From Mughal Decline to British Ascendancy: The Role of the Peshwas in Reshaping Indian Politics with Special Reference to Bajirao II
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68219/25rebr54Keywords:
Maratha Confederacy, Mughal Decline, Bajirao II, Indian Political History, East India CompanyAbstract
The decline of Mughal authority during the eighteenth century transformed the political landscape of India and created opportunities for the emergence of powerful regional states. Among these, the Maratha polity, particularly under the Peshwas, emerged as a major force capable of challenging the remnants of Mughal power and influencing political developments across large parts of the subcontinent. This paper examines the role of the Peshwas in reshaping Indian politics during the transition from Mughal decline to British ascendancy, with particular attention to the reign of Bajirao II (1796–1818). It traces the expansion of Maratha influence under the Peshwas, the development of the Maratha Confederacy, and the political and institutional challenges that accompanied this expansion. Special emphasis is placed on Bajirao II's political circumstances, his relations with leading Maratha chiefs, the Treaty of Bassein of 1802, and the subsequent Anglo-Maratha conflicts. The study argues that the decline of Peshwa authority cannot be attributed solely to the policies or personality of Bajirao II. Rather, it resulted from the interaction of internal factionalism, the decentralized structure of the Maratha Confederacy, changing regional power relations, and the expanding diplomatic and military influence of the English East India Company. The paper demonstrates that while the Peshwas played a crucial role in dismantling the political dominance of the Mughal order and establishing Maratha predominance, the fragmentation of that political system ultimately facilitated British expansion. Bajirao II's reign therefore represents a critical phase in the transition from a multipolar eighteenth-century Indian political order to the emerging structure of British paramountcy.
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