How the Marathas Defeated the Mughals: The End of an Empire

The Mughal Empire, once the dominant power in India, began to crumble under the relentless resistance of the Marathas. From the late 17th century to the early 19th century, the Marathas gradually dismantled Mughal rule, reducing the once-mighty empire to a puppet state. The fall of the Mughals was primarily due to Maratha military supremacy, strategic warfare, and relentless resistance.

This article explores how the Marathas defeated the Mughals, ultimately ending their dominance over India.

Origins of the Maratha Resistance

The Maratha rise to power was largely shaped by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630–1680). He laid the foundation of the Maratha Empire by challenging the Mughal and Adil Shahi rulers through guerrilla warfare, swift cavalry movements, and a strong fort-based defense system. His defiance against Aurangzeb marked the beginning of the Maratha-Mughal struggle for supremacy.

Even after Shivaji’s death in 1680, the Marathas continued resisting Mughal expansion under Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Despite being captured and brutally executed by Aurangzeb in 1689, Sambhaji’s sacrifice only strengthened the Maratha resolve. The next generation of Maratha leaders, particularly the Peshwas, played a crucial role in systematically weakening and ultimately defeating the Mughals.

Aurangzeb’s Deccan Campaign (1681–1707): The Beginning of Mughal Decline

Aurangzeb’s obsession with conquering the Deccan and crushing the Marathas became the biggest mistake of his reign.

  • In 1681, Aurangzeb personally led his army into the Deccan, intending to destroy the Marathas.
  • Over the next 27 years, he fought an exhausting war, facing Maratha guerrilla attacks, logistical failures, and financial ruin.
  • The Marathas, under Rajaram and later Tarabai, continued to resist, using their deep knowledge of the terrain to their advantage.

By the time Aurangzeb died in 1707, the Mughal treasury was bankrupt, and their military strength was severely weakened. The long-drawn war in the Deccan proved to be the beginning of the Mughal collapse, and the Marathas emerged as the dominant force in India.

Marathas Capture Delhi (1737): The Symbolic End of Mughal Power

After Aurangzeb’s death, the Mughal Empire fragmented, with multiple rulers fighting for control. This gave the Marathas, under Peshwa Baji Rao I (1720–1740), the perfect opportunity to expand northward.

  • In 1737, Baji Rao I led a daring raid on Delhi, where he decisively defeated the Mughals and forced Emperor Muhammad Shah to accept Maratha supremacy.
  • The Mughal army, led by Khan Dauran and Amir Khan, was no match for the fast-moving Maratha cavalry.
  • The Mughals were humiliated, and the Marathas were now acknowledged as the real power in India.

This marked a turning point—the Mughals were now just nominal rulers, while the Marathas became the de facto rulers of India.

The Sack of Delhi (1757): Marathas Humiliate the Mughals Again

Despite their earlier defeat, the Mughals continued to exist under British and Afghan manipulation. In 1757, the Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked Delhi, plundering the city and weakening Mughal authority further.

In response, the Marathas, led by Raghunath Rao, marched north and recaptured Delhi from Abdali’s forces. The Marathas not only restored order but also established their own governor in Delhi, effectively controlling the Mughal emperor.

From this point onward, the Mughal emperor was merely a puppet under Maratha rule.

Marathas Establish Control Over Most of India

By the 1760s, the Marathas had become the most powerful force in India:

  • They ruled over Delhi, Punjab, Rajputana, Gujarat, Malwa, Bundelkhand, and Orissa.
  • The Mughal emperor Shah Alam II became a Maratha vassal, relying on them for protection.
  • The Marathas defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawabs of Bengal, and Mysore rulers, consolidating their dominance.

By this time, the Mughals had lost all real power, surviving only as a symbolic dynasty under Maratha protection.

How the Marathas Defeated the Mughals: Key Strategies

The Marathas defeated the Mughals through a combination of superior military tactics, strong leadership, and effective governance.

1. Guerrilla Warfare

  • The Marathas mastered hit-and-run tactics, launching surprise attacks on Mughal forces before retreating into mountainous terrain.
  • The Mughals, used to open-field battles, were unable to counter this unconventional warfare.

2. Swift Cavalry Movements

  • Unlike the Mughals, who relied on slow-moving armies with elephants and artillery, the Marathas used light cavalry that could cover long distances rapidly.
  • This mobility allowed them to strike anywhere in India with minimal resistance.

3. Strong Fort Network

  • The Marathas controlled over 300 forts across Maharashtra, making it difficult for the Mughals to sustain long-term occupations.
  • Even if a fort was lost, the Marathas would recapture it using guerrilla tactics.

4. Political Alliances

  • The Marathas formed alliances with Rajputs, Jats, and Sikhs to counter Mughal influence.
  • These alliances allowed them to fight on multiple fronts while securing strongholds in the north.

5. Economic Control

  • The Marathas imposed taxes on Mughal territories, using the revenue to strengthen their own administration.
  • The Chauth (25% tax) and Sardeshmukhi (10% tax) levied on Mughal lands drained the empire financially.

Conclusion: The Marathas and the End of the Mughals

The Marathas played the most decisive role in ending Mughal rule in India. While history often credits the British for the downfall of the Mughals, it was the Marathas who truly destroyed the empire, capturing Delhi and reducing the Mughal emperor to a mere figurehead.

Through superior military tactics, strong leadership, and relentless resistance, the Marathas ensured that Mughal rule in India came to an end long before the British arrived. Their role in shaping India’s history deserves greater recognition, as they were the true architects of India’s liberation from centuries of foreign rule.

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