In January 1708, Shahu Maharaj was crowned Chhatrapati at Satara. This moment signaled a new page in Indian history, but that wasn’t apparent at the time. Rather, Shahu had to face so many threats from so many sides in the decade that followed, that people questioned whether the Marathas would even survive politically. And yet, survive they did, thanks to another great man who arose from humble origins- Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath Bhat.
Balaji Vishwanath Bhat- Origins
Balaji Vishwanath Bhat was born in 1660 in the coastal town of Shrivardhan. The area was, at the time, controlled by the Siddis of Janjira. Fleeing their persecution, Balaji migrated to the Maratha heartland, accompanied by his close friend Balaji Bhanu and his 2 brothers.
Coming to Purandar, he became acquainted with the Purandare family, and served as an accountant for Dhanaji Jadhav. With his brilliant mind and penchant for diplomacy, Balaji quickly became a trusted aide to the administration. In a letter by Ramchandra Pant Amatya to Chhatrapati Rajaram (in 1693), he recalls having sent Balaji Vishwanath to search for Sambhaji Maharaj after his capture by the Mughals. During Rajaram’s reign, Balaji was a revenue-collecting official in Chiplun, and later Pune. Since all of Maharashtra had come under Mughal occupation at the time, collecting revenue and sending it safely to the ministers was difficult. However, Balaji excelled in his duties and was made the Sarsubhedar of Pune by 1700. During this time, he had also provided resources and ensured Shahu’s welfare in the Mughal camps, most probably through the help of Mughal Princess Zeenat un-Nissa.
When Shahu returned in 1707, Balaji played a huge part in convincing his master Senapati Dhanaji Jadhav and other leaders to support Shahu. In recognition of this, Shahu appointed Balaji as ‘Senakarte’ or the Head of Army Logistics. His job was to procure funds for the armies. Balaji advised young Shahu to recreate the stable administration system of Shivaji Maharaj which had completely fallen apart. Key to this was reinstating the Pradhan Mandal. Hence, on the recommendation of the Senapati and Khando Ballal Chitnis, Shahu appointed Bahiro Pant Pingale, youngest son of the first Peshwa Moro Pant, as the new Peshwa (Prime Minister). He also released Parshuram Pant ‘Pratinidhi’ after he swore loyalty to Shahu. Balaji also advised on the appointments of the other ministers.
Challenges to the Maratha Kingdom
Despite Shahu’s coronation and the new administrative appointments, their troubles were far from over. Shahu knew his aunt Tarabai would not give up her claims easily. Wisely, he extended her an olive branch, and agreed to divide the Kingdom between them, avoiding further conflict. Tarabai spurned his offer. She released Ramchandra Pant Amatya and asked him to take charge of her son’s administration. The veteran advised her to make peace, but she denounced Shahu as a Mughal puppet.
Again, Shahu led an army to Panhala, but Tarabai escaped to Rangna. When Shahu decided to pursue her, Dhanaji reminded him of everything Tarabai had accomplished and sacrificed for the Maratha cause. So, Shahu declared the territory of Panhala and surrounding areas as Tarabai’s independent domain, and retreated. He decided to focus on improving administration and strengthening his position. Tarabai established her capital at Kolhapur, forever dividing the Maratha Kingdom into two.
The New Senapati
Senapati Dhanaji Jadhav died soon after. Immediately, Shahu’s position weakened, as many of the sardars had supported him because of Dhanaji. With the Commander gone, how long would Shahu last?
Shahu promoted Dhanaji’s son Chandrasen as the new Senapati, but this proved problematic. Chandrasen had always resented the trust that Balaji Vishwanath had shared with his father, and privately believed in Tarabai’s cause. Over the next two years, his rivalry with Balaji only increased as Balaji grew closer to Shahu. Hence, rather than try to consolidate his king’s position, Chandrasen indulged in conspiracy with Tarabai.
The Rebellious Sardars
During the War of Independence, all the Maratha sardars had operated independently, with the only common bond being their fight against the Mughals. Rajaram Maharaj and his Council had encouraged them to raise their own armies and conquer territories back from the Mughals, by declaring that the territory they conquered would remain under their rule. Although against the policies established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this yielded good results during the War. However, now that there was a central governing authority back in place, the sardars were reluctant to give up their autonomy. Hence, many of them refused to pay the taxes owed to Shahu.
Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Peshwa Bahiro Pant Pingale then personally led missions to collect the taxes and keep the economy afloat. With his decades of experience in revenue collection, Balaji’s advice became indispensable. Soon Balaji became Shahu’s friend, philosopher, and guide; and his success in battlefield logistics and revenue administration ensured his meteoric rise to power.
