The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c7.8

c7.8

Balaji Vishwanath’s settlement however, did not stop here. Lest the interests of the different chiefs should in any way clash and lead to hostilities, he clearly defined their ‘spheres of activity’. Thus Khandesh and some part of Balaghat were reserved for the Peshwa; the Senapati received Baglan and Gujarat; to the Sena Saheb Subha was assigned Berar and Gondwana and all the territories to the east; the Sarlaskar was in charge of Gangthadi and the province of Aurangabad; while the districts between the Nira and the Warna were left to the Pratinidhi’s care.¹ These chiefs were to collect *chauth* from the territories assigned to them; they could if they liked extend their activities further in their immediate neighbourhood. They were to make a stipulated contribution to the royal treasury and to meet the expenses of some of the *karkhanas* or royal establishments; within their fiefs they were to exercise sovereign authority without any interference from the Raja. Thus peace at home and expansion abroad were at once provided for. As some checks on these feudal chiefs, who for all practical purposes became independent princes, their civil establishments were appointed from headquarters. The Raja’s Chitnis sent his agent for similar work with a *jahgirdar*, as also did the Fadnis and the Potnis. The King was henceforth not to trouble himself about financing military expeditions or the payment of the army. The *sardeshmukhi* and *babti* were expected to meet all his personal needs. Thus the feudalisation of the army and the State was complete.