Peshwa Period — Revision Notes

⚡ 30-Second Revision

Key Facts:

1713: — Balaji Vishwanath appointed first hereditary Peshwa.
1719: — Mughal-Maratha Treaty (Delhi Treaty) - Chauth/Sardeshmukhi rights.
1720-1740: — Baji Rao I - military expansion, Battle of Palkhed.
1740-1761: — Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb) - zenith, Huzur Daftar.
1750: — Sangola Agreement - Peshwa de facto ruler.
1761: — Third Battle of Panipat - Maratha defeat by Abdali.
1761-1772: — Madhav Rao I - revival of Maratha power.
1775-1782: — First Anglo-Maratha War - Treaty of Salbai.
1802: — Treaty of Bassein - Baji Rao II accepts subsidiary alliance.
1803-1805: — Second Anglo-Maratha War.
1817-1818: — Third Anglo-Maratha War - Peshwa abolished.
Revenue: — Chauth (1/4th), Sardeshmukhi (1/10th).
Confederacy: — Scindia (Gwalior), Holkar (Indore), Gaekwad (Baroda), Bhonsle (Nagpur).

2-Minute Revision

The Peshwa Period (1713-1818) saw the Maratha Empire transition from a kingdom under the Chhatrapati to an empire effectively ruled by hereditary Peshwas from Pune. Balaji Vishwanath laid the foundation, securing crucial revenue rights from the Mughals.

His son, Baji Rao I, was a military genius who expanded Maratha influence across India, challenging the Mughals and other regional powers. Balaji Baji Rao's reign marked the empire's territorial peak but was marred by the devastating Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, which severely weakened Maratha power and prestige.

Madhav Rao I, however, managed a remarkable revival, restoring much of the lost glory. The administrative system featured the centralized Huzur Daftar, and revenue was primarily collected through Chauth and Sardeshmukhi.

The Maratha Empire evolved into a confederacy of powerful chiefs, which, while aiding expansion, also fostered internal rivalries. The later Peshwas, particularly Baji Rao II, were weak and indecisive, leading to increasing British interference.

The Treaty of Bassein (1802) brought the Peshwa under a subsidiary alliance, and the final defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818) led to the abolition of the Peshwa office, marking the end of Maratha independence and paving the way for British paramountcy.

5-Minute Revision

The Peshwa Period, spanning from 1713 to 1818, represents the most dynamic phase of the Maratha Empire, characterized by both unprecedented expansion and eventual collapse. It began with Balaji Vishwanath's appointment as hereditary Peshwa, who skillfully consolidated Chhatrapati Shahu's power and secured vital revenue rights (Chauth and Sardeshmukhi) from the declining Mughal Empire.

His son, Baji Rao I, transformed the Marathas into the dominant indigenous power through aggressive military campaigns, pushing their influence into North India. Under Balaji Baji Rao, the empire reached its territorial zenith, but this era also witnessed the catastrophic Third Battle of Panipat (1761), a defeat that crippled Maratha military and leadership, though it wasn't an immediate end.

Madhav Rao I's subsequent reign was a period of significant revival, restoring Maratha prestige. However, internal power struggles, particularly after his death, and the rise of powerful regional chiefs (Scindias, Holkars, Gaekwads, Bhonsles) created a fragmented Maratha Confederacy.

The administrative system, centered around the Huzur Daftar in Pune, was efficient in its own right, but the feudal Saranjam system and the exploitative nature of Chauth often alienated local populations.

The later Peshwas, especially Baji Rao II, proved incapable of managing the internal rivalries and resisting the expansionist British East India Company. The Anglo-Maratha Wars, culminating in the Treaty of Bassein (1802) and the final defeat in 1818, led to the abolition of the Peshwa office and the complete subjugation of Maratha territories.

The Peshwa Period is a crucial study in the complexities of 18th-century Indian politics, demonstrating how internal weaknesses, coupled with external pressures, can lead to the downfall of even a formidable empire.

Understanding this period requires grasping the interplay of personalities, administrative structures, military strategies, and diplomatic maneuvers.

