page_title: Peshwa
section_title: Bhat Family
hierarchical_section_title: Peshwa / Bhat Family
caption_attribution_description: English: A memorial commemorating the Great Peshwa Bajirao I (in office 1720-1740 CE). The memorial is located at Shaniwar Wada (Shaniwar Palace) in the town of Pune, India. Bajirao I was an 18th century Indian Premier; Statesman; General and was principal in expanding Maratha Kingdom on a national scale subduing the Mughal Empire. Titles, Styles, and Honors: Pradhanpant Shreemant Bajirao Ballal (powerful noble) Peshwa (aka Bajirao the First) (nickname: Rannmard Bajirao; Rau) with the styles of His Highness (prospectively); the Peshwa (prime minister/first minister) of Maratha India; de facto chief of all Maratha dominions; the foremost minister and chief general of the supreme Maratha Emperor (Chhatrapati)
context_page_description: The Peshwa was the appointed Prime Minister of the Maratha Empire of the Indian subcontinent. Originally, the Peshwas served as subordinates to the Chhatrapati; later, under the Bhat family, they became the de facto leaders of the Maratha Confederacy with the Chhatrapati becoming a nominal ruler, a situation roughly analogous to that of the Shogunate of Japan and the Rana family of Prime Ministers of Nepal. During the last years of the Maratha Empire, the Peshwas themselves were reduced to titular leaders, and remained under the authority of the Maratha nobles and the British East India Company.
  All the Peshwas during the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Sambhaji and Rajaram belonged to Deshastha Brahmin community. The first Peshwa was Moropant Pingle, who was appointed as the head of the Ashta Pradhan by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. The initial Peshwas were all ministers who served as the chief executives to the king. The later Peshwas held the highest administrative office and also controlled the Maratha confederacy. Under the Chitpavan Brahmin Bhat family, the Peshwas became the de facto hereditary administrators of the Confederacy.
context_section_description: The Maratha war of succession between Tara Bai and Shahu resulted in latter's victory and assumption of Maratha throne as Chhatrapati. In 1713, Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath (Bhat), as Peshwa. The appointment of Balaji's son, Baji Rao I, as Peshwa in 1719 by Shahu made the position hereditary in the Bhat family. Baji Rao proved his loyalty by controlling the feudal chieftains who wanted independence from the Maratha Empire. The rebellion of General Trimbak Rao Dabhade, the senapati (commander in chief), over Chauthai (revenue collection) of Gujarat is one example of such internal Maratha feuds. The followers of Baji and Trimbak clashed at the Battle of Bilhapur on April 1, 1731, and Trimbak was killed. In gratitude, Shahu gave the Peshwas and the Bhat family unchallenged control over Maratha empire.  who also appointed Baji Rao's son as Peshwa in 1740, gave considerable authority to the Peshwas to command the Maratha armies, and they responded well during his reigns.
  At the time of his death in 1749, Shahu made the Peshwas his successors under these conditions: Shivaji's descendants, who remained as the titular Raja of Satara, were called Swami (Marathi for the 'real owner') by the Peshwas who reported to them, and officially they were to seek guidance from the Raja. However, the Peshwa also became a ceremonial head of state after the battle of Panipat and the death of Madhavrao.
caption: Statue of Shrimant Peshwa Bajirao I, the second Peshwa from the Bhat family, outside Shaniwar Wada, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
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