Who Was Baji Rao I?
Views: 6 | Updated On: | By Gajju Jangir
Baji Rao I, also known as Bajirao Ballal or Bajirao Mastani, was a Maratha warrior and the fourth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire in India. He was born on 18 August 1700 in a village called Khed, near Pune, and was the eldest son of Balaji Vishwanath, the first Peshwa of the Maratha Empire.
Baji Rao's mother, Radhabai, was the daughter of a prominent Maratha general, Chimaji Appa. Baji Rao was trained in military tactics and administration from a young age, and by the time he was 20, he had already distinguished himself as a skilled warrior and commander.
In 1720, Baji Rao's father, Balaji Vishwanath, passed away, and Baji Rao was appointed as the new Peshwa by the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the Maratha ruler. Baji Rao was only 20 years old at the time, but he quickly proved himself to be an able leader and a brilliant military strategist.
Baji Rao's reign as Peshwa was marked by a series of military conquests and expansion of the Maratha Empire. He led several successful campaigns against the Mughal Empire and its allies, and expanded the Maratha Empire's territories to include present-day Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of northern India.
One of his most notable victories was the Battle of Palkhed in 1728, where he defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad and his allies, the Mughals and the Rajputs. This victory solidified Maratha power in the Deccan region and established Baji Rao as one of the most powerful rulers in India at the time.
Baji Rao was known for his strategic and unorthodox tactics, which included using fast-moving cavalry and surprise attacks to defeat his enemies. He also introduced several administrative and economic reforms, which helped to improve the lives of the people and strengthen the Maratha Empire.
Baji Rao was also known for his personal life. He had two wives, Kashibai and Mastani. Kashibai, his first wife was from his own caste, she was the daughter of his father's friend, while Mastani was the daughter of a Rajput king, her mother was Persian. Baji Rao loved Mastani deeply and went on to have a son with her, named Shamsher Bahadur. However, Mastani was not accepted by the Brahmins and the Peshwa family, which created a rift between Baji Rao and his family.
Baji Rao died on 28 April 1740, at the age of 40, from an unknown cause. He was succeeded by his son, Balaji Baji Rao. Baji Rao's legacy lived on, as his descendants continued to rule as the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire for several decades, until the empire's eventual downfall in the 19th century.
Baji Rao is remembered as one of the most successful and able leaders in Indian history. He was a skilled warrior, a brilliant military strategist, and an effective administrator who helped to expand and strengthen the Maratha Empire during his reign. His legacy continues to be celebrated in Maharashtra, and he is remembered as a hero and a symbol of Maratha pride.
Stay tuned...
Baji Rao's mother, Radhabai, was the daughter of a prominent Maratha general, Chimaji Appa. Baji Rao was trained in military tactics and administration from a young age, and by the time he was 20, he had already distinguished himself as a skilled warrior and commander.
In 1720, Baji Rao's father, Balaji Vishwanath, passed away, and Baji Rao was appointed as the new Peshwa by the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the Maratha ruler. Baji Rao was only 20 years old at the time, but he quickly proved himself to be an able leader and a brilliant military strategist.
Baji Rao's reign as Peshwa was marked by a series of military conquests and expansion of the Maratha Empire. He led several successful campaigns against the Mughal Empire and its allies, and expanded the Maratha Empire's territories to include present-day Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of northern India.
One of his most notable victories was the Battle of Palkhed in 1728, where he defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad and his allies, the Mughals and the Rajputs. This victory solidified Maratha power in the Deccan region and established Baji Rao as one of the most powerful rulers in India at the time.
Baji Rao was known for his strategic and unorthodox tactics, which included using fast-moving cavalry and surprise attacks to defeat his enemies. He also introduced several administrative and economic reforms, which helped to improve the lives of the people and strengthen the Maratha Empire.
Baji Rao was also known for his personal life. He had two wives, Kashibai and Mastani. Kashibai, his first wife was from his own caste, she was the daughter of his father's friend, while Mastani was the daughter of a Rajput king, her mother was Persian. Baji Rao loved Mastani deeply and went on to have a son with her, named Shamsher Bahadur. However, Mastani was not accepted by the Brahmins and the Peshwa family, which created a rift between Baji Rao and his family.
Baji Rao died on 28 April 1740, at the age of 40, from an unknown cause. He was succeeded by his son, Balaji Baji Rao. Baji Rao's legacy lived on, as his descendants continued to rule as the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire for several decades, until the empire's eventual downfall in the 19th century.
Baji Rao is remembered as one of the most successful and able leaders in Indian history. He was a skilled warrior, a brilliant military strategist, and an effective administrator who helped to expand and strengthen the Maratha Empire during his reign. His legacy continues to be celebrated in Maharashtra, and he is remembered as a hero and a symbol of Maratha pride.
Stay tuned...
Leave a Comment