THE MARATHAS - HISTORY

THE MARATHAS 

The Marathas Kingdom was constituted in the 17th century in western Deccan.

In the 18th century, it became the nucleus of the much wider Maratha swarajya (sovereign state). The Marathas were the most significant of all the regional powers. The first part of the 18th century saw the decline of the Mughals, last part saw the rise of British & the middle part saw the swaying political fortunes of the Marathas, the lone Indian power strong enough to offer an alternative to the Mughal Rule.

After the Mughals retreated from the Deccan, the Marathas grew as a confederacy of military leaders called - Maratha Sardar.

• Originally, the Marathas Sardars only held temporary assignments of land revenue.
• But, in practice, the landed to become hereditary once they established themselves.
• But, the Marathas Sardars lacked unity & vision for founding an all India Empire. However, the successfully waged continuous struggle against the Mughals until they were destroyed.

The glance of Marathas Kingdom:

 

(A.) Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath (1713 - 20):

• Known as "the second founder of the Maratha State".
• He supported Shahu against Tara Bai in the Maratha Civil war; in return, Shahu appointed him as his Peshwa (Prime Minister).
• He launched the period of Peshwa domination during which the Maratha State transformed into an Empire.
• 1719: Balaji helped the Sayyid brothers remove Farrukhsiyar.
• As a reward, he secured the Mughal Sanad of 1719, known as the "Magna Carta of the Maratha dominion". The Maratha king became the Sardeshmukh of the entire Deccan & Karanataka.
• He laid the foundation of the Maratha Confederacy.

(B.) Peshwa Baji Rao II (1720 - 40):

• Known as 'Fighting Peshwa'.
• He sermonized the idea of "Hindu padpadshahi".
• 1773: defeated the Sidis of Janjira Island.

(C.) Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao II (1740 - 61):

• Know as "Nana Sahib".
• It was his reign that Raja Ram executed the Sangola Agreement (also known as Constitutional revolution of 1750) which transferred the supreme power from the Chhatrapati --> Peshwa.
• Maratha power reached its terrestrial zenith.
• 1761: Third Battle of Panipat- defeated by Abdali.
• The Marathas fought under the nominal command of his son Vishwas Rao, but the actual command was in hands of Peshwa's cousin Sadashiv Rao Bhau.
• Maratha army had a contingent of European style infantry & artillery commanded by Ibrahim Khan Gardi.

(D.) Peshwa Madhav Rao (1761 - 72):

• He restored the lost fortunes of the Maratha Empire, a phenomenon known as - Maratha Resurrection, with the help of his able minister, Nana Phadnavis.
• 1771: the Maratha re-installed Emperor Shah Alam to Delhi.

(E.) Narayan Rao (1772 - 73):

• He succumbed to the intrigues of his uncle, Raghu Nath Rao.

(F.) Raghu Nath Rao (1773 - 74):

• He was deposed by Nana Phadnis & 11 other administrations (Baarbhai) in what is known as - 'the Baarbhai Conspiracy'.
• Baarbhai included influential Sardars Mahadji Shinde & Tukojirao Holkar.

(G.) Sawai Madhav (1774 - 95):

• His succession frustrated Raghunath Rao who now went over to British & tried to capture with their help, resulting in the First Anglo-Marath War.
• Taking advantage of the weakening of central authority, the big Maratha Sardars carved out semi-independent States: Holkar (Indore), Scindia (Gwalior), Gaekwad (Baroda), Bhonsle (Nagpur).
• 1795: Sawai Madhav Rao committed suicide.

(H.) Peshwa Baji Rao II (1796 - 1818):

• 1803 - 05: Second Anglo-Maratha War- Maratha defeated.
• 1817 - 18: Third Anglo-Maratha War- Maratha defeated.
• The seat of Peshwa was extinguished.
• 1818: Peshwa was dethroned by East India Company (EIC) & pensioned off and ordered to spend his last days in Bithoor near Kanpur.

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RISE OF AUTONOMOUS STATE - HISTORY

RISE OF AUTONOMOUS STATE 

HYDERABAD, CARNATIC, BENGAL, AWADH.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the second major theme of the 18th-century Indian polity was the rise of an autonomous state. It signified a decentralization of power and not a power vacuum or political chaos.

