The reign of Chhatrapati Shahu I (1707–1749) is widely recognized as the period when the Peshwas truly ascended to power. Upon his release from Mughal captivity, Shahu relied heavily on his capable Peshwas, Balaji Vishwanath and Bajirao I, to manage the state and conduct military expansion. . Shahu’s generous delegation of authority meant that while he retained the nominal title, the real power and administrative capital shifted from the Chhatrapati at Satara to the Peshwa at Pune, ushering in the era of Peshwa dominance.