The Chhatrapati was the absolute monarch of the Maratha Empire, from the late 17th century to the early 19th century, on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Starting in 1720s, the Peshwas were instrumental in expanding the Maratha Empire to cover large areas of the Indian subcontinent. Peshwas served as subordinates to the Chhatrapati, but later, they became the generals of the Maratha Army, and the Chhatrapati was reduced to a nominal ruler. Their power rapidly dwindled during the 19th century and later Peshwas also were reduced to nominal ruler under various Maratha nobles and later British East India Company. The last Peshwa was deposed in 1818.

Chhatrapatis

Shivaji and his early descendants This is the list of the initial Chhatrapatis.

Image Name Birth Reign Death Notes Shivaji 19 February 1630 6 June 1674 – 3 April 1680 3 April 1680 The founder of the Maratha Kingdom, which eventually grew into the Maratha Empire . He defeated formidable enemies with a small, skilled army using guerrilla warfare. Known as the Father of the Indian Navy, he established a strong Maratha Navy, securing coastal trade routes and defending against foreign invaders like the Portuguese and Siddis. His well-planned sea forts, warships, and strategic naval tactics helped the Marathas dominate the Arabian Sea. He appointed Kanhoji Angre as the Maratha naval chief. His spy network was highly efficient, well-organized, and deeply embedded within enemy territories. He appointed Bahirji Naik as the head of the intelligence department in the army. Backed by a strong spy network and precise intelligence, he strategically planned and executed the swift and successful Sack of Surat. His assassination of the Mughal general Afzal Khan in the Battle of Pratapgad during a parlay was achieved through deception. Sambhaji 14 May 1657 16 January 1681 – 11 March 1689 11 March 1689 Rajaram 24 February 1670 11 March 1689 – 3 March 1700 3 March 1700 Shivaji II (Regent Tarabai) 9 June 1696 March 1700 – 1707, 1710–2 August 1714 (Kolhapur State) 14 March 1726 Shahu 18 May 1682 12 January 1708 – 15 December 1749 15 December 1749Pratap Singh 18 January 17933 May 1808 – 3 June 181814 October 1847

Chhatrapatis of Satara This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of Satara.Maheshwari, K.K. & K.W. Wiggins (1989). Maratha Mints and Coinage, Nashik: Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies, pp.205–6

Image Name Birth Reign Death Notes Shahu I 18 May 1682 12 January 1708 – 15 December 1749 15 December 1749 Rajaram II June 1726 15 December 1749 – 11 December 1777 11 December 1777 Shahu II 1763 11 December 1777 – 3 May 1808 3 May 1808 Pratapsingh 18 January 1793 3 June 1818 – 5 September 1839 14 October 1847 Shahaji 1802 5 September 1839 – 5 April 1848 5 April 1848

Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur This is the list of the Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur.

Image Name Birth Reign Death Notes Shivaji II 9 June 1696 1700–1707, 1710–1714 (Kolhapur State) 14 March 1726 Sambhaji II 1698 1714–1760 18 December 1760 Shivaji III 1756 22 September 1762 – 24 April 1813 24 April 1813 Sambhaji III 1801 24 April 1813 – 2 July 1821 2 July 1821 Shivaji IV 1816 July 2, 1821 – Jan 03 1822 January 3, 1822 Shahaji I 22 January 1802 3 January 1822 – 29 November 1838 29 November 1838 Shivaji V 26 December 1830 1838–1866 4 August 1866 Rajaram II April 13, 1850 August 18, 1866 – November 30, 1870 November 30, 1870 Shivaji VI April 5, 1863 1871–1883 December 25, 1883 Shahu IV (overall)Shahu I of Kolhapur 26 June 1874 2 April 1894 – 6 May 1922 6 May 1922 Rajaram III 31 July 1897 1922–1940 26 November 1940 Shivaji VII 22 November 1941 31 December 1941 – 28 September 1946 28 September 1946 Shahaji II 4 April 1910 1947–1971 9 May 1983

Peshwas (Prime Minister)

Early Peshwas

Image Name Birth Reign Death NotesMoropant Trimbak Pingle16201674–16831683Nilakanth Moreshvar Pingale1683–16891689Ramchandra Pant Amatya16501689–170817161708–1711Bahirojipant PingaleParshuram Trimbak Kulkarni16601711–17131718

