Marathas(Peshwas) Peshwas
(One of 8 ministers (Aastpradhan)) :
18th centaury age was the age of supremacy for Marathas this was
facilitated by decline of Mughals. Post of Peshwas was initially as the Keeper
of Records ".
All Peshwas were Brahmin & during 18th
centaury they became the real rulers of Maratha State as Reflected by Sangola
Agreement of 1750 by which the Peshwas got civil & military powers in an
effective manner (Pune – Head Quarters)
Balaji
Vishwanath (Ist peshwa) because
of his military & diplomatic achievements raised its status much
above other ministers. He transformed Peshwaship into life of that of Prime
Minister which became hereditary in nature later on.
(1) Balaji
Vishwanath (1713-1720)
Great Grandfather
Original
Name – Bhairon Pant Pingle
Played imp role in not
only in release of Shau Maharaj but also
in protecting Marathas Financial Interests by getting rights of revenue collection from
Mughal ruler popularly known as “Treaty of Delhi” or Magna Carta of Maratha Dominance.
(2) Peshwa Bajiro/Bajirao –I(Grand Father)
(1720-1740) – Son of Balaji Vishwanath.
Known as Real Founder
of Maratha Confideracy – because he
helped in establishment of different houses, like at Gwalior there was Ranoji Scindia,
At indore there was Malhar Rao Holkar together these both influenced Malwa.
Bajirao-I outlined goal
& vision of future Maratha Empire & sensed weakness if Mughal Empire.
He outlined & proposed concept of Hindu Pad PadShahi. So as to bring all hindu
rulers under one head & to create an all India empire. In 1739 Bajirao-I
defeated Portuguese got control over Bassien.
(3) Balaji Baji Rao or NanaSaheb(father)
(1740 - 1761)
In this period Maratha
power reached his peak, there was healthy rival vary between different Maratha
rulers to extend their territory at expense of neighboring states. E.g Holkar
displaced military attack in Bundelkhand.
Similarly the Peshwa
himself invaded Mysore & Karnataka region. Maratha got victory in Battle of
Udgir & they got control over different forces like Aurangabad, Daulatabad,
Bijapur & Ahmednagar among others.
Downfall – He used
policy of indiscriminate attack in different region & Marathas were
defeated in 3rd battle of Panipat in 1761, so in short Nanasaheb was
not able to consolidate Marathas achievement by good administration.
(4) Madhav
rao(1761-1772)(son) (Also known as Black Prince of Maharashtra)
2nd son of Nanasaheb
was initially under the regency of his uncle Raghunath Rao . Soon asserted
himself by defeating Nizam of Hyderabad (twice) & Hyder Ali of Mysore.
Took steps to bring
efficiency into administration, accounts & treasury also discouraged superstitious religious practices.
The was also
a jurist Ram Shastri known as supreme pillar of justice. (like present day
Supreme court of India)
(5) Narayan Rao(brother) (1772 - 1774)
3rd son of Nanasaheb. Madhavrao-I died in 1772 and was succeeded by
seventeen-year-old Narayanrao with his uncle Raghunathrao acting as
regent. Madhav Rao as killed by, this
was instrumental in bringing down fall of peshwas because Raghunath Rao himself
wanted to become Peshwa, that is why Rahgunath Rao approached British &
signed treaty of Surat and promosied British to give Salsette island & Bassien(vasai
- mumbai).
But there was a battle of
ARRAS won by British, so at that time the
peshwas was being looked after by the minister Nana Phadnavis – who
approached British in Kolkata & offered Salsette in return for British
military support.
But court of directors
(EAST India companys main decision making body) accepted treaty of Surat
supporting Rahgunath Rao. Confident British were defeated by Maratha & they
were forced to sign “convention of wadgaon” and this whole episode was ended in
1782 by treaty of Salbai.
This period between
1775-1782 is known as First Anglo-Maratha War. In this period Peshwa was Madhav
Rao Narayan or Madhav –II (SON of
Narayan Rao) & Peshwa court was divided into number of groups, most
powerful was Barabhai or 12 brothers, alliance headed by Nana Phadvanis(who
also defeated Nizam in battle of Karda in 1795). He also helped Bajirao-II to
become next Peshwa (son of Raghunath Rao).
(6) Bajirao-II(Son of uncle Raghunath Rao)
(1796-1818)
After the death of
Phadnavis in 1800, the Maratha leaders Yashwantrao Holkar of Indore and Daulat
Rao Sindhia of Gwalior contested for control of the empire; their rivalry made
its way to Pune, seat of the Peshwa
Holkar ultimately triumphed, and Baji Rao fled
west to Bombay in September 1802 to seek the willing hands of the British who
were waiting for this opportunity with great patience. There, he concluded the
Treaty of Bassein in December 1802, in which the British agreed to reinstate
Baji Rao in return for the Marathas allowing British troops in Maratha
territory and paying for their maintenance, and acceptance of a British
political agent (Resident) at Pune.
Holkar and Sindhia
resisted the British intrusion on Maratha affairs, which resulted in the Second
Anglo-Maratha War of 1803-1805 in which forces of Arthur Wellesley defeated
forces of both Scindia & Bhonsle in battle of Assaye in Sept 1803. Arthur
Wellesley also occupied Ahmednagar. Defeated bhonsle in battle of Arragaon
& forced him to sign Treaty of Devgaon
Similarly in North
India General Lake captured Aligarh, Agra & Delhi. He also defeated Scindia
forces in Battle of Laswari & concluded treaty of Surji-Anjangaon.
Holkar remained quite
for some time & but his forces were defeated by Arthur Wellesely , by
Murray in Gujrat & General Lake in north ( 3 sided attack for Holkar).
Similarly there was again resistance & revolt by 3rd Anglo
Maratha War(1817-1819) in which again Marathas were defeated in which again
Marathas were defeated including peshwa forces in battle of Kirkee/Ashti/Koregaon.
Now Maratha confederacy
was dissolved . Peshwaship was abolished & Bajirao-II was sent to Bittur
where he passed away in 1853 & British stopped privilages to his adopted
son “Nanasaheb/dhondu panth” = Doctrine of Lapse. Hence Dhondupanth was a
leader of Revolt of 1857, who escaped to Nepal later. Thereby ending the illustrious
legacy of Marathas.
Note – All
relationships are exclusively against the previous name. Hope there’s no
confusion over there.
nice
ReplyDelete