Shahu I

Shahu Bhosale I (1682–1749 CE) was the fifth Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire created by his grandfather, Shivaji. Born in the Bhonsle family, he was the son of Sambhaji, Shivaji's eldest son and successor. Shahu, as a child, was taken prisoner along with his mother in 1689 by Mughal sardar, Zulfikar Khan Nusrat Jang[9][10] After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, leading Mughal courtiers released Shahu with a force of fifty men, thinking that a friendly Maratha leader would be a useful ally.[11] At that time he fought a brief war with his aunt Tarabai in an internecine conflict to gain the Maratha throne in 1708.[12][13]

For other kings known as Shahu, see Shahoji II and Shahu of Kolhapur.

Shahu I
Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire
5th Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire
Reign12 January 1707[1] –15 December 1749[2][3]
Coronation12 January 1708, Satara[4]
PredecessorShivaji II
SuccessorRajaram II
Born(1682-05-18)18 May 1682
Gangoli Fort, Mangaon[5]
Died15 December 1749(1749-12-15) (aged 67)[6]
Rangmahal Palace, Satara[6]
SpouseSavitribai[7], Ambikabai[7]
HouseBhosale
FatherSambhaji
MotherYesubai[8]
ReligionHinduism

Under Shahu's reign, Maratha power and influence extended to all corners of the Indian subcontinent. He was a powerful ruler of the Maratha samrajya (kingdom) after Shivaji I and Sambhaji I. However after his death, power moved from the ruling Chhatrapati to his ministers (the Peshwas) and the generals who had carved out their own fiefdoms such as Bhonsle of Nagpur, Gaekwad of Baroda, Scindia of Gwalior and Holkar of Indore.

Expansion of the Maratha Empire

Early in his reign, Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath as his Peshwa. Over the next fifty years, Balaji followed by his son, Bajirao I and grandson Balaji Bajirao with help of capable military leaders such as Shinde, Holkar, Gaekwad, Pawar and Bhonsle of Nagpur expanded Maratha power in all directions of the Indian subcontinent.[14][15].

Family

Shahu had four wives and fathered four daughters. Shahu adopted Parvatibai when she was 3 years old. She was the daughter of a mamledar of Pen, Raigad. He gave her training in warfare and administration. He, later, got her married to Shrimant Sadashivrao Bhau when she was 15 years-old. Even though her father was alive, he did her kanyadan. He also adopted two sons, Fatehsinh I and Rajaram II of Satara (who succeeded him as the Raja of Satara). Rajaram II had been brought to him by Shahu's paternal aunt, Tarabai, who initially claimed that the young man was her grandson and a descendant of Shivaji, but later disowned him as an imposter.[16] After Shahu's death the powers were indirectly shifted to the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao.[6]

Death and succession

After getting Parvatibai married to Sadashivrao Bhau, the valiant son of Chimaji Appa Peshwa and fixing Radhikabai's marriage with Vishwasrao Peshwa , he died in December 1749. His adopted son Rajaram II of Satara claimed to be Tarabai's grandson and succeeded him. But the actual power was held by others: first by Tarabai and then by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao.[16]

Preceded by
Shivaji II		 Chhatrapati of the
Maratha Empire
1707–1749		 Succeeded by
Rajaram II of Satara
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See also

References
  1. Mehta 2005, p. 55.
  2. Mehta 2005, p. 314.
  3. Rameshwarprasad Ganeshprasad Pandey (1980). Mahadji Shinde and the Poona Durbar. Oriental Publishers & Distributors. p. 3. Shahu ruled for about forty-two years from January 12, 1708, to December 15, 1749
  4. Pī. E. Gavaḷī (1988). Society and Social Disabilities Under the Peshwas. National Publishing House. p. 5. At last Shahu emerged victorious and ascended the throne at Satara on 12th January, 1708.
  5. Mehta 2005, p. 51.
  6. Mehta 2005, p. 181.
  7. Mehta 2005, p. 177.
  8. https://archive.org/stream/rukaatialamgirio00aurarich#page/152/mode/2up
  9. https://archive.org/stream/rukaatialamgirio00aurarich#page/152/mode/2up%7C Rukaat-i-Alamgiri page 153
  10. Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Buldhana. Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1976. Shahu, the son of Sambhaji along with his mother Yesubai, was made a prisoner
  11. Manohar, Malgonkar (1959), The Sea Hawk: Life and Battles of Kanoji Angrey, p. 63
  12. A. Vijaya Kumari; Sepuri Bhaskar. "Social change among Balijas: majority community of Andhra Pradesh". MD. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  13. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 201–202. ISBN 978-93-80607-34-4.
  14. Stein, B. (2010). A history of India (Vol. 10). John Wiley & Sons page= 187
  15. Gordon, S. (1993). The Marathas 1600–1818 (Vol. 4). Cambridge University Press, pages 121–130.
  16. Biswamoy Pati, ed. (2000). Issues in Modern Indian History. Popular. p. 30. ISBN 978-81-7154-658-9.

Bibliography
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