UPSC CORE GEOGRAPHY · NCERT · SATISH CHANDRA VOL II CH 13-14: MARATHAS + SUCCESSOR STATES
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Who was Shivaji + how did he begin?
CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI BHONSLE (19 Feb 1630 - 3 April 1680) — born SHIVNERI fort (near Pune) to SHAHAJI BHONSLE (Maratha noble in Bijapur service) + JIJABAI (the formidable mother who instilled Hindu Dharmic values). FROM age ~16 (1645), captured BIJAPURI hill forts one by one (Torna, Raigad, Chakan, Kondana/Sinhagad). By 1656 he had a small kingdom of forts in the Western Ghats. Shahaji was IMPRISONED by Bijapur for his son's activities; freed only after Shivaji surrendered some forts.
Battle of Pratapgad (10 Nov 1659) — wagh-nakh story?
BIJAPUR Sultan sent general AFZAL KHAN with 12,000 troops to crush Shivaji; Afzal Khan summoned Shivaji to PRATAPGAD fort for negotiations; embraced Shivaji (intending to crush him in his arms — Khan was 7 ft tall; Shivaji small); Shivaji (suspecting treachery, wore armour) struck back with WAGH NAKH (tiger-claws hidden in his fingers) + BICHWA dagger — killed Afzal Khan; Maratha army then ambushed + routed the Bijapur force. ICONIC moment of Maratha military genius.
Shaista Khan attack + Surat raids?
AURANGZEB'S UNCLE SHAISTA KHAN (viceroy of Deccan) attacked Shivaji (1660-63) with 80,000 troops; occupied Pune; took Shivaji's family's LAL MAHAL palace as his residence. April 1663 — Shivaji raided LAL MAHAL at midnight WITH ONLY 200 MEN; killed Shaista Khan's son + cut off Shaista Khan's 3 fingers as he tried to escape — humiliated the Mughal commander. SURAT RAIDS — January 1664 + October 1670 — Shivaji's troops looted the Mughal's richest port + treasury.
Treaty of Purandar (1665) + Agra escape (1666)?
JAI SINGH I (Mughal Kachwaha Rajput general — 100,000 troops) defeated Shivaji at PURANDAR (June 1665); Shivaji submitted; gave 23 forts to Mughals; agreed to serve Aurangzeb. Visited AGRA 11 May 1666 — humiliated by being placed in 5th rank; escaped house arrest by hiding in BASKETS OF SWEETS (sent as gifts) on 17 August 1666. Returned to Maharashtra; resumed conquests; recovered all lost forts by 1670.
Shivaji's coronation (6 June 1674)?
At RAIGAD FORT — coronated as CHHATRAPATI ("Sovereign Ruler") by Pandit GAGA BHATT of Banaras with FULL VEDIC RITUAL; took 7,000 mans of gold, 5 lakh in cash, plus jewels. Maratha NOBILITY (esp. Brahmins) had questioned Shivaji's KSHATRIYA status (he was from a Bhonsle clan of Maratha caste, not classical Kshatriya) — Gaga Bhatt traced his ancestry to the SISODIYA RAJPUTS of Mewar. Established HINDAVI SWARAJYA ("Hindu self-rule") as official ideology. Took title HAINDAVI DHARMODHARAK ("Reviver of Hindu dharma").
Shivaji's 8-Minister Cabinet (Ashtapradhan)?
(i) PESHWA (Prime Minister, civil admin); (ii) AMATYA (finance); (iii) MANTRI (royal household); (iv) SACHIV (correspondence + records); (v) SUMANT (foreign affairs); (vi) SENAPATI (commander-in-chief); (vii) PANDITRAO (religious + ceremonial); (viii) NYAYADHISH (chief justice). Each held both administrative + military duties; SALARIED (NOT jagirdari) — a REFORM vs Mughal jagir system. Tried to use SANSKRIT terms instead of Persian. Created the famous RAJYAVYAVAHARAKOSHA — a Sanskrit-Hindi-Persian glossary to replace Persian admin terms.
