The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c9.58

c9.58

When Shivaji died his kingdom was defended by two hundred and forty forts and strongholds and not one of them was held by a hereditary noble. But a complicated system, such as he had adopted in the administration of forts, required constant and vigilant supervision on the part of the King, and this was not forthcoming in Sambhaji’s time. He did not do away with his father’s institutions; but he did not possess his father’s foresight or his father’s industry. After his death things became worse. It was then possible for one single officer to betray the important fortress of Rairi which could and did stand a siege for months together. With the revival of feudalism in Rajaram’s time the chief officers of the State became the custodians of the forts. The celebrated fort of Purandar was held by the Sachiv; and in 1710-11 Parashram Pratinidhi was in charge of no less than thirty-five forts, of which the most important were Vishalgad, Pratapgad, Chandan, Wandan, Satara, and Kolhapur.²