Peshwa Period & Maratha Wars — Set 15

Correct Answer: A. Village headman's cavalry levy

The Patil Bargir was a levy of horsemen provided by village headmen (Patils) as part of their military obligation to the Maratha state. This system helped the Peshwas raise additional cavalry beyond their permanent forces. The Patil Bargir system was an important component of the feudal military structure of the Peshwa period.

Correct Answer: C. It was permanently abolished by the British

The British permanently abolished the institution of Peshwa after the defeat of Baji Rao II in 1818. The territories of the Peshwa were annexed into the Bombay Presidency under direct British administration. This ended over a century of Peshwa rule that had made the Bhat family the most powerful dynasty in India.

Correct Answer: B. Madhav Rao I

Peshwa Madhav Rao I died at the age of 27 in 1772 from tuberculosis, leaving the Maratha Empire without its greatest leader just as he had restored it to strength after Panipat. His early death created a power vacuum that led to the destructive succession struggle involving Raghunathrao. The empire never again found a leader of his quality.

Correct Answer: A. Maharashtra

The Battle of Assaye (1803) took place near the village of Assaye in the Vidarbha region of present-day Maharashtra. Arthur Wellesley fought against the combined Maratha forces of Scindia and Bhonsle of Nagpur here. The battle was one of the most fiercely contested engagements of the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

Correct Answer: B. Expanded the Maratha state but lost it to the British

The overall assessment of Peshwa rule is that they brilliantly expanded the Maratha state to its greatest territorial extent but ultimately could not defend it against British power. Under their leadership, the Marathas controlled much of India but internal disunity, poor diplomacy, and the devastating Panipat defeat left them unable to resist British expansion. The Peshwas represent both the zenith and the fall of the Maratha Empire.

Correct Answer: C. Disciplined European-style infantry fighting

The Deccan Infantry trained by Benoit de Boigne for Mahadji Scindia were disciplined battalions that fought in European-style formations with muskets, bayonets, and coordinated volley fire. This was a major departure from traditional Maratha cavalry-centric warfare. The force was one of the most effective military units in late 18th century India.

Correct Answer: C. They deteriorated significantly

After the death of Nana Phadnavis in 1800, Maratha diplomatic affairs deteriorated significantly as there was no statesman of comparable ability to manage the complex relationships between the Maratha chiefs and foreign powers. The British Governor-General noted that Nana's death would accelerate Maratha decline. Within just a few years, the disunited Marathas faced the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

Correct Answer: B. Sharda Mohim

Sharda Mohim (autumn campaign) referred to the annual military campaign season that began after the monsoon in October-November, coinciding with the Dasara festival. The Maratha armies would typically launch their major military expeditions during this season. The autumn campaign season was a regular feature of Maratha military planning throughout the Peshwa period.

Correct Answer: B. No Peshwa - institution abolished

By 1828 when Shaniwarwada was destroyed by fire, the institution of Peshwa had already been abolished in 1818. The palace was then under British administration as part of the annexed Peshwa territories. The cause of the fire was never officially determined and remains a historical mystery.

Correct Answer: C. About 105 years

Peshwa rule over the Maratha Confederacy lasted approximately 105 years, from 1713 (when Balaji Vishwanath became the first powerful Peshwa) to 1818 (when Baji Rao II surrendered and the Peshwaship was abolished). This was a remarkable period that saw the Marathas rise to dominate much of India before their fall to British power. The Peshwa period is considered one of the most significant chapters in Indian history.