1. The Deccan in the last days of Mughal rule

2. The Deccan Under Aurangzeb Aurganzeb’s protracted war had already alienated many local groups Mughal nobles were developing local connections, but not necessarily for the Empire Fort commanders on reduced Jagirs preferred not to send out men to combat Maratha raids Marathas move easily through countryside demanding Chauth or a quarter of Mughal revenue.

3. New Maratha Kingship Network of support from maratha deshmukhs (revenue collectors/lineage heads) Administrative links through Brahmins in Deccan courts Temporary alliances with Bijapur and Golconda, against Mughals

4. Use of religious ideology Re-invention of Bhonsle family as high- caste with help of Brahmin from Benaras Political goals reformulated within the rubric of Hindu Kingship Public patronage of Hindu temples, particularly Bhavani, the fierce war goddess and Shiva –Note this occurred along with alliances with the Decanni sultanates and muslim groups

5. Internal Tensions among Marathas Shivaji’s eldest son Shambhaji not universally popular Several Maratha chiefs are indedependent operators, not fully incorporated into Bhonsle kingdom Shivaji dies in 1680, succession struggle prompts Aurangzeb to move south.

6. The Bhonsle Marathas “Chatrapatti” Shivaji d. 1680 Shambhaji r. 1680-1688 Shahuji/Shivaji II d. 1749 Rajaram I r.1689-1700 Tarabai (d.1761) Shambaji II

7. Evaluating Deccan Policy A paradox—possible to win every battle, but still loose the war. Why? –Aurangzeb had to fight multiple chiefs after Shivaji’s death, not just one Shambhaji’s death did not stop raids Shahuji (the captive son) treated with suspicion –Rejected Tarabai’s offer and made a formidable foe –Parallel system of revenu allowed both Mughals and Marathas to suvive, but not thrive. Had a bad impact on local agrarian economy Marathas simply had to dig in and survive until Aurangzeb’s death (1707).

8. End of Mughal Rule in Deccan When Aurangzeb dies in Deccan his sons are in their 60s Muazzam, most likely to succeed is near Kabul, but his son is governor of Bengal and ready to help Azam Shah and Kam Baksh are in the Deccan but have little real experience By June Muzzam defeats his brothers and becomes the next Emperor as Bahadur Shah

9. Aurangzeb’s Successors Aurangzeb d. 1707 Bahadur Shah r. 1707-1712 Jahandar Shah—The first Puppet Mughal? r. 1712-1713

10. Bahadur Shah Brief reign due to old age, but vigorous attempt to retain empire Successful containment of Rajput rebellion and attempt at reconciliation Active campaign against Banda’s rebellion in Punjab Zulfikar Khan appointed Mir Bakshi, but also Viceroy of the Deccan

11. Bahadur Shah’s Deccan Policy Zulfikar Khan already had contacts in Deccan and appointed the Afghan Daud Khan Panni as deputy Marathas are caught in the rivalry between Shahuji and Tarabai, both seek contracts of Sardeshmukhi (10%) and Chauth (25%) Bahadur Shah grants equal rights to each hoping they would limit each other’s power His own attention fully occupied by events in north until his death of natural causes in 1712

12. Nature of Maratha Power Very de-centralized with a number of chiefs who had been under the service of the Bijapur sultans Even after the 1660s when Shivaji’s Bhonsle lineage becomes pre-eminent, the Maratha chiefs continue as independent confederates This pattern of leadership would last until their defeat in the Third Maratha War in the 19 th century to the British East India company

13. Advantages to Marathas Decentralized power lessens need for massive investment Raids and piracy supplement income Favors guerilla tactics with fast cavalry units rather than organized battles Territories include massive forts in hills and on coast as safe-havens, but disposable A mixture of sympathy and coercion ensure local support

14. Golconda and Jinji Forts

15. The evolution of the Peshwas By the early 18 th century the Chitpavan Brahmin ministers of the Bhonsles began to be the real power behind the Marathas Under these ministers (Peshwas) the marathas became a confederacy under different chiefs—Holkar, Bhonsle, Gaekawad, Sindhia After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 the Maraths began raiding larger areas

16. Original Maratha territories Martha raids into Golconda, Southern Peninsula Forts set up on Eastern edge Such as Jinji

17. Why did Marathas Succeed? A policy based on mobile units and individual commanders making decisions at the local level Favored “slow conquest” with a pattern changing from raid to conquest (see Gordon reading for next class) Individual rivalries between Maratha chiefs sorted out by Peshwas, however, this did limit the possibility of united campaigns

19. Maratha Expansion by 1750s