[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928) › c7.7 # The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c7.7 The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c7.7 - **Language:** English ### [c7.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c7.7) Balaji Vishwanath, who contributed more than anybody else to Shahu’s success, found it beyond his power to reduce Kanhoji Angria, but managed to achieve by diplomacy what he could not obtain by war. Kanhoji offered allegiance to Shahu, but retained his fief and naval command. Probably this suggested to Balaji a new method of conciliating other military chiefs and restoring internal peace and order by directing their attention abroad. When he obtained the imperial \*farmans\* for \*chauth\* and \*sardeshmukhi\* for his master, he had something tempting and something definite to offer to those who would loyally serve Shahu and acknowledge his authority. The \*sardeshmukhi\* was the Raja’s \*watan\* and could not be alienated; but only a quarter of the \*chauth\* was retained for the Raja and was henceforth styled \*Rajbabti\* or royal perquisite. The remaining three-fourths of the \*chauth\* was available for distribution among Shahu’s followers, six per cent. of the total \*chauth\*, called in Marathi \*sahotra\*, was set apart for the Sachiv; another three per cent, was denominated \*nadgaundi\*, while the balance called \*mokasa\* was granted to different military leaders, in return for their maintenance of a fixed military contingent and an undertaking to perform military service on behalf of the State, whenever occasion so demanded. - [Previous: c7.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c7.6) - [Next: c7.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c7.8) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c7.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1928.c7.7) · Pramāṇa