Bhat family
A prominent Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family whose hereditary Peshwas became the effective rulers of the Maratha Empire during much of the eighteenth century.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Bhat family, also known as the Bhatt Peshwa family, was a prominent Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family associated with the hereditary office of Peshwa in the Maratha Empire. The Peshwa was formally the Maratha ruler's chief minister, but members of the Bhat family transformed the office into the central position of political and military authority during the eighteenth century. Their influence extended across much of the Indian subcontinent through military campaigns, diplomacy, tributary relationships, and the administration of territories connected to the Maratha state. The family's rise is associated with Balaji Vishwanath, who became Peshwa under Chhatrapati Shahu I. Balaji Vishwanath helped Shahu consolidate his authority after internal Maratha conflict and prolonged pressure from the Mughal Empire. His political and administrative work established the basis for the family's hereditary succession and for the expansion of Peshwa authority. He is consequently remembered in the source tradition as a major restorer, or second founder, of the Maratha state. Balaji Vishwanath's elder son, Baji Rao I, succeeded him as Peshwa in 1720. A highly mobile commander, Baji Rao pursued an expansionist strategy that carried Maratha power into northern and central India. His younger brother, Chimaji Appa, was also an important military leader and captured Vasai from the Portuguese in 1739 after a major campaign. Other family connections linked the Bhats to influential banking and ruling houses, including the Ghorpades of Ichalkaranji. The next generation continued the family's dominance. Balaji Baji Rao, commonly called Nanasaheb, became Peshwa in 1740 and presided over a period in which Maratha influence reached as far northwest as Peshawar. His cousin Sadashivrao Bhau served as commander-in-chief and led the Maratha army at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. The defeat at Panipat, together with the death of Nanasaheb and several members of the wider ruling family, marked a severe setback, although Maratha power later recovered under Madhavrao I. Succession disputes and factional politics increasingly affected the family in the later eighteenth century. Raghunathrao briefly held the Peshwa office, while the murder of Narayanrao in 1773 and the accession of his posthumous son Madhavrao II produced a regency led by the Barbhai council. Baji Rao II later became Peshwa and remained in office until the defeat of the Peshwa government by the British East India Company in 1818. That defeat ended the family's political supremacy in Pune and brought the Peshwa state under British control. Several branches of the family retained regional importance after the decline of the Peshwa government. Descendants of Shamsher Bahadur, Baji Rao I's son by Mastani, ruled or held authority in the Banda region as Nawabs. Members of that branch participated in resistance to the British during the uprising of 1857. Descendants connected with Amrut Rao, the adopted son of Raghunathrao, later settled in Pune after periods in Bithoor and Varanasi and remained associated with temples founded by Amrut Rao on the Ganges. The wider family therefore survived as a historical and genealogical network after losing its imperial office.
History
The Bhat family emerged as the most consequential hereditary Peshwa lineage in the Maratha Empire during the eighteenth century. The family belonged to the Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin community. Its political rise began with Balaji Vishwanath, who served Chhatrapati Shahu I during a period of civil conflict and Mughal pressure. By helping Shahu consolidate his position, Balaji Vishwanath strengthened both the Maratha monarchy and the authority of the Peshwa's office. Although the Peshwa was nominally the chief minister, the office increasingly became the practical center of imperial government. Baji Rao I, Balaji Vishwanath's son, succeeded him in 1720. He developed an aggressive and mobile military strategy and expanded Maratha influence far beyond its western Indian base. His campaigns helped establish Maratha power across central and northern India. His brother Chimaji Appa complemented these efforts by leading the campaign that removed Portuguese control from Vasai in 1739. Family marriages also connected the Bhats with other important political, military, and financial networks. Balaji Baji Rao, or Nanasaheb, became Peshwa in 1740. During his tenure the Maratha