Moropant Nilkanth Pingle, also known as Moropant Peshwā, was the first Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Empire, serving on Emperor Shivaji's Council of 8. In 1647, Moropant joined Shivaji in establishing the Maratha kingdom. He was one of the warriors who participated in the successful 1659 battle of Shivaji's forces against the forces of Vijapur's Adil Shah which immediately followed Adil shah's general Afzalkhān death at Jāwali. He also participated in the battles at Trimbakeshwar Fort and Wāni-Dindori against the Mughal forces. He participated in Shivaji's invasion of Surat in 1664.