Peshwa Period & Maratha Wars — Set 13
Maharashtra GK · पेशवा काल और मराठा युद्ध · Questions 121–130 of 160
Who was the Maratha general who defeated Nizam at the Battle of Kharda (1795)?
Correct Answer: B. Parashuram Bhau
Parashuram Bhau Patwardhan led the Maratha forces that decisively defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad at the Battle of Kharda in March 1795. This was one of the last great Maratha victories before the fall of the empire. The victory temporarily restored Maratha prestige in the Deccan.
Which aspect of Maratha military tradition involved using light cavalry for rapid long-distance raids?
Correct Answer: C. Barga system
The Barga (Bargir) system involved light cavalry that could cover enormous distances quickly, living off the land. This mobile raiding cavalry was the Marathas' most feared weapon and allowed them to conduct deep raids into enemy territory. The system of light cavalry raids was central to Maratha military strategy from Shivaji's time through the Peshwa period.
The Battle of Kharda (1795) is associated with a Maratha victory over which neighbor?
Correct Answer: C. Nizam of Hyderabad
The Battle of Kharda (March 11, 1795) was fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the Nizam of Hyderabad. The Marathas won decisively and forced the Nizam to pay a large indemnity. It was one of the last significant Maratha military victories and temporarily restored confidence in Maratha military power.
After the Peshwa period ended in 1818, Pune came under direct control of whom?
Correct Answer: D. British East India Company
After the defeat of Peshwa Baji Rao II in 1818, Pune came under direct British East India Company administration. The Peshwaship was abolished and the territories of the Peshwa were annexed by the British as part of the Bombay Presidency. This marked the final end of Maratha political power in Maharashtra's heartland.
What was the estimated annual revenue of the Maratha Empire at its peak?
Correct Answer: C. 50-70 crore rupees
At the peak of Maratha power in the mid-18th century, the total revenue of the Maratha Empire and its tributaries was estimated at 50-70 crore rupees annually. This made the Marathas the wealthiest political entity in India. The revenue came from direct territories plus Chauth and Sardeshmukhi from tributary states.
Which famous 18th century poem in Persian described Baji Rao I's invasion of Delhi?
Correct Answer: D. Tarikh-i-Dilkasha
The Tarikh-i-Dilkasha (later works) and contemporary Mughal court documents described the terror created by Baji Rao I's raid on Delhi. Persian court chronicles of the Mughal period documented the helplessness of the Mughal court in the face of Maratha cavalry. These records provide important historical evidence of Maratha power.
The Pindari War (1817-18) that preceded the Third Anglo-Maratha War involved which irregular forces?
Correct Answer: C. Pindari irregular cavalry raiders
The Pindaris were irregular cavalry forces that accompanied Maratha armies and raided British territories extensively in 1816-1817. The British used the pretext of suppressing the Pindaris to launch a massive military campaign that simultaneously targeted the Maratha chiefs. The Pindari War merged into the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
Which treaty signed with the Mughal Sayyid brothers by Balaji Vishwanath gave official Mughal recognition to Maratha revenue rights?
Correct Answer: A. Treaty of Delhi 1719
In 1719, Balaji Vishwanath negotiated a treaty with the Sayyid brothers (who controlled the Mughal Emperor) that gave official Mughal recognition to the Maratha rights to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi in the Deccan. He also secured the release of Chhatrapati Shahu from Mughal custody. This treaty established the legal basis for Maratha revenue collection across the Deccan.
The famous Deccan campaigns of Arthur Wellesley during the Second Anglo-Maratha War are documented in which historical records?
Correct Answer: B. Dispatches of Wellington
The Dispatches of Wellington (the collected military dispatches of Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington) provide detailed accounts of his campaigns in the Deccan during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. These documents describe the battles of Assaye, Argaon, and the capture of several Maratha fortresses. They are an important source for the military history of the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
What was the long-term legacy of the Maratha Empire in modern Indian history?
Correct Answer: B. Inspired the concept of Hindu political unity and resistance to foreign rule
The Maratha Empire's most important long-term legacy was inspiring the concept of Hindu political unity and the possibility of Indian resistance to foreign rule. Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak used Shivaji and the Maratha tradition to mobilize Indians against British colonial rule. The Maratha tradition continues to shape political culture in Maharashtra and to inspire national pride across India.