π Stature of Marathas in Deccan Sultanate Eraπ
Full Detail of Function.
Here is a collection of the most priceless research highlighting power and duties of the non-sovereign Marathas in the mediaeval era.
Full Detail of Function.
Here is a collection of the most priceless research highlighting power and duties of the non-sovereign Marathas in the mediaeval era.
The fall of the RajeShirke-Chalukya and the Belgaum-Konkan Maratha territories to the Bahmani Empire after their bloody struggle against one of greatest statesmen of Islamic India, Wazir Mahmud Gawan, in late 1400s removed last vestiges of sovereignty of the Maratha aristocracy.
After his campaign against Marathas of Konkan, Bahmani Wazir Mahmud Gawan, locked himself in his room, fell on the floor naked crying and thanked Allah for saving his life in this struggle against the Marathas.
Following this he swore never to engage in Military Campaigns again.
Following this he swore never to engage in Military Campaigns again.
Battling the Marathas had taken a Divine toll on Mahmud Gawan, and he was soon assassinated, ending all centralized power of the "Throne".
Practically by divine will, Bahmani Empire shattered within 10 years, turning the Deccan into a playing field for the next couple centuries.
Practically by divine will, Bahmani Empire shattered within 10 years, turning the Deccan into a playing field for the next couple centuries.
Dakkhani Lobbyist Nizamshahi and Adilshahi Factions involved themselves maximum with the Marathas and became the most powerful breakaway States.
Qutubshahi Faction's power came from their sudden stumble over the Kakatiya Rashtrakuta mines and resources in Govalkunda.
Qutubshahi Faction's power came from their sudden stumble over the Kakatiya Rashtrakuta mines and resources in Govalkunda.
Maratha Houses became Naiks, Palegars, Patils/Muqqadams, Deshmukhs/Sardeshmukhs, etc.
All of these were attempts to uniformize Maratha aristocracy into the "bureaucracy" of Islamic government.
In simple terms, it wanted to make "power" itself appear insipid and non-glamorous.
All of these were attempts to uniformize Maratha aristocracy into the "bureaucracy" of Islamic government.
In simple terms, it wanted to make "power" itself appear insipid and non-glamorous.
Sardeshmukh (Maharajadhiraja), Deshmukhs (Maharajas) and Patil-Muqaddams (Rajas).
This was not a consistent equivalence. Bagul-Purandar Rashtraudhas of Mayuragiri (Mulher-Salher) were equivalent to Maharaja or even Maharajadhiraja status but were recorded as Muqqaddams (Patils).
This was not a consistent equivalence. Bagul-Purandar Rashtraudhas of Mayuragiri (Mulher-Salher) were equivalent to Maharaja or even Maharajadhiraja status but were recorded as Muqqaddams (Patils).
The lack of peacockery and ritualist outlook over a traditionally asserted land in sharp contradiction to the Estate system, the way done by many so-called Rajas who were much inferior in the lifestyle quality which the Marathas possessed, leads to death of "hagiography culture".
We see sharp decline in prominent commissions of Pauranik-scale hagiography by all non-sovereign Maratha clans of the Deccan.
It is hard for men of integrity to assert divine authority over land when they instead possess estates granted by Government, scattered across distances.
It is hard for men of integrity to assert divine authority over land when they instead possess estates granted by Government, scattered across distances.
Armies of Maratha Vassal Kings who were under Sultanates were known as "JamΔt-E-Khud" (One's Own Hordes) of "Savaran-Va-Hasham" (Cavalry & Infantry) trained by themselves and used against other Marathas, tribes and their Muslim overlords.
These were indispensable ace cards.
These were indispensable ace cards.
A Maratha Family could never be dispossessed of its estates. Out of these estates, the core territory would be the ancestral land ruled over by them since centuries or even millennia.
It must be reaffirmed that Deshmukh = Maharaja was only in the case of 96 Kulin Marathas.
It must be reaffirmed that Deshmukh = Maharaja was only in the case of 96 Kulin Marathas.
It later became fashionable to sport "Deshmukh" title for merely being the "lords" of even 2-10 throwaway villages.
This practise degraded even egoistic Marathas who were barely worthy of Patilliki Status, but would get the land issued in their name as "Deshmukhi".
This practise degraded even egoistic Marathas who were barely worthy of Patilliki Status, but would get the land issued in their name as "Deshmukhi".
The true Deshmukhs were the actual Rulers followed by the people ordered by the Sultans themselves as the actual, literal practical presence of government.
