Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu

Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu

Shivaji (1674–80)

Early Life

• Born at Shivneri Fort in 1627.

• Father - Shahji Bhonsle, Mother - Jija Bai, Religious Teacher - Samarth Ramdas.

• Shivaji inherited the Jagir of Poona from his father in 1637.

• After the death of his guardian, Dadaji Kondadev, in 1647, he assumed full charge of his Jagir.

Fort Conquests

• Singh Garh/Kondana (1643)

• Rohind and Chakan (1644–45)

• Toran (1646)

• Purandhar (1648)

• Rajgarh/Raigarh (1656)

• Supa (1656)

• Panhala (1659)

Conflicts with Bijapur and the Mughals

• Afzal Khan was deputed by Adil Shah (Ruler of Bijapur) to punish Shivaji, but the latter Afzal Khan was killed by Shivaji in 1659.

• Shaista Khan, the governor of Deccan, was deputed by Aurangzeb to put down the rising power of Shivaji in 1660. Shivaji lost Poona and suffered several defeats till he made a bold attack on Shaista Khan (1663) and plundered Surat (1664) and later Ahmadnagar.

• Raja Jai Singh of Amber was then appointed by Aurangzeb to put down Shivaji (1665). Jai Singh succeeded in besieging Shivaji in the fort of Purandhar. Consequently, the treaty of Purandhar (1665) was signed, according to which Shivaji ceded some forts to the Mughals and paid a visit to the Mughal court at Agra.

Coronation and Later Campaigns

• In 167,4, Shivaji was coronated at the capital Raigarh and assumed the title of Haindava Dharmodharak (Protector of Hinduism).

• After that, Chhatrapati Shivaji continued the struggle with the Mughals and Siddis (Janjira). He conquered Karnataka from 1677 to 80.

Shivaji's Administration

Territorial Division

• Shivaji divided his territory under his rule (Swaraj) into three provinces, each under a viceroy.

• Provinces were divided into prants, which were subdivided into parganas or tarafs.

• The lowest unit was a village headed by a Patel (Headman).

Ashtapradhan (Council of Eight Ministers)

Shivaji was helped by the ashtapradhan (eight ministers), which was unlike a collective of ministers, for there was no collective responsibility; each minister was directly answerable to Shivaji.

Revenue and Taxation

• Most of the administrative reforms of Shivaji were based on Malik Ambar's (Ahmadnagar) reforms.

• Assessment of land revenue was based on measurement. The Kathi of Malik Ambar was adopted as the unit of measurement.

• Land revenue was fixed at 1/3rd, i.e., 33% of the gross produce (initially), and  2/5th, i.e., 40% of the gross produce (after reforms).

• Chauth was 1/4th, i.e,. 25% of the land revenue was paid to the Marathas, so far not being subjected to Maratha raids.

• Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of 10% on those lands of Maharashtra over which the Maratha claimed hereditary rights, but which formed part of the Mughal Empire.

Sambhaji (1680–89)

• Sambhaji, the elder son of Shivaji, defeated Rajaram, the younger son of Shivaji, in the war of succession.

• He provided protection and support to Akbar II, the rebellious son of Aurangzeb.

• He was captured at Sangameswar by a Mughal noble and executed.

Rajaram (1689–1700)

• He succeeded the throne with the help of the ministers at Rajgarh.

• He fled from Rajgarh to Jinji in 1689 due to a Mughal invasion in which Rajgarh was captured along with Sambhaji's wife and son (Shahu) by the Mughals.

• Rajaram died at Satara, which had become the capital after the fall of Jinji to the Mughals in 1698.

• Rajaram created the new post of Pratinidhi, thus taking the total number of ministers to nine (Pratinidhi + Ashtapradhan).

Tarabai (1700–07)

• Rajaram was succeeded by his minor son Shivaji II under the guardianship of his mother Tarabai.

• Tarabai continued the struggle with the Mughals.

Shahu (1707–1749)

• Shahu was released by the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah.

• Tarabai’s army was defeated by Shahu in the battle of Khed (1700), and Shahu occupied Satara.

• But the Southern part of the Maratha kingdom, with its capital Kolhapur, continued to be under the control of descendants of Rajaram (Shivaji-II and later Shambhaji-II).

• Shahu's reign saw the rise of the Peshwas and the transformation of the Maratha kingdom into an empire based on the principle of confederacy.

Balaji Viswanath (1713–20): The First Peshwa

• He began his career as a small revenue official and was given the title of Sena Karte (marker of the army) by Shahu in 1708.

• He became Peshwa in 1713 and made the post the most important and powerful, as well as hereditary.

• He played a crucial role in the final victory of Shahu by winning over almost all the Maratha Sardars to the side of Shahu.

• He agreed with the Syed Brothers - King Maker (1719) by which the Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyar recognised Shahu as the king of the Swarajya.

Final Thoughts

The story of the Maratha Empire, beginning with Shivaji’s visionary leadership and continuing through Shahu’s consolidation and the rise of the Peshwas, reflects one of the most dynamic phases in Indian history.

From fort conquests and military brilliance to administrative reforms and resistance against the Mughals, the Marathas laid the foundation for a powerful regional force that shaped the political landscape of 17th and 18th-century India.

Understanding this timeline—from Shivaji (1674) to Shahu (1749)—gives students and history enthusiasts deep insight into how strategy, diplomacy, and determination can build and sustain empires. The Marathas not only protected their sovereignty but also expanded their influence, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.

Whether you're a student, educator, or history lover, this overview is a valuable resource to grasp the enduring significance of the Maratha rise to power.