Following the 1761 disaster, the central authority of the Peshwa significantly weakened. This vacuum allowed powerful regional sardars (chiefs) to assert their independence. The resulting internal rivalries, particularly between the houses of Scindia and Holkar, prevented the Marathas from presenting ...
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The transfer of power to the Peshwas transitioned the Maratha state from a centralized monarchy into a dynamic confederacy. By delegating authority to capable military commanders, the Peshwas incentivized them to conquer new territories in North and Central India. This ...
The transformation into an all-India confederacy was driven by the Peshwas’ strategic decision to decentralize political and military authority. Starting with Bajirao I, the state encouraged talented generals to carve out spheres of influence in North and Central India. This ...
When Aurangzeb died in 1707, the Maratha resistance was led by Maharani Tarabai, the widow of Rajaram. She ruled as regent for her young son, Shivaji II. Despite the loss of several forts and the capture of Shahu, Tarabai’s energetic ...
The direct provocation for Abdali’s 1759 invasion was the Maratha conquest of Punjab in 1758. Raghunath Rao’s forces had driven out Abdali’s son and viceroy, Timur Shah, from Lahore. Abdali viewed this as a personal insult and a direct threat ...