The Pillars of the Maratha Power

The Pillars of the Maratha Power

Many Maratha Sardars made significant contribution to the expansion of the Maratha power all over India . In this lesson , we shall briefly survey the role played by some of the prominent Sardars . 

The Holkars of Indore :

 Malharrao was the founder of the Holkar rule at Indore . He served the Maratha State for a very long time . He was well - versed in guerrilla warfare . He proved his valour in the northern campaigns of the Marathas at the time of Bajirao I and Nanasaheb Peshwa . He was chiefly instrumental in establishing the Maratha supremacy in Malwa and Rajputana . He proved to be of great help to Peshwa Madhavrao in reviving the Maratha prestige in the North after the debacle of Panipat . 

Malharrao Holkar

After the death of Malharrao , Punyashloka Ahilyabai assumed the reins of Indore administration . She ruled ably for twenty - eight years and enhanced the Maratha prestige in the North . She brought peace and order to her kingdom and made her people happy .

Ahilyabai Holkar

The Bhosales of Nagpur : 

Parasoji Bhosale of Nagpur was in the service of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj . Parasoji was given the jagir of Varhad and Gondawan during the reign of Shahu Maharaj . Among the Bhosales of Nagpur , Raghuji was the most capable and brave . He brought the area surrounding Tirucherapalli and Arcot in the South under Maratha dominance . Shahu Maharaj had assigned to him the chauthai rights of Bengal , Bihar and Orissa . He brought these territories under the Maratha dominance.

Raghuji Bhosle

The Shindes of Gwalior :

 Bajirao I had rightly judged the capabilities of Ranoji Shinde and made him Sardar in the North . After Ranoji's death , his sons Jayappa , Dattaji and Mahadaji , too , proved their valour and strengthened the Maratha rule in North India . 

Peshwa Madhavrao conferred the family title on Mahadaji . Mahadaji was a brave General and an astute statesman . Mahadaji was instrumental in re - establishing the Maratha supremacy and prestige in North India after the Maratha defeat at Panipat . He realized that the guerrilla tactics of the Marathas would not be suitable for the warfare in the plains of the North . He trained his army and modernised his artillery under the guidance of a French military expert With the help of this trained army , he subdued the Rohillas , the Jats , the Rajputs and the Bundellas . He also kept the British under The Mughal Emperor conferred on him the title of Nayab Vakil - i - Mutlak ( Chief Agent of the Emperor ) and thus honoured him . The Emperor left the reins of the Mughal power to the care of Mahadaji as his own representative . The task of saving the tottering empire was indeed not easy . Overcoming the most unfavourable conditions , Mahadaji managed the Delhi affairs with determination from AD 1784 to 1794. After setting in order the affairs of Delhi , Mahadaji came to Pune . Mahadaji died at Wanawadi near Pune .

Mohandaji Shinde

Like the Shindes , the Holkars and the Bhosales , some other prominent Maratha Sardars also rendered noteworthy service to the Maratha Raj . 

The navy raised by Shivaji Maharaj was strengthened by Kanhoji Angre and his son Tulaji . With this strong navy , they contained the naval powers of the Portuguese , the British and the Siddis . They defended the coastline of the Maratha State . 

Khanderao Dabhade and his son Trimbakrao laid the foundation of Maratha power in Gujarat . After the death of Khanderao , his wife Umabai routed the Mughal Sardar of Ahmadabad . She conquered the fort there .

 Later , the Gaikwads made Vadodara in Gujarat a seat of their power . The Pawars of Dhar and Dewas in Madhya Pradesh rendered valuable assistance to the Shindes and the Holkars in expanding the Maratha power in the North .

The Maratha State was in disarray after the death of Peshwa Madhavrao . Nana Phadanavis , the famous administrator of the Peshwas and a Maratha statesman , set right the affairs of the State with the help of Mahadaji . While Mahadaji was busy restoring the Maratha supremacy in the North , Nana managed the affairs of the South . In this , he was helped by the Patwardhans , Haripant Phadke , the Rastes and other Sardars . As a result of this , Maratha supremacy was established in the South . 

The Maratha Sardars were successful in establishing the influence of the Maratha power both in North and South India . After the death of Mahadaji Shinde and Nana Phadanavis , the Maratha power began to wane . During the reign of Bajirao II , the Maratha influence in the North and South waned further . The British replaced the Marathas . In AD 1818 , the Maratha rule came to an end . The British brought the whole of India under their political supremacy . The medieval period of Indian history came to an end . The modern age began .