Madhavrao I

Shrimant Peshwa Madhavrao I
Portrait of Madhavrao I by Bhoj Raj at the Yale Center for British Art c. 1763
9th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire
In office 23 June 1761 – 18 November 1772
Monarch	Rajaram II
Preceded by	Balaji Baji Rao
Succeeded by	Narayanrao
Personal details
Born	Madhavrao Bhat (1745-02-15)15 February 1745 Savanur, Savanur State (modern day Karnataka, India)
Died	18 November 1772(1772-11-18) (aged 27) Theur, Pune, Maratha Confederacy (modern day Pune district, Maharashtra, India)
Spouse	Ramabai ​ (m. 1758)​
Parents	Balaji Baji Rao (father) Gopikabai (mother)
Relatives	Vishwasrao (elder brother) Narayanrao (younger brother) Sadashivrao Bhau (uncle) Raghunathrao (uncle) Shamsher Bahadur I (uncle) Bajirao I (grandfather) Kashibai (grandmother)
Signature
Military service
Battles/wars	Maratha–Mysore wars Capture of Delhi (1771) Battle of Alegaon Battle of Rakshasbhuvan

Madhavrao I (February 15, 1745 – November 18, 1772), also known as Madhavrao Ballal Bhat (marathi: माधवराव पेशवे), was the ninth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, serving from 1761 until his death in 1772. He was the second son of Balaji Baji Rao and the grandson of Bajirao I. Madhavrao assumed the office of Peshwa at the age of sixteen following the Marathas' defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. His reign marked a period of political and administrative recovery known as the "Maratha Resurrection" during which the empire reasserted authority over territories lost following the Third Battle of Panipat.

Madhavrao restructured the administration, reduced corruption, and revived the empire’s finances. Under his leadership, the Marathas reasserted their authority over large parts of western and southern Indian subcontinent, notably the Carnatic region, Mysore, and Hyderabad. During his tenure, the Peshwa administration regained control over several regions through administrative reforms and military campaigns.

Despite constant internal challenges, particularly conflicts with his paternal uncle Raghunathrao; Madhavrao has been attributed with maintaining unity within the Maratha Confederacy through skillful diplomacy and statesmanship. He also encouraged trade, improved revenue collection, and implemented reforms to promote agricultural stability.

Historian R. C. Majumdar described him as one of the most effective Peshwas of the Maratha state.

Early life and ascendancy to Peshwa

Madhavrao I was the second son of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao, also known as Nanasaheb, and his wife Gopikabai. He was born in Savnur on 15 February 1745. He was the grandson of Bajirao I and Kashibai, and the younger brother of Vishwasrao and the elder brother of Narayanrao.

Madhavrao's early years were marked by the political turbulence that followed the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, during which his elder brother Vishwasrao and uncle Sadashivrao Bhau were killed, and his father Balaji Baji Rao died shortly afterward.

Following his father’s death, Madhavrao, then only sixteen years old was declared the next Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy on 21 June 1761. His paternal uncle Raghunathrao (also known as Raghoba Dada) initially served as regent and exercised considerable influence in the early years of his rule.

In 1753, Madhavrao was married to Ramabai, the daughter of Trimbakrao Bapusaheb Patwardhan, a respected Maratha noble from the Pathwardhan family. When Madhavrao died in 1772 after a prolonged illness, Ramabai chose to perform sati, immolating herself on his funeral pyre at Theur.

Disputes with Raghunathrao

Main article: Battle of Alegaon

On 22 August 1762, Raghunathrao, Madhavrao I’s uncle and former regent, allegedly fled to Vadgaon Maval, where he raised an army in rebellion against the Peshwa. To finance his campaign, Raghunathrao’s forces reportedly plundered nearby villages. In response to these developments, Madhavrao declared war on his uncle on 7 November 1762. However, he soon proposed a peace treaty in an effort to avoid prolonged civil conflict.

Raghunathrao initially agreed to the terms, but shortly after the treaty was signed, he broke the treaty and attacked Madhavrao's camp. Madhavrao was defeated in the Battle of Alegaon on 12 November 1762 and subsequently surrendered near Alegaon.

Following the surrender, Raghunathrao assumed control of the Peshwa administration with the assistance of Sakharam Bapu Bokil. He sought to strengthen his position by forming an alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad, but this alliance proved short-lived, as the Nizam began encroaching upon Maratha territories. Recognizing the growing threat, Madhavrao appealed to his uncle to take action, but when diplomacy failed, he resumed command of the Maratha forces.

Under Madhavrao’s leadership, the Peshwa army marched toward Aurangabad on 7 March 1763, targeting the Nizam’s domains. After several months of maneuvering, the opposing forces met at the Battle of Rakshasbhuvan near Aurangabad on 10 August 1763. The Nizam’s army suffered heavy losses, and he was forced to retreat, marking a decisive victory for Madhavrao and a significant step in restoring Maratha authority in the Deccan.

