Madhavrao I

Madhav Rao I Image Source

Madhav Rao I was appointed the 9th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire on 23 June in 1761 upon the death of his father, Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, also known as Nana Saheb, who had lost his eldest son and heir Vishwas Rao in the third battle of Panipat in 1761. 

Madhav Rao's claim to fame lies in his being instrumental in restoring the Maratha supremacy which was dented by their defeat in the third battle of Panipat. 

Since Madhav’s age at the time of his ascension to the Peshwaship was 16 years, his uncle Raghunath Rao, the eldest surviving member of the Peshwa family, took upon himself the regency of the Maratha empire and became its de facto ruler. This led to acrimonious differences between Madhav Rao and  Raghunath Rao who entered into wars against each other. 

In 1765 Raghunath Rao called for the partition of the Maratha State between himself and the Peshwa.

Madhav Rao I had defeated Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, in each of the campaigns the Peshwa undertook against him. Madhav Rao was a great administrator.

Madhav Rao I died an untimely death on 18 November 1772 at the temple premises of  Ganesha Chintamani, Theur. It is said that had he lived longer, he might have averted the downfall of the Maratha Empire.