The Maratha Empire also was known as the Maratha Confederacy was the dominant power in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Empire was established in 1645 and with the defeat of Peshwa Bajirao-2, it was demolished in 1818.
Below are some facts about Maratha Empire Facts :
1. Their warfare followed the idea of ‘Dharmayudh’ which means the righteous war. Their determination and desire for the victory which left other empire rulers spellbound.
2. Their speed and strategy in the wars were the perfect examples for their victory.
3. The “Bhakti Movement” which helped to unite the people on a nationalistic platform which provided massive support to the Shivaji’s spiritual efforts.
4. The most important character of the Maratha armies was offensive all throughout the history.
5. The Maratha Empire always supported equality which was not at all common in the medieval period. There were many people from low castes and Muslims from the society who played an important role in the achievement of independence from the foreign rule.
6. They were the real inspiration to many other folks in the state who turned out to be the national heroes who willed to sacrifice their lives for independence.
7. Chhatrapati Shivaji was called as the 'Mountain Rat' and was widely known for his guerrilla warfare tactics. He was called so because of his awareness in geography of his land, and guerrilla tactics like raiding, ambushing and surprise attacks on his enemies. He knew the importance of a good army, and with his skills, expanded his father's 2000 soldier army to 10,000 soldiers.
8. Chhatrapati Shivaji was a dependable supporter of women and their honour. He opposed all kinds of violence, harassment and dishonour against women. Anyone under his rule caught violating woman's rights was severely punished. In fact, women of captured territories were also released unharmed, and with integrity.
9. The Maratha commitment to establishing a traditional Hindu state in the subcontinent is evidenced by the enormous effort they took to coronate Shivaji and officially found the Maratha Empire in 1674. This came at a time when grand Hindu imperial coronations were rare, due to most rajas being the rulers of smaller states or under Mughal control.
During the coronation, Shivaji housed and fed 50,000 guests including Brahmins (Hindu priests) from all over India, had himself weighed against seven metals and various valuable spices, all before bathing in water brought over from the Ganges river, sacred to Hindus. Finally, he was declared lord of the umbrella (Chatrapati, his title), a traditional symbol of kingship for great Hindu and Buddhist rulers, in imitation of the gods Varuna and Vishnu, signifying that the world was encompassed under the great king’s umbrella.
Thus, by intent and symbolism, it is clear that the Marathas were clearly establishing an empire steeped in Hindu culture and symbolism, if not formally so in a political manner.
And the Fact that this empire was known as Maratha Empire & not a Bhosale Empire, this speaks a lot.
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