The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c5.25

c5.25

With the advent of Shivaji a new era opened in the military history of the Marathas. He had a clear conception of military organisation, definite plans of military reform and specific views and opinions based upon past experience. He believed in personal selection but had no faith in hereditary genius. He approved of unity of command, but would not tolerate military interference in the civil administration of the country. He wanted a strong monarchy as the only antidote to the prevailing discord, dissension and anarchy, and could not therefore reconcile himself to feudalism and all that it stood for. He had some advantage over his antagonists. His hands were not tied by precedents; but at the same time, as the founder of a new kingdom and a new house, he could not ignore the tradition of the land, nor could he afford wholly to alienate the vested interests.