Maratha Empire - Quiz

Sambhaji Bhosale (May 14, 1657-March 11, 1689) was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Maratha Empire and his first wife Maharani Saibai. He was successor of the realm after his father's death. Sambhaji's rule was largely shaped by the ongoing wars between the Maratha kingdom and Mughal Empire as well as other neighbouring powers such as the Siddis, Mysore and the Portuguese in Goa. He ruled for 9 years. Sambhaji was captured, tortured and executed by the Mughals, and succeeded by his brother Rajaram Chhatrapati.

Balaji returned in triumph from Delhi to Satara, having also secured the release after decades of Mughal captivity, the mother (Yesubai), wife (Savitribai) and half-brother (Madan Singh) of Shahu. Weary from his labors and the tiresome journey back from the imperial capital, Balaji Vishwanath's health began to fail. In October 1719 he obtained leave from Shahu to retire to the village of Saswad near Pune that had been granted by Shahu to the Peshwa. Balaji Vishwanath died on 12 April 1720. He was succeeded by his elder son, the celebrated Baji Rao I, who was appointed Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahu.

Baji Rao (18 August 1700 - 28 April 1740) was a general of the Maratha Empire in India. He served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to the fifth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu from 1720 until his death. He is also known by the name Bajirao Ballal.

Shamsher Bahadur I (1734-14 January 1761), also known as Krishna Rao, was a Maratha ruler of the dominion of Banda in northern India. He was the son of Bajirao I and Mastani.

Shamsher Bahadur was the son of Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I and his second wife Mastani. Bajirao wanted Shamsher Bahadur to be accepted as a Hindu Brahmin, but because of his mother's Muslim ancestry, the priests refused to conduct the Hindu upanayana ceremony for him. His education and military training were conducted in line with other sons of the Peshwa royal family, although Maratha nobles and chiefs didn't recognize Mastani as a legitimate wife of the Peshwa. After the death of both Bajirao and Mastani in 1740, Shamsher was taken into the household of Kashibai, Bajirao's first wife, and raised as one of her own.

To effectively manage the large empire, Madhav Rao gave semi-autonomy to the strongest of the knights, creating a confederacy of Maratha states.

Balaji Vishwanath helped Shahu to become the Maratha ruler after his release from Mughal captivity and was appointed as the Peshwa. He and his descendants played a key role in the expansion of Maratha rule.

Shivaji established Raigad as the capital of the Maratha Empire after he established Hindavi Swarajya or self-rule of Hindus. Raigad was a strategic location and was well-suited for defense against enemy attacks.

The Gaekwads, Holkars, Scindias, and Bhonsales were the strongest of the knights who were given semi-autonomy by Madhav Rao. They became known as the Gaekwads of Baroda, the Holkars of Indore and Malwa, the Scindias of Gwalior and Ujjain, and the Bhonsales of Nagpur.

The text states, "His forces conquered modern day Haryana."

According to the paragraph, Mahadji Shinde intervened and killed Ghulam Kadir, who had deposed and blinded Shah Alam II, placing a puppet on the Delhi throne. Mahadji then restored Shah Alam II to the throne and acted as his protector.