From the debris of the Mughal Empire arose a large number of autonomous & semi-autonomous States which the British had to overcome before emerging supreme in India.

• Broadly three kinds of States arose:

Glimpse Capsule:- 

Successor States: Hyderabad, Carnatic, Bengal, Awadh.

Regional Powers	Nawabs	Important Events
Hyderabad (1724)	Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah (1724 - 48)	1713: Chin Qilich Khan was made Viceroy of the Deccan by Emperor Farrukhsiyar & given the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk. 1720: He assisted Mohammed Shah in killing the Sayyid brothers. 1722: He appointed wazir in the court of  Mohammad Shah. 1724: He founded the independent state of Hyderabad in the Deccan. He founded the Asaf Jah dynasty. His successor came to be known as Nizams of Hyderabad.
Carnatic (Early 18th century)	Nawab Saadatullah Kha (1724 - 48)	He appointed his nephew Dost Ali as his successor. 1740: Marathas invaded the Carnatic, killed Nawab Dost Ali & took his Son-in-Law Chanda Sahib as a prisoner at Satara.
Bengal (1717)	Murshid Quli Khan (1717 - 27)	1717: He became the first hold of the two offices of Nizam & Diwan of Bengal.  Using this opportunity, he now declared himself = Nawab of Bengal. He shifted the capital from Dhaka to Murshidabad. He replaced the Mughal Jagirdari System with the system of Revenue Farming/Ijara/Malzamini system. His reign saw the rise of the new Elite classes i.e. Zamindari & Bankers. E.g. The House of the Jagat Seth.
	Alivardi Khan (1740 - 56)	He killed Sarfaraz Khan in the battle of Gheria & became Nawab. During his reign, payment of annual tribute to the emperor stopped. He agreed to pay Chauth & ceded Orissa to the Maratha. He faced challenges from the Afgan General, Mustafa Khan.
	Siraj-ud-Daulah (1756 - 57)	He was defeated by the East India Company (EIC) in the Battle of Plassey (1857).
Awadh (1722)	Saadat Khan (1722- 39)	He subdued the rebellions zamindars of Awadh & was given the title Burhan-ul-Mulk by the emperor. He got his nephew and Son-in-law Safdar Jung recognized by the emperor as his deputy governor & made the province a hereditary possession. 1729: He was taken prisoner by Nadir Shah in the Battle of Karnal.
	Safdar Jung (1754- 75)	He and his successors popularly came to known as Nawab Wazirs.
	Shuja-ud-Daula (1754- 75)	1761: He joined Abdali against the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat. 1764: He was defeated by the East India Company (IEC) in the Battle of Buxar.
	Asaf-ud-Daula (1775- 97)	He shifted the capital from Faizabad to Lucknow. He concentrated his energies in cultural pursuits, giving rise to a distinct Lucknow culture. He also built the famous monument- Bara Imambara.

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MEDIEVAL INDIA - HISTORY

MEDIEVAL INDIA

DELHI SULTANATE, (Time Period: 1206 - 1526 CE)

(A.) SLAVE/ILBARI DYNASTY, Time Period: 1206 - 1287 CE.

(1.) Qutub-ud-Din Aibak (Period: 1206 - 1210 CE.)

• Founder of the Slave dynasty.
• Known as "Lakh Baksh".
• Built the first mosque in India "Quwwat-ul-Islam" at Delhi & Khai din a Jhopra' at Ajmer.
• Started construction of 'Qutub Minar' in memory of the saint Qutub-ud-Din Bakhtiyar Khaki.
• Died during playing Chaugun (horse polo).

(2.) Iltutmish (Period: 1210 - 1236 CE)

• The real founder of Turkish rule.
• Introduced 'Iqtadari' & 'Chahalghani' system.
• Issued Arabic coinage of 'silver tank'.
• Father of tomb building, completed construction of Qutub Minar.
• Declared daughter Razia Sultan as his successor.

(3.) Razia Sultan (Period: 1236 - 1249 CE)

• First & last lady Muslim ruler of medieval India.
• Discarded female apparel and purdah.
• Came in controversy over the appointment of a non-Turkish Abyssinian slave Malik-Yaqut.
• Rebellion by Governor of Sirhind (Bhatinda) Altuniya.

