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{{short description|Peshwa of Maratha Empire from 1761 to 1772}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{peacock|date=September 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2026}}
{{copyedit|date=March 2026}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = ''[[Peshwa|Shrimant Peshwa]]''
| name = Madhavrao I
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Madhavrao I Peshwa.png
| caption = Portrait of Madhavrao I by Bhoj Raj at the [[Yale Center for British Art]]
{{Circa|1763}}
| office1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|33x30px]] 9th [[Peshwa]] of the [[Maratha Empire]]
| term_start1 = 23 June 1761
| term_end1 = 18 November 1772
| monarch1 = [[Rajaram II]]
| predecessor1 = [[Balaji Baji Rao]]
| successor1 = [[Narayanrao]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1745|2|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Savanur]], [[Savanur State]] (modern day [[Karnataka]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1772|11|18|1745|2|15|df=yes}}
| profession =
| death_place = [[Theur]], [[Pune]], [[Maratha Confederacy]] (modern day [[Pune district]], Maharashtra, India)
| spouse = {{Marriage|[[Ramabai Peshwa|Ramabai]]|1758}}
| birth_name = Madhavrao Bhat
| relatives = [[Vishwasrao]] (elder brother) [[Narayanrao]] (younger brother) [[Sadashivrao Bhau]] (uncle) [[Raghunathrao]] (uncle) [[Shamsher Bahadur I (Krishna Rao)|Shamsher Bahadur I]] (uncle) [[Bajirao I]] (grandfather) [[Kashibai]] (grandmother)
| father = [[Balaji Baji Rao]]
| mother = [[Gopikabai]]
| residence = [[Shaniwar Wada]], [[Pune]], [[Maratha Confederacy]]
| signature = Handwriting of Madhavrao I.png
| battles = {{tree list}}
* [[Maratha–Mysore wars]]
** [[Capture of Delhi (1771)]]
** [[Battle of Alegaon]]
** Battle of Rakshasbhuvan
{{tree list/end}}
}}
'''Madhavrao I''' (15 February 1745 – 18 November 1772), also known as '''Madhavrao Ballal Bhat''' (''[[Marathi language|marathi]]: माधवराव पेशवे''), was the ninth [[Peshwa]] of the [[Maratha Empire]], ruling 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 [[Maratha Empire|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Madhavrao I and Maratha Resurrection|url=https://history-maps.com/story/Maratha-Confederacy/event/Madhavrao-I-and-Maratha-Resurrection|website=HistoryMaps|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref>

Madhavrao restructured the administration, reduced corruption, and revived the empire’s finances. Under his leadership, the [[Marathas]] reasserted their authority over several regions of [[Western India|western]] and southern [[Indian subcontinent]], notably the [[Carnatic region]], [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]], and [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]] through administrative reforms and military campaigns.

Madhavrao has been credited for maintaining unity within the Maratha [[Confederation|Confederacy]] through diplomacy and political negotiation. He promoted trade, sought to improve revenue collection, and introduced measures aimed at supporting agricultural stability during his time as the prime minister.

==Early life and ascendancy to Peshwa==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2025}}

Madhavrao I was the second son of [[Peshwa]] [[Balaji Baji Rao|Balaji Bajirao]], also known as Nanasaheb, and his wife [[Gopikabai]]. He was born in [[Savnur]] on 15 February 1745.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-15 |title=Reviver of the Maratha Empire: Peshwa Madhavrao I |url=https://hindupost.in/history/reviver-of-the-maratha-empire-peshwa-madhavrao-i/#
|access-date=2025-03-18 |website=hindupost.in |language=en-US}}</ref> He was the grandson of [[Bajirao I]] and [[Kashibai]], as 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. His father Balaji Baji Rao died shortly afterward.