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  A handwritten letter by Madhavrao I
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  Continued letter by Madhavrao I

The war against Hyder Ali and Mysore

See also: Maratha–Mysore War

On January 1764, Madhavrao I reorganized his forces and launched a renewed campaign against Hyder Ali of Mysore. This expedition was commanded by several prominent Maratha generals, including Gopalrao Patwardhan, Murrarao Ghorpade, Vinchurkar, and Naro Shankar. Although Raghunathrao was invited to participate in the campaign, he declined and instead withdrew to Nashik. The campaign lasted for nearly a year and extended across large parts of the former Sira Subah in present-day Karnataka.

Despite Madhavrao’s determined efforts, Hyder Ali managed to evade capture. However, the Peshwa achieved significant territorial gains. In November 1764, with the assistance of Gopalrao and Anand Rao Patwardhan, the Marathas captured the important Dharwad Fort leaving only Bankapura under Hyder Ali’s control. Madhavrao’s forces also defeated Hyder Ali in several other engagements, including the Battle of Jadi Hanvatti and the Battle of Rattihalli.

As the campaign continued, Madhavrao sought additional support from Raghunathrao, but his uncle instead entered into a separate peace agreement with Hyder Ali. Nevertheless, in 1767, he launched a second expedition against Mysore. Supported by defectors from Hyder Ali’s camp, Madhavrao won notable victories at Sira and Madhugiri. During the siege of Madhugiri, he discovered Queen Virammaji, the last ruler of the Keladi Nayaka Kingdom, and her young son, who had been imprisoned by Hyder Ali. Madhavrao arranged for their release and sent them to Pune for protection. The Marathas subsequently incorporated the Sira Subah into their dominions, consolidating their authority over large parts of southern India.

Alliance with Nizam

Memorial commemorating Madhavrao I at Peshwe Park in Pune, India

During Madhavrao’s reign, the Maratha Empire continued its efforts to reassert control and expand its territories in northern Indian subcontinent. Raghunathrao, along with the Holkars and Shindes (Scindias), led a northern expedition toward Delhi to extend Maratha influence in the region.

Meanwhile, Madhavrao sought to consolidate the empire’s position in the Deccan by reconciling with his former adversary, Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II. The Nizam also expressed willingness to improve relations with the Marathas, and the two leaders met at Kurumkhed on 5 February 1766, marking the beginning of a period of relative peace between the two powers.

Relations with the East India Company

On 3 December 1767, a representative of the East India Company, Thomas Mostyn, arrived at Pune with a proposal to establish British military presence in Vasai and Sashti in exchange for the territories of Bidnur and Sonda. Madhavrao, however, declined the offer, remaining wary of British ambitions and their growing interference in Indian political affairs.

Raghunathrao faces house arrest

Although Raghunathrao led an expedition northward in an attempt to expand the Maratha Empire, the campaign did not achieve its intended success. Upon returning to Anandvalli, Raghunathrao once again sought to consolidate power by forming alliances with certain generals and officials to challenge his nephew, Madhavrao I. His repeated efforts to undermine Madhavrao’s authority created significant instability within the Peshwa administration.

In response to Raghunathrao's maneuvers, Madhavrao mobilized forces on June 10, 1768 and confronted Raghunathrao. After a brief but determined campaign, Raghunathrao was defeated, captured, and placed under house arrest at Shaniwar Wada, the Peshwa residence in Pune. His key advisor and minister, Sakharam Bapu Bokil, was also detained.

This decisive action allowed Madhavrao to reassert his authority over the Maratha administration. It also sent a clear message to other factions within the empire that attempts to challenge the young Peshwa would not be tolerated. Following Raghunathrao’s confinement, Madhavrao focused on consolidating internal governance; strengthening administrative institutions; and continuing military campaigns to recover Maratha territories lost after the Third Battle of Panipat.

The capture of Raghunathrao marked a turning point in Madhavrao’s reign, as it neutralized a major internal threat and enabled him to pursue both northern and southern campaigns without fear of immediate internal rebellion.

Northern campaign

See also: Capture of Delhi (1771)

In 1769, Peshwa Madhavrao I sent a large Maratha army under the command of Ramchandra Ganesh Kanade and Visaji Krushna Biniwale to recover territories lost in the north following the Third Battle of Panipat. They were joined by prominent generals Mahadji Shinde and Tukoji Rao Holkar. The Maratha forces marched towards Udaipur, where the local Rajput rulers agreed to pay a tribute of 60 lakh rupees. On 5 April 1770, the Marathas defeated the Jats of Bharatpur.

In October 1770, the Marathas vanquished Najib Khan Rohilla, one of the main opponents of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat. In November 1771, Visaji Krushna Biniwale was appointed in charge of the Northern Front of the Marathas by Peshwa Madhavrao I. In February 1772, Biniwale and Mahadji Shinde defeated the Rohillas of Rohilkhand at Shukratal by defeating Zabita Khan. They avenged Panipat by desecrating Najib Khan’s tomb, looting artillery and wealth, and recovering an additional tribute of 40 lakh rupees. Mahadji Shinde distinguished himself as a military leader during this campaign.

