Shivaji's power and polity spread far beyond his swarajya into North India under the brilliant peshwas, whose office was invested with tremendous authority and made hereditary by Shivaji's grandson, Shahu. The Peshwai period refers to the period of Maratha power expansion under successive peshwas, with Pune serving as the seat of their power for nearly a century (1713–1818). There were two major political "arrangements" that aided the expansion of the Maratha polity, which wielded enormous authority over the ruins of the rapidly fading Mughal empire. In this article, we will discuss The Peshwas (1713 -1818) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

The Peshwas - Background

• The peshwas encouraged and supported some of their sirdars, most notably the Shindes of Gwalior, the Holkars of Indore, the Gaikwads of Baroda, and the Bhosles of Nagpur, to establish and maintain their own extensive semi autonomous fiefdoms, forming a pentarchy under the overall control of the peshwas.
• The second "arrangement" took place in Satara between the peshwas and the chhatrapatis, or kings of Shivajis' line: Shahu and his successors.
• It was similar to the hereditary shogun's position in Japan, with separate capitals for the Maratha king and the peshwa, with the latter receiving the robes of investiture from the king.
• Although the peshwas lived in Pune like kings, with most of the royal accoutrements, they showed their respect for their royal masters when they visited Satara.
• Before entering the capital, the peshwa halted his troops' marching strains, dismounted from his elephant, and walked to the chhatrapati's palace, where he sat on an ordinary low baithak (seat) in his presence.
• All titles, honours, and lands were granted to sirdars on the recommendation of the peshwa but with the knowledge and seal of the chhatrapati.
• All treaties and important documents were personally explained to the chhatrapati by the peshwa before the latter's seal was affixed to make them final and legal documents.

Balaji Vishwanath (1713-1720)

• Balaji Vishwanath Bhat (1662–1720) was the first of a line of hereditary Peshwas from the Bhat family who seized control of the Maratha Empire in the 18th century.
• Balaji Viswanath began his career as a small revenue official before ascending to the position of Peshwa in 1713.
• He made his position as Peshwa the most important and powerful, as well as hereditary. He played an important role in the civil war, ultimately establishing Shahu as the Maratha ruler.
• He sought support for Shahu from all Maratha leaders. Balaji Viswanath received certain rights from the then-Mughal emperor, Farukh Siyar, in 1719.
• First, the Mughal emperor acknowledged Shahu as Maratha king. Second, he permitted Shahu to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi from the six Mughal Deccan provinces, including Carnatic and Mysore.

Baji Rao I (1720-1740)

• Baji Rao was Balaji Viswanath's eldest son. At the tender age of twenty, he succeeded his father as Peshwa.
• He was the pinnacle of Maratha power. He established a system of confederacy among the Maratha chiefs.
• Under this system, each Maratha chief was assigned a territory that could be administered autonomously.
• As a result, many Maratha families rose to prominence and established their authority in various parts of India.
• They were the Gaekwads of Baroda, the Bhonsle of Nagpur, the Holkars of Indore, the Scindias of Gwalior, and the Peshwas of Poona.

Balaji Baji Rao (1740-1761)

• Balaji Baji Rao, also known as Nanasaheb Peshwa, succeeded Baji Rao I.
• Raghunath Rao, who later betrayed the Marathas and joined forces with the British, and Janardan, who died when he was young, were his two brothers.
• Nanasaheb was skilled at war, diplomacy, and administration. He spent a year improving Pune's civil administration shortly after becoming peshwa.
• The period from 1741 to 1745 in the Deccan was relatively calm, allowing Nanasaheb to reorganise agriculture and implement effective measures to protect the villagers and their produce.
• Maharashtra saw an overall improvement in revenue collection, services, and law and order. The destruction of the Maratha navy, so foresightedly built by Shivaji under the Angres, in 1756 was a major flaw in Nanasaheb's policies.
• Because Tulaji Angre refused to toe his line, Nanasaheb accepted the assistance of the British East India Company in Bombay to attack and destroy the Angre navy, opening the way for the English to establish their maritime supremacy on the west coast.
• The Marathas were soundly defeated in the third battle of Panipat in 1761 by an Afghan invader named Shah Abdali. In the 1750s, he raided the Mughal capital of Delhi several times.
• To save his capital, the effete Mughal emperor instructed his vizier, Safdarjung, to sign an agreement (known as the Ahmednama) with the Marathas under which the peshwa agreed to defend the Mughal emperor against domestic and foreign foes.
• The nizam of Hyderabad, dissatisfied with the Ahmednama and the prominence it bestowed upon the Marathas, attacked them. In 1757, the peshwa defeated the nizam's forces at Sindkhed, and in 1760, at Udgir.
• The Marathas also drove Abdali's forces out of Punjab, raising their own flag at Attock in 1756.
• When Abdali heard the news, he led a large force that would end up challenging Peshwa Nanasaheb's very large force led by his own brother Sadashiv Rao and son Vishwas Rao.
• The third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, dealing a major setback to the Marathas in the north.
• In the battle, they lost over 100,000 men and dozens of important sirdars, as well as elephants and countless horses, heavy equipment, and treasure.
• Sadashiv Rao and Vishwas Rao were both killed in the battle. The news devastated Nanasaheb, who died shortly after on June 23, 1761.
• Panipat marked a turning point in the Marathas' fortunes; Nanasaheb's reign marked the pinnacle of Maratha power.

