Maratha Resurrection

Maratha Resurrection is a term used to describe the period between the Third Battle of Panipat on January 14, 1761 and capture of Najibabad in 1773.

In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Maratha Empire suffered a serious blow at the hands of combined forces of Durrani Empire, the Nawab of Awadh and Rohillas under Najib ad-Dawlah. Their power was virtually wiped out of the North India and the confederacy itself experienced fragmentation. The Bhonsles of Nagpur did not participate and tried to remain aloof of the aftermaths too.

After the death of Balaji Bajirao, Madhavrao I became Peshwa under the regency of Raghunathrao. Despite of quarrels with Raghunathrao, the young Peshwa, along with Mahadji Shinde and Nana Fadnavis, was able to resurrect the Maratha supremacy, both in Deccan and Delhi.

Madhavrao Peshwa's victory over the Nizam of Hyderabad and Hyder Ali of Mysore in the southern India proved Maratha power in the Deccan. On the other hand, Mahadji's victory over Jats of Mathura, Rajputs of Rajasthan and Pashtun-Rohillas of Rohilkhand (in the western part of present day state of U.P.) re-established the Marathas in the northern India. With the Capture of Delhi in 1771 and the capture of Nazibabad in 1772 and with the installation of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II to the throne under Maratha suzerainty, Marathas recovered from the loss of Panipat to a large extent.