The growth of the Scindia and Holkar dynasties was a clear sign of “regional militarization.” To manage vast conquered lands, the Peshwas granted these families the right to raise private armies and collect local taxes. This created powerful, self-sustaining regional ...
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The decentralized “Confederacy” model eventually led to extreme political fragmentation. As the Peshwa’s power declined, the various Maratha houses became more interested in fighting each other than in defending the empire. This disunity created an ideal environment for the British ...
At Panipat, the Maratha army suffered from a fatal lack of coordination and centralized command. While Sadashivrao Bhau was the nominal leader, he struggled to unify the different sardars, who often disagreed on strategy. The departure of traditional guerrilla tactics ...
Bajirao I led a daring cavalry strike on Delhi in 1737, reaching the outskirts of the Mughal capital in record time. His lightning-fast movement paralyzed Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila. This show of force demonstrated Maratha military superiority, effectively ending Mughal ...
Shivaji established his first naval fleet at Colaba. Recognizing the strategic importance of the Arabian Sea, he focused on building a navy to protect his coastal territories, control sea trade and defend against the Portuguese, the Abyssinian Siddis of Janjira ...