Peshwa Madhav Rao I (1761-1772) and his Successors

• Madhav Rao, the son of Balaji Baji Rao, became Peshwa in 1761 under the regency of Raghoba, Peshwa's younger brother.
• Madhav Rao attempted to reclaim Maratha power lost in the battle of Panipat. A bloody battle with the Nizam of Hyderabad was fought in 1763. His expeditions against Haider Ali of Mysore (1765–1767) were successful.
• However, Haider Ali quickly reclaimed nearly all of his lost territories. However, Madhav Rao reclaimed them in 1772, forcing Haider Ali to sign a humiliating treaty.
• By defeating the Rohillas (Pathans) and subjugating the Rajput states and Jat Chiefs, the Peshwa reclaimed control of northern India.
• The British were protecting the fugitive Emperor, Shah Alam II, who was in Allahabad. The Marathas returned him to Delhi in 1771. The Emperor gave them Kora and Allahabad. However, Peshwa's untimely death in 1772 ended his illustrious career.
• Madhav Rao I had no sons, so his younger brother Narayan Rao succeeded him as Peshwa in 1772. But he was murdered the following year.
• On the 40th day of his birth, his posthumous son Sawai Madhav Rao (Madhav Rao II) was proclaimed Peshwa.
• After Madhav Rao II died, Baji Rao II, Raghunath Rao's son, became Peshwa and was the last Peshwa.

Conclusion

Prior to the British conquest of the subcontinent, the Marathas were India's major Hindu power, and came close to replacing the Mughals. With their indigenous pentarchy, the Marathas ruled from Pune a vast territory extending at its mightiest peak from Delhi to the outskirts of Madras, from Bombay to the outskirts of Calcutta.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who was the first Peshwa appointed by Chhatrapati Shahu?

A. Baji Rao I
B. Balaji Vishwanath
C. Balaji Baji Rao
D. Madhav Rao I

2. Who is considered the most successful Peshwa for his military campaigns?

A. Baji Rao I
B. Balaji Vishwanath
C. Madhav Rao II
D. Baji Rao II

3. The Third Anglo-Maratha War led to the fall of which Maratha leader?

A. Madhav Rao I
B. Balaji Baji Rao
C. Baji Rao II
D. Balaji Vishwanath

4. Which battle is considered the turning point in the Maratha-British conflict during the Peshwa era?

A. Battle of Panipat
B. Battle of Plassey
C. Battle of Buxar
D. Third Anglo-Maratha War

5. Who was the last Peshwa of the Maratha Empire?

A. Madhav Rao I
B. Baji Rao II
C. Baji Rao I
D. Nana Saheb

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of the Peshwas in the expansion of the Maratha Empire and their eventual decline.

Answer: The Peshwas played a crucial role in the expansion of the Maratha Empire during the 18th century. Under leaders like Baji Rao I and Balaji Baji Rao, the Marathas extended their influence over large parts of India, defeating the Mughals and establishing dominance in the Deccan and northern India. The Peshwas introduced reforms in administration and military organization that strengthened the Maratha state. However, internal conflicts, lack of unity among Maratha chiefs, and the rise of the British East India Company led to the decline of the Peshwas. The Third Anglo-Maratha War resulted in the defeat of the Marathas and the end of Peshwa rule in 1818.

Q2: Analyze the causes of the Maratha defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

Answer: The Maratha defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War was due to several factors. The Marathas were internally divided, with conflicts among the chiefs and a lack of centralized authority. The British had superior military organization and resources, which the Marathas could not match. Additionally, the British East India Company had formed alliances with other regional powers, isolating the Marathas. The defeat of Baji Rao II in 1818 marked the end of the Peshwa’s rule and the Maratha Empire, paving the way for British dominance in India.

Q3: Examine the contributions of Baji Rao I to the expansion of the Maratha Empire.

Answer: Baji Rao I is considered one of the greatest Peshwas due to his military prowess and vision for expanding the Maratha Empire. He is credited with defeating the Mughals and extending Maratha control over large parts of northern India, including Malwa and Bundelkhand. His cavalry tactics and swift movements on the battlefield were instrumental in winning key battles. Baji Rao's leadership laid the foundation for Maratha supremacy during the 18th century. His legacy as a military strategist and statesman remains significant in Indian history.

Previous Year Questions on Peshwas

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

Question: Who was the last Peshwa of the Maratha Empire?
A. Baji Rao I
B. Balaji Vishwanath
C. Baji Rao II
D. Madhav Rao I

Answer: C

Explanation: Baji Rao II was the last Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. His defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818 marked the end of Maratha sovereignty and the beginning of British control over most of India.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2017 (GS Paper 1)

Question: Discuss the significance of the Peshwa period in the expansion of the Maratha Empire and its eventual decline.

Answer: The Peshwa period was pivotal in the expansion of the Maratha Empire. Under leaders like Baji Rao I, the Marathas extended their influence over large parts of India, defeating the Mughals and other regional powers. The Peshwas established themselves as dominant rulers, controlling a vast empire. However, internal divisions among Maratha chiefs, the rise of the British East India Company, and the defeats in the Anglo-Maratha Wars, particularly the Third Anglo-Maratha War, led to the decline of the Peshwas and the eventual annexation of their territories by the British in 1818.