10. The Expansion of the Maratha Power

Chauthai refers to the right to collect one fourth part of the revenue from the Mughal territory in the Deccan.

Sardeshmukhi refers to the right to collect one tenth part of the revenue from the Mughal territory in the Deccan.

• (1) Balaji was from this town in Konkan — Shrivardhan
• (2) He ruled Bundelkhand — King Chhatrasal
• (3) Bajirao died at this place — Raverkhedi
• (4) He defeated the Portuguese — Chimajiappa

Kanhoji Angre was the chief of the Maratha Navy. Initially, he chose to side with Maharani Tarabai and launched attacks on the territories of Shahu Maharaj. To handle this difficult situation, Shahu Maharaj sent Balaji Vishwanath to fight against him. However, using his diplomatic skills, Balaji avoided a war and successfully won Kanhoji over to Shahu Maharaj's side.

Nizam-ul-Mulk, the Subhedar of Deccan appointed by the Mughal Emperor, opposed the Marathas' rights to recover Chauthai-Sardeshmukhi from Mughal areas and tried to establish his separate existence at Hyderabad. He even captured some part of the Pune Pargana. To checkmate him, Bajirao I decided to attack and defeated the Nizam at Palkhed near Aurangabad. After this defeat, the Nizam was forced to accept the Maratha right to collect Chauthai-Sardeshmukhi.

Balaji Vishwanath, who hailed from Shrivardhan in Konkan, was a highly competent and experienced leader. After Shahu Maharaj was released, he appointed Balaji as a Peshwa. Balaji played a crucial role in convincing many Sardars that Shahu Maharaj was the real heir to the Maratha empire, successfully handled the threat of Kanhoji Angre without a war, and obtained the historic grants (sanads) from the Mughal Emperor in 1719 CE to collect chauthai and sardeshmukhi from the Deccan.

After the death of Balaji Vishwanath in 1720 CE, Shahu Maharaj appointed his son, Bajirao I, as the Peshwa. Bajirao was a great General who significantly expanded the Maratha Empire over his 20-year term. He defeated the Nizam at Palkhed and Bhopal, established Maratha supremacy in Malwa and Bundelkhand, and even surprised the Mughals by marching on Delhi in 1737 CE. He effectively elevated the Maratha power to a formidable status across all of India before he passed away at Raverkhedi in 1740.

Following the release of Shahu Maharaj and his subsequent coronation at Satara, the mutual opposition between him and Maharani Tarabai persisted. Consequently, Maharani Tarabai proclaimed her minor son Shivaji II as the Chhatrapati at Panhala in 1710 CE. This action formally gave rise to an independent Maratha Kingdom at Kolhapur alongside the existing one at Satara, leading to the formation of two separate Maratha States.

Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb, Prince Azamshah hurried towards Delhi to seize the imperial throne. Prince Shahu was still in his captivity at the time. Azamshah strategically calculated that if Shahu Maharaj was released, it would instigate a fierce conflict between him and Maharani Tarabai for the gadi (throne) of the Maratha Chhatrapati. Believing that this internal division would effectively sap the Maratha strength, Azamshah decided to release Shahu Maharaj.

The Mughal power was facing a severe dual threat from Irani and Afghani invaders approaching from the north-west, as well as significant challenges from local Pathan, Rajput, Jat, and Rohila rulers. Additionally, intense internal competition and political tussles within the court had severely weakened the Mughal power from within. Due to these combined external threats and internal weaknesses, the Delhi Court desperately needed the assistance of the powerful Marathas to survive.