56 Facts About Bajirao I

Bajirao I was appointed Peshwa at the age of nineteen by Shahu I, following the death of his father, Balaji Vishwanath.

Bajirao I is credited with establishing the Marathas as the supreme power in the Indian subcontinent, effectively displacing Mughal dominance.

Bajirao I engaged in successful diplomatic missions with Rajput rulers, leading to the imposition of chauth on the Kingdoms of Mewar and Jaipur.

Bajirao I officially secured the important territory of Malwa after defeating the combined forces of Mughal-Nizam-Nawab of Awadh in Battle of Bhopal.

Bajirao I passed away in 1740 after being struck by a severe fever.

Bajirao I is regarded as one of the greatest military generals of his time and is reputed to have never lost a battle.

Bajirao I was born into the Bhat family in Sinnar, near Nashik.

Bajirao I had a younger brother, Chimaji Appa, and two younger sisters, Anubai and Bhiubai.

Bajirao I displayed a passion for the military at an early age and often accompanied his father on military campaigns.

Bajirao I was with his father when his father was imprisoned by Damaji Thorat before being released for a ransom.

Bajirao I had been on the expedition to Delhi in 1719 with his father and was convinced the Mughal Empire was disintegrating and would be unable to resist northward Maratha expansion.

Bajirao I's appearance was commanding and his fame for good looks so widespread, as a Maratha tale goes, that the ladies of Nizam ul Mulk requested their lord, as a special favor, that during his next encounter with the Brahmin minister, they might secretly observe him and witness his refined appearance and classical features.

Bajirao I always treated his wife Kashibai with love and respect.

Bajirao I took Mastani as his wife, the daughter of Rajput king Chhatrasal, born from his Muslim concubine.

The Nizam on suggestion of his wife married her to Bajirao I to promote diplomatic relations with Marathas.

Bajirao I helped Mahadaji Shinde to restore Maratha rule in Northern India.

Bajirao I moved his base of operations from Saswad to Pune in 1728, laying the foundation for the transformation of the kasba into a large city.

Bajirao I convinced Shahu that the Maratha Empire had to go on the offensive against its enemies to defend itself.

Bajirao I believed the Mughal Empire was in decline and wanted to take advantage of the situation with aggressive expansion into North India.

Bajirao I compared the Mughals' declining fortune to a tree which, if attacked at its roots, would collapse.

Bajirao I promoted young men like himself, such as Malhar Rao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde, the Pawar brothers and Fateh Singh Bhosle, as commanders; these men did not belong to families who were hereditary Deshmukhs in the Deccan sultanates.

The Marathas, led by Bajirao I, helped the Nizam win this battle.

In contrast, Stewart Gordon's account suggests that Bajirao I was present during the campaign but did not assume command.

Bajirao I convinced Shahu to refuse the Nizam's offer and instead launch an assault.

Bajirao I began to destroy the towns held by the Nizam; leaving Pune, he crossed the Godavari River near Puntamba and plundered Jalna and Sindkhed.

Bajirao I destroyed Berar, Mahur, Mangrulpir and Washim before turning north-west to Khandesh.

Bajirao I compared his dire situation to that of Gajendra Moksha.

Bajirao I granted a large jagir to Bajirao and gave him his daughter Mastani.

Bajirao I was drawn into the conflict due to the Maratha chief Kanhoji's plea for help against the Portuguese.

The negotiations soon failed and Bajirao I dispatched 40,000 Maratha cavalry under Pilaji Jadhav to attack the Portuguese.

Once it was over, Bajirao I sent a major expedition under his brother Chimaji Appa to invade Bassein.

Bajirao I was replaced by Abhay Singh, who recognized the Maratha right to collect taxes.

Meanwhile, Bajirao I learned that Dabhade and Gaikwad had made preparations for an open fight on the plain of Dabhoi with a force of 40 thousand, while Bajirao I's numbers barely reached 25 thousand in all.

Bajirao I repeatedly sent messages to Dabhade to solve the dispute amicably in the presence of Shahu.

Shahu and Bajirao I avoided a rivalry with the powerful Dabhade clan after subduing Trimbak Rao; Trimbak's son, Yashwant Rao, was appointed as Shahu's senapati.

Bajirao I dispatched his son Balaji along with Pilaji Jadhav towards Bundelkhand to halt the advance of vizier.

Bajirao I visited Jagmandir Palace, in the centre of Pichola Lake at Rana Jagat Singh's invitation, and then left for Nath-Dwara.

Bajirao I sent a Maratha force led by Sekhoji Angre, son of Kanhoji Angre.

Bajirao I allowed the Siddis to retain control of Janjira if they accepted Abdul Rehman as the ruler; they were allowed to retain control of Anjanvel, Gowalkot and Underi.

Bajirao I subsequently launched a campaign against Mughals to pressure the emperor into accepting his remaining demands as well.

Jai Singh is believed to have secretly informed Bajirao I that it was a good time to subdue the weakening Mughal emperor.

Bajirao I passed through Rajputana and reached Narnol and then Ajmer.

Bajirao I feared that, in the event of Nader's victory over the Mughal emperor, the latter might remain in India and potentially advance southwards, posing a major threat to Maratha supremacy in Deccan.

Bajirao I stationed his commander Pilaji Jadhav in Malwa to check possible further advances of Nadir Shah.

Some argued for Bajirao I to confront Nader while others advised to wait for the invader's next move.

Bajirao I argued that forces of Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur and Bundelas aided by Peshwa's forces would form a very strong Hindu front and increase the odds of victory against Nader Shah.

Bajirao I obliged Shahu and started moving northwards with his forces.

Bajirao I was relieved upon hearing the news and exchanged letters with both Nader and Muhammad Shah.

Bajirao I was known for rapid tactical movements in battle, using cavalry.

Bajirao I's conquests were one of the causes for the decline of Mughal Empire.

Bajirao I is considered to be one of the greatest military generals of his time.

Bajirao I was hardly to be surpassed as a rider and was ever forward in action eager to expose himself under fire if the affair was arduous.

Bajirao I lived to see the Marathas spread terror over the Indian continent from the Arabian sea to the Bay of Bengal.

Bajirao I died as he lived in camp under canvas among his men and he is remembered among the Marathas as the fighting Peshwa, as the incarnation of Hindu energy.

Bajirao I's body was exhausted due to ceaseless wars and military campaigns.

Balaji Bajirao I ordered Ranoji Shinde to build a chhatri as a memorial.