But the auxiliaries of Deshmukhs, were Sultanate-issued officers, and as such were not up for discretionary appointment.
But the auxiliaries of Deshmukhs, were Sultanate-issued officers, and as such were not up for discretionary appointment.
Patils directly handled the land and the practical process of agriculture. Muqqadam and Patil were synonym.
The Got Sabhas presided by MΔnkΔrΔ« Marathas used to dictate all the judgements for the Sultanates themselves, at not just larger Pargana but at the Village level itself.
The Got Sabhas presided by MΔnkΔrΔ« Marathas used to dictate all the judgements for the Sultanates themselves, at not just larger Pargana but at the Village level itself.
The Marathas enjoyed practically the same power as that of kings but in a non-sovereign bureaucratic framework under the Islamic Superstrates.
Entitlement to respect and services from their civilians, and countless other privileges.
Entitlement to respect and services from their civilians, and countless other privileges.
Marathas compelled to join the Mughal Empire after fall of Adilshahi and Qutubshahi Sultanates were noted for their unstable adherence to the Mughal side, despite the fact that Mughals had been desperately trying to incorporate them since reign of Jahangir itself (100 Years!).
The special hatred for Mughals stemmed from their counter-legitimacy to original Bahmani State. So whether it was "Hindu" Bhonsale Chattrapati Empire Maratha or Deccan Sultanate Maratha, there was ingrained hate for barbarians who hijack cities, in both.
Entire revenue collection AND accounting in all Deccan Sultanates was in the hands of the Marathas & Brahmins while the Policing in all these territories was done by Marathas.
If anybody needed saving, criminal detectives, it would be the Marathas handling it not the Sultanates.
If anybody needed saving, criminal detectives, it would be the Marathas handling it not the Sultanates.
The "limitations" imposed on Maratha Deshmukhs did not exist in practical reality, their support made and unmade Empires in Deccan.
Marathas could rove anywhere and raid anywhere unopposed, even within the same "empire" they claimed to serve.
Marathas could rove anywhere and raid anywhere unopposed, even within the same "empire" they claimed to serve.
Therefore to counter a roving unruly Maratha Warlord, Sultans would assign that undefended land to another Maratha & make them expend each other's resources fighting it out.
Whosoever won would keep the territory, & Sultan could be relaxed at least having weakened his opponents.
Whosoever won would keep the territory, & Sultan could be relaxed at least having weakened his opponents.
Despite these feuds, Marathas were all part of the first powerful political Lobby in these Sultanates carried forward from the Bahmani Empire's earliest days, of the Dakkhanis which included Abyssinians and pre-settled Persian Elite Houses, countering the Afaqi "Foreign" Lobby.
Sardar Udajirao sent a letter to Nizamshah after the infamous Jadhavrao assassination, which shook the Deccan, summed up to him basically saying "You killed Jadhavrao and now you are finished".
"...Ab aisΔ kaun Shaksh hai ke Daulat KhΔn ye SarkΔrΔ« aur RiyΔsat qΔ bandobast kare?"
"...Ab aisΔ kaun Shaksh hai ke Daulat KhΔn ye SarkΔrΔ« aur RiyΔsat qΔ bandobast kare?"
It appears like many Marathi words that adopted Hindustani variants, term Bargy for Marathas was originally Marathi vernacular word Vargya meaning "(Special) Class".
Being similar to Bargir cavalry setup of Bargigiri prevalent in North led to conflation of Vargyan & Bargiryan.
Being similar to Bargir cavalry setup of Bargigiri prevalent in North led to conflation of Vargyan & Bargiryan.
What this means is that its very hard for poets to write Mahakavyas for some Patil or Deshmukh whose ancestral lands are in some other corner of Sultanate couple hundred kilometres away from where they are posted. Doesn't mean they had any lesser quality of life than Maharajas.
This also meant that legitimacy of Sanads issued by Mlecchas, took precedence over legitimacy granted by Yajnas & other traditional Hindu methods. This is in itself decline of Dharma, without even being malevolent.
One no longer needed Sauch Nityakarma, even to keep appearances.
One no longer needed Sauch Nityakarma, even to keep appearances.
It contributed to deracination of Marathas in terms of religious discipline demanded to be eligible for the routine Yajnas and warfare against opponents.
Being part of a Sultanate meant going to war officially only when the Darbar itself called onto them against another State.
Being part of a Sultanate meant going to war officially only when the Darbar itself called onto them against another State.
Loading suggestions...