During the northern campaign, Biniwale persuaded the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II to return to Delhi in 1771 and reclaim his throne. Peshwa Madhavrao I was so pleased with Biniwale’s victories in Rohilkhand that he mentioned in his will that golden flowers should be showered upon him upon his arrival at Pune’s borders.

The Maratha capture of Delhi in 1771, led by Mahadji Shinde, restored Mughal emperor Shah Alam II to the throne at the Red Fort under Maratha protection. The Marathas captured Delhi from Najib Khan’s son Zabita Khan, who had been appointed by the Afghans. This campaign reestablished Maratha supremacy in northern India and recovered much of the territory lost after the Third Battle of Panipat.

Shah Alam II, who had spent six years in Allahabad Fort, was escorted to Delhi under Maratha protection. During their stay, the Marathas constructed two temples in Allahabad, including the well-known Alopi Devi Mandir.

In January 1772, Shah Alam II, perceiving Maratha territorial ambitions, ordered his general Najaf Khan to expel them from Delhi. In response, Tukoji Rao Holkar and Visaji Krushna Biniwale attacked and defeated Mughal forces. The Marathas received imperial sanads for Kora and Allahabad. They then attempted to extend influence over Oudh, but faced resistance from Shuja-ud-Daula and the British. In the ensuing Battle of Ramghat, the Marathas initially faced setbacks, but the sudden death of Peshwa Madhavrao I and the civil war in Pune over his succession forced the Marathas to withdraw.

Death

Cremation of Madhavrao I and sati of his wife Ramabai

In June 1770, the Peshwas planned a third campaign against Hyder Ali, but Madhavrao I’s health began to decline due to tuberculosis at the age of 27, also referred to in contemporary sources as "Raj-Yakshma" or the "prince of diseases".

Madhavrao was forced to return from Miraj as the disease progressed. An English physician was consulted, and Madhavrao followed the recommended treatment, but his condition did not improve. He decided to spend his final days at the Ganesha Chintamani Temple in Theur. Historian James Grant Duff noted that "the early death of Peshwa Madhav Rao in 1772 was more fatal to the Maratha Empire than the Third Battle of Panipat."

Madhavrao I died on 18 November 1772, around 8 a.m., at the temple premises of Chintamani in Theur. Many thousands attended the funeral to pay their last respects. He was cremated on the banks of the nearby river, approximately half a mile from the temple. A small stone memorial stands at the site today.

His wife, Ramabai, committed sati during the cremation.

Character and legacy

Madhavrao I was widely admired by his contemporaries and subjects for his intelligence, humility, and effective governance. He was known for his openness, shrewd decisions, and efforts to resolve internal disputes within the Maratha Confederacy. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire recovered from the devastating losses of the Third Battle of Panipat and regained supremacy in northern Indian subcontinent.

He personally participated in military campaigns and administrative reforms, earning the loyalty and respect of generals such as Mahadaji Shinde, Tukoji Rao Holkar, and Visaji Krushna Biniwale. Madhavrao’s diplomatic acumen was evident in his ability to balance relations with the Nizam of Hyderabad and navigate the growing influence of the East India Company without ceding significant control over Maratha territories.

Assessing the impact of his premature death, historian James Grant Duff eulogized:

“And the plains of Panipat were not more fatal to the Maratha Empire than the early end of this excellent prince...”

In popular culture

• In the 1987 Marathi TV series Swami, Madhavrao's character was portrayed by Ravindra Mannkani.
• In the 1994 Hindi TV series The Great Maratha, Madhavrao's character was portrayed by Rahul Awasthee.
• Alok Rajwade portrayed Madhavrao in the 2014 Indian Marathi-language historical drama, Rama Madhav
• Chinmay Patwardhan plays Madhavrao in the Indian Marathi-language television serial Swamini which airs on Colors Marathi.

See also

• Mahadaji Pant Guruji
• Maratha Peshwa and Generals from Bhat Family
• Maratha emperors

Sources

• Rice, Lewis (1897b), Mysore: A Gazetteer Compiled for the Government, Volume II, Mysore, By Districts, Westminster: Archibald Constable and Company. Pp. xii, 581
• Ranjit Desai, Swami (26th Edition March 2007, published by Mehta Publishers, Marathi Literature).
• Govind Sakharam Sardesai, A New History of Marathas
• James Grant Duff, History of the Marathas London, Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green (1826)
• Maharashtra Times, माधवराव पेशव्यांचे चित्र आले उजेडात
• श्रीमंत माधवराव पेशवा:व्यक्ति आणि कार्य, लेखक: गुरुप्रसाद कानिटकर, पराग पिंपळखरे

Further reading

• Swami, a Marathi book written by Ranjit Desai on the life of Madhavrao.
• "The Mastery of Hindustan - Triumphs & Travels of Madhavrao Peshwa", a book written by Uday S. Kulkarni on the life and tenure of Madhavrao Peshwa. (ISBN 978-8192076935; published in 2022)
• "Pratishodh Panipatcha", a Marathi novel written by Kaustubh Kasture on the life of Madhavrao Peshwa. (published in 2019)