Marathas ( Cast )

Different Maratha (also called as Rastriks or Maha-rathis or Mahrattas) rulers during Medieval period (before 12th century) include [[Satavahana]] and [[Rashtrakuta]]. They re-united into historical prominence under the leadership of [[Chhatrapati Shivaji]] in the 17th century. Shivaji Maharaj, born into the [[Bhosale]] [[Maratha clan system|clan of Marathas]], secured an independent state by dint of lifelong struggle and thereby founded an empire, the remnants of which lasted until the independence of India in 1947. The state thus founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji attained its zenith under the [[Peshwa]]s in the 18th century, extending from [[Indus River|the Indus]] in present-day [[Pakistan]] to [[Orissa]] in the east and from the [[Punjab region|Punjab]] to central [[Karnataka]] in [[south India|the south]]. At its peak, the [[Maratha (Hindu) Empire]] established a protectorate over the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor and paramountcy over the numerous [[Rajput]] chieftains of [[Gujarat]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Central India]] and elsewhere. This vast empire declined gradually after the [[Third Battle of Panipat|third battle of Panipat]] (1761) in which Ahmad Shah Abdali and his forces, from Afhganistan, defeated the Marathas; by 1849, all of present-day India had fallen to the [[British East India Company]].