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Maratha Confederacy, a Hindu state that dominated much of India, especially Rajputana, including Mewar, in the mid-1700s. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb temporarily subdued it in the late 1680s.
Maratha Wars, three wars in which the British fought the Maratha clans that had conquered and financially crippled much of Rajputana.
1st war (1774-1782), with an interlude (1776-1778); commenced with British support for Ragunath Rao's bid for the Maratha peshwaship (chief ministry of the confederacy). This venture met with disaster at Wadgaon, January 1779 and was ended by the Treaty of Salbai (May, 1782); the sole British gain was the island of Salsette, and other smaller islands adjacent to Bombay. By 1803 most of the rest of Rajputana was under the domain of the Marathas of India's central Arabian coast.
2nd war (1803-1805), caused by the defeat of Peshwa BAJI RAO II by the HOLKARS and the former's acceptance of British protection by the Treaty of Bassein, December, 1802. The SINDHIA and Bhonsle families contested this, but they were defeated, respectively, at Laswari and Delhi by Lord Lake and at Assaye and Argaon by Sir Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington). Holkar then joined in, and after his first successes the Marathas were left with a free hand in central India and Rajasthan.
3rd war (1817-1818), the result of an invasion of Maratha territory in the course of operations against Pindari robber bands by the British governor general, Lord Hastings. The Peshwa rose against the British (November, 1817), followed by the Bhonsle and Holkar chiefs, while Sindhia remained neutral. Defeat by the British was swift, followed by the pensioning of the Peshwa and the annexation of his territories, thus resulting in driving the Marathas from Mewar and Rajputana, the destruction of the Maratha confederacy, giving the British total supremacy in India.
Marathas, also spelled Mahrattas, warlike Hindu warriors from the region south of Mewar that borders India's west coast, now Maharashtra State. Having survived centuries of countering subjugation by Islam, Mewar suddenly found itself the victim of a massive Hindu invasion from these southern clans. Although the early Maratha freedom-fighter SHIVAJI pledged to free India from foreign domination, namely the Muslims who ruled from the north, his descendants failed to continue his ideal. Weakness forced the collapse of central control of the Maratha State. Maratha power revived under Shivaji's grandson Shahu who confided power to the Brahman Bhat family. They became hereditary peshwas (chief ministers), ruling from Poone (Poona). Shahu also decided to expand northward with armies under the Peshwas' control. Individual chieftains emerged, imposed taxes, and created their own armies mainly from mercenaries. They were not interested in forging a Hindu empire; they were greedy for power and loot. When they began sweeping into Mewar in the early 1700s, the general reaction from those under attack was shock: the population was being called upon to defend their families and property, not against alien Muslims, as had been happening since the 12th century, but against fellow Hindus once more. Despite continual calls to arms, many Mewar families preferred to lock themselves away in fortresses throughout the Aravallis. Fields were left uncultivated, and trade collapsed. Meeting little opposition, the Marathas began to strip the State of its wealth, not actually annexing land but demanding outrageous payment for not annexing it. These terrorist hordes swarmed through Rajputana to Delhi and into the Deccan, draining their victims of their life-blood in effective hit-and-run raids. With the Mughal Empire in ruins, the Maratha bands began confiscating their treasures as well.
Only two years into the reign of Maharana JAGAT SINGH II (1734-1751), Mewar suffered a humiliating defeat by the Marathas under the leadership of the new local Peshwa BAJI RAO I (1720-1740). Ongoing payments of tribute soon helped to destroy Mewar's economic base. The other contributing factor was the free spending of the Maharana himself. Even Jagat Singh's desperate attempt at forming a Rajput triple alliance with Marwar and Amber failed to stop the widening power of the Maratha clans. The atrocities and the crippling tribute payments would continue for the next four decades during the reigns of Maharanas PRATAP SINGH II (1751-1753), RAJ SINGH II (1754-1761), and ARI SINGH II (1761-1773). The latter, unable to meet the Marathas' unrelenting demands for tribute money, began giving their various warlords grants of Mewar land in lieu of tribute money. Soon the leading Maratha families, the SINDHIAS and HOLKARS, also the Bhonsles, and Gaekwads, extended their conquests in northern and central India and became more difficult to control, setting themselves up as independent rulers of the lands they had either annexed or been given. Though the Marathas united on occasion, much of the time they fought each other for what they could get. One example of this was in 1768 when members of Mewar's CHOONDAWAT clan tried to help the Pretender, Kunwar RATAN SINGH, wrest the throne from Maharana Ari Singh II. They hired the forces of one group of Marathas, while the Maharana not only used mercenaries from Sind, but also hired another force of Marathas to help him in his battle (see UJJAIN, BATTLE OF). When the BRITISH Government in India took over control of the disgraced British East India Company in 1772, they established their first Governor General, Warren Hastings, with his headquarters in Calcutta. By this time almost all other competing European colonists had been driven from the subcontinent. The main task of the British was to subdue the Maratha hordes in whatever way possible. As the 1700s were drawing to a close, the Rajputs themselves also decided it was time to make a concerted effort to rid Rajputana of these southern invaders (who were also known as Southrons). But, corrupted financially as they were, future prospects for success were bleak. Then the British moved into Rajputana (see MARATHA WARS).
