A History of the Mahrattas

Written by Scots historian James Grant Duff, this 1826 publication describes the history of the Marathi people in India.

James Grant Duff (Author)

9781108072991, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

614 pages, 2 b/w illus. 1 map
21.6 x 14 x 3.5 cm, 0.77 kg

One of the many famous 'administrator-historians' of India, James Grant Duff (1789–1858), Captain of the First Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, first arrived in India as a cadet at the age of sixteen. Quickly mastering the Marathi, Urdu, and Persian languages, Duff became well known for his ability to cut through the cultural divide, and was regarded as a valuable resource for the East India Company's expansion of trade. His wide-ranging network of connections enabled him to obtain unrestricted access to state papers, documents and temple archives. Consequently, Duff's history is comprehensive and thorough; it served as the best history of its kind for decades. This first volume includes preliminary observations on geography, climate, people, religion, and early history of the Maratha country. Its fourteen chapters detail the general history from 1000 CE to 1740, starting with the Islamic conquest of the Deccan.

Preface
Preliminary observations. Respecting the geography, chief features, climate, people, religion, learning, early history, and institutions of the Mahratta country
1. From AD 1000, to AD 1478. Conquest of the Deccan by the Mahomedans
2. From AD 1478, to AD 1637. Five independent states arise from the dismembered monarchy, which afterwards form the three kingdoms of Ahmednugur, Beejapoor, and Golcandah
3. From AD 1637, to AD 1648. Shahjee's progress after entering the service of Beejapoor
4. From AD 1648, to AD 1657. Local authorities under the Beejapoor government, in the immediate neighbourhood of Sivajee
5. From AD 1657, to AD 1662. Sivajee enters into a correspondence with Aurungzebe
6. From 1662, to AD 1667. Savajee attacks the Moghul possessions
7. From AD 1667, to AD 1669. Sultan Mauzum and Jeswunt Sing
8. From AD 1670, to AD 1676. The tranquility of the Deccan is interrupted
9. From AD 1676, to AD 1680. State of politics in the Deccan when Sivajee undertakes his expedition into the Carnatic
10. From AD 1680, to AD 1689. Cruelties exercised by Sumbhajee on assuming power
11. From AD 1689, to AD 1707. Raja Ram
12. From AD 1707, to AD 1720. Shao
14. From AD 1720, to AD 1726. Nizam Ool Moolk, throwing off his dependance on the Syuds, determines on possessing himself of the resources of the Deccan
15. From AD 1727, to AD 1734. Plans of Nizam Ool Moolk for consolidating his own power, and of creating dissensions among the Mahrattas
15. From AD 1734, to AD 1739. Mahratta affairs
16. From AD 1739, to AD 1740. The government of Malwa not formally conceded to Bajee Rao as promised by Mizam Ool Moolk.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]