Bajirao I - 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire

Overview

Bajirao I (1700-1740), also known as Bajirao Ballal Bhat or Thorale Bajirao (Bajirao the Elder), stands as one of the most brilliant military commanders in Indian history. Serving as the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1720 to 1740, he transformed the Marathas from a regional power in the Deccan into a pan-Indian empire that challenged Mughal supremacy. His innovative cavalry tactics, strategic genius, and relentless military campaigns expanded Maratha territories across vast swathes of the Indian subcontinent.

Born into the influential Bhat family of Chitpavan Brahmins, Bajirao succeeded his father Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa at the remarkably young age of twenty. Despite his youth, he quickly proved himself an exceptional military strategist and administrator. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire reached unprecedented heights, establishing dominance over Malwa, Gujarat, and parts of Bundelkhand, while repeatedly defeating the Nizam of Hyderabad and other regional powers.

Bajirao’s military philosophy revolutionized Indian warfare. He pioneered rapid cavalry movements over vast distances, often covering hundreds of kilometers to appear where enemies least expected. His famous dictum, reportedly stating that cavalry should move with the speed of lightning and strike like thunder, exemplified his approach to warfare. In his twenty-year career as Peshwa, historical accounts suggest he fought over forty major battles and never suffered defeat—a military record that places him among history’s greatest commanders.

Early Life

Bajirao was born on August 18, 1700, in Sinnar, near Nashik in present-day Maharashtra. He was the eldest son of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, who would become the first Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from the Bhat family, and his wife Radhabai Barve. The Bhats belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin community, known for their administrative and scholarly traditions.

Growing up during a pivotal period in Maratha history, Bajirao received comprehensive training in military strategy, statecraft, and administration from his father. Balaji Vishwanath, who served as Peshwa under Chhatrapati Shahu, ensured his son understood both the battlefield and the complexities of political diplomacy. From an early age, Bajirao accompanied his father on military campaigns and diplomatic missions, gaining practical experience that would prove invaluable in his later career.

The young Bajirao demonstrated exceptional aptitude for military affairs and horsemanship. He studied the tactics of earlier Maratha commanders, particularly the guerrilla warfare strategies pioneered by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while also developing his own innovative approaches to cavalry warfare. His education extended beyond military matters to include administration, diplomacy, and the management of the expanding Maratha state.

Rise to Power

When Balaji Vishwanath died in 1720, Bajirao was only nineteen years old. Despite his youth, Chhatrapati Shahu recognized Bajirao’s exceptional abilities and appointed him as the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. This appointment was not without controversy—many questioned whether such a young man could effectively lead the empire’s military and administrative apparatus. Some senior nobles and courtiers expected to see a more experienced candidate selected.

Bajirao quickly silenced his critics through decisive action. Within months of his appointment, he demonstrated his military prowess and strategic acumen in ways that exceeded even his father’s considerable achievements. He reorganized the Maratha military structure, emphasizing mobile cavalry units that could strike rapidly across vast distances. This reorganization reflected his deep understanding that the key to Maratha expansion lay not in holding static fortifications but in maintaining military momentum through rapid movement.

His relationship with Chhatrapati Shahu proved crucial to his success. While Shahu held the title of Chhatrapati (Emperor), Bajirao exercised effective control over military campaigns and day-to-day governance as Peshwa. This partnership, built on mutual respect and trust, allowed Bajirao the freedom to pursue ambitious military campaigns while maintaining political stability at the empire’s center in Satara.

Military Campaigns and Strategies

Bajirao’s military genius manifested in his revolutionary approach to cavalry warfare. Unlike traditional Indian military doctrine that emphasized infantry and artillery supported by cavalry, Bajirao made highly mobile cavalry the centerpiece of Maratha military strategy. His forces could cover extraordinary distances—sometimes over 60 kilometers per day—allowing them to appear unexpectedly, strike decisively, and withdraw before enemies could mount effective responses.

His first major campaign as Peshwa targeted Malwa in central India. Between 1723 and 1724, Bajirao led expeditions that established Maratha dominance over this wealthy region, extracting substantial tribute that financed further expansion. These campaigns demonstrated his ability to coordinate complex logistics, maintain supply lines over vast distances, and keep his cavalry forces effective despite extended campaigning.

The Battle of Palkhed in 1728 exemplified Bajirao’s strategic brilliance. When the Nizam of Hyderabad, Qamar-ud-din Khan, invaded Maratha territory with a large army, Bajirao responded with characteristic audacity. Rather than engaging in a direct confrontation, he used his cavalry’s mobility to cut off the Nizam’s supply lines and force him into a strategically disadvantageous position. The Nizam, finding his army without provisions in enemy territory, was compelled to negotiate a humiliating peace without a major battle being fought. This campaign demonstrated that Bajirao understood warfare extended beyond battlefield tactics to encompass logistics, intelligence, and psychological pressure.

In 1737, Bajirao achieved one of his most spectacular feats by marching on Delhi itself. Leading a cavalry force, he bypassed Mughal defensive positions and appeared at the gates of the Mughal capital, demonstrating the empire’s vulnerability and Maratha military superiority. Though he did not occupy Delhi permanently, this bold stroke humiliated the Mughal Empire and extracted significant territorial and financial concessions.

Administration and Governance

While renowned primarily for military achievements, Bajirao also proved an effective administrator. He restructured the Peshwa’s administrative machinery, appointing capable subordinates to manage different regions and responsibilities. He promoted talented commanders regardless of caste background, including Malhar Rao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde, and the Pawar brothers, who would establish major Maratha dynasties.

