The History Of The Mahrattas - Vol I

James Grant Duff

• Publisher: Normanby Press
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781782892335
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Indian & South Asian History
• Index: History

The power of India reached its pre-British Raj height under the Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy which was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of India, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km². The Marathas are credited for ending the Mughal rule in India.
The Marathas were a yeoman warrior group from the western Deccan that rose to prominence during the rule of the Adil Shahi dynasty and Ahmadnagar Sultanate. The empire was founded by Shivaji Bhosle, who formally crowned himself Chhatrapati ("Emperor") with Raigad as his capital in 1674, and successfully fought against the Mughal Empire. The Maratha Empire waged war for 27 years with the Mughals from 1681 to 1707, which became the longest war in the history of India. Shivaji, pioneered "Shiva sutra" or Ganimi Kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack to defeat his bigger and more powerful enemies. After the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the empire expanded greatly under the rule of the Peshwas. The empire at its peak stretched from Tamil Nadu in the south, to Peshawar (modern-day Pakistan) on the Afghanistan border in the north, and Bengal and Andaman Islands in east. In 1761, the Maratha army lost the Third Battle of Panipat to Abdali's Afghan Durrani Empire, which halted their imperial expansion. Ten years after Panipat, young Madhavrao Peshwa reinstated the Maratha authority over North India. In a bid to effectively manage the large empire, he gave semi-autonomy to the strongest of the knights, which created a confederacy of Maratha states. In 1775, the British East India Company intervened in a succession struggle in Pune, which became the First Anglo-Maratha War. Marathas remained the preeminent power in India until their defeat in the Second and Third Anglo-Maratha wars (1805–1818), which left the British East India Company in control of most of India.

Chapter 1 – From 1000 to 1478

Conquest of the Deccan by the Mahomedans – They cross the Nerbuddah, and penetrate to Deogurh – Establish their Sovereignty – Deogurh becomes the capital of the Mahomedan Empire in India, and its name changed to Doulutabad – An insurrection – lays the foundation of an independent kingdom in the Deccan – The Bahminee dynasty – Its duration – Condition of the Mahrattas during its existence – Few insurrections of the Mahrattas against their Mahomedan rulers – The dreadful famine, Doorga Dewee – Districts depopulated – Hill forts in possession of Polygars and robbers – An expedition sent to restore order – Dadoo Nursoo Kallay – His revenue arrangements – A second and a third expedition – Treacherous massacre of the Mahomedan army by a Mahratta Raja – Concan reduced, 1469 – Decline of the Bahminee dynasty, and immediate causes which led to it.

The conquests of the Mahomedans in India were preceded by plundering incursions. They first passed the Attock{47} in the end of the tenth century, and three hundred years afterwards, eight thousand horse, headed by Alla-ud-Deen Khiljee, crossed the Nerbuddah, traversed Candeish, and suddenly appeared before Deogurh.

The reigning prince, a Mahratta, named Ramdeo Rao Jadow, after a slight attempt to defend the town, retired into the fort, and negotiated a treaty with Alla-ud-Deen, by which the Raja agreed to pay the invaders a considerable ransom, on condition of their retiring from his country. The terms were concluded, and the Mahomedans about to fulfil the condition, when the son of the Raja, who had collected an army, advanced upon Deogurh. Without regard to the existing treaty, and contrary to the express injunctions of his father, he sent an insolent message to Alla-ud-Deen, which brought on an immediate action, and although at first doubtful, the result was, a complete defeat to the Hindoos.

After this event, the Raja had to pay dear for the treachery of his son. The demands of the exasperated conquerors were exorbitant; and the treasures of the kingdom, together with the cession of Elichpoor and its dependencies, was the price at which they agreed to abide by the former stipulation.

The riches and the fame thus acquired by Alla-ud-Deen, paved the way to his usurpation of the throne of Delhi. During his reign three great armies were sent into the Deccan under his favourite Mullik Kafoor, by which Telingana was overrun, the greater part of Maharashtra conquered, and the whole country plundered from the Nerbuddah to Cape Comorin.

The disorders, however, which broke out in different parts of the imperial territories during the latter years of the reign of Alla-ud-Deen, and the internal intrigues and commotions which prevailed in the court of Delhi for some years after his death, gave the natives of the Deccan an opportunity of re-establishing the Hindoo sovereignty, and of regaining possession of every part, except the fortress of Deogurh, which continued to hold out, until the Emperor Mubarik advanced with a great army to its relief; on which, Hirpal Deo, and the other Rajas who assisted in the siege, hastily retired. But Hirpal Deo was pursued, taken, and inhumanly flayed alive by order of the Emperor.