Prelims Revision Notes

1
Rise of Peshwas: — Balaji Vishwanath (1713) appointed by Shahu, made office hereditary. Secured Chauth/Sardeshmukhi from Mughals (1719 Delhi Treaty).
2
Expansion: — Baji Rao I (1720-40) - military genius, Battle of Palkhed (Nizam), conquered Malwa, Gujarat, Bundelkhand, raided Delhi.
3
Zenith & Disaster: — Balaji Baji Rao (1740-61) - empire's largest extent. Established Huzur Daftar. Third Battle of Panipat (1761) - devastating defeat by Abdali, loss of leadership (Sadashivrao Bhau).
4
Revival: — Madhav Rao I (1761-72) - restored Maratha prestige, defeated Nizam, Hyder Ali.
5
Regency & Wars: — Nana Phadnavis - 'Maratha Machiavelli', managed regency for Madhav Rao Narayan. First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82) - Treaty of Salbai (1782).
6
Decline: — Baji Rao II (1796-1818) - weak, indecisive. Treaty of Bassein (1802) - subsidiary alliance with British. Second (1803-05) & Third (1817-18) Anglo-Maratha Wars led to abolition of Peshwa office.
7
Administration: — Huzur Daftar (central secretariat, Pune). Kamavisdars/Mamlatdars (provincial officers).
8
Revenue: — Chauth (1/4th protection tax), Sardeshmukhi (1/10th overlord's claim). Land revenue.
9
Confederacy: — Scindia (Gwalior), Holkar (Indore), Gaekwad (Baroda), Bhonsle (Nagpur).
10
Key Treaties: — Delhi (1719), Sangola (1750), Salbai (1782), Bassein (1802).

Mains Revision Notes

1
Rise of Peshwas: — Analyze factors: Mughal decline, Shahu's need for strong administrator, Balaji Vishwanath's diplomacy (1719 Treaty), Baji Rao I's military prowess. Transformation from minister to de facto ruler (Sangola Agreement 1750).
2
Peshwa Administration: — Strengths: Centralized Huzur Daftar, efficient revenue collection (Chauth, Sardeshmukhi for expansion). Weaknesses: Feudalization (Saranjam system), lack of uniform legal code, exploitation in conquered areas.
3
Maratha Confederacy: — Dual nature – enabled vast expansion but fostered internal rivalries (Scindia-Holkar-Peshwa), weakening central authority. Crucial for understanding decline.
4
Third Battle of Panipat (1761): — Causes (Abdali's invasion, Maratha overextension, lack of allies), immediate impact (loss of leadership, military, prestige), long-term consequences (exposed weaknesses, power vacuum, but not immediate downfall due to Madhav Rao I's revival).
5
Decline of Peshwa Power: — Internal factors: Weak later Peshwas (Baji Rao II), deep-seated rivalries among chiefs, feudalization, financial strain, Pindari menace. External factors: Rise of British East India Company, superior military organization, diplomatic exploitation of Maratha divisions (subsidiary alliances, Treaty of Bassein 1802), Anglo-Maratha Wars.
6
Anglo-Maratha Wars: — First (1775-82) - Marathas held ground. Second (1803-05) & Third (1817-18) - British decisive victories, leading to Peshwa abolition.
7
Vyyuha Analysis: Peshwa Paradox: — The very centralization and expansion that marked their zenith also sowed seeds of decline through feudalization and inability to forge a unified state from a disparate confederacy.

Vyyuha Quick Recall

Vyyuha Quick Recall: PESHWA Framework

P - Political Expansion: Baji Rao I's conquests, empire's zenith under Balaji Baji Rao. E - Economic Reforms: Chauth & Sardeshmukhi, Huzur Daftar, revenue administration. S - Social & Cultural: Patronage of arts, literature, Pune as cultural center, Shaniwar Wada.

H - Historical Battles: Panipat (1761), Palkhed, Anglo-Maratha Wars. W - Weakening Factors: Internal strife, confederacy issues, feudalization, weak later Peshwas. A - Anti-British Resistance: Nana Phadnavis, Anglo-Maratha Wars, Treaty of Bassein (failure).