The Marathas dominated the political scene in Maharashtra from the middle of the 17th century to the early 19th century. Although for historical purposes the term 'Maratha' is used in a comprehensive sense to include all Marathi speaking people, in actual fact the word signifies the distinct community which has dominated the political scene of Maharashtra since medieval times.

Who were these Marathas? The origin of the Marathi-speaking community of Maharashtra cannot be identified with certainty. Whether the term itself is derived from Maharashtra or whether the land assumes the name from its dwellers is difficult to say. Although Risley's theory of the Scytho-Dravindian origin of the Marathas is now discarded, it cannot be denied that there exists a great admixture of aboriginal tribal elements in the Marathas, of all grades. Several Maratha clans are totemic: Khandoba (sword father) and Bhavani (mother goddess), the two chief deities of the Marathas, are aboriginal in character.

References to the Marathas and their country are found in accounts by the Arab geographer, Al Biruni (1030 AD), Friar Jordanus (c.1326) and Ibn Batuta (1340), the African traveller. The Marathas came into political prominence only in the 17th century under Shivaji. Historians such as Grant Duff attribute their rise to fortuitous circumstances - "like a conflagration in the forests of Sahyadri mountains" - while Justice Ranade ascribes it to genuine efforts made by Maratha chiefs serving under the Deccani sultans.

Several Maratha chiefs - such as the Bhonsales, Jadhavs, Nimbalkars, Mores, Manes, Ghatges, Dafleys, Sawants, Shirkes, Mahadiks and the Mohites - serving under the Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar and Adil Shah of Bijapur received excellent training in arms and administration. Maloji Bhonsale (c.1552-1606) the patil (headman), joined Nizam Shah with a small band of cavalry. His son, Shahaji (1599-1664) served under Nizam Shah and Adil Shah, and came to prominence as a leading Maratha.