1323

In the reign of the Emperor Tughluk, a second insurrection in the Deccan was quelled by his son Yoonas, who carried his arms into the heart of Telingana, and finally reduced its capital, 1323.

The conquest of Telingana and the capture of Warangole drove many of the chief inhabitants from their home: two of them, about twelve years after the conquest of their country, founded the city of Beejanujur, on the banks of the Toongbuddra; which soon became the head of the most powerful state south of the Nerbuddah{48}.

1325

Yoonas, after the successful termination of the war, returned in triumph to Delhi, where, in the year 1325, he succeeded his father, and ascended the throne under the name of Mohummud Tughluk Shah.

This prince was the most accomplished scholar of his age; but as a ruler, he was cruel, rash, and speculative. Two years after he had ascended the throne, the Moghuls advanced in great force to the gates of Delhi, whence their retreat was purchased at an enormous expence. The spoils of the Carnatic and the sack of Dhoor Summooder{49} were not sufficient in Mohummud’s estimation to repair this loss. He adopted many absurd measures for replenishing his treasury, at the expence of public confidence and public credit. He planned an expedition into China, and lost an army in the attempt. He issued a copper coin at a nominal value equivalent to silver, without any security for the payment of such tokens; and he adopted the ruinous and cruel scheme of removing the whole population of Delhi to Deogurh, to which latter he gave the name of Doulutabad. This removal was enforced, and an imperial edict rendered Delhi desolate, distracted the minds of the people, and shook the empire to its centre.

Disturbances broke out in various parts of the kingdom, and the Emperor had scarcely quelled one insurrection when accounts of revolt in an opposite quarter were brought to him. An invasion of the Afghans, and a subsequent insurrection of some northern tribes, kept the imperial army employed at a distance from the new capital; and the deposed Raja of Warangole, aided by some troops of the Carnatic, waged a successful war against the Mahomedan invaders.

The Emperor was preparing a large army, with the design of completely subjugating the Deccan, when a rebellion broke out, which laid the foundation of the independent Mahomedan dynasties south of the Nerbuddah. This rebellion originated in the flight of some refractory nobles from Guzerat, who had participated in a revolt that had just been quelled by the Emperor; and in dread of punishment, they sought refuge with Kutullugh Khan, the governor of Doulutabad, by whom they had been received, in hopes that time or circumstances might induce the emperor to overlook their misconduct. For affording this protection, the governor fell under the displeasure of Mohummud; he was removed from his government, and orders were sent to collect the fugitive nobles, to promise them pardon, and to conduct them to the imperial presence.

1344

They proceeded, under the most solemn assurances of forgiveness, towards Guzerat, where the royal camp then was, but on approaching the confines of that province, some circumstances occurred which led them to suspect that treachery was intended; upon which they rose on their guard, killed the officer sent in charge of them, and erecting the standard of rebellion, marched back towards Doulutabad.

They were joined by several Hindoo chiefs, disgusted with the tyranny of the emperor; and by the time they had reached Doulutabad, their numbers were so formidable, that the garrison were encouraged to declare for the insurgents; which they did, by confining their governor and delivering up the fortress.

It was now necessary to elect a head, and as there had been yet no individual sufficiently conspicuous for personal ability, their choice, in the meantime, rested on a commander of a thousand horse, named Ismael; and in this election they were probably influenced by the hope that Mullik Moogh, the brother of Ismael, who commanded the imperial army in Malwa, would be drawn over to their party. The new king assumed the name of Nasir-ud-deen.

The Emperor Mohummud, on hearing of this formidable rebellion, marched from Guzerat with a large army; and on arriving near Doulutabad, he found the rebel forces drawn up to engage him – a severe action took place; and although indecisive, the imperial army remained masters of the field of battle.

The insurgents, not having obtained a first advantage, held a consultation, when it was resolved that Nasir-ud-deen should defend the fortress of Doulutabad; whilst the other chiefs, retiring to different districts, prosecuted a desultory warfare.

Amongst the rebel chiefs, particularly distinguished for bravery and conduct, was Zuffir Khan, who, from a very humble origin, had risen to high command, and was destined to be the founder of a race of kings.

The Emperor, on discovering the plans of the insurgents, immediately invested Doulutabad, and detached a force under Ummad-ool-Moolk Tebreezee, to pursue Zuffir Khan. The garrison was reduced to extremity, when information was received, that another insurrection had broken out at Delhi, which obliged the emperor to proceed thither, leaving the siege to be carried on by his officers. The Deccanees, encouraged by his departure, collected from all quarters to annoy the army before Doulutabad; which so alarmed the officers, that they hastily raised the siege, and retreated to the Nerbuddah, closely pursued, and constantly harassed by the Deccan cavalry.

