Bajirao I
A Maratha general of relentless energy who never lost a battle, expanding his empire across India with daring cavalry charges and political vision.
1700–1740 (age 40)·Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1720 to 1740·Birthday: August 18
Biography
Bajirao I was appointed Peshwa, or prime minister, of the Maratha Empire at the age of 20, and in the two decades that followed, he fundamentally reshaped the map of India. He operated on a simple, aggressive military principle: strike the enemy at their heart, not the edges. This led to a legendary career of over 40 major battles without a single defeat, often spearheaded by his lightning-fast cavalry. His most famous tactic, the 'Bajirao Ball,' involved a sudden, overwhelming charge that shattered Mughal and other opposing forces. Beyond his battlefield genius, he was a master strategist who established Maratha influence from Delhi in the north to the Deccan plateau in the south, laying the groundwork for Maratha supremacy in 18th-century India. His life, marked by intense loyalty and a controversial love story with Mastani, is the stuff of national epic, remembered as the peak of Maratha military and political power.
#1 When Bajirao Was Born
The biggest hits of 1700
Bajirao's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1700Born
1705Started school
1713Became a teenager
1716Could drive
1718Could vote
1721Turned 21
1730Turned 30
1740Turned 40
Key Achievements
- Never lost a battle in his military career, commanding over 40 major engagements.
- Extended Maratha influence northwards, conducting raids as far as Delhi and establishing a Maratha representative at the Mughal court.
- Founded the city of Pune, which became the Maratha Empire's administrative and cultural capital.
- Secured Maratha sovereignty by defeating the Nizam of Hyderabad decisively at the Battle of Palkhed in 1728.
Did You Know?
He is often depicted riding a horse with a spear, a pose immortalized in a famous equestrian statue in Pune.
His love story with Mastani, a Muslim princess, caused significant political and familial strife.
He covered an estimated 10,000 miles on horseback during his various military campaigns.
His son, Balaji Bajirao, succeeded him as Peshwa, and another son, Shamsher Bahadur, was born from his relationship with Mastani.
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