New History of the Marathas v1.c16.41

v1.c16.41

Administration.—The whole dominion of Shivaji was fluctuating and fluid in its area, as he was all along engaged in building up and extending his kingdom. He divided it into three main provinces, the northern division from Poona to Salher, being under his Peshwa Moropant Pingle and including north Konkan also. Southern Konkan upto north Kanara was in the viceroyalty of Ānāji Datto, while the southern Desh districts roughly from Satara to Dharwar and Kopbal were under Dattājipant Waqnis. The newly conquered districts south of the Tungabhadrā, namely, Arni, Vellore, Jinji, &c. were administered by Harji Mahādik, Shivaji's son-in-law. There were many scattered outlying districts, where specially trusted and competent agents were appointed from time to time. The Mughal territory was to be subjected to the levy of the Chauth contribution. All this territory old and new contained, as contemporary records tell us, 240 forts, of which 111 were newly built by him. His annual revenue has been calculated at seven crores of Rupees, but possibly it was much less in actual realisation. He collected a large amount of treasure and other valuable articles which it is impossible to calculate even with tolerable accuracy in terms of modern currency. Besides the land revenue there were cesses according to local conditions.⁷