Maratha Empire

State · 1677–1845 CE · at its largest around 1772 CE

A Hindu power founded by Shivaji in western India, which grew under the Peshwas to dominate much of the subcontinent before its defeat by the British East India Company in 1818.

On its lands while it lasted

Vallabhi (c. 476–1948 CE): Capital of Maitraka Dynasty (476–731).
Mughal Empire founded (1526–1857 CE): Empire founded by Babur that at its height ruled most of the Indian subcontinent, famed for its wealth, administration and architecture.
Aurangzeb (1618 CE – 1707 CE): Sixth Mughal emperor under whom the empire reached its greatest extent; his long Deccan wars strained its resources.
Shivaji (1630 CE – 1680 CE): Founder of the Maratha state who fought the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughals and was crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad in 1674.
Maratha Empire (1674–1818 CE): Maratha state founded by Shivaji's coronation in 1674, which became the dominant power in India in the 18th century before defeat by the British.
Raigad Fort (c. 1677 CE): Capital of Maratha Empire (1677–1818).
Arcot (c. 1713 CE): Capital of Carnatic Sultanate (1713–1768).
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (1734 CE): Collection of monumental astronomical instruments completed in 1734 by Sawai Jai Singh II.
Tipu Sultan (1751 CE – 1799 CE): Ruler of Mysore who fought the East India Company in several wars and pioneered the military use of iron-cased rockets.
Third Battle of Panipat (1761 CE): Ahmad Shah Durrani's Afghan army defeated the Marathas in one of the largest battles of the 18th century.
Battle of Buxar (1764 CE): The East India Company defeated the combined forces of the Mughal emperor and the Nawabs of Bengal and Awadh.
Unification of Nepal (1768 CE): Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha conquered the Kathmandu Valley in 1768, creating the Kingdom of Nepal.
Mirza Ghalib (1797 CE – 1869 CE): Urdu and Persian poet of late Mughal Delhi, celebrated for his ghazals.
Great Trigonometrical Survey (1802–1871 CE): Survey that measured the Indian subcontinent by triangulation, beginning at Madras in 1802; it established the height of Mount Everest.
Rani of Jhansi (c. 1828 CE – 1858 CE): Lakshmibai, queen of Jhansi, a leading figure of the 1857 rebellion who was killed in battle near Gwalior.