(4.) Bahram Shah (Period: 1240 - 1242 CE)

• The ascendancy of the Chahalghani (forty nobles)
• Murdered by own Army.

(5.) Nasiruddin Mahmud (Period: 1246 - 1266 CE)

• Grandson of Iltutmish but the real power in hands of Balban.

(6.) Ghiyas -ud-Din Balban (Period: 1266 - 1287 CE)

• Followed policy of 'Blood & Iron'.
• Introduced concept of - Zil-i-Ilahi, Sajda, Paibos, Persian festival of Nauroz.
• Separated 'Diwan-i-Arz' (military department) from 'Diwan-i-Wizarat' (finance).
• Administered justice with extreme impartiality.
• Amir Khushrau (who invented Sitar) was at his court.

(B.) KHALJI DYNASTY, Time Period: 1290 - 1320 CE.

(1.) Jalauddin Khilji (Period: 1290 - 1296 CE.) 

• Founder of Khalji
• The first sultan to have benevolent (kind-hearted) towards Hindu.

(2.) Alauddin Khilji (Period: 1296 - 1316 CE.) 

• 'Chehra & Daag' system.
• Market reforms.
• The permanent army had able soldier Malik Kafur who expanded the empire to as far as Rameshwaram.
• Believed in the principle that 'Kingship knows no kinship', curbed the powers of nobles.
• Recognized intelligence system.
• Adopted the title of 'Sikandar-i-Azam' and gave Khusrau title of 'Tuti-i-Hind'.
• Reputed suzerainty of the caliph.

(3.) Qutuddin Mubarak Shah (Period: 1316 - 1320 CE.) 

(4.) Nasiruddin Khurau Shah (Period: 1320 CE.)

• Only Hindu convert to sit on the throne of Delhi.

(C.) TUGHLAQ DYNASTY, Time Period: 1320 - 1413 CE.

(1.) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (Period: 1320 - 1325 CE.) 

• Founder of Tughlaq dynasty adopted the title of Ghazi (Slayer of Infields)
• The first sultan to start irrigation work.
• Have a troublesome relationship with Sufi saint Nizamuddin Aulia.
• Died due to the collapse of the wooden structure.

(2.) Mohammad Bin Tughlaq (Period: 1325 - 1351 CE.) 

• The idea of token currency (copper coins)
• Shifted capital from Delhi --> Devagiri (Daulatabad) and later reverted back to Delhi.
• Set up a new department of agriculture 'Diwan-i-amir-kohi'.
• Built fort of Adilabad & city of Jahanpanah.
• Famous traveler Ibn Battuta (author of Safarnama, Rehla) stayed at his court and acted as qazi for eight years.

(3.) Firoz Shah Tughlaq (Period: 1351 - 1388 CE.) 

• Made Iqtadari system hereditary.
• Built a number of canals and set up the department of public works and one department of charity.
• Developed royal factories - Karkhanas.
• Built new town of Hisar, Jaunpur, Firozabad.
• Repaired Qutub Minar which was struck by lightning.
• Famous historians Barani stayed at his court.

(4.) Nasiruddin Mohammad (Period: 1390 - 1413 CE.) 

• Timur invaded Delhi (1398 CE) and plundered the city.

(5.) Daulat Khan (Period: 1413 CE.) o

• Defeated by Khizr Khan who founded the Sayyad dynasty.

(D.) SAYYAD DYNASTY, Time Period: 1414 - 1451 CE.

(1.) Khizr Khan (Period: 1414 - 1421 CE.) o

• Founder of the Sayyad dynasty.

(E.) LODHI DYNASTY, Time Period: 1451 - 1526 CE.

(1.) Bahlol Lodhi (Period: 1451 - 1489 CE.) 

(2.) Sikander Lodhi (Period: 1489 - 1517 CE.) 

• Greatest & noblest of all Lodhis introduced 'Gaz-i-Sikandari'.
• Founded Agra & wrote 'Gulrakhi' (Persian verses)

(3.) Ibrahim Lodhi (Period: 1517 - 1526 CE.) 