Bajirao implemented a system of confederacy that allowed these commanders considerable autonomy in their assigned regions while maintaining overall Maratha unity. This arrangement enabled rapid expansion and effective local governance while preserving strategic coordination. The system, however, would later contribute to fragmentation as these regional powers became increasingly independent.

He maintained careful diplomatic relations with various regional powers, using alliances and marriages to secure Maratha interests. His approach balanced military pressure with negotiated settlements, extracting tribute and territorial concessions while avoiding unnecessary prolonged conflicts that might drain Maratha resources.

Personal Life

In 1720, Bajirao married Kashibai, daughter of Mahadji Krishna Balal Pant, a Maratha nobleman. Kashibai bore him two sons: Balaji Bajirao (later known as Nanasaheb Peshwa, who would succeed him) and Raghunathrao. By all accounts, Kashibai managed the household with dignity and supported her husband’s demanding military career.

Bajirao’s relationship with Mastani, a warrior princess, remains one of history’s most celebrated love stories. Mastani was reportedly the daughter of Chhatrasal, the Bundela Rajput king of Bundelkhand, and his Muslim wife. According to traditional accounts, Bajirao met Mastani in 1728 when he came to Chhatrasal’s aid against a Mughal invasion. The two developed a deep relationship, and Mastani bore Bajirao a son, Shamsher Bahadur.

This relationship created considerable controversy in Pune’s conservative Brahmin society. Many viewed Mastani’s Muslim background as incompatible with Bajirao’s position as Peshwa, the Brahmin leader of a Hindu empire. Despite familial and social pressure, Bajirao maintained his relationship with Mastani, providing her with a palace (now known as Mastani Mahal) in Pune. The complexity of this relationship—balancing personal devotion with social expectations and political pressures—reveals Bajirao as a more nuanced figure than simply a military commander.

Challenges and Controversies

Despite his military successes, Bajirao faced significant challenges and controversies. His relationship with Mastani created ongoing tensions with his family, particularly his mother Radhabai and his brother Chimaji Appa. Orthodox Brahmin society viewed the relationship as socially unacceptable, potentially undermining the Peshwa’s moral authority.

Bajirao’s ambitious expansion created numerous enemies. The Nizam of Hyderabad remained a persistent rival despite repeated defeats. The Mughals, though weakened, still possessed considerable resources and sought to check Maratha expansion. Various regional powers—including the Rajputs, the Jats, and the Rohillas—viewed growing Maratha dominance with alarm.

His rapid expansion also created administrative challenges. As Maratha territories grew, maintaining effective governance over such vast and diverse regions became increasingly difficult. The system of semi-autonomous regional commanders that facilitated expansion also sowed seeds of future fragmentation, as these commanders developed their own power bases.

Later Years and Death

By the late 1730s, Bajirao’s relentless campaigning had begun taking a physical toll. Nevertheless, he continued leading military expeditions with characteristic energy. In early 1740, he led a campaign against Nasir Jung, son of the Nizam, in the Deccan.

On April 28, 1740, while on this campaign, Bajirao fell seriously ill with fever near Khargone (in present-day Madhya Pradesh). According to historical accounts, he died that same day at the age of thirty-nine, likely from heat stroke or illness aggravated by years of campaigning in harsh conditions. His death came as a shock to the Maratha Empire, which had grown accustomed to his seemingly invincible leadership.

His body was cremated on the banks of the Narmada River. Mastani, according to some accounts, performed sati on his funeral pyre, though historical evidence for this is debated. Following his death, his son Balaji Bajirao succeeded him as Peshwa, continuing the expansion his father had initiated.

Legacy

Bajirao I’s legacy extends far beyond his military conquests. He transformed the Maratha Empire from a regional power into the dominant force in 18th-century India. His military innovations—particularly the emphasis on mobile cavalry warfare and rapid strategic movements—influenced Indian military thinking for generations. His success demonstrated that indigenous Indian powers could effectively challenge and defeat the established Mughal Empire.

The territorial expansion under Bajirao laid the foundation for Maratha dominance across much of India in the mid-18th century. Though the empire would face setbacks, particularly at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, the political and military structures Bajirao established continued shaping Indian history until British colonial consolidation in the early 19th century.

Beyond military achievements, Bajirao’s story has captured popular imagination, particularly his relationship with Mastani. Numerous literary works, films, and cultural productions have explored this aspect of his life, making him one of Indian history’s most romanticized figures. The 2015 Bollywood film “Bajirao Mastani” brought his story to contemporary audiences, though with considerable artistic license.

Memorials to Bajirao exist across Maharashtra and beyond. The Shaniwar Wada palace in Pune, though begun by his father, was expanded significantly during and after his time, serving as the Peshwa’s seat of power. The samadhi (memorial) at Raverkhedi near Khargone marks the place of his death, while another memorial at Pabal commemorates his relationship with Mastani.

Military historians regard Bajirao as one of history’s great cavalry commanders, comparable to figures like Hannibal or Napoleon in terms of strategic innovation and tactical brilliance. His undefeated record in major battles, achieved through superior strategy rather than mere numerical superiority, demonstrates exceptional military genius.

Timeline

See Also

• Maratha Empire
• Chhatrapati Shahu
• Balaji Bajirao
• Balaji Vishwanath
• Shaniwar Wada