Reference
The Marathas 1600–1818
How the Maratha state rose from Shivaji's swarajya to a subcontinental power.
Maratha Empire
Empire
Level 2
★ Major power
1674 – 1818
From Shivaji's swarajya to a confederacy under the Peshwas.
- Capital
- Raigad, later Satara / Pune
- Region
- Deccan
- Duration
- 144 years
- Main period
- Maratha Empire & Regional Powers
Changing extent
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
Rulers
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Chhatrapati1674 – 1680Crowned at Raigad.
- Chhatrapati Sambhaji Chhatrapati1681 – 1689Executed by Aurangzeb.
- Chhatrapati Rajaram Chhatrapati1689 – 1700Ruled from Gingee.
- Tarabai (regent) Regent1700 – 1707Led resistance against Aurangzeb.
- Chhatrapati Shahu I Chhatrapati1707 – 1749
- Peshwa Baji Rao I Peshwa1720 – 1740Northern expansion; raid on Delhi 1737.
- Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb) Peshwa1740 – 1761Peak; defeat at Panipat 1761.
- Peshwa Madhavrao I Peshwa1761 – 1772Restored Maratha power.
- Peshwa Baji Rao II Peshwa1795 – 1818Treaty of Bassein; last Peshwa.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Constituent & related polities
Thanjavur Maratha Kingdom
1674 – 1855
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
1721 – 1949
Holkar State (Indore)
1731 – 1948
Scindia State (Gwalior)
1731 – 1948
Bhonsles of Nagpur
1739 – 1853
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1674 | Shivaji crowned Chhatrapati | Raigad |
| 1680 | Death of Shivaji His son Sambhaji succeeded him. |
Raigad |
| 1689 | Execution of Sambhaji | Tulapur |
| 1713 | Balaji Vishwanath becomes Peshwa | Satara |
| 1720 | Baji Rao I becomes Peshwa | Pune |
| 1737 | Baji Rao raids Delhi | Delhi |
| 1761 | Third Battle of Panipat Ahmad Shah Durrani defeats the Marathas. The Marathas were crushed by Ahmad Shah Durrani and their northward expansion checked. |
Panipat |
| 1775 | First Anglo-Maratha War begins | Pune |
| 1782 | Treaty of Salbai The First Anglo-Maratha War ended with a return to the status quo. |
Salbai |
| 1795 | Battle of Kharda Last joint Maratha victory, over Hyderabad. The Marathas defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad. |
Kharda |
| 1802 | Treaty of Bassein Peshwa Baji Rao II accepted the Subsidiary Alliance. |
Vasai |
| 1817 | Battle of Khadki The Peshwa's army was defeated near Pune. |
Khadki |
| 1818 | Third Anglo-Maratha War ends Peshwa deposed; the Company becomes paramount. The Peshwa's territories were annexed and the Company became the paramount power. |
Pune |
Sites & monuments
Raigad Fort
Capital / fort · 1674
Shivaji's capital.
Personalities
Jijabai
1598 – 1674
Mother and mentor of Shivaji
Samarth Ramdas
1608 – 1681
Saint who wrote the Dasbodh
Tanaji Malusare
died 1670
Maratha commander who died capturing Kondhana (Sinhagad)
Nana Fadnavis
1742 – 1800
Peshwa minister called the 'Maratha Machiavelli'
📚 Recommended reading on the Maratha Empire
Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Reference
A History of Assam
The classic history of Assam and the Ahom kingdom.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Maratha Empire for a significant part of its history.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Nawabs of Bengal ★
East · 1717 – 1765
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Dutch Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1658 – 1796
Dutch Malabar (Cochin)
Coastal · 1663 – 1795
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Hotak Dynasty
Northwest · 1709 – 1738
Rohilkhand
Gangetic Plain · 1721 – 1774
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
North · 1722 – 1947
Awadh (Nawabs of Oudh)
Gangetic Plain · 1722 – 1856
Travancore
South · 1729 – 1949