Shivaji Bhosale founded the Maratha Empire in western India, employing guerrilla tactics against Mughal forces. It expanded across the subcontinent, promoting Hindu self-rule. The confederacy challenged central authority. British wars ended its power.

The Maratha Empire's resistance to the Mughals beginning in 1674 inspired Marathi powadas (ballads) that celebrated the valor of figures like Shivaji. This tradition fueled nationalist poetry in modern India, influencing poets who sought to evoke pride and cultural identity.