Bargi raids
Also called: Maratha raids in Bengal · Topic: The Marathas · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 3 "The Marathas"
Meaning
The Bargi raids were repeated Maratha cavalry attacks on Bengal in the 1740s. They were led by the Bhonsles of Nagpur under Raghuji Bhonsle. In Bengal the raiders were called "bargis", a name that comes from bargir, a type of Maratha horseman. The raids were part of a campaign in Bengal that lasted about ten years. It was very cruel to ordinary people, which went sharply against Shivaji's values. It shows how much power regional Maratha chiefs had in the Peshwa period, and how that freedom sometimes led to indiscipline and abuse.
Example
In 1751, Alivardi Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, made peace with the Bhonsles. He agreed to pay chauth (a 25% levy) for Bengal and gave up control of Orissa's revenue. This ended the raids.
Don't confuse with
- Bargir (cavalry type): a bargir was a horseman whose horse and equipment were paid for by the state. "Bargi raids" is the name for the 1740s attacks on Bengal.
Related concepts
- Adnyapatra
- Bargir and shiledar
- Maratha Military Landscapes
- Sindhudurg Fort
- Maratha navy
- Kanhoji Angre