• Defeated by Rana Sanga of Mewar & Babur in the First battle of Panipat (1526 CE).

MUGHAL DYNASTY, Time Period: 1526 - 1857 CE.

(1.) Babur (Period: 1526 - 1530 CE.) 

• Founder of the Mughal Empire.
• Wrote his memory in Turki Tuzuk-i-Babri.
• Introduced concept of Char Baghs.
• Built two Mosque - at Panipat, and Sambhat in Rohilkhand.
• 1526: First battle of Panipat = Babur (winner) + Ibrahim Lodhi.
• 1527: Battle of Khanwa = Babur (winner) + (Rana Sanga of Mewar, Raja Medini Rai of Chanderi, Hasan Khan of Mewat, Mahmud Lodhi)
• 1529: Battle of Chanderi = Babur (winner) + Medini Rai of Chanderi.
• 1529: Battle of Ghaghra = Babur (winner) + Mahmud Lodhi ( younger brother of Ibrahim Lodhi)

(2.) Humayun (Period: 1530 - 1556 CE.) 

• 1529: Battle of Chausa = Humayun + Sher Shah Suri.
• 1540: Battle of Bilgrama/Kannauj = Sher Shah Suri + Humayun (had to flee from Delhi and remain in exile for next 15 years)
• 1555: Again regained the Mughal throne but died shortly after falling from stairs.
• His sister Gulbadan Begum wrote 'Humayun-nama'.
• Got built a new city Dinapanah and mosque of Isa Khan & Jamali.
• Had famous painters Mir Sayyid & Abdus Sannad at his court.

(3.) Akbar (Period: 1556 - 1605 CE.) 

• Born at Amarkot, son of Humayun & Hamida Banu Begum.
• 1556: Second battle of Panipat = Akbar represented by Bairam Khan (winner) + Hemu Vikramaditya.
• 1576: Annexation of Gujarat and got constructed Buland Darwaza (Door of victory) to mark his victory.
• Shifted capital from Agra --> Fatehpur Sikri.
• Got constructed Agra Fort & Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri, where he discussed with scholars of different religions.
• 1563: Abolished pilgrim tax.
• 1564: Abolish Jaziya.
• 1576: Battle of Haldighati = Akbar (winner) + Rana Pratap, Rana of Mewar.
• 1585: Ralph Fitch (1st Englishman) visited Akbar's court.
• 1582: promulgated a new religion called Din-i-Illahi.

Had Navratnas:

• Abul Fazl - wrote 'Ain-i-Akbari' & 'Akbarnama'.
• Faizi - a Persian poet, translated Lilavati into Persian.
• Fakir Aziaudin - Sufi mystic and chief advisor.
• Tansen - Great musician.
• Raja Birbal/ Mahesh Das - Courtier, who died fighting Yusuf Shahis on NW frontier.
• Raja Todar Mal - Finance Minister.
• Raja Man Singh - Trusted General.
• Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khan - A great poet, translated Baburnama into Turki, Devotee of Lord Krishna.
• Mirza Aziz Koka - Leading noble.

(4.) Jahangir (Salim) (Period: 1605 - 1627 CE.) 

• Revolted against Akbar.
• Under the influence of Nur Jahan, his wife.
• Got fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev Beheaded for supporting rebel Prince Khusrau.
• Captain Hawkins & Thomas Roe visited his court and Thomas Roe got Farman for setting a factory at Surat.
• Wrote his autobiography 'Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri' and famous author Abdul Hamid Lahori wrote 'Padshah Namah'.
• Built - Moti Mahal at Lahore, Shalimar & Nishat garden in Kashmir.
• Under his reign, the Mughal painting reached its zenith. 

Had painters-

• Ustad Mansur (animal painting specialist)
• Bishan Das (master of portrait)

(5.) Shah Jahan (Khurram) (Period: 1628 - 1658 CE.) 

• His era known as the Golden age of the Mughal Empire.
• 1636: His Deccan policy was more successful, and treaties were signed with Bijapur & Golconda.
• During his reign, French traveler Bernier & Tavernier, Italian Manucci & Peter Mundy visited.
• Sudden illness plunged the empire into a civil war.

