Peshwas (Part 1) : The Early Peshwas

They probably started in the service of the Siddis of Janjira and after friction with the tyrannical Nawab, later shifted base
to the ghats .
There they took up service with first Ramchandra pant (he acted as a Sab Suba or adminsistrator of Puna/Pune and later
Daulatabad) and later with Dhanaji Jadhav , the Sarnobat of the Maratha army. (after recommendation from his friend
Ghanshyam Shenvi of Rahimatpur).
Dhanaji Jadhav sent Balaji Vishwanath (who was a Diwan or a revenue officer then) on a confidential mission to ascertain
the credibility of Shahu. Satisfied that Shahu was indeed a son of Sambhaji, Balaji went back and persuaded his master
Dhanaji to join the forces of the true king.
Both Dhanaji and Balaji ensured the defeat of Tarabais armies and she had to retreat to Kolhapur where she formed a
separate kingdom (Shahu ruling from Satara). After Dhanajis death, his son Chandrasen was made the senapati and
Balaji the Senakarte.But Chandrasen who basically resented the ascendency of someone like Balaji who was once his
fathers servant, quarreled with the latter over a trifle. Seeing Shahu taking Balajis side, Chandrasen transferred his
allegiance to Tarabai. Chandrasen was replaced by his brother Santaji as the new Senapati. But his loyalties toward
Shahu also turned feeble and fell prey to Tarabais promises.
Note: Chandrasen Jadhav was beaten in battle by Shahus able commander Haibatrao Nimbalkar. Chandrasen later
switched allegiance to the likes of Sambhaji II and later Nizam ul Mulk. But every time his misadventures against Shahu
came to a naught.
On one occassion,a person by the name of Damaji Thorat ( an protg of Ramchandrapant Bavdekar) treacherously
captured Balaji and Shahu had to pay Thorat a huge ransom to have him released. .Shahu then sent Haibatrao Nimbalkar
along with Balaji to chastise Damaji Thorat.In 1718 ,Damaji Thorat was later defeated and taken a prisoner by Balaji.
There was a time when several maratha nobles deserted Shahus cause and joined Tarabai. Notable amongst these were
Krishnarao Khatavkar, Udaji Chavan,Rambhaji Nimbalkar etc.
This was indeed a very precarious time for Shahu.
But in this hour of trial, Balaji stood like a rock behind Shahu.
Balaji not only helped Shahu in his administration, but also borrowed money from moneylenders on behalf of the king and
rebuilt a strong army.
In 1713, Kanhoji Angre a Maratha chieftain from Konkan, challenged the supremacy of Shahu. He attacked Satara, and
took away the Peshwa Bahiroji Pingale as a prisoner. Thats when Balaji Vishwanath ,who by now had become Shahus
close confidante (and was also the Mutaliq to Amatya Amburao Hanmante) was entrusted with the responsibility (by
Shahu) to negotiate the release of Bahiroji.
Balaji Vishwanath requested for more authority in order to negotiate better with Kanhoji Angre.
That was when Balaji Vishwanath was made the Peshwa , as on 17th Nov 1713.

Note: Balaji Vishwanath made Ambaji Purandare his mutalik and Ramajipant Bhanu (an ancestor of the famed Nana
Phadanvis, the chief minister of Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa) his Phadnavis.
Balaji Vishwanath then proceeded to Konkan with a large army.
But Balaji was wise enough to understand the importance of a person like Kanhoji Angre and wished him to be on their
side.
He therefore, instead of attacking Kanhojis army, started discussions with Kanhoji Angre. He convinced Kanhoji that his
main enemies were the Mughals, the Siddis and the Portuguese and promised help to the Angres on that front. Eventually
Kanhoji agreed to accept Shahu as his overlord and in return Kanhoji Angre was made the Sarkhel or Admiral of the
Maratha army. He was also allowed autonomy in his regions.
Note: Kanhoji Angre (born 1667, died 4th June 1729) a.k.a Konaji Angria was the son of Tanoji Angria a commander
under Chatrapati Shivaji. Kanhoji was born in Alibaug and was brought up at fort Suvarnadurg. He grew up to be a skilled
sailor. He was appointed Sarkhel / Darya Sarang (Admiral) of Maratha Navy and contolled areas from Mumbai to Vengurla
on the western Konkan coast. He was induced into the services of Shahu by Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, who declared
him the Sarkhel (Kanhoji was earlier on the side of Shahus rivals and was initially hostile to Shahu ). Kanhoji also gained
notoriety as a high sea pirate when he looted the ships of the Mughals and the Europeans.Kanhoji left behind two
legitimate sons, Sekhoji and Sambhaji; three illegitimate sons, Tulaji, Manaji, and Yeshaji. After Kanhoji, his son Sekhoji

