Administrative System of the Marathas c21.s2.14

c21.s2.14

Shivaji's followers were nearly all of them natives of Maharashtra. There was a sprinkling of Muhammadan soldiers and officers in his army, but on the whole it was composed of homogeneous elements capable of being inspired with common ideals and common interests. The great Maratha leader had a distrust for feudal levies, his officers and men were paid directly by him and he carefully refrained from creating fresh fiefs. The Peshwas, on the other hand, relied mainly on feudal forces and divided the whole of the Maratha Empire into a number of military Jagirs. The Sardars or feudal Barons on their part sublet a part of their fiefs to some of their favourites and subordinates in lieu of military service and sub-infeudation resulted with all its concomitant evils. The feudal chiefs were more attentive to their own interests and were absolutely incapable of taking a broad view of the imperial interests. This was the real cause of the interminable civil wars that characterised the closing years of the Maratha Empire. Sindhia was a Sardar of the Peshwa and was in theory bound to render him military service whenever necessary. Khande Rao Hari, better known as Appa Khande Rao, held his fief of the Sindhia and owed his allegiance to him. George Thomas, an Irish adventurer, received his Jagir from Khande Rao Hari and was expected to serve him loyally and faithfully. But Daulat Rao Sindhia did not hesitate to impose his authority on his master the Peshwa, Khande Rao Hari was equally prepared to wage a war against his immediate feudal over lord and master the Sindhia and George Thomas, a foreigner, naturally cared more for his own interests than for his master's welfare. If the feudal lords felt inclined sometimes to fight against the Peshwa, it is no wonder that they were frequently engaged against their neighbours and fellow chiefs. This was detrimental to the solidarity and unity of the empire which they all belonged and which they were supposed to serve. But unfortunately this was not the only defect of the Maratha military system.