New Delhi: While discussing the Maratha Empire which emerged during the decline of the once-powerful Mughal Empire, one has to talk about the Peshwas. It was the Peshwas who played a crucial role in the expansion of the Maratha Empire, so much so that it became one of the most powerful forces in the Indian subcontinent once upon a time. And when it comes to the legacy of the position ‘Peshwa’, the name of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat deserves a special mention.
Who was Balaji Vishwanath Bhat?
Born on January 1, 1662, Balaji Vishwanath Bhat was the first of a series of hereditary Peshwas who hailed from the Bhat family. The family, at one point in time, was possibly the most powerful in the Maratha Empire as they gained effective control of the kingdom and also of the Mughal vassals of the Marathas during the early 18th century. Balaji Vishwanath helped young Shahu, who would go on to become the fifth Chhatrapati to establish firm control on a kingdom hit by civil war and intruding Mughals led by its last significant emperor Aurangzeb. Also hailed as the ‘Second Founder of the Maratha State’, he was the father of Peshwa Bajirao I.
The consolidation of the Maratha Empire
After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal Empire fell into a state of disarray and the situation was the same in the Maratha Empire with Rajaram’s widow Tarabai and Sambhaji’s son Shahu battling against each other to gain control over the kingdom. At one point, Shahu had barely any experienced generals left as all of them defected to Tarabai.
Shahu turned to Balaji Vishwanath who raised a new army, plotted the fall of Tarabai at Kolhapur in 1712 and induced Rajaram’s other widow, Rajasbai to rebel against Tarabai’s son Shivaji II and make her son, Sambhaji II, the ruler of Kolhapur. Thanks to Balaji Vishwanath, the House of Kolhapur came under the control of Shahu.
Balaji Vishwanath continued the expansion of the Maratha Empire after putting an end to the civil war. He especially took advantage of the power vacuum in the Mughal Empire after Aurangzeb’s death with each official in the court battling it out to put their candidate on the throne. The efforts of Vishwanath ensured the rise of the Maratha Empire after a period of struggle and his appointment as the Peshwa made the powerful position hereditary, deciding the fortune of the Maratha forces. After his death on April 12, 1720, the mantle was taken over by Baji Rao I, who would be hailed as the most charismatic and dynamic leader in Maratha history after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Balaji Vishwanath Bhat was the first of a series of hereditary Peshwas who hailed from the Bhat family. The family, at one point in time was possibly the most powerful in the Maratha Empire. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
