Question

what could the marathas have done to avoid hostility of neighbouring rulers ?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Politics of India during late 17th century and starting of 18th century -

After Shivaji's death there was a small war of succession between Sambhaji Raje and Rajaram (both sons of Shivaji) now by this time Aurangzeb had from his campaign of the west and concentrated his entire army and wealth to conquer whole of Deccan .

Deccan was ruled by Bijapur sultan ,Qutubshahi ,Marathas ,Berar chief and the naiks.

Now to defeat Aurangzeb all the three kingdoms of Deccan united their army .

Prince Akbar (the rebel prince ,son of Aurangzeb ) had taken refuge with Sambhaji .

Bijapur fell in 1689 though Marathas helped the Bijapur sultan during the 18 months siege of Aurangzeb . Qutubshahi desolved in 1687 by Aurangzeb . Sambhaji was caught alive at Sangameshwar and was executed brutally on 13 March 1689 . Rajaram fled to Jingee .

Now whole of Maharashtra and Deccan was open for Aurangzeb since Rajaram has also fled to Jinjee. Now Maratha Sardars of Khandesh became free and started looting and troubling the Mughal armies in Deccan .Aurangzeb could not tolerate this . Aurangzeb decided to release Shahu ,captured son of Sambhaji who was also given a title of Raja and Mansaab of 7000 by Aurangzeb .

By 1706 Aurangzeb breathed his last in Aurangabad while his whole empire was in trauma .

Now why Shahu favoured the Mughals ??

Because he was treated well by Aurangzeb while being under his captive .Aurangzeb married him to 2 maratha girls of respectable family . Shahu' s war of war of succession with his aunt Tarabai and Rajaram was backed by the Mughals . So indirectly he became the Maratha Chhatrapati with the help of Mughals .

Akbar 2 became the next Mughal Emperor and he abolished Jizya and had good terms with Marathas because the Mughals now had a powerful enemy the Jats and Sikhs in North .

Now Najeeb Khan Rohilla spoilt the game , after Nadir Shah’s Delhi raid the Mughal territory in Delhi had become very weak. He joined hands with slave of Nadir Shah - Ahmad Shah Abdali to conquer whole of North India which led to 3rd Battle of Panipat .

Marathas had a treaty with Mughals according to which Marathas would protect the Mughal territories from the invaders and in return Mughals granted Marathas Chauth and Sardeshmukhi tax rights . Marathas captured Peshawar but could not hold it for long because of attacks from Abdali and decided finally to confront Abdali in the battle of Panipat.

Answer 2

Answer:

They had used a no. of canons.