Following his father’s death, Madhavrao, while only sixteen years old, was declared the next Peshwa of the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]] on 21 June 1761.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=Ramesh Chandra |title=The Maratha Supremacy |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |year=1991 |edition=2nd |location=Mumbai |pages=201}}</ref> His paternal uncle [[Raghunathrao]] (also known as Raghoba Dada) initially served as regent and exercised considerable influence in the early years of his rule.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

In 1753, Madhavrao married Ramabai, the daughter of Trimbakrao Bapusaheb Patwardhan, a respected Maratha noble from the [[Patwardhan dynasty|Pathwardhan]] family. When Madhavrao died in 1772 after a prolonged illness, Ramabai chose to perform [[sati (practice)|sati]], immolating herself on his funeral pyre at [[Theur]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sardesai |first=Govind Sakharam |title=New History of the Marathas, Volume III: Sunset over Maharashtra (1772–1848) |publisher=Phoenix Publications |year=1948 |page=10}}</ref>

==Disputes with Raghunath Rao==
{{Main|Battle of Alegaon|}}
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2022}}
On 22 August 1762, Raghunath Rao moved to [[Vadgaon Maval]] and assembled an army in opposition to the Peshwa. To finance his campaign, Raghunath Rao’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.

Raghunath Rao 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peshwa Madhav Rao [1745–1772]: Maratha–Mysore Wars, Rohilkhand Campaign, Hyder Ali |url=https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/peshwa-madhav-rao-1745-1772/
|access-date=2025-03-12 |website=BYJU’S |language=en}}</ref>

Following the surrender, Raghunath Rao 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. Recognising the growing threat, Madhavrao appealed to his uncle to take action, but when diplomacy failed, he resumed command of the Maratha forces.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

Under Madhavrao’s leadership, the Peshwa army marched toward [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=SarDesai |first1=D.R. |title=India: The Definitive History |date=2007 |publisher=Westview Press |location=Boulder, Colo. |isbn=9780813343525 |pages=194–195 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UbpiBAAAQBAJ&q=peshwa+madhavrao&pg=PR11}}
</ref> The Nizam’s army suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat, marking a decisive victory for Madhavrao and a significant step in restoring Maratha authority in the Deccan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mallik |first=Samar Kumar |title=Adhunik Bharoter Dersho Bochor (1707–1857) |publisher=New West Bengal Publishers |year=2018 |edition=18th |location=Kolkata |pages=82 |language=Bengali}}</ref><gallery>
File:Madhavrao Peshwa's handwritten letter 01.jpg|A handwritten letter by Madhavrao I
File:Madhavrao Peshwa's handwritten letter 02.jpg|Continued letter by Madhavrao I
</gallery>

==The war against Hyder Ali and Mysore==
{{See also|Maratha–Mysore War|Battle of Jadi Hanwati|Battle of Rattihalli}}

On January 1764, Madhavrao I reorganised his forces and launched a renewed campaign against [[Hyder Ali]] Of [[Mysore]]. This expedition was commanded by several prominent Maratha generals, including Gopalrao Patwardhan, [[Murarirao Ghorpade]], Vinchurkar, and Naro Shankar. Although Raghunath Rao 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]].

Hyder Ali avoided capture during the campaign, though the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] gained territory in the region. In November 1764, with the assistance of Gopalrao and Anand Rao Patwardhan, the Marathas captured the 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 Raghunath Rao, but his uncle instead entered into a separate peace agreement with [[Hyder Ali]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-17 |title=Peshwa Madhav Rao – The Man Who Revived the Maratha Power |url=https://ambiladharma.com/2023/09/peshwa-madhav-rao-resurgence-of-great-maratha-empire-after-3rd-battle-of-panipat.html
|access-date=2023-09-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1767, Madhavrao launched a second expedition against Mysore. Supported by defectors from [[Hyder Ali]]’s camp, Madhavrao won notable victories at [[Sira, Karnataka|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.<ref name="ReferenceA">Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005). ''Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707–1813''. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p.458.</ref> The Marathas subsequently incorporated the [[Sira Subah]] into their dominions, consolidating their authority over large parts of southern India.<ref name="rice-1897b-166">{{harvnb|Rice|1897b|p=166}}</ref>

==Alliance with Nizam==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2017}}

