Peshwa Period & Maratha Wars — Set 5

Correct Answer: B. Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb)

The Maratha Empire reached its greatest territorial extent under Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb) in the 1750s-1760s. Maratha influence stretched from Bengal in the east to Punjab in the north and Gujarat in the west. However, this zenith was followed by the catastrophic defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.

Correct Answer: B. Arthur Wellesley

Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, defeated the combined Maratha forces at the Battle of Assaye on September 23, 1803, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. Wellesley considered Assaye his hardest fought battle, even harder than Waterloo. The victory gave the British significant control over central India.

Correct Answer: B. Bhat family

The Peshwa office was held exclusively by the Bhat family of Chitpavan Brahmin origin from the time of Balaji Vishwanath. The family came from the Konkan region and rose to supreme power in the Maratha state. The Bhat family's dominance as Peshwas was a defining feature of the 18th century Maratha Empire.

Correct Answer: B. He demonstrated Maratha reach at the Mughal doorstep

Baji Rao I's raid on Delhi in 1737 demonstrated that the Marathas could strike at the very heart of the Mughal Empire. His cavalry reached the outskirts of Delhi, creating panic in the Mughal court. Though he did not occupy Delhi permanently, this demonstration of power was a profound humiliation for the declining Mughal Empire.

Correct Answer: A. Narayanrao

Narayanrao was the Peshwa who was murdered in 1773 in Shaniwarwada, reportedly at the instigation of his uncle Raghunathrao and aunt Anandibai. Raghunathrao then seized power but faced opposition from the Maratha nobles (Barbhai confederation) who supported the posthumous son of Narayanrao. This succession crisis led to the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Correct Answer: C. Raghunathrao

The Barbhai Confederation was a coalition of senior Maratha nobles led by Nana Phadnavis that was formed to oppose Raghunathrao's claim to the Peshwaship after he murdered Narayanrao. They supported the claims of Narayanrao's posthumous son Sawai Madhav Rao. This political struggle triggered British involvement and the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Correct Answer: B. Nana Phadnavis

Nana Phadnavis (Balakrishna Janardhan Bhanu) was the brilliant statesman who managed Maratha affairs for nearly four decades after the Panipat disaster. He was sometimes called the 'Maratha Machiavelli' for his diplomatic acumen. He served as the de facto chief minister under several young or weak Peshwas.

Correct Answer: C. British system where Indian rulers maintained British troops at their expense

The Subsidiary Alliance was a system devised by Lord Wellesley whereby Indian rulers accepted British troops in their territory and paid for their maintenance. In return, the British provided protection from external aggression. This effectively made the Indian rulers dependent on the British and deprived them of independent military capability.

Correct Answer: D. Battle of Delhi

The Battle of Delhi (September 1803) was fought during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, after which the British under Gerard Lake captured Delhi. The Marathas under Scindia had been controlling Delhi and the Mughal Emperor. This victory gave the British control over the symbolic Mughal capital and northern India.

Correct Answer: C. Half

At its peak in the mid-18th century under the Peshwas, the Maratha Confederacy controlled approximately half of the Indian subcontinent by some estimates. Their territory stretched from the Himalayas in the north to the Krishna River in the south, and from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal. This made them the dominant political power in 18th century India.