He built-

• 1632 - 53: Tajmahal - at Agra, built for Mumtaz Mahal, by Ustad Isa in 22 years.
• 1638 - 48: Red Fort, Delhi.
• 1639: City of Shehjahanabad.
• 1641: Shalimar Garden, Lahore, Pakistan
• 1650 - 56: Jama Masjid, Delhi
• Moti Masjid (Agra Fort) - at Agra.
• Sheesh Mahal, Delhi.

(6.) Aurangzeb (Darveshi Zindapir) (Period: 1658 - 1707 CE.) 

• 1658: Battle of Samuragh = Aurangzeb & Murad (winner) + Dara Shikoh.
• 1659: Battle of Khajwah = Aurangzeb (winner) + Shah Shuja
• 1659: Battle of Deorai = Aurangzeb (winner) + Dara Shikoh.
• Executed the ninth Sikh Guru Tej Bahadur.
• was orthodox in his outlook & reimposed Jaziya.
• Due to the simple lifestyle, also known as 'Darveshi Zindapir'.

Built-

• Moti Masjid, at Red Fort Delhi.
• Badshahi mosque - at Lahore.

LATER MUGHAL:

The power of kings declined and nobles became proxy kings.

(1.) Shah Alam I/Bahadur Shah/Muazzam (Period: 1707 - 1712 CE.) o

• Adopted a more tolerant attitude towards Hindus.
• Had half-hearted conciliation with Marathas as released Shahu but didn't recognize him as rightful Maratha king.
• The real power in the hands' Wazir Zulfiqar Khan and the king was title as Shah-i-Bekhabar.

(2.) Jahader Shah (Period: 1712 - 1713 CE.) 

• First puppet rulers of Mughals.
• The evil practice of Ijarah (Revenue farming) was introduced.
• Real power again in hands of Wazir Zulfiqar Khan.

(3.) Farrukh Siyar (Period: 1713 - 1719 CE.) 

• Ascended the throne with the help of Sayyad brothers (King Makers) - Abdullah Khan (wazir), Hussain Ali Khan (Mir Bakshi)
• Executed Sikh leader Banda Bahadur.
• 1717: granted many trading privileges to East India Company.
• Thrice plotted against Sayyad brothers but failed, and ultimately Sayyad brothers with the assistance of Balaji Vishwanath killed Farrukh Siyar. 

(4.) Rafi-us-Darajat (Period: 1717 CE.) 

• Placed on the throne by Sayyad brothers but died within 4 months of tuberculosis.

(5.) Rafi-us-Daula (Period: 1719 CE.) 

(6.) Mohammad Shah 'Rangeela' (Period: 1719 - 1748 CE.) 

• Nephew of Jahandar Shah.
• Sayyad brothers were deposed.
• Expert Kathak dancer himself.
• More interested in sensual pleasures.
• 1739: Nadir Shah invaded India & Ahmad Shah Abdali too raided kingdom for the first time.
• Many autonomous states emerged - 1.) In Deccan: Nizam-ul-Mulk. 2.) In Awadh: Saadat Khan. 3.) In Bengal: Murshid Quli Khan.

(7.) Ahmad Shah Abdali (Period: 1748 - 1754 CE.) 

• Multiple invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali and the emergence of other autonomous states.
• Was blinded and prisoned by his Wazir Imad-ul-Mulk.

(8.) Alamgir II (Period: 1754 - 1759 CE.) M

• 1757: Battle of Plassey - murdered by the wazir Imad-ul-Mulk.

(9.) Shah Alam/Ali Gauhar II (Period: 1759 - 1806 CE.) 

• Due to fear of Wazir, remained as a refugee with Shuja-ud-daulah of Avadh.
• 1761: Third battle of Panipat = Marathas + Ahmad Shah Abdali.
• 1764: Battle of Buxar = British (winner) + Mughal, Shuja-ud-daulah of Awadh.

(10.) Akbar II (Period: 1806 - 1837 CE.) M

• Remained in British protection.
• Conferred title of Raja on Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

(11.) Bahadur Shah II Zafar (Period: 1837 - 1857 CE.) 

• Last Mughal emperor.
• After the revolt of 1857 CE, deported to Rangoon where he died in 1862 CE.

BRITISH RULE...started

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