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The '''Maratha Empire''', or '''Maratha Confederacy''', was a group of Indian states that dominated much of the Indian subcontinent in the 17th and the 18th centuries. The empire formally existed from 1674 to 1820. The Marathas are given much of the credit for ending [[Mughal Empire|Mughal rule]] in India.<ref>{{cite journal |first=M. N. |last=Pearson |title=Shivaji and the Decline of the Mughal Empire |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_journal-of-asian-studies_1976-02_35_2/page/221 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=221–235 |date=February 1976 |jstor=2053980 |url-access=subscription |doi=10.2307/2053980|s2cid=162482005 }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=aqqBPS1TDUgC&pg=PA28 Delhi, the Capital of India By Anon, John Capper, p. 28. "This source establishes the Maratha control of Delhi before the British"]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=bXWiACEwPR8C&pg=PA1941-IA82 An Advanced History of Modern India By Sailendra Nath Sen p.Introduction-14. The author says: "''The victory at Bhopal in 1738 established Maratha dominance at the Mughal court''"]</ref>

The '''Maratha Empire''', or '''Maratha Confederacy''', was a group of Indian states that dominated much of the Indian subcontinent in the 17th and the 18th centuries. The empire formally existed from 1674 to 1820. The Marathas are given much of the credit for ending [[Mughal Empire|Mughal rule]] in India.<ref>{{cite journal |first=M. N. |last=Pearson |title=Shivaji and the Decline of the Mughal Empire |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_journal-of-asian-studies_1976-02_35_2/page/221 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=221–235 |date=February 1976 |jstor=2053980 |url-access=subscription |doi=10.2307/2053980|s2cid=162482005 }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=aqqBPS1TDUgC&pg=PA28 Delhi, the Capital of India By Anon, John Capper, p. 28. "This source establishes the Maratha control of Delhi before the British"]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=bXWiACEwPR8C&pg=PA1941-IA82 An Advanced History of Modern India By Sailendra Nath Sen p.Introduction-14. The author says: "''The victory at Bhopal in 1738 established Maratha dominance at the Mughal court''"]</ref>

The Marathas were a warrior people from the western [[Deccan Plateau]] (present-day [[Maharashtra]]). They rose to prominence by establishing "self-rule of Hindu/Indian people" in their region.<ref>

The Marathas were warrior people from the western [[Deccan Plateau]] (present-day [[Maharashtra]]). They rose to prominence by establishing "self-rule of Hindu/Indian people" in their region.<ref>

{{harvnb|Pagadi, Shivaji|1983|p=98}}: "Shivaji's coronation and setting himself up as a sovereign prince symbolises the rise of the Indian people in all parts of the country. It was a bid for ''Hindawi Swarajya'' (Indian rule), a term in use in Marathi sources of history."

{{harvnb|Pagadi, Shivaji|1983|p=98}}: "Shivaji's coronation and setting himself up as a sovereign prince symbolises the rise of the Indian people in all parts of the country. It was a bid for ''Hindawi Swarajya'' (Indian rule), a term in use in Marathi sources of history."

</ref><ref name=Jackson>{{cite book |title=Vijayanagara voices: exploring South Indian history and Hindu literature |last=Jackson |first=William Joseph |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2005 |isbn=9780754639503 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PxvDNBc4qwUC&pg=PA38 |page=38}}</ref> The Marathas became prominent in the 17th century under the leadership of [[Shivaji]] who revolted against the Adil Shahi dynasty and the Mughal Empire and formed a kingdom, with Raigad as his capital. Known for their mobility, the Marathas were able to consolidate their territory during the Mughal–Maratha Wars and later controlled a large part of the Indian subcontinent stretching from [[Peshawar]] in the north to [[Thanjavur]] in the south with their capital at [[Pune]] in the year [[1758]].  

</ref><ref name=Jackson>{{cite book |title=Vijayanagara voices: exploring South Indian history and Hindu literature |last=Jackson |first=William Joseph |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2005 |isbn=9780754639503 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PxvDNBc4qwUC&pg=PA38 |page=38}}</ref> The Marathas became prominent in the 17th century under the leadership of [[Shivaji]] who revolted against the Adil Shahi dynasty and the Mughal Empire and formed a kingdom, with Raigad as his capital. Known for their mobility, the Marathas were able to consolidate their territory during the Mughal–Maratha Wars and later controlled a large part of the Indian subcontinent stretching from [[Peshawar]] in the north to [[Thanjavur]] in the south with their capital at [[Pune]] in the year [[1758]].  

File:Joppenshivaji.jpg|Early Maratha conquests, in Shivaji's and Shahji's time

File:Joppenshivaji.jpg|Early Maratha conquests, in Shivaji's and Shahji's time

File:Shivaji British Museum.jpg|A portrait of [[Shivaji|Shivaji I]]

File:Shivaji Rijksmuseum.jpg|Portrait of [[Shivaji]], in the [[Rijksmuseum]], Netherland.

File:Sambhaji painting late 17th century.png|A portrait of [[Sambhaji]], son of [[Shivaji]], and the second Maratha ruler.

File:Sambhaji painting late 17th century.png|A portrait of [[Sambhaji]], son of [[Shivaji]], and the second Maratha ruler.