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The Marathas were a Marathi-speaking warrior group from the western DECCAN Plateau (present-day Maharashtra) who rose to prominence by establishing a Hindavi Swarajya (meaning "self-RULE of Native Hindu/Indian people"). The Marathas became prominent in the 17th century under the leadership of Sivaji Maharaj, who revolted against the Adil Shahi dynasty, and carved out a kingdom with Raigad as his capital. His father, SHAHJI had earlier conquered Thanjavur which Sivaji's half-brother, Venkoji Rao alias Ekoji inherited and that Kingdom was known as the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom.  

After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Shahu, GRANDSON of Sivaji, was released by the Mughals. Following a brief struggle with his aunt Tarabai, Shahu became the ruler with the help of Balaji Vishwanath and Dhanaji Jadhav. PLEASED by his help, Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath and later, his descendants, as the peshwas or prime ministers of the empire. Balaji and his descendants played a key role in the expansion of Maratha rule. The empire at its peak stretched from Tamil Nadu in the south, to Peshawar (modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in the north, and Orissa & western Bengal up to the Hooghly River, in the east. The Marathas discussed abolishing the Mughal throne and placing Vishwasrao Peshwa on the Mughal imperial throne in Delhi but were not able to do so. I

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