The Bavan Maval, [1] or Bawan Mawal was a territory of fifty two valleys or Khoras ruled or controlled by Maratha Deshmukhs during Maratha Empire. All these regions mostly came in the districts of Pune and Ahmednagar and each valley had a hereditary Maratha Nayak or Sardar. [2] [3]
Some of the Deshmukhis were as follows -
Each of the Maval lords commanded forces enlisted majorly from among his own tenants for the purpose of territorial defense and law enforcement. Additionally, they were appealed by their suzerain to raise troops for royal service in times of need, and would duly receive additional bounties and grants of new territories in reward. [5] [6]
The Kunbis of Bawan Mavals enlisted by Chhatrapati Shivaji had transformed into a powerful and important army, and Deshmukhs of Bavan Mavals played an important role in establishing Swarajya and in the several battles. [7]
Shivaji I was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adilshahi Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Confederacy. In 1674, he was formally crowned the Chhatrapati of his realm at Raigad Fort.
Bajirao I was the 7th and most powerful Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy. He after Shivaji, is considered to be the most charismatic and dynamic leader in Maratha history. He was just twenty years old and already had a reputation for rapid decisions and a passion for military adventure.
The Maratha Confederacy, also referred to as the Maratha Empire, was an early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent. It comprised the realms of the Peshwa and four major independent Maratha states often subordinate to the former. It was established in 1674 with the coronation of Shivaji as the Maratha Chhatrapati and recognised by Emperor Bahadur Shah I as a tributary state in 1707 following a prolonged rebellion. Following this, the Marathas continued to recognise the Mughal emperor as their nominal suzerain, similar to other contemporary Indian entities, though in practice, imperial politics at Delhi were largely influenced by the Marathas between 1737 and 1803.
Peshwa was second highest office in the Maratha Confederacy, next in rank and prestige only to that of the Chhatrapati. Initially serving as the appointed prime minister in the Maratha Kingdom, the office became hereditary after the death of Shahu in 1749. During the reign of Shahu, the office of Peshwa grew in power and the Peshwas came to be the de facto rulers of the Maratha Confederacy. However following the defeat of the Marathas in 1761, the office of the Peshwa became titular as well and from that point onwards served as the ceremonial head of the Confederacy underneath the Chhatrapati.
The Bhonsle are a prominent group within the Maratha clan system.
Afzal Khan was a general who served the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur Sultanate in India. He played an important role in the southern expansion of the Bijapur Sultanate by subjugating the Nayaka chiefs who had taken control of the former Vijayanagara territory.
Rajaram Bhonsle I was the third Chhatrapati of the Maratha Kingdom, who ruled from 1689 to his death in 1700. He was the second son of the Shivaji, the founder of the empire and younger half-brother of Sambhaji, whom he succeeded. His eleven-year reign was marked with a constant struggle against the Mughals. He was succeeded by his infant son Shivaji II under the regentship of his dowager Maharani Tarabai.
Mirza Abu Talib, better known as Shaista Khan, was a Moghul General and the Subahdar of Mughal Bengal, he was maternal uncle to the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb, he acted as a key figure during his reign, Shaista Khan initially governed the Deccan, where he clashed with the Maratha ruler Shivaji, However, he was most notable for his tenure as the governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688, Under Shaista Khan's authority, the city of Dhaka and Mughal power in the province attained its greatest heights. His achievements include constructions of notable mosques such as the Sat Gambuj Mosque and masterminding the conquest of Chittagong. Shaista Khan was also responsible for sparking the outbreak of the Anglo-Mughal War with the English East India Company.
Chauth was a regular tax or tribute imposed from the early 18th century by the Maratha Empire in the Indian subcontinent. It was an annual tax nominally levied at 25% on revenue or produce, hence the name, on lands that were under nominal Mughal rule. The sardeshmukhi was an additional 10% levy on top of the chauth. A tribute paid to the king, it was started by Koli Maharaja Som Shah of Ramnagar.
Shankaraji Narayan Gandekar (1665–1707), also known as Shankaraji Narayan Sacheev or Shankaraji Narayan, was a popular Minister (Pradhan) and Count (Sardar) of the Maratha Kingdom. He also served as Imperial Secretary (Sacheev) during Rajaram's reign. He also served as Deputy to the Crown (Rajadnya) under Sambhaji. His contribution to the war of independence against Mughal rule is considered to be immensely supportive. He was also the founder of the princely state of Bhor located, in Pune district.
Mavala was a name used for people of the hilly Maval region west of the present day Indian city of Pune. It was in the Maval that the 17th century Maratha leader, Shivaji, first established his power base that later developed into the Maratha kingdom. The inhabitants of this hilly region who were heavily enlisted in his guerrilla forces and raiding bands were known as Mavale, composed of the Kunbi castes. The Mavala soldiers were expert footmen and excelled in mountain warfare. The infantry was considered the backbone of Shivaji's power, and according to Sabhasad Bakhar, which chronicled Shivaji's life, the Mavale Hasham infantry of Shivaji was composed of 100,000 men.
Morè/Morey is originally the surname of a Maratha warrior clan from Maharashtra, India.They are considered as the branch of later Mauryans. The More clan, also known as the Mores, was a prominent Maratha clan that held significant power and influence in the Western Ghats region of present-day Maharashtra, India, during the medieval period. The most notable period of their prominence was during the 16th and 17th centuries. The More clan claims descent from the Mauryan lineage, which migrated to the Deccan region and established themselves as local chieftains. The totem associated with the clan is a peacock feather (Mayurpankh). The Mores of Jävli boasted of lineal descent from the royal Maurya of konkan and the still more ancient imperial Mauryas of Magadha. Chandrarāv More was the best known king of this dynasty who ruled in the seventeenth century as a vassal of the Adilshahi kingdom.
The Jedhe Shakawali. or Jedhe Chronology, is a bare record of events from 1618 to 1697, kept by the Jedhe Deshmukhs of Kari village, near Bhor in the Pune district. It is a valuable source for the political history of the formative period of Maratha Empire. It was first edited by B.G. Tilak and published by Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Pune, in 1916.
Jedhe Karina or Jedhe Statement is a record of family events of Jedhe Deshmukh of village Kari located near Bhor in modern Pune district. It covers a period of about 65 years starting from 1626 and ending to 1689. While main objective of the Karina is to state how the family of Jedhes went on prospering day by day, it also throws light on the formative period of Maratha Empire.
Shivaji was the founder of the Maratha Empire in the Indian subcontinent. This article describes Shivaji's life from his birth until the age of 19 years (1630–1649).
The following list includes a brief about the titles of nobility or orders of chivalry used by the Marathas of India and by the Marathis/Konkanis in general.
Maloji Bhosale was a Maratha Sardar (general) who served as the Sargiroh of Ahmadnagar Sultanate. He was the father of Shahaji and the grandfather of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Kingdom.
The Gamaji Bhangare was Koli subedar in the Maratha Army of Maratha Empire during the reign of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji.
The Kuroji Naik was Koli subedar of Maratha army under Maratha Peshwa during reign of Shahu II.
Shivaji's Campaign of Jawali was a military engagement fought between the Maratha rebels, led by Shivaji and the Bijapur Sultanate, under the command of Chandra Rao More, in the year 1656.This battle took place near the town of Jawali, located in present-day Maharashtra, India.
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