Relations with the Mughals
Though the Mughals freed Shahu, they continued to keep his mother and wife imprisoned. Hence, Shahu had no choice but to submit to them. In Delhi, Prince Muazzam had killed his brother Azam and crowned himself as Bahadur Shah. He then came to Hyderabad to kill his last remaining brother Kam Baksh. At this time, Shahu sent his envoys to Bahadur Shah, professing his loyalty to the Mughals. In return, he asked the Emperor to free his family, and declare him the rightful successor to Shivaji rather than his cousin Shivaji II. This would allow Shahu Maharaj the important rights of collecting the Chauth (one-fourth of total revenue) that his grandfather had exercised over most of the Deccan.
However, when his envoys reached the Mughal camp, they found Tarabai’s envoys already there! The wily old queen, while denouncing Shahu as a Mughal puppet, was herself trying to gain favor with them.
Bahadur Shah I diplomatically declared that this was an internal issue that the Marathas must resolve among themselves. This, of course, ensured that the Marathas remained divided!
Balaji Vishwanath becomes Peshwa
In 1711, tensions peaked between Chandrasen and Balaji. Using a hunting accident as an excuse, Chandrasen attacked Balaji with 3000 men. Not having enough men to fight, Balaji sought refuge at Purandar. The great sardars Pilaji Jadhavrao and Yamaji Dhumal protected his family- wife Radhabai, two daughters, and two sons- Bajirao and Chimaji. Shahu Maharaj sent a great army and defeated Chandrasen, who escaped and joined Tarabai. This was also 11-year old Bajirao’s first battle.
In 1713, an even greater calamity struck. Kanhoji Angre, the great Sarkhel or Admiral of the Maratha Navy, declared his support for Tarabai. He had so far not acted for either side, preferring to administer the coast independently, but now he began capturing Shahu’s forts. Bahiro Pant Peshwa led an army, but proved no match for the experienced admiral. Kanhoji imprisoned him at Kolaba Fort, and marched toward Satara.
At Shahu’s court, none of the other Pradhans were ready to deal with Kanhoji. In desperation, Shahu turned to his trusted advisor Balaji; however, Balaji was a ‘Senakarte’ and not a full Cabinet Minister. Kanhoji would not take him seriously, so Balaji pragmatically advised Shahu to appoint him an interim Peshwa. Thus on 13 November 1713, Balaji Vishwanath was appointed the 5th Peshwa of the Swarajya. Balaji led successful countermoves against Kanhoji, such that Kanhoji finally agreed to discuss terms.
Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath stabilizes the Swarajya
In a historic meeting at Lohagad, Kanhoji and Balaji connected over their shared ‘Konkani’ heritage. Balaji appealed to the old man’s patriotism, as a bakhar narrates-
Your father Tukaji served Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Now Shahu Maharaj is the senior, the heir to the throne…Instead, you are serving the younger brother and have turned your face away from Chhatrapati Shahu. Is it the dharma of a servant to imprison the Pradhan or take the master’s forts?”
Eventually, in return for near-autonomy over the Konkan, Kanhoji agreed to serve Shahu Maharaj, released Bahiro Pant, and returned the captured forts. Shahu gave him a place in his Council, and agreed to provide troops against the Portuguese and Siddis. Shahu then made Balaji’s appointment permanent.
Balaji set out to stabilize the kingdom. Meeting all the important Sardars, he signed treaties similar to the one with Kanhoji. The Sardars got the right to govern their territories without interference, in return for supporting Shahu Maharaj with troops and taxes. Those that refused were defeated and captured. Peace was slowly restored. Balaji also designed a new, robust revenue collection system that slowly revitalized the economy and brought prosperity.
All that remained to be dealt with was Tarabai.
Conspiracy in Kolhapur
The solution was not difficult. In 1700, when Tarabai crowned her son Shivaji II after Rajaram’s death, she had imprisoned Rajaram’s other wife Rajasbai and her son Sambhaji II. After all, if Tarabai could seat her son on the throne that Rajaram had always declared would go to his nephew Shahu, there was nothing stopping Rajasbai from doing the same!
Thus, in 1714, after finding Tarabai and her son unwilling to establish peace, their administrator Ramchandra Pant released Rajasbai and her son from prison. Rajasbai took over the throne of Kolhapur and imprisoned Tarabai and her son at Panhala. Rajasbai sent a letter to Shahu, accepting the demarcation of territories, and seeking his blessings. Shahu Maharaj promised her his protection, and peace was established in the Swarajya.