Shivaji's 4 main revenue innovations?
(i) CHAUTH — 1/4 (25%) of revenue from Mughal-controlled territories — a TRIBUTE rather than direct tax. (ii) SARDESHMUKHI — additional 10% from same territories. (iii) Maratha territories taxed via direct revenue assessment (~30-40% of produce in cash). (iv) NO JAGIRS to nobility — all senior officers paid CASH SALARIES (revolutionary departure from Mughal practice). His revenue system + standing army = much more efficient than the Mughals'.
SHIVAJI — KEY events of his rule?
(i) Born 19 Feb 1630 at SHIVNERI fort (Pune district) to SHAHAJI + JIJABAI; (ii) Captured TORANA fort 1646 (age 16 — first); (iii) Killed AFZAL KHAN at PRATAPGAD 10 Nov 1659 (using "BAGH NAKH" claws); (iv) ATTACKED SHAISTA KHAN at Pune 1663 (cut off his fingers); (v) SACKED SURAT 1664 + 1670 (Mughal port); (vi) CROWNED CHHATRAPATI at RAIGAD 6 June 1674 (Vedic coronation by Pandit Gaga Bhatta); (vii) DECCAN campaign 1677 (took Karnataka); (viii) DIED 3 April 1680 at Raigad. Established HINDU SWARAJ in Maharashtra-Konkan.
SAMBHAJI's reign + execution?
After Shivaji's death (1680), his elder son SAMBHAJI (b. 1657) ruled (1680-89). Fought MUGHALS + Bijapur + Siddis + Portuguese for 9 years; provided refuge to Aurangzeb's rebellious son AKBAR (his namesake — 4th son of the emperor) in 1681. February 1689 — BETRAYED at SANGAMESHWAR by his brother-in-law GANOJI SHIRKE; captured + brought to AURANGZEB at BAHADURGARH; refused to convert to Islam or surrender Maratha forts; subjected to 40 days of TORTURE (eyes gouged, tongue cut, finally beheaded) at TULAPUR on 11 March 1689. Sambhaji's death GALVANISED the Marathas — guerrilla resistance INTENSIFIED for the next 18 years.
How did the Marathas survive after Sambhaji?
After Sambhaji's death, his half-brother RAJARAM (1670-1700) became Chhatrapati (1689-1700). With Aurangzeb capturing Raigad + most Maharashtra forts, RAJARAM fled to JINJI (Tamil Nadu — far southern Maratha fort) where he ran the resistance for 9 years (1689-98). Maratha generals SANTAJI GHORPADE + DHANAJI JADHAV waged GUERRILLA WAR across Deccan — outmaneuvering huge Mughal armies. Aurangzeb spent the rest of his life trying to capture them — and FAILED.
Tarabai's regency (1700-08)?
After Rajaram's death (1700), his minor son SHIVAJI II became king under his MOTHER TARABAI's regency. TARABAI (1675-1761) — one of medieval India's most remarkable women rulers; led the Maratha resistance personally; coordinated guerrilla war + COUNTER-RAIDS into Mughal territory. Used Aurangzeb's Deccan obsession to bleed the Mughal army for 8 more years.
How did Aurangzeb's Deccan war end?
Aurangzeb died 3 March 1707 at AHMADNAGAR — 26 YEARS in Deccan, never returning to Delhi. He had fought the Marathas + Bijapur + Golconda + various rebels — annexed Bijapur (1686) + Golconda (1687) + extracted enormous wealth — but FAILED to crush the Marathas. His Mughal successors had no choice but to MAKE PEACE with the Marathas — releasing Sambhaji's son SAHU (held hostage since 1689). The "27-year Maratha War" ended with the Marathas STRONGER + the Mughals BANKRUPT.
This topic is part of the NCERT UPSC Core History syllabus, drawn from the chapter Satish Chandra Vol II Ch 13-14: Marathas + Successor States. Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works.
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