[[File:Madhavrao Peshwa.JPG|thumb|250px|Memorial commemorating Madhavrao I at Peshwe Park in [[Pune]], India|left]]

During Madhavrao’s reign, the Maratha Empire continued its efforts to reassert control and expand its territories in northern Indian subcontinent. Raghunath Rao, along with the [[House of Holkar|Holkars]] and [[Shinde|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]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=History of India. Part III: Modern India.|url=https://doi.org/10.2307/3035476|journal=Pacific Affairs|date=March 1956|issn=0030-851X|pages=87|volume=29|issue=1|doi=10.2307/3035476|first=Holden|last=Furber|first2=K. A. Nilakanta|last2=Sastri|url-access=subscription}}</ref> 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 [[Salsette Island|Sashti]] in exchange for the territories of [[Bidnur]] and [[Sonda, Karnataka|Sonda]], but the offer was declined by Madhavrao.<ref>{{cite book |author=Anil Chandra Banerjee |title=Peshwa Madhav Rao I |publisher=A. Mukherjee & Bros |date=1943 |page=106 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N3tCAAAAIAAJ}}
</ref>

==Raghunath Rao faces house arrest==
Although [[Raghunathrao|Raghunath Rao]] led an expedition northward in an attempt to expand the Maratha Empire, the campaign did not achieve its intended success. Upon returning to Anandvalli, Raghunath Rao 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 Raghunath Rao's maneuvers, Madhavrao mobilised forces on June 10, 1768 and confronted Raghunath Rao. Raghunath Rao was defeated, captured, and placed under house arrest at the [[Shaniwar Wada]]. 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 Raghunath Rao’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 Raghunath Rao marked a turning point in Madhavrao’s reign, as it neutralised a major internal threat and enabled him to pursue both northern and southern campaigns without fear of immediate internal rebellion.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=A History of the Maratha People. By C. A. Kincaid and D. B. Parasnis. 8½ × 5½, pp. xi + 503, 17 ills., 3 maps. London: Oxford University Press, 1931. 16''s''.|url=https://doi.org/10.1017/s0035869x00154383|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society|date=October 1932|issn=1356-1863|pages=1062–1064|volume=64|issue=4|doi=10.1017/s0035869x00154383|last=R. E. E.|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==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, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]].

In October 1770, the Marathas defeated [[Najib Khan]] [[Rohilla]], one of the primary opponents of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat. In November 1771, [[Visaji Krushna Biniwale]] was appointed in charge of the Maratha Northern Front by Peshwa Madhavrao I. In February 1772, Biniwale and Mahadji Shinde defeated the [[Rohilla]]s of Rohilkhand led by Zabita Khan at Shukratal. They desecrated Najib Khan’s tomb, looted artillery and an additional tribute of 40 lakh rupees. Mahadji Shinde emerged as an important military leader during this campaign.<ref>Rathod, N. G. (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. Sarup & Sons.</ref>

During the northern campaign, Biniwale persuaded the Mughal Emperor [[Shah Alam II]] to return to Delhi in 1771 and reclaim his throne.<ref>Duff, James Grant (1873). A History of the Mahrattas. Times of India. p. 350.</ref> Pleased with Biniwale’s victories in Rohilkhand, Madhavrao reportedly stated in his will that golden flowers should be showered upon Biniwale 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.<ref>Kadiyan, Chand Singh (2019). "Panipat in History: A Study of Inscriptions." Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 64: 403–419.</ref><ref>Rathod, N. G. (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. Sarup & Sons. p. 8.</ref> The Marathas captured Delhi from Najib Khan’s son Zabita Khan, who had been appointed by the [[Afghans]]. This campaign re-established 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 [[Alopi Devi Mandir]].