continued Maratha exploits at sea till his death in 1733. After Sekhoji's death, the Angre might was split between
brothers,Tulaji, Sambhaji and Manaji, because of divisions in the family. The Angre reign over the Western coast ended
with the capture of Tulaji in a joint British / Peshwa (Balaji Bajirao who was facing insubordination from the Tulaji
Angre( who had become very powerfull and refused to accept the Peshwa as his leader).
Kanhoji was also said to have constructed three naval forts Gova,Kanakdurg & Fatehgad.
Many other enemies like Udaji Chavan , the Ghorpades, Krishnarao Khatavkar were also subdued. Thus Balaji
Vishwanath gained Shahus trust and soon became the numero uno minister of Chatrapati Shahu.
In 1714, Balaji hatched a conspiracy with Sambhaji II , another son of Rajaram and helped him oust his step mother
Tarabai from the throne of Kolhapur.
Meanwhile following the death of Aurangzeb, there were no major skirmishes between the Marathas and the Mughals. In
fact Prince Azam promised Shahu the Sardeshmukhi of certain subahs.
But Prince Azam was killed in the battle of succession and Bahadur Shah ascended the mughal throne.
Bahadur Shah, though not hostile, dillydallied over the issue of viceroyalty of Maratha subahs to Shahu and was
undecided on whether to support Shahu (though the mughal viceroy of Deccan, Zulfikar Khan did support the cause of
Shahu) or Tarabai.
Subsequently, during the time of emperor Jahandar Shah, the Marathas launched an attack on mughal territories forcing
Daud Khan, the Deccan deputy of Zulfikar Khan , in order to make him recognise Shahu's rights of sardeshmukhi .
In 1713, Farukhsiyar ascended the mughal throne with the help of the Sayyed brothers.
Zulfikar Khan was then assassinated in Delhi and his post was given to Chin Qilich Khan aka Nizam ul Mulk.
Nizam ul Mulk was always hostile to the Marathas whom he viewd as impediments in his dreams for overlordship of the
Deccan region. He instigated Farukhsiyar to refuse to adhere to the agreement of sardeshmukhi between Daud Khan and
the Marathas. Nizam Ul Mulk also tried to create an anti Shahu lobby by supporting Shahus old rivals like Sambhaji II
,Chandrasen Jadhav,Rambhaji Nimbalkar etc.
But politics at Delhi took a new turn and Nizam ul Mulk was substituted with Sayyed Hussain Ali Khan the brother of the
wazir Sayyed Abdullah Khan. The Sayyeds were also intitially hostile towards the Marathas, but their own precarious
position made them seek the help of Balaji Vishwanath.Both decided on a quid pro quo policy whereby the marathas help
them in consolidating their power in Delhi and in return they will help the marathas cement their chauth and sardeshmukhi
rights in the deccan.
Matters had already soured between the Sayyad brothers and Farukhsiyar. The latter beginning to resent the growing
clout of the Sayyad brothers, tried to instigate his commanders like Daud khan, the Nizam, Ajitsingh against the Sayyed
brothers. Sayyed Hussain Khan was also sent by emperor Farrukhsiyar to the Deccan to reduce the power of the
Sayyeds. That was when a maratha servant of Sayyed Hussain Khan, by the name of Shankarji Malhar advised him to
take the help of the marathas.
The Sayyids even devised a strategy to enter Delhi. They claimed that the marathas had in their possesion Munuddin a
alleged son of prince Akbar (Aurangzebs son) whom they were willing to exchange for Shahus mother Yesubai who was
since in a mughal prison. Farrukhsiyar fell to this ruse and allowed the Marathas (accompanied by Sayyid Husain Khan) to
come over to Delhi for negotiations.
Balaji Vishwanath was despatched to Delhi by Shahu with a large contingent assisted by other Maratha commanders like
Khanderao Dabadhe etc.Thats when the Marathas sought the official sanction from Emperor Farrukhsiyar over the earlier
chauth/sardeshmukhi rights promised to the marathas (something which the Sayyeds had also agreed to while negotiating
with the marathas). Farukhsiyar vehemently refused it and had a verbal altercation with the Sayyeds. Matters reached to a
point where swords were drawn. Farrukhsiyar himself hid himself in his palace.
Note: Nizam ul Mulk remained neutral all this time.
Farukhsiyars forces under Aminkhan were no match for the combined army of the Marathas and the Sayyeds.
In 1719, Farukhsiyar was replaced by a weak Rafi Ud Darjat as the Mughal emperor of Delhi who immediately certified
the rights of the marathas below the Narmada river.
Farukhsiyar was later imprisoned, blinded and murdered by the Sayyed brothers.
Balaji Vishwanath on his way back from Delhi, also secured the release of Shahus mother Yesubai, wife Savitribai , half
brother Madan singh and many Marathas who were earlier taken as captives by Aurangzeb.
Balaji also procured for his king the right of chauth (one fourth of the revenue) in six mughal provinces(including
Malwa,Berar,Bundelkhand,Gujrat) in the Deccan , sardeshmukhi (one tenth of the revenue) and also swarajya (freedom)
in Shahus own land.

