The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c10.52

c10.52

Under the Bijapur kings the Marathas began to make themselves conspicuous. The Bargis or light horse furnished by the Maratha chiefs played a prominent part in the wars with the Mughals; the less important forts were left in their hands, and the revenue was collected by Hindu officers under the Musalman Mokasdars. Several of the old Maratha families received their offices of deshmukh and sardeshmukh from the Bijapur kings. The kingdom of Bijapur was destined to survive that of Ahmadnagar by fifty years; but, weakened by its powerful Mughal neighbour and by internal dissensions; it was gradually falling to pieces. This was the opportunity for the predatory Maratha chiefs, and a leader arose in Shivaji, the son of Shahji Bhonsla, who knew how to unite the Marathas into a nation by inspiring them with a hatred for their Musalman masters, and how to take advantage of the constant quarrels and increasing weakness of those masters.