In Northern India, Maratha rule was often characterized by revenue extraction (Chauth) rather than deep-seated administrative reform. This was primarily due to the “short duration” and instability of their control. Constant warfare with Afghans, Jats and Mughals forced the Marathas ...
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The defining institutional feature of the Maratha Confederacy was the “semi-autonomous” nature of its sardars. Unlike a centralized empire where governors are subordinates who follow central orders, the Maratha chiefs (like Scindia, Holkar and Gaekwad) maintained their own armies, administrations ...
The decentralized nature of the Maratha state, though a weakness in battle, was its greatest strength in terms of resilience. Because power was spread among various regional houses (Scindia, Holkar, etc.), the loss at Panipat did not destroy the entire ...
The post of ‘Pratinidhi’ (The Viceroy or Representative of the King), which was superior to the Peshwa, was created by Rajaram, the second son of Shivaji. He created the post to balance the power of the Peshwa and to strengthen ...
Mahadaji Scindia was the instrumental force behind the Maratha resurrection in North India after the Panipat disaster. In 1771, he escorted the exiled Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II from British protection in Allahabad back to Delhi. By placing the Emperor ...