This move endeared Shahu to his Peshwa whom he praised as an 'atul parakrami sevak' (a highly competant and
valorous servant).

Note: Balaji Vishwanath was instrumental in streamlining the administration of the Maratha kingdom. To fill up the maratha
coffers and to enable better collection of the Chauth (one fourth of the land revenue) and Sardeshmukhi (one tenth of the
chauth )rights, he patronized selected people.
They were allowed to keep the major part of the revenue so as to maintain their armies and rest was to be transferred to
the state.
This move was a departure from Shivajis earlier policy of keeping all his officers on a fixed payscale, and without any
jagirs.
This move by Balaji Vishwanath has been critisised by some historians , as they felt that this paved way for legalizing the
sovereign rights of those individuals over their regions.
But from Balaji Vishwanaths point of view, it made the revenue collection system much efficient with little cost to the states
exchequer, as these people in order to maintain their lifestyles and armies, made an diligent effort to collect the revenue
from their regions of influence. This also considerably increased the revenue of the King.
On his return, Balaji Vishwanath established himself at Puna (Pune) ,which became the headquarters of the Peshwas to
follow.Balaji Vishwanath is said to have funded the marathi translation of Skanda Purana.
His final battle was against Ch.Sambhajis (Kolhapur throne) forces whom he successfully pushed beyond Warna.
But Balaji Vishwanath wasnt able to enjoy his success for long. He fell ill and died in a matter of days at Saswad near
Puna on 12th April 1720.
Balaji left behind a wife Radhabai, two daughters (Bhiubai and Anubai) and two sons Bajirao I and Chimaji Appa.There is
also a mention of an illegitimate son Bhikaji.
Balaji Vishwanath was succeeded by his son Bajirao I as the next Peshwa.

Peshwas (Part 2) : Glory of the Peshwas

Refer previous Peshwa articles to get a sense of continuity viz. Peshwas Part 1: Early Peshwas
(Sonopant,Shyampant,Moropant,Nilopant,Bahirojipant,Ramchandrapant and Balaji Vishwanath Bhat), Part 2:
Glory of the Peshwas (Bajirao I), Part 3: Peak of the Peshwas and Debacle at Panipat(Balaji Bajirao), Part 4: Strife
within (Madhavrao, Narayanrao,Raghunathrao,Sawai Madhavrao), Part 5: Decline of the Peshwas (Bajirao II,
Amritrao, Nanasahib)..
In Peshwas (Part 1), we read about the advent of the Bhat dynasty amongst the Peshwas (Prime ministers). The
progenitor of the dynasty being Balaji Vishwanath Bhat. He was the Peshwa of Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj. The
descendents of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat were to remain the Peshwas till the end of the Maratha empire in Maharashtra.