In January 1772, Shah Alam II, perceiving Maratha territorial ambitions, ordered his general [[Mirza Najaf Khan|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 ''[[sanad]]s'' 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 were forced to withdraw due to the sudden death of Peshwa Madhavrao I and the civil war in Pune over his succession.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

==Death==
[[File:The Sati of Ramabai.jpg|thumb|250px|Cremation of Madhavrao I and sati of his wife [[Ramabai Peshwa|Ramabai]]]]

In June 1770, the Peshwas planned a third campaign against Hyder Ali, but at the age of 27 Madhavrao I’s health began to decline due to [[tuberculosis]],{{cn|date=March 2026}}{{or|date=March 2026}} also referred to in contemporary sources as "''Raj-Yakshma''" or the "prince of diseases".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-20 |title=Concept of Disease in Ayurveda – Ayurvedic Disease Synonyms |url=https://www.siddhiyoga.com/ayurveda/treatment/disease-according-to-ayurveda
|website=siddhiyoga.com |access-date=2025-03-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>

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 spent his final days at the [[Chintamani Temple, Theur|Ganesha Chintamani Temple]] in [[Theur]]. Historian James Grant Duff argued that the death of Madhavrao I had a more significant impact on the Maratha Empire's decline than the defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Madhavrao I died on 18 November 1772, around 8 a.m., at the temple premises of Chintamani in Theur. His funeral was attended by thousands 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 was laid there.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} His wife, [[Ramabai Peshwa|Ramabai]], committed [[Sati (practice)|''sati'']] during the cremation.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

==Character and legacy==
Contemporary accounts often describe Madhavrao I as having focused on administrative efficiency and internal stability. 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.

Historian R. C. Majumdar described him as one of the most effective Peshwas of the Maratha state.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

==In popular culture==
* In the 1987 [[Marathi language|Marathi]] TV series ''Swami'', Madhavrao's character was portrayed by [[Ravindra Mankani|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]]

==Further reading==
* ''Swami'', a Marathi book written by [[Ranjit Desai]] on the life of Madhavrao.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bookganga.com/eBooks/Books/details/5158042450242834250?BookName=Swami |title = स्वामी-Swami by Ranjeet Desai - Mehta Publishing House - BookGanga.com}}</ref><ref>''Swami'', Mehta Publishing House {{ISBN|978-817-766-644-1}}</ref>
* ''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)<ref>{{cite book| title=Buy The Mastery of Hindustan – Triumphs & Travails of Madhavrao Peshwa Book Online at Low Prices in India | id={{ASIN|8192076938|country=in}}}}</ref>
* ''Pratishodh Panipatcha'', a Marathi novel written by Kaustubh Kasture on the life of Madhavrao Peshwa. (published in 2019)<ref>{{cite web | title=Pratishodha Panipatcha | website=BookGanga.com | url=https://www.bookganga.com/ebooks/Books/details/5350184858427366306?BookName=Pratishodha%20Panipatcha | access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{Citation|last=Rice|first=Lewis|authorlink=Lewis Rice|title=Mysore: A Gazetteer Compiled for the Government, Volume II, Mysore, By Districts|year = 1897b|publisher=Westminster: Archibald Constable and Company. Pp. xii, 581|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FR1CAAAAIAAJ}}
* [[Ranjit Desai]], ''Swami'' (26th Edition March 2007, published by Mehta Publishers, Marathi Literature).
* Govind Sakharam Sardesai, ''A New History of Marathas''
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/britishraj/Duff.html James Grant Duff, ''History of the Marathas'' London, Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green (1826)]
* [http://m.maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/pune/madhavrao-peshve-drawings/articleshow/50690281.cms ''Maharashtra Times'', ''माधवराव पेशव्यांचे चित्र आले उजेडात'']
* [https://www.amazon.in/dp/9390129028/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_BTPK3WNAQ04XM3JTRPXC श्रीमंत माधवराव पेशवा:व्यक्ति आणि कार्य, लेखक: गुरुप्रसाद कानिटकर, पराग पिंपळखरे]

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{{Peshawe family}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madhavrao 01}}
[[Category:Peshwa dynasty]]
[[Category:People from the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:1745 births]]
[[Category:1772 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Indian military leaders]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Pune district]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:Maratha generals]]
[[Category:People from Pune]]

Madhavrao I - Revision history

MonteZaleski33 at 19:19, 28 March 2026