Alliance with the Sayyads
Meanwhile, the death of Bahadur Shah in 1712 marked the death of the last competent Mughal Emperor. His successor Jahandar Shah was addicted to wine and opium, and preferred cavorting with his many mistresses than ruling. He was deposed by his nephew Farrukh Siyar, who came into power only with the support of two brothers- the kingmakers Sayyad Abdullah and Sayyad Hussein Ali. These brothers now held the true power in Delhi. Abdullah became the Wazir, and Hussein Ali came to the Deccan as the new Viceroy in 1715.
Hussein Ali and the Marathas clashed for over two years without any conclusion. At the same time, Farrukh Siyar was trying to get rid of the controlling Sayyad brothers, who knew it. Conspiracies became commonplace.
In 1718, the Sayyad brothers realized that Farrukh Siyar was becoming a threat to their power. Hence, Hussein Ali approached Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath; they drafted a treaty and sent it to the Emperor. Farrukh Siyar denied all the terms. Then the Marathas and Sayyads sprung their trap.
They declared that one of Aurangzeb’s grandsons had been in Maratha custody since Aurangzeb’s death, and that they would hand him over to the Mughals in return for their demands. In truth, the grandson had died long ago; but the Marathas found an impostor to act the role. They furnished him with all the grandeur befitting a Mughal prince. Farrukh Siyar knew this ‘prince’ was a threat to his throne! He demanded the Marathas hand him over.
The Marathas march to Delhi
In 1718, the Marathas set out with an army of 50,000, led by Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, new Senapati Khanderao Dabhade, Balaji Bhanu, Pilaji Jadhavrao, and 18-year old Bajirao. They were joined by Hussein Ali with an equally formidable force. On 16 February, this mighty army entered Delhi. The first day went by in negotiations.
The next day, heavy skirmishes occurred in the Delhi streets between the Emperor’s men and Hussein Ali’s. The Marathas were ambushed, and blood flowed freely. Balaji Bhanu was murdered; however, Bajirao and his contingent successfully guarded one of the gates of the Red Fort. Angry, Hussein Ali dragged out Farrukh Siyar hiding in his harem, and blinded him!
In his place, the Sayyads installed a new puppet, Rafi ud-Darjat, who meekly signed the treaty with the following terms:
- Formal recognition by the Mughals of the independent Swarajya founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
- Formal recognition of Shahu as the supreme ruler and Chhatrapati of the Marathas
- Release of all imprisoned Marathas including Shahu’s mother, wife, and half-brother
- The rights to collect the Chauthai (25% of total revenue) in all 6 provinces of the Deccan- Aurangabad, Khandesh, Bidar, Varhad, Bijapur and Telangana, to the Maratha Government
- The rights to collect the Sardeshmukhi (10% of total revenue) in all 6 provinces of the Deccan, personally to the Chhatrapati
In return, the Marathas would:
- Recognize the Mughal Emperor’s nominal authority
- Keep an army to maintain peace in the Deccan
- Keep an additional 15,000 troops for the protection of the Mughal throne
As historian G.S. Sardesai states, ‘when a sovereign seeks protection from a vassal, it means that in actual practice the comparative strength of the two parties is reversed’. Thus, while in name, the Marathas acknowledged Mughal authority outside their Swarajya, in reality they had become protectors of the Mughals!
Swarajya becomes Saamrajya
Reunited with his family, a weary Shahu approaching age 40 desired some peace and quiet. He asked Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath to handle the everyday responsibilities in his name, and shift his own court to Pune, which was being raided by miscreants. Accordingly, Balaji moved to Pune and began handling the administration from there, with regular reports sent to Satara. He spent the next few months stabilizing the new administration and passed away in April 1720. His accomplishments earned him the title ‘Second Founder of the Maratha State’!
Shahu Maharaj appointed his son Bajirao as his next Peshwa. During Bajirao’s illustrious career, the Peshwa or Prime Minister became the real power centre of the Marathas, while still serving the Chhatrapati as the master. Since Shahu had no sons, he adopted his nephew Rajaram II (son of Shivaji II) as his titular successor, and officially transferred the authority of ruling the now vast empire to the Bhat Peshwa family. Under the Chhatrapatis and the Peshwas, the Marathas ruled most of the subcontinent for 70 years, constituting a glorious albeit forgotten chapter in Indian history.
– Ashutosh Dixit
Excellent
Excellent work done!Best Wishes For The Next Blog!
Wonderful narration of the events after Shahu Maharaj release. This part of history is not much known. This will provide good information to History lovers.
Good Information for Maratha History lovers.