Peshwas (Bhat family) Image Name Birth Reign Death Notes Balaji Vishwanath (Sixth appointed Peshwa) 1 January 1662 16 November 1713 – 12 April 1720 12 April 1720 Assisted the Syed Brothers in deposing the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar in 1719 Baji Rao I (Seventh appointed Peshwa) 18 August 1700 17 April 1720 – 28 April 1740 28 April 1740 Known as Thorle (elder) Bajirao and acknowledged as the most influential of the nine Peshwas. Said to have fought for the establishment of "Hindu Pad Padshahi"(Hindu Empire). Helped conquer Central India (Malwa) and Rajputana and extended his dominions into Gujarat in the northwest and Deccan in the south. Attacked Delhi in 1737. Fought in over 41 battles and is one of the few to have never lost a single battle. Died at the age of 40 of sudden fever in camp en route to Delhi; he has been commemorated in the form of an equestrian statue erected at Shaniwar Wada in Pune. Balaji Bajirao (Eighth appointed Peshwa) 8 December 1720 August 1740 – 23 June 1761 23 June 1761 Known as Nanasaheb Peshwa. Managed to extend the Maratha territories into most of North-West, East and Central India. Captured Attock on the banks of the Indus River and Peshawar in 1758 in the Battle of Attock, 1758. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire reached its peak but his general and cousin lost the Third Battle of Panipat against Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761. Contributed to the development of the city of Pune which was the seat of the Peshwas. Built the famous Parvati Temple, Lakdi Pool and established Nana Peth (area) in Pune. Built a water reservoir near Katraj to provide clean water to Pune city; this 250-year-old system is still functioning. Madhavrao I (First hereditary Peshwa) 15 February 1745 23 June 1761 – 18 November 1772 18 November 1772 Fraught with internal dissensions and successful Wars with the Nizam. During his tenure, Maratha power recovered from the losses suffered during the Third Battle of Panipat, a phenomenon known as Maratha Resurrection. Repaired the recently weakened administration, treasury, and accounts of the Maratha Empire. He died of tuberculosis in 1772; a memorial commemorating his greatness stands at Peshwe Park in Pune. One of the theory says that he was assassinated by her aunt, Anandi Bai (wife of Raghunath Rao).   Narayan Rao 10 August 1755 13 December 1772 – 30 August 1773 30 August 1773 Assassinated by Gardi guards. Raghunath Rao was in favor of just kidnapping him and accordingly he used the code "DHARA". But Anandi Bai (wife of Raghunath Rao) changed the code to "MAARA". Narayan Rao was assassinated in Shanivar Wada. Nowadays, it is considered one of the haunted place in Maharashtra. Raghunathrao 18 August 1734 5 December 1773 – 28 May 1774 11 December 1783 Responsible for extending the Maratha empire to the zenith in the North as a General and also saw the decline of Maratha power in North India. Deposed by Nana Phadnis and 11 other administrators in what is now called "The Baarbhai Conspiracy" Madhavrao II 18 April 1774 28 May 1774 – 27 October 1795 27 October 1795 Appointed Peshwa as an infant with a council of Maratha Generals and ministers as regents. Era dominated by the political intrigues of Nana Phadnis. Saw the resurgence of Maratha power in North India. Baji Rao II 10 January 1775 6 December 1796 – 25 October 1802 28 January 1851 1st Reign – Was defeated by Yashwantrao Holkar, ruler of Indore, at the Battle of Poona. Fled to British protection, and in December 1802, concluded the Treaty of Bassein with the British East India Company, ceding territory for the maintenance of a subsidiary force and agreeing to treaty with no other power. This provoked the Second Anglo-Maratha War that began the breakup of the Maratha confederacy. Amrut RaoWg Cdr (Retd.) Dr. M. S. Narawane, Battles of the Honourable East India Company. pg 65Jadunath Sarkar, Fall of the Mughal Empire:1789–1803. pg 179 (Appointed as Peshwa by Yashwantrao Holkar) 25 October 1802 – 13 May 1803 6 September 1824 Appointed Peshwa by Yashwantrao Holkar after defeating Baji Rao II and Daulat Rao Sindhia in Battle of Poona. Baji Rao II 10 January 1775 13 May 1803 – 3 June 1818 28 January 1851 2nd Reign – During his second reign began the Third Anglo-Maratha War. After the defeat at the Battle of Koregaon in January 1818, he was on the run from the British. Eventually, the British took over his dominion and made the Maratha King Pratap Singh of Satara declare in favour of the British. This ended the Peshwa's legal position as head of the Maratha confederacy. On 3 June 1818, Baji Rao surrendered to the British; he was banished to Bithur near Kanpur. Nana Sahib(Pretender of the position of the Peshwa) 19 May 1824 1 February 1851 – 30 June 1857 (unrecognized) after 1857 Was a leader during the Indian Uprising of 1857. As the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, he sought to restore the Maratha confederacy and the Peshwa tradition.

Principalities Baroda State

Indore State

Gwalior State

Nagpur State

Thanjavur State

Akkalkot State

Jhansi State

Bhor State

Colaba State

Sawantwadi State

Mudhol State

References

Notes

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