sphere of influence reached areas as distant as Peshawar. His administration also contributed to the development of Pune, which served as the principal seat of Peshwa power. The expansion culminated in the northern campaign that led to the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. Sadashivrao Bhau commanded the Maratha army, while Vishwasrao, Nanasaheb's son and heir, fought in the battle. The Maratha defeat and the deaths of Vishwasrao, Sadashivrao Bhau, and Nanasaheb weakened the family and its state, but did not permanently destroy Maratha power. Madhavrao I restored much of the Maratha position after Panipat and is regarded in the historical tradition as one of the strongest Peshwas. His early death in 1772 was followed by a succession crisis. Narayanrao became Peshwa but was murdered in 1773. His posthumous son, Madhavrao II, was proclaimed Peshwa, with effective authority exercised by the Barbhai council. Raghunathrao, who had briefly held the office, remained a central figure in the dispute. These internal conflicts made the Peshwa government more vulnerable to intervention by the British East India Company. Baji Rao II became Peshwa in 1796 and remained the last holder of the office. The Peshwa government was defeated by the British in 1818, ending the family's direct political supremacy in the Maratha heartland. Related branches continued to exercise regional authority. The descendants of Shamsher Bahadur, the son of Baji Rao I and Mastani, were associated with the Banda dominion and later resisted the British during the events of 1857. Other descendants settled in Pune, Bithoor, and Varanasi, with some maintaining connections to religious foundations attributed to Amrut Rao. The Bhat family is therefore remembered both as a ruling lineage and as a broad network of descendants whose political significance continued in regional and cultural forms after the end of Peshwa rule.
- 1857
Participation in the Indian Rebellion
[1]Nana Sahib and Ali Bahadur II, members of branches connected to the Bhat-Peshwa family, participated in resistance to British rule during the 1857 rebellion.
- 1818
End of Peshwa rule
[1]The defeat of the Peshwa government by the British East India Company ended the family's direct rule from Pune.
- 1796
Baji Rao II becomes Peshwa
[1]Baji Rao II was installed as Peshwa after the death of Madhavrao II, becoming the final holder of the office.
- 1773
Narayanrao is murdered
[1]The murder of Peshwa Narayanrao triggered a succession crisis and contributed to the installation of his posthumous son, Madhavrao II.
- 1772
Madhavrao I dies
[1]The death of Madhavrao I was followed by renewed succession disputes within the Peshwa establishment.
- 1761
Third Battle of Panipat
[1]The Maratha defeat at Panipat caused major losses for the Bhat family and its political system, including the deaths of Sadashivrao Bhau and Vishwasrao.
- 1740
Nanasaheb becomes Peshwa
[1]Balaji Baji Rao, known as Nanasaheb, succeeded his father Baji Rao I as Peshwa.
- 1739
Capture of Vasai
[1]Chimaji Appa led the campaign that captured Vasai from the Portuguese, strengthening Maratha control north of Mumbai.
- 1720
Baji Rao I becomes Peshwa
[1]Baji Rao I succeeded Balaji Vishwanath and began the phase in which the Bhat family's Peshwa office became the effective center of Maratha power.
Products and positioning
A hereditary political and military house whose members held the Peshwa office and directed the expansion and administration of the Maratha Empire.
Brand decisions
1761
Northern campaign culminating at PanipatStrategyBackground
Maratha expansion had reached deep into northern India and brought the empire into conflict with Ahmad Shah Abdali's forces.
Action taken
Sadashivrao Bhau commanded the Maratha army in the Third Battle of Panipat.
Aftermath
The Maratha defeat caused substantial political and dynastic losses, although Maratha power later recovered under Madhavrao I.
1739
Campaign against Portuguese-held VasaiStrategyBackground
Portuguese-controlled territory north of Mumbai remained a strategic obstacle to Maratha influence in the region.
Action taken
Chimaji Appa led a military campaign that captured Vasai after hard-fought operations.
Aftermath
Maratha control expanded along the northern Konkan coast.
1720
Expansion under Baji Rao IStrategyBackground
The Maratha state was consolidating after internal conflict while facing pressure from the Mughal Empire.
Action taken
Baji Rao I used rapid military campaigns and political expansion to extend Maratha influence into central and northern India.
Aftermath
The Peshwa office became the practical center of an expanding Maratha imperial system.
Sources1 sources
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