SHIVAJI'S Successor - General Knowledge of Modern India

SHIVAJI'S Successor - General Knowledge of Modern India

The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy, located in the southwestern part of present-day India, ruled and expanded its territory from 1674 to 1818.  Shivaji is considered the founder of the Maratha Empire, who organized it.  But under the Peshwas (prime ministers of the empire), this empire expanded rapidly.  More, Ghatge and Nimbalkar were the most influential Maratha families.

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Shambaji (1680-1689 AD)

• He was the younger son of Shivaji who ascended the throne after winning a war of succession against his elder brother Rajaram.
• He re-implemented his father's expansionist policies to avert the Rajput-Maratha alliance and to re-establish his old ties with the Deccan Sultanate.
• In 1682 AD, the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb reached South India following his rebellious son, Prince Akbar.  Aurangzeb got him killed because of Shambaji giving shelter to Prince Akbar.

Rajaram (1689-1700 AD)

• After the death of Shambhaji, Shivaji's second son Rajaram took over the rule and carried forward the Maratha tradition.
• He continued the expansionist policy of the Marathas and started the tradition of invading the Mughal territories of the Deccan.
• In October 1689, under the leadership of Zulfiqar Khan, the Mughal army attacked Raigad and the entire family of Shambaji, including his son Shahu, was taken prisoner.
• In 1700 AD, Shambhaji died in Satara, which had become the capital of the Marathas after the fall of Jinji.

Shivaji II and Tarabai (1700-1707 AD)

• After the death of Rajaram, his widow Tarabai placed her son Shivaji II on the throne and herself became his guardian. He provided stability to the Maratha state in times of crisis, both in civil and military terms.
• The Mughals dethroned Tarabai with the help of Chitpavan Brahmin Balaji Vishwanath.

Shahu (1707-1749 AD)

• The Mughal ruler Bahadur Shahu freed Shahu from captivity, due to which a struggle started between Tarabai and Shahu for the Maratha throne. Shahu defeated Tarabai in the "Battle of Kheda" (12 October, 1707) and captured Satara.
• It was during his reign that the power of the Peshwas began to rise and the process of transformation of the Maratha state into the Maratha confederacy began.
• During his reign, the Maratha kingdom was divided into two parts - Kolhapur under the leadership of Tarabai and Satara under the leadership of Shahu. The enmity between these two rival powers finally ended with the 'Varna Pact' of 1731 AD.