Explanation:

The term 'Maratha' is generally used by historians to refer to all Marathi-speaking peoples, irrespective of caste, although presently it refers to a set of Maharashtrian castes called Maratha. The Marathi community came into political prominence in the 17th century when the Marathas, under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, established the Maratha Empire, which is credited to a large extent for ending the Mughal rule.