ForumIAS LATEST
- Prelims Test Series (PTS) for Prelims 2027 starts 11th Oct. 2026 Click Here to know more →
- [Pre-order] Ethics Redbook 3rd Edition: Delivery starts from 10th October onwards Click Here to Read More →
- 21 Sept. | Forum Residential Coaching (FRC) for UPSC preparation Click Here to know more →
- 21 Sept. | GS Advance Program (GSAP) for UPSC 2027 Mains starts from 10th Oct. Click Here to Read More →
News: Peshwa Bajirao I, the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, was known for his military campaigns and expansion of the Maratha kingdom.
About Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I
- Bajirao I was the Peshwa of the Maratha confederacy from 1720 to 1740 during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu I.
- He served under Chhatrapati Shahu I and became known for his military successes and role in expanding the Maratha kingdom.
- Birth: Bajirao was born in Sinnar, near Nashik, into a Bhat family.
- Family: His father was Balaji Vishwanath, and his mother was Radhabai Barve.
- Becoming Peshwa: On 17 April 1720, Chhatrapati Shahu I nominated the 20-year-old Bajirao as Peshwa, succeeding his father despite objections from other chieftains.
- Military Achievements
- Record: Bajirao fought 41 battles in 20 years and emerged victorious in all of them.
- Major Campaigns
- Battle of Palkhed (1728): He defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad by relying on rapid cavalry movements and encircling the opposing forces.
- Battle of Dabhoi (1731): He fought the Dabhade clan in a dispute concerning the right to collect revenue from Gujarat.
- Invasion of Delhi (1737): He advanced towards the Mughal capital and compelled the Mughals to surrender territories, although he did not capture Delhi.
- Battle Tactics:
- Swift Cavalry: Bajirao was known for quick tactical manoeuvres and moving large numbers of cavalry at high speed.
- Strategic Mobility: His tactics involved swift and unpredictable movements, as demonstrated during the Palkhed campaign of 1727–28.
- Death: Bajirao contracted a virulent fever while encamped in Raverkhedi and died on 28 April 1740.