Zuffir Khan, who was apprised of this turn in the affairs of his party, being at the head of twenty thousand horse, now advanced towards Ummad-ool-moolk Tebreezee, who, instead of continuing the pursuit, took post with his large army at Beder. This gave Zuffir Khan a great political advantage, which he judiciously improved, by merely showing that he was at the head of a party already capable of facing the imperial army, until he had induced the Raja of Telingana to detach fifteen thousand horse to his assistance, and had obtained a reinforcement of five thousand men from Doulutabad. He then attacked the imperialists; and after an obstinate and bloody battle, in which Ummad-ool-moolk was slain, victory declared in favour of Zuffir Khan. Detachments were immediately sent to occupy the country, whilst the main body marched in triumph towards Doulutabad. Nasir-ud-deen came out to meet Zuffir Khan; and observing the greater weight and ascendancy already acquired by his successful general, he prudently assembled the nobles, and requesting their permission to resign his crown, recommended their electing Zuffir Khan to the government of the kingdom; a proposition which was at once applauded and acceded to.

Zuffir Khan was said to have been originally the slave of a Bramin, an inhabitant of Delhi, named Kangoh{50}, who, having discovered his merits, gave him liberty; and assisted, as well as foretold, his subsequent fortune. On being raised to empire, Zuffir Khan did not forget his protector: the Bramin was appointed to the charge of the treasury, and had the honor of giving the appellation of Bahminee to a dynasty of Patan kings.

1347

Zuffir Khan was recognized as sovereign in the year 1347, and assumed the title of Sultan Alla-ud-deen Hoossein Kangoh Bahminee.

We have seen that this revolution was aided by the native princes of the Deccan, and from several circumstances in the conduct of the war, particularly the desultory plan adopted by the insurgents, which always requires the aid of the native inhabitants of any country, there is strong presumption of their having contributed more to its success, than the Mussulman historian was aware of, or, perhaps, was willing to allow. There are many recorded proofs of the new Sultan’s prudence; but his wisdom is most conspicuous in the conciliatory measures he adopted for obtaining the entire possession of the districts which had been before subject to the Mahomedans, binding all classes of his new subjects to his interests, and gaining the friendship and support of the Raja of Warungole, in whom the Mahomedans had previously found, a watchful and implacable enemy.

The death of the Emperor of Delhi, Mohummud Tughluk Shah, relieved the new Sultan from all apprehensions in that quarter. He very early employed the minds of the warlike and turbulent people over whom he ruled, by directing their attention to conquests in the Carnatic; and the subsequent rivalry with the Rajas of Beejanugur, probably preserved the kingdom of his successors from internal decay, for a much longer period than if they had been able to extend their conquests rapidly, or if their seditious armies had been left to the enjoyment of a mischievous repose{51}.

The Bahminee dynasty{52} may be said to have existed upwards of a century and a half; during that period, we may learn something of the condition of the Mahrattas from Mahomedan history; and a few circumstances may be gleaned from the legends (or Bukers,) which are found in possession of most of the descendants of the old Mahratta families.

It has already been stated, that the country, at the period of the Mahomedan conquest, appears to have been divided into many small principalities, more or less independent. It is probable, that most of those Polygars, whose country lay in the accessible parts, were induced either to join or to submit to the head of the new state in 1347, which is the date assigned{53} to the accession of Sultan Alla-ud-deen.

The new Sultan was obliged, from his situation, to conciliate the people of the country, and he either bestowed hereditary lands and immunities on the leading men, or confirmed them in those they already enjoyed, as Deshmookhs and Deshpandyas. He likewise appears to have conferred some subordinate military rank on a few of the chiefs{54}, and to have appropriated lands in Jageer for the maintenance of small bodies of horse; but such lan...

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• DEDICATION
• PREFACE
• INTRODUCTION - PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
• Chapter 1 - From 1000 to 1478
• Chapter 2 - From 1478 to 1637
• Chapter 3 - From 1637 to 1648
• Chapter 4 - From 1648 to 1657
• Chapter 5 - From 1657 to 1662
• Chapter 6 - From 1662 to 1667
• Chapter 7 - From 1667 to 1669
• Chapter 8 - From 1670 to 1676
• Chapter 9 - From 1676 to 1680
• Chapter 10 - From 1680 to 1689
• Chapter 11 - From 1689 to 1707
• Chapter 12 - From 1707 to 1720
• Chapter 13 - From 1720 to 1726
• Chapter 14 - From 1727 to 1734
• Chapter 15 - From 1734 to 1739
• Chapter 16 - From 1739 to 1740
• MAPS