Maratha
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Maratha is a kshatriya (warrior) caste of Marathi-speaking people primarily residing in the plains and hills of India's western state of Maharashtra. Marathas and Marathis are confused by many people to be one and the same. It must be noted that Marathis are any people speaking Marathi language while Marathas are only people belonging to Maratha caste.
The Marathas attained historical primacy in the Maratha empire during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when the Bhonsle family took control of much of western and northern India. The Maratha empire was allied to the British, but then fell out with them and fought a series of Anglo-Maratha Wars.
Notable Marathas
- Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra
- Gaekwad dynasty
- Holkar dynasty
- Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia and Sindhia family
- Shivaji and Bhonsle dynasty