EMEREGENCE OF MARATHA EMPIRE UNDER SHIVAJI:

MUGHAL MARATHA RELATIONS:

INTRODUCTION
Maratha empire, early modern Indian empire that rose in the 17th century and dominated much
of the Indian subcontinent during the 18th century. The Marathas were a Marathi-speaking
warrior group mostly from what is now the state of Maharashtra in India. They became
politically active under the leadership of Shivaji, their first king, in opposition to the Islamic
rulers of the time. The formal Maratha empire began in 1674 with the coronation of Shivaji as
Chhatrapati (“Keeper of the Umbrella”) and ended in 1818 after defeat by the English East India
Company.
The 17th-century politics in the Indian subcontinent were dominated by multiple Islamic
kingdoms, with the Mughal Empire controlling most of north India. The Deccan region of central
India had been split among five Deccan sultanates, but by the 1630s only three of them remained
active—Bijapur, Golconda, and Ahmednagar. Shahaji Bhosale was a Maratha general who
served these sultanates.
Shivaji, the son of Shahaji, started a campaign to establish Hindavi Svarajya (self-rule of Hindu
people) by revolting against the Bijapur sultanate and capturing many forts in the Deccan region.
He warred against the Deccan sultanates and the Mughal Empire, as well as the newly emergent
English East India Company operating in the ports of western India. Shivaji conquered his first
fort in 1645 and eventually established a stable kingdom with the capital at Raigad, with the
support of powerful Maratha warrior families. Shivaji’s army was primarily comprised of highly
mobile peasant pastoralists. For many years, while Shivaji remained the titular head of the
Maratha empire, he was not officially its king, as his coronation had not taken place. It was only
in 1674 that Shivaji was crowned as Chhatrapati.
The Maratha empire was noted for developing an efficient administration system, with strong
encouragement for agriculture and trade. It was also noted for building a strong navy under
Kanhoji Angre and a series of forts on the western coast of India. In the wake of the Indian
independence movement, the Maratha empire and especially Shivaji received a lot of focus, with
Indian nationalists defining the Marathas as heroes of Hindu nationalism against
Mughal tyranny. The Marathas perfected the art of guerrilla warfare and used it effectively
against the Mughals. The restoration of several temples, such as the Saptakoteshwar Temple in
Goa, has been cited as evidence of the Marathas’ fight for Hindu freedom.
Background and Factors Contributing to the Rise:
Several factors contributed to the emergence of the Marathas under Shivaji:
1. Geographical Factors: The rugged terrain of the Western Ghats provided natural
protection and facilitated guerrilla warfare.
2. Decline of Mughal and Deccan Sultanate Power: The weakening of the Adil Shahi and
Nizam Shahi kingdoms and the overextension of the Mughal Empire created a power
vacuum.
3. Socio-economic Discontent: Heavy taxation and administrative corruption led to
widespread resentment among peasants and local chieftains.
4. Local Identity and Bhakti Movement: The Bhakti movement and saints like Tukaram
and Ramdas fostered a strong regional identity and religious revivalism among the
Marathas.

EMERGENCE OF MARATHA UNDER SHIVAJI:

Shivaji played a foundational role in the rise of the Marathas by uniting scattered Maratha
sardars and establishing a strong, centralized state. He reorganized the army using guerrilla
tactics (ganimi kava), captured strategic forts like Raigad and Sinhagad, and resisted both the
Mughals and the Deccan Sultanates. His coronation in 1674 symbolized Maratha sovereignty
and the revival of Hindu kingship. Shivaji also implemented an efficient administrative system
through the Ashtapradhan council, introduced revenue reforms, and promoted local language
and culture. His leadership transformed a regional identity into a powerful political force.

Historians have assessed Shivaji’s legacy from different perspectives. Jadunath Sarkar hailed
him as "the greatest constructive genius of medieval Hindu India," emphasizing his role as a
Hindu liberator. Satish Chandra argued that "Shivaji’s state was a product of regional reaction
against Mughal centralization," highlighting the political roots of his movement. Gordon Stewart
viewed Shivaji as a pragmatic leader who built power amid the Deccan's instability, while Irfan
Habib emphasized that his rise was "territorial and political, rather than ideological or religious."
Together, these views underscore Shivaji’s multidimensional legacy as a warrior, administrator,
and nation-builder.

Relationship between the Marathas and the Mughals:

The relationship between the Marathas and the Mughals was marked by a long period of conflict,
shifting alliances, and strategic negotiation. Initially, the Mughals saw the Marathas under
Shivaji as rebels challenging imperial authority in the Deccan. Aurangzeb, in particular, viewed
Shivaji’s growing power as a serious threat. This led to prolonged warfare, including Shivaji’s
daring escape from Agra in 1666 and the Mughal military campaigns in the Deccan. The
Mughal-Maratha struggle intensified after Shivaji's death in 1680, with Sambhaji continuing the
resistance until his execution by Aurangzeb in 1689.
Despite periods of conflict, the Maratha-Mughal relationship also saw moments of tactical
alliances. After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, the weakening Mughal Empire began to recognize
Maratha power. Under leaders like Shahu and Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, the Marathas gained
official recognition and were granted rights to collect chauth and sardeshmukhi in many Mughal
provinces. By the mid-18th century, the Marathas became the de facto power in North India,
often acting as kingmakers in Delhi.
Historians offer varied interpretations of this relationship. Satish Chandra explains the early
Maratha resistance as a "regional assertion against Mughal centralization." Jadunath Sarkar notes
that "Aurangzeb's Deccan policy and conflict with the Marathas drained the empire of resources
and weakened it fatally." Gordon Stewart describes the evolving nature of the relationship,
arguing that the Marathas eventually “supplanted the Mughals as the primary political power in
India by the 1740s.” Thus, the Maratha-Mughal relationship evolved from outright hostility to
reluctant cooperation and eventual Maratha dominance.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, Shivaji’s leadership was central to the rise of the Marathas as a powerful regional
force in 17th-century India. Through his military innovations, administrative reforms, and
assertion of Hindu sovereignty, he laid the foundation of a strong Maratha state that challenged
Mughal authority. As Jadunath Sarkar notes, Shivaji was "the greatest constructive genius of
medieval Hindu India," while Satish Chandra views his rise as a regional reaction to Mughal
over-centralization. The Maratha-Mughal relationship evolved from intense hostility under
Aurangzeb to political negotiation and dominance by the Marathas in later years. The Mughal
failure to contain the Maratha resistance weakened their empire, while the Marathas gradually
filled the power vacuum in northern India. By the mid-18th century, they had emerged as the
chief power brokers in the subcontinent. Thus, the legacy of Shivaji and the Maratha struggle
reflects a major shift from imperial centralization to regional assertion in Indian history.