Peshwa Bajirao I (b. Aug 18,1699- d. 28th April 1740) a.k.a Thorale Bajirao (Bajirao the eldest) a.k.a Bajirao
Ballal a.k.a Visaji is considered the most valiant amongst the Peshwas.
His swift cavalry movements and brilliant military strategies make him second only to the great Shivaji.
Bajirao was the son and successor of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath Bhat.
A young Bajirao was appointed the Peshwa by Chatrapati Shahu immediately after the death of Balaji Vishwanath (17th
April 1720, at Masur camp near Satara).
Early years
Bajirao was born in 1700 at Barve wada (in the house of his maternal uncle Malhar Daji Barve) at Duber village near
Duber fort .
Note: to visit Duber village, one needs to take theGhoti route from Mumbai to Sinnar. Duber lies 13 kms before Sinnar.

Bajirao and his brother Chimaji were trained in the art of warfare, horsemanship and administration from their early teens,
and were predestined to play a major role in Maratha history.
Bajirao was also a part of Balaji Vishwanaths entourage to Delhi (1718-19) and had gained first hand experience in
mughal politics.
Bajirao was a very ambitious person and dreamt of expanding the borders of the Maratha kingdom further towards the
north. He was witnessing a gradual deterioration in the Mughal power and wanted to take full advantage of this situation.
Bajirao propounded a forward policy for Maratha expansion.
He is said to have thundered in Shahus court, Strike, strike at the trunk and the branches will fall off themselves. Listen
but to my counsel, and I shall plant the Maratha banner on the walls of Attock.
Shahu was deeply impressed and exclaimed, By heaven, you shall plant it on the Himalayas.
Predictably the young Bajiraos quick ascendency caused resentment amongst several of the senior nobles
(like Pant
Pratinidhi,Pant Sachiv and Chimnaji Moghe). Moreso because their own seniority had been disregarded.
Also there was a difference in opinion with Bajirao whom they considered an impetuous upstart.
They believed that the Marathas first ought to consolidate their empire in Maharashtra and continue then with Shivajis
policy for strategic depth in the south. Whereas Bajirao found no oppurtunities in an already ravaged deccan and sensed
potential in the north.
It was eventually Bajiraos wish that prevailed.
Note: Chimnaji Moghe , the deputy of Balaji Vishwanath was supported by Pant Pratinidhi and Pant Sachiv to suceed
Balaji Vishwanath against Bajirao I. But after Chatrapati Shahu made Bajirao I , the next Peshwa, Chimnaji left Shahus
services and joined the Kolhapur court, where he was made the Peshwa. He even fought a battle with Bajirao(at Gujrat,
alongside of Dabhade), but was subsequently defeated.

