhansi and Sagar.
Chhatrasal’s couplet to Bajirao is given in the textbook; read it there. (The text of the verse is not reproduced here.)
Bangash = Chhatrasal; 37 = Delhi; 39 = Vasai; 40 = death.
Bajirao did not conquer Delhi; he went near Delhi and showed Maratha strength.
Memory clue: 37-39-40: Delhi-Vasai-death.
Spot the difference
| Year | Event | Person |
|---|---|---|
| 1737 | March on Delhi | Bajirao |
| 1739 | Vasai victory | Chimajiappa |
| 1740 | Bajirao’s death | Raverkhedi |
Bundelkhand, Delhi and the last years of Bajirao
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appPractice questions
- 1Where is Bundelkhand?
- 2Why did Chhatrasal ask Bajirao for help?
- 3What happened after Bajirao defeated Bangash?
- 4Why did Bajirao march on Delhi?
- 5Who won the campaign of Vasai?
- 6How did Nadirshah’s invasion affect the Marathas?
- 7Describe Bajirao’s career.
- 8Write one experience of running to help a friend.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1In parts of today’s MP and UP; around Jhansi-Panna-Sagar.
- 2Bangash had attacked him.
- 3Maratha influence grew in Bundelkhand.
- 4To show Mughal weakness and Maratha strength.
- 5Chimajiappa, in 1739.
- 6In the instability Maratha power gained importance.
- 720 years Peshwa; Palkhed, Malwa, Bundelkhand, Delhi march, Vasai.
- 8E.g. helped a friend in difficulty.