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 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 ...
While the Marathas were militarily strong, their inability to form a stable diplomatic front against the British proved fatal. Internal rivalries between the Peshwa, Scindia and Holkar allowed the British East India Company to use “divide and rule” tactics. The ...
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 Deccan’s rugged landscape, filled with hills and narrow passes, was perfectly suited for the Maratha “Ganimi Kava” (guerrilla tactics). By avoiding open-field battles, the Marathas used the terrain to trap larger enemy forces. Their reliance on light cavalry ensured ...