Peshwa

The Peshwa (पेशवा) was the second-in-command of the Maratha Empire, under the king (Chhatrapati). In the beginning, the Peshwa was a Prime Minister chosen by the king, but when King Shahuji gave the job to Bajirao Ballal, it became a family inheritance. Under Shahu’s rule, the Peshwas grew very powerful and ran the empire. Over time, the king’s role became mostly ceremonial, and the Peshwas held the real power, as set out in the Sangola agreement.^[1]

Peshwa of the Marathas पेशवा
Flag
Last to serve Baji Rao II 6 December 1796 – 3 June 1818
Residence	Shaniwar Wada, Pune (1732–1818) Bithur, Kanpur (1818–57)
Appointer	Chhatrapati (until 1761) Hereditary (1761–1818)
Formation	6 June 1674
First holder	Moropant Trimbak Pingle
Final holder	Baji Rao II Nana Saheb II (tituler)
Abolished	3 June 1818 (de jure) 16 July 1857 (de facto)
Succession	The Peshwas split into 3 dynasties after abolishment

During the time of Shivaji, Sambhaji, and Rajaram, all Peshwas came from the Marathi Deshastha Brahmin community. The first Peshwa was Moropant Pingle, appointed by Shivaji as the head of the Ashta Pradhan (council of eight ministers). Early Peshwas served mainly as chief ministers to the king. Later, especially under the Bhat family, the Peshwas became hereditary leaders and the true rulers of the Maratha Confederacy. The Peshwas were most powerful under Baji Rao I (1720–1740), when the Marathas expanded and ruled large parts of India. Later Peshwas allowed more autonomy to regional Maratha chiefs like the Scindias, Holkars, and Gaekwads, though these leaders still recognized the Peshwa's authority. The Bhonsles were also forced to accept the Peshwa as their overlord after their defeat by Madhavrao I in 1765.^[2][3]

In 1760, the Koli leader Naik Javji Bamble led a rebellion against the Peshwa government, conducting raids for 20 years and defeating several Peshwa generals. Eventually, on the advice of Dhondo Gopal, he surrendered his forts to Tukoji Holkar, who secured him a pardon and put him in charge of 60 villages to handle law enforcement. In 1798, another Koli leader, Ramji Naik Bhangria, rebelled but cleverly avoided capture. Instead of fighting him, the government pardoned Ramji and appointed him to a key police position.^[4]

The image represents one of the most popular Peshwas, Bajirao I who is regarded as a military genius by many.His battles mostly involved long chases, Guerrilla warfare and ingenious utilization of cavalry. He fought in over 40 battles throughout his tenure as Peshwa and won all of them, most notably the Battle of Palkhed and Battle of Bhopal.

Extent of the Maratha Confederacy, 1795

List of Peshwas

Sr.	Name	Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Moropant Trimbak Pingle	1674	1683
2	Nilakanth Moreshvar Pingale	1683	1689
3	Ramchandra Pant Amatya	1689	1708
4	Bahiroji Pingale	1708	1711
5	Parshuram Trimbak Kulkarni	1711	1713

Hereditary Peshwas from Bhat family

His Highness Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa or Madhav Rao II Narayan and his Prime minister Nana Phadnavis, with two attendants at Pune.

Sr.	Name	Particulars	Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.	Portrait
6	Balaji Vishwanath (Sixth appointed Peshwa)	Assisted the Syed Brothers in removing Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar from the throne in 1719.	1713	1720
7	Baji Rao I (Seventh appointed Peshwa)	Known as Thorle Bajirao, was the most influential of the nine Peshwas. He aimed to establish a Hindu Empire and successfully expanded Maratha rule across Central India, Rajputana, Gujarat, and the Deccan. In 1737, he launched an attack on Delhi. Over his military career, he fought in more than 41 battles and never lost. He passed away at age 40 due to sudden fever while on a campaign toward Delhi. Today, an equestrian statue of him stands at Shaniwar Wada in Pune.	1720	1740
8	Balaji Bajirao (Eighth appointed Peshwa)	Nanasaheb Peshwa expanded Maratha territory across North-West, East, and Central India, with his forces capturing Attock and Peshawar in 1758. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire reached its peak, but in 1761, his general and cousin lost the Third Battle of Panipat to Ahmad Shah Abdali. Nanasaheb also played a key role in Pune’s development, building landmarks like the Parvati Temple and Lakdi Bridge, and founding Nana Peth. He constructed a water reservoir near Katraj to provide Pune with clean water - a system still functioning today.	1740	1761
9	Madhav-Rao I (First hereditary Peshwa)	Madhavrao I’s time as Peshwa had many internal fights but also successful wars against the Nizam. During his rule, the Marathas regained their strength after the big loss at the Third Battle of Panipat. This recovery is called the Maratha Resurrection. He fixed the damaged government, treasury, and accounts of the Maratha Empire. Madhavrao I died of tuberculosis in 1772. A memorial for him stands at Peshwe Park in Pune. Some say he was killed by his aunt, Anandi Bai, the wife of Raghunath Rao.	1761	1772
10	Narayan-Rao	Madhavrao I was allegedly killed by Gardi guards. Raghunath Rao wanted to just kidnap him, but his wife, Anandi Bai, decided to have him killed. Later, Narayan Rao was also killed in Shanivar Wada. Today, Shanivar Wada is considered one of the haunted places in Maharashtra.	1772	1773
11	Raghunath-Rao	As a general, he expanded the Maratha Empire to its peak in the north but also witnessed its decline there. He was removed from power by Nana Phadnis and 11 other officials in what is now known as "The Barbhai Conspiracy."	1773	1774
12	Madhav-Rao II	He was made Peshwa as an infant, with a group of Maratha generals and ministers acting as his advisors. During his time, Nana Phadnis played a big role in politics. This period saw the rise of Maratha power in North India again.	1774	1796
13	Baji Rao II	During his first reign, he was defeated by Yashwantrao Holkar, the ruler of Indore, at the Battle of Poona. He fled to the British for protection and signed the Treaty of Bassein with the British East India Company in December 1802. The treaty gave up land for a British army and prevented him from making treaties with other powers. This led to the Second Anglo-Maratha War and the start of the Maratha confederacy breaking apart.	1796	1802
–	Amrut Rao (Appointed as Peshwa by Yashwantrao Holkar)	Amrutrao was made Peshwa by Yashwantrao Holkar after defeating Baji Rao II and Daulat Rao Sindhia in the Battle of Poona.	1802	1803
13	Baji Rao II	During his second reign, Baji Rao II started the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817. After losing the Battle of Koregaon in January 1818, he fled from the British. The British took control of his territories and made Pratap Singh of Satara support them. This ended Baji Rao II's role as the head of the Maratha confederacy. On June 3, 1818, Baji Rao II surrendered to the British and was sent into exile at Bithur, near Kanpur.	1803	1851
14	Nana Sahib (Pretender to the position of Peshwa)	Nana Sahib, born Dhondu Pant in 1824, was the adopted son of Baji Rao II, the last Maratha Peshwa. When the British denied him his father's pension due to his adoption, he joined the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to restore Maratha rule. He led the siege of Cawnpore (now Kanpur), forcing British troops to surrender. Afterward, many British civilians were killed, though his exact role in the massacre remains debated. When the British recaptured Cawnpore, Nana Sahib disappeared. Some believe he fled to Nepal and died there, but his fate is uncertain.	1851	1857