Maratha Administration Under Peshwas: Governance and Military Structure (1714-1818)

Maratha Administration under Peshwas from 1714 to 1818 was marked by a complex system of governance across various domains. From the rise of the Peshwa office to the intricacies of revenue collection, village administration, and military organization, this era saw significant developments in Maratha rule. With a focus on both rural and urban administration, the Peshwas established a framework that governed the lives of millions across the Maratha Empire.

An Overview of Maratha Administration under Peshwas (1714-1818)

• Peshwa’s Rise to Prominence: Peshwa was one of Shivaji’s Ashta Pradhan (council of ministers). The office was initially not hereditary but gained prominence as the king’s power declined.
  • Balaji Vishwanath (1713-1720) established the Peshwa’s office as supreme and hereditary. He  took control of the  administration and streamlined it after Shambhaji.
• The Central Secretariat: The centre of the Maratha administration was the Peshwa Secretariat at Poona, which involved: 
  • Managing revenues, expenditures, and the accounts submitted by the village and district officials. 
  • Daily record of all revenues, grants, and payments received from foreign territories.
  • Handling the salaries of all the public servants and the budgets under civil, military, and religious heads. 

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• Provinces
  • Sar Subhadar: Large provinces had Sar-Subahdars as provincial governors. Divisions in the provinces were called Subahs and Pranths. 
  • Mamlatdar and Kamavistar: were Peshwa’s representatives in the districts and were responsible for every branch of district administration.
  • Deshmukh and Deshpandes: who were district officers in charge of accounts, observed the activities of Mamlatdars and Kamavistars. It was a system of checks and balances.
    • At the Pargana level, Deshpande used to keep accounts and records, whereas Deshmukh had legal and policing authority.
  • Preventing Financial Misappropriation: In order to prevent the misappropriation of public money, the Maratha government collected a heavy sum (Rasad) from the Mamlatdars and other officials. 
    • It was collected on their first appointment to a district.
• Revenue Sources
  • Land Revenue: was the primary income which transitioned from sharing of agricultural produce (Shivaji’s time) to tax farming. 
  • Assessment: of land revenue was based on the kinds of crops, facilities for irrigation, and productivity of the land.
• Village Administration
  • Village: was the basic unit of administration headed by Patel and was self-supportive.
  • Patel: not paid by the government and hereditary chief officer, he was responsible for remitting revenue to the centre, assisted by the accountant and record-keeper, Kulkarni. 
  • Hereditary Servants: performed communal functions.  
  • Village Artisans: provided compulsory labour, or begar. 
• Urban Administration
  • Kotwal: was the chief officer in towns and cities. 
    • He also functioned as the magistrate.
  • Functions of Kotwal: His functions included the maintenance of peace and order, regulation of prices, settling civil disputes and sending monthly accounts to the government.
• Police System
  • Watchmen: were employed in every village. They were usually from the Mahar caste.
  • Taxation in Troubled Regions: The residents of the disturbed area had to pay an additional house tax as the government had to send forces from the irregular infantry to control crimes.
• Judicial System
  • Arbitration and Legal System: Rudimentary, lacking codified laws and procedures, and arbitration was prioritised. 
  • Panchayat Justice and Appeals: Unresolved cases were transferred for decision to a panchayat appointed by the Patel in the village and by the leading merchants in towns. Appeals were made to the Mamlatdar.
  • Hierarchy in Criminal Cases: A hierarchy existed in criminal cases, with Raja Chhatrapati at the apex level, followed by Peshwa, Sar-Subahdar, Mamlatdar and Patel,  with the common use of flogging and torture for confessions.
• Military Structure
  • Army: Closely resembled the system of the Mughals. They recruited soldiers from across India, contrasting with Shivaji’s local Maratha enlistment. 
    • The army, a mix of various groups including Arabs and Sikhs, had mercenaries from rival chieftains, causing internal disputes and affecting Maratha unity.
  • Cavalry: It was the main strength of the Maratha army. 
    • Each Jamindar was obligated to bring a stipulated number of horsemen every year. 
    • These horsemen were classified into three categories, based on the quality of their horses. 
  • Infantry and Artillery: Infantry were Arabs, Rohillas, Sikhs, and Sindhis and were paid higher salaries than the Maratha soldiers. 
    • Artillery was manned by Portuguese, Indian Christians, and later English.
  • Navy: They guarded Maratha ports, combated piracy and collected customs duties. Balaji Vishwanath established naval bases at Konkan, Khanderi, and Vijayadurg .

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Conclusion

The Maratha administrative system under the Peshwas, while evolving and adapting to changing circumstances, provided a framework for governance across different levels of society. From the central secretariat in Poona to village-level administration, each aspect played a crucial role in maintaining order and stability. Despite its rudimentary judicial and military structures, the Maratha administration showcased resilience and innovation in managing the vast territories under its control.

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