History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c59.s3: § 3. Marathas as soldiers.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c59.s3
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§ 3. Marathas as soldiers.
v4.c59.s3.1
The backbone of Shivaji's army was composed of the peasantry belonging to the *Maratha* and *Kunbi* castes. "As a class the Marathas [of today] are simple, frank, independent and liberal, courteous, and, when kindly treated, trusting. They are a manly and intelligent race......No caste supplies the Bombay army with so many recruits as the Ratnagiri Marathas. Others go into the police." "The Deccan Kunbis are steady and hard-working.........a very quiet and orderly class,......strong, hardy, enduring and muscular."
v4.c59.s3.2
The Marathas had been noted as soldiers as early as the 7th century, when their king Pulakesin II. repulsed Harsha-vardhan, the conqueror of Northern India. But with the Muslim conquest of the Deccan and the extinction of the last Hindu kingdom in Maharashtra in the 14th century, the fighting classes among the natives gathered round their own leaders in small bands and hired out their swords to the new rulers of the land. There were Maratha auxiliaries and mercenaries in the service of the Bahmani Sultans, the Nizam-Shahis and the Adil-Shahis from the very beginning. And with the disintegration of the Muhammadan power in the Deccan, the importance of these local troops greatly increased.
v4.c59.s3.3
The sterile soil of Maharashtra discouraged its sons from the thankless task of tilling it. Strong muscles and stout hearts found greater rewards and a higher position by serving in the armies of the many monarchies of the central plateau. An able partisan leader was sure of high pay, noble rank, and it might be the proud position of a king-maker, at any of these Courts, which were constantly at war with their neighbours, and prepared to bid high for the lances of useful *condottieri* from the Desh country.
v4.c59.s3.4
Many Maratha families rose to wealth, power and distinction as captains of mercenary troops in the service of the Muslim States in their neighbourhood. Some of them claimed to be Kshatriyas and bore names suggesting their descent from the royal .
v4.c59.s3.5
dynasties of ancient India,—such as the Mauryas (Marathi More), Yadavas (Marathi, Zadon), Yaudheyas (Marathi, Jedhe), Chalukyas, &c.