The influence of Sayyad brothers at Delhi had also eclipsed, with the murder of Sayyad Hussain and the confinement
(and subsequent death) of Sayyad Abdullah by the mughal emperor Muhammed Shah Rangila and the mughals no
longer wished to honour their earlier sanads of chauth , sardeshmukhi and swaraj (given to the erstwhile Peshwa Balaji
Vishwanath at Delhi, after a due treaty with the Sayyeds and the erstwhile emperor).
Subsequently Nizam Ul Mulk Kamruddin Khan Siddiqui was appointed the new Wazir and it was decided that he would
deal with the marathas in the Deccan.
This also led to the maratha concentration in the north.
Clash with Nizam Ul Mulk
Bajirao had many stumbling blocks in his quest for creating Maratha hegemony. There were the Siddis at Janjira and the
Portuguese challenging Maratha dominance on the western coast. But the foremost amongst Bajiraos foes was Nizam ul
Mulk the mughal viceroy of Deccan (seated at Hyderabad), who sensing the weak control of the mughal emperors, had
decided to establish his own independent kingdom in the Deccan.
The Nizam ul Mulk disregarded the right of the Marathas to collect chauth in the Deccan. Initial efforts towards a peacefull
settlement (Chikalthan parley 1721) of the matter also failed despite the reaffirmation of the Mughal Maratha treaty from
the Delhi court.
But in 1722, Nizam ul Mulks personal ambitions lay exposed before the mughal emperor and the latter (Muhammed Shah)
started sidelining him. Nizam ul Mulk now rebelled openly against the mughal emperor and declared his regions as
independent with the capital being Hyderabad. When the imperial army led by Mubariz Khan tried to seize the errant
Nizam, the latter sought the help from his old enemies the Marathas and agreed to accept all their earlier demands.
Shahu instructed Bajirao to send an contingent to assist the Nizam. Their collective armies subdued the imperial forces at
Sakherkheda in 1724.
But true to his nature, Nizam ul Mulk after seeing the danger had passed by, once again provoked the Marathas by
refusing to honour his word. To rub salt on the wounds, Nizam ul mulk propped up a coalition of Sambhaji II of Kolhapur,
Chandrasen Jadhav,Udaji Chavan and Rao Rambha Nimbalkar against Shahu. When Peshwa and his troops had gone to
collect Chauth in the south (in 1727), the Nizams forces made an surprise attack on Poona, whereby he proclaimed
Sambhaji II to be his accepted Chatrapati. (Satara too came under threat and Ch.Shahu himself had to seek refuge in fort
Purandar near Saswad).
Battle of Palkhed
Hearing the news of the attack, Bajiraos troops proceeded towards Poona . The Nizam was already waiting for the
Peshwa with a huge army and artillery.
But the clever Peshwa was obviously a step ahead of the Nizam as far as war machinations were concerned. Instead of
confronting the powerful Nizam's artillery in a pitched battle, he created a detour by plundering Nizams territories like
Jalna, Khandesh and proceeded toward Burhanpur a rich mughal outpost in the control of the Nizam. Bajirao thus
provoked the Nizam into leaving his base and give the Peshwa a chase. However the Nizam had to leave behind his
heavy artillery in order to catch up with the Peshwas army. This was preciscely what the wily Peshwa wanted. As the
Nizams army progressed towards the Peshwa, midway at Palkhed (a hill tract near Aurangabad) the Peshwa managed to
trap and surround the Nizam.
The Nizam found himself in a precarious situation, surrounded as he was, without food and water supplies for days. The
Nizam was soon forced to sign a humiliating treaty at Mungi Shevgaon (6th March, 1728), whereby the Nizam agreed to
accept Shahu as the sole Maratha chatrapati and give up the cause of Sambhaji II forever. The Maratha rights for chauth
were also recognized.
Malwa campaign
In October 1728, Bajirao and his troops launched an attack on Malwa. His contingent consisted of his brother Chimaji
Appa, Tanoji Shinde,Malharrao Holkar and Udaji Pawar, all of whom were destined to great heights in the near future.The
Marathas subdued the mughal forces and captured Malwa. The mughals later tried to dislodge the Marathas by deputing
first Sawai Jaisingh of Amber and then Muhammed Khan Bangash. But their attempts to dislodge the Marathas from
Malwa proved unsuccessful and they found themselves humbled.
Bundelkhand chapter : Mastani

Mughals under the governor Muhammed Khan Bangash had laid a siege in Bundelkhand since 1727. Its king Chatrasal
(considering his friendly relations with the Marathas since the time of Shivaji ) appealed to the marathas for help, but the
Maratha armies being engaged elsewhere, Shahu wasnt able to send timely help.
Note: Raja Chatrasal (1649-1731) was the legendary king from Bundelkhand who freed his land from Mughal domination
(during the reign of Aurangzeb). He was a son of 'Champatrai' , a Mughal vassal. He was greatly inspired by Chatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj and had earlier offered to join his army to fight against the Mughals. But Shivaji had instructed him to first
free his own land from the mughals and promised him all the necessary help in this endeavour.
Chatrasal offered a stiff resistance to the mughals but eventually was wounded and captured by Muhammed Khan
Bangash at Jaitpur. Chatrasal again appealed to Peshwa Bajirao (in 1729) to come to his