'one fourth') was a regular tax or tribute imposed from the early 18th century by the Maratha Empire in the Indian subcontinent.
[2] The historian Jadunath Sarkar has argued that the chauth was essentially a tax paid by those states that did not want the Marathas to enter into their realm.
[5] One fourth of the levy, called babti, went to the Chhatrapati and he also had discretionary grant making authority over the nadgaunda, proceeds which amounted to 3% of the total collection.
The chauth, along with sardeshmukhi levies, ensured a steady and large stream of income for the Marathas and helped them expand their beyond the swarajya territories of Shivaji.
Durgadas Rathore harassed Mughal officers through guerrilla warfare and forced them to pay chauth during his war against Aurangzeb.