Nevertheless, the Marathas continued their bold oppression. In 1791 during the reign of Maharana BHIM SINGH (1778-1828), the Maratha Mahadaji SINDHIA sent a strong force into Mewar under an able and ambitious general called Ambaji. He remained in Mewar for about eight years, again reaping its revenues and amassing huge wealth. Ambaji, as the representative of the powerful Sindhia was virtually the unopposed ruler of Mewar. However, in some return for this, his suppression of internal feuds and exterior aggressions gave Mewar some degree of tranquillity. It was in 1796 that Cadet James TOD was first introduced to Maharana Bhim Singh when his superior was attached as ambassador to the Court of the Maratha, Sindhia. At the time, the Marathas were busily engaged in pillaging Mewar under the very noses of the representatives of the British Government. After winning the third Maratha War (1817-1818), the British pensioned off the Peshwa and annexed his territories, and drove the Marathas back to their southern homeland, thus completing British supremacy in India.
Marchya Kheri (Solanki), a jagir that Maharana Bhim Singh (1778-1828) gave to Bhoop Singh, along with the title of 'Rao'.
Genealogy: Bhoop Singh; Madhav Singh; Bakhtawar Singh; Vijai Singh.
mardana, (Hindi) the men's quarters in a dwelling, also the men occupying it.
Mardana Mahal, the men's palaces, City Palace, Udaipur. Previously the Maharana lived here; today it is part of the museum.
marga, (Sanskrit) path; in Hinduism the path, or way, of reaching salvation.
Markets in Udaipur (see individual entries for details). Ashwani Bazaar; Bada Bazaar; Bapu Bazaar; City Palace Museum Market; Dhan Mandi; Moti Chauhatta; Mochi Wara; Nehru Bazaar; New Bohra Centre; Subji Mandi.
Marriage taboos. The Rajput community being close-knit socially, the choice of brides or bridegrooms was very limited. Brahmans could marry only Brahmans, a Rajput would not marry a Maratha, and so on. This taboo applied even within the Rajput society: a man or woman of one clan was not allowed to marry a person of the opposite sex from that same clan. For example, a Sisodia male could not marry a Sisodia female but had to choose a bride from another clan, such as the Jhalas or Rathores, and so on. (The taboo still applies.)
Marvel (Marwal) Water World (Waterpark), opposite the Udaipur Dairy at Goverdhan Vilas, south of the city on National Highway No.8; opposite Goverdhan Sagar. It features several attractions, including a dry land slide, a children's slide, a splash pool for adults, a children's pool with animal floats, a double loop leisure channel, restaurant, aquarium, food outlets, amphitheatre and waterfall, etc.; open November-February 10 a.m.-5 p.m., March-October 10 a.m.-7.30 p.m..
Marwar, a state of Rajputana; the immediate western neighbour of Mewar; it became the State of JODHPUR, known today after its capital. Its ruling dynasty was the RATHORE family.
Marwari, pertaining to the State of MARWAR.
Marwari (Marwaries), a merchant class of businessmen or commercial entrepreneurs from Marwar, Mewar and other parts of Rajasthan. They also live outside Rajasthan in other parts of India as a migrant group, mainly in southern and eastern India. Kinship binds these traders together.
Maryara Cave, Kumbhalgarh, a large natural cavern in the Aravalli Hills near Kumbhalgarh between Haldighati and Gogunda. Because it is well hidden, Maharana PRATAP SINGH I stored his force's arms and munitions here during the Battle of HALDIGHATI (1576).
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