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Baji Rao

Shreemant Peshwa
Bajirao I
Ballal
पंतप्रधान श्रीमन्त पेशवा बाजीराव बल्लाळ बळाजी भट्ट
Bajirao I
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Peshwa of Maratha Empire
In office
27 April 1720 (1720-04-27) – 28 April 1740 (1740-04-28)
Monarch Chhatrapati Shahu
Preceded by Balaji Vishwanath(Ballalpant)
Succeeded by Balaji Bajirao
Personal details
Born (1700-08-18)18 August 1700
Died 28 April 1740(1740-04-28) (aged 39)
Raverkhedi
Spouse(s) Kashibai
Mastani
Relations Chimaji Appa (brother)
Bhiubai Joshi
Anubai Ghorpade
Children Nanasaheb
Raghunathrao
Shamsher Bahadur I (Krishna Rao)
Mother Radhabai Barve (later Bhat)
Father Balaji Vishwanath
Religion Hinduism

Pantpradhan Shreemant Peshwa Baji Rao Ballal Balaji Bhat (18 August 1700 – 28 April 1740) was a general of the Maratha Empire in India. He served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (king) Shahu from 1720 until Bajirao's death. He is also known by the names Bajirao Ballal and Thorale (Marathi for "Elder") Bajirao.

Bajirao is credited with expanding the Maratha Empire, especially in the north, which contributed to its reaching a zenith during his son's reign twenty years after his death. In his brief military career spanning 20 years, Bajirao never lost a battle. According to the British Army officer Bernard Montgomery, Bajirao was possibly the finest cavalry general ever produced by India.

Bajirao was born into the Bhat family of Kokanastha Chitpavan Brahmin lineage. His father Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa of Chhatrapati Shahu; his mother was Radhabai. Bajirao had a younger brother Chimaji Appa and two sisters, Bhiubai Joshi and Anubai Ghorpade. He spent his childhood in his father's newly acquired fiefdom of Saswad.

Bajirao would often accompany his father on military campaigns. He was with his father when the latter was imprisoned by Damaji Thorat before being released for a ransom. When Vishwanath died in 1720, Shahu appointed the 20-year old Bajirao as the Peshwa. He is said to have preached the ideal of Hindu Pad Padshahi (Hindu Empire),

Bajirao intended to plant the Maratha flag upon the walls of Delhi and other cities governed by the Mughals and their subjects. He intended to replace the Mughal Empire and create a Hindu-Pat-Padshahi.


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