#Thread
MARATHAS THE OVERLORDS OF DELHI

"Dillichahī Taqt Rākhto Māhārashtra Māzha!"

Marathas have brought down Delhi FIVE times by force. This is the account of "Pānch Fateh".

YEAR — 1719
LEADERS — Khanderao Dabhade, Udājirao Pawar, Santaji Raoji Bhonsale & Balaji Vishwanath.
PURPOSE — Liberation of Maharani Yesubai, dethroning and punishment of Mughal puppet Farrukhsiyar and renewing "treaties" from the new crowned puppet.

After just 16,000 Marathas took down the Mughal forces, Maharani Yesubai was rescued from imprisonment. The Mughal emperor Farrukh-Siyar was dragged out, imprisoned by being shoved into a small hole in the ground where he was starved, beaten and then killed off with slow poison

After securing refreshed Tax contracts from the newly crowned puppet Muhammad Shah Rangeela of Chauth, Sardeshmukhi and Swarājya, the Marathas vacated Delhi.

YEAR — 1737
LEADER — Peshwa Bajirao I.
PURPOSE — Display of force and securing new "Treaties".

When, during the Northern campaign, after the small battalion of Malharrao Holkar was treacherously routed, the Marathas swore to avenge the insolence of braggart Saadat Khan.

With 70,000 Marathas, Bajirao I swifty reached the gates of Delhi where terror gripped the city with escape-boats being readied on the Yamuna for the escape of the Badshah. Marathas evacuated the city on their own terms after exacting their desired contracts.

YEAR — 1757,
LEADERS — Malharrao Holkar and Raghunathrao
PURPOSE — Liberation of Delhi from the Durrani puppet Rohilla chief Najib-ud-Daulah.

When the agent of Abdali, Najib-Ud-Daulah was left in power as a tribute-paying vassal to the Durrani Empire, the Marathas decided to push him out once and for all.

For this 30,000 Marathas dispatched, successfully sacked Delhi under Malharrao Holkar, Antaji Mankeshwar, etc. and pushed out the Rohillas and unfurled the Maratha Banners on the ramparts.

YEAR —1760,
LEADER — Sadashivrao Bhau, Malharrao Holkar and Maharaja Shri Suraj Mal Jat
PURPOSE — Liberation of Delhi from Afghans.

During the Panipat Campaign, the Marathas utilizing Gardi Artillery easily blasted open the gates of Delhi forcing the castellan Yakub Ali to sue for peace and evacuate it.

The Maratha forces then marched in as the masters of the city on 2nd August 1760 and unfurled the Maratha banners again on the ramparts.

The city was garrisoned by a detachment of Maratha army troops to safeguard against Abdali's attempts to retake the city.

YEAR — 1771,
LEADER — Maharaja Mahadaji Shindeshahi.
PURPOSE — Liberation from the savage Rohilla chief Ghulam Qadir and formal occupation of Delhi as the undisputed property of Maratha

The atrocities against the Mughal royalty in the Red Fort which was treacherously occupied by Ghulam Qadir.This was followed by extortion to yield up treasures so that the Rohillas could fund another Jihad against the Marathas.the news reached the ears of Maharaja Mahadaji Shinde

Marathas who were delaying their retributive onslaught against the main culprits and traitors of the Panipat catastrophe, the Rohillas, finally got the required provocation to invade Delhi and have the Afghans massacred which they carried out whole-heartedly.

Every Afghan man, their dogs, cats and even their pigeons were cut down and flayed. Ghulam Kadir was flayed alive and slowly mutilated with each part being sent to the blind Mughal puppet Shah Alam to pacifying his agitation.

The city of Delhi was then formally kept under occupation till 1803 and Maharaja Mahadaji Shinde took up the position of "Vakil-Ul-Mutlaq" which merged the offices of Wazir (Prime Minister) and Mir Bakshi (Commander-In-Chief of Army).

Making him effectively the 'Mughal' Maratha Emperor of India without violating the oath of his swami Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja.

For 1771 to 1788 we merged Ghulam Qadir episode (1788) for narrative ease to include in some action. https://twitter.com/maharattas/status/1259004429073649669?s=19

And we shall reveal this Chattrapati Shahu Maharaja's oath soon.