Marathas after Shivaji
- A year after the death of Shivaji, his eldest son and successor Sambhaji led a Maratha army into Mughal territory, captured Bahadurpur in Berar, and plundered its wealth.
- Provoked by this humiliation, Aurangzeb struck a compromise with the Mewar Rajputs and led an army into the Deccan.
- Bijapur and Golkonda were annexed in 1686 and 1687 respectively.
- The next task of Aurangzeb was to punish Sambhaji for giving protection to his rebellious son Prince Akbar II.
- In 1689 the Mughal forces captured Sambhaji and killed him.
- Sambhaji’s death did not deter the Marathas.
- His younger brother Rajaram renewed the fight from the fortress of Senji in the Tamil country.
- The fight continued for many years.
- After the death of Rajaram in 1700, resistance continued under the leadership of his widow, Tara Bai.
- Acting on behalf of his infant son, she despatched an army of 50,000 horsemen and infantry to Hyderabad.
- The capital was plundered and, as a result, trade in Masulipatnam, the major port of the region, trade remained disrupted for many years.
- At the time of Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 Marathas still had many fortified places under their control.
- After Aurangzeb’s death, Sambhaji’s son Shahu was released from prison and claimed the Maratha throne.
- Tara Bai objected and it led to a civil war, in which Shahu emerged victorious and ascended the throne in 1708.
- Balaji Viswanath was very supportive of Shahu and helped him ascend to the throne in 1708.
- As a gesture of his gratitude Shahu appointed Balaji Viswanath as the Peshwa in 1713.
- In course of time, the Peshwa became the real ruler.
- Shahu retired to Satara and the Peshwa started to rule from Poona.
- Tara Bai carried on a parallel rival government with Kolhapur as capital.
- But Raja Bai, the second wife of Rajaram and her son Sambhaji II imprisoned Tara Bai and her son in 1714.
- Sambhaji II ascended the throne of Kolhapur.
- However he had to accept the overlordship of Shahu.
- After Shahu died in 1749, Rama Raja who ascended the throne, made a pact with the Peshwa, according to which he became a titular head.
- Tara Bai was disappointed.
- Tara Bai and Rama Raja died in 1761 and 1777 respectively.
- Shahu II, the adopted son of Rama Raja, ruled till his death in 1808 as a nonentity.
- His son Pratap Singh who came to the throne next was deposed by the British government in 1839 on the charge that he plotted against the British Government.
- Pratap Singh died as a prisoner in 1847.
- His younger brother Shaji Appa Saheb, Shaji II, was made king by the British in 1839.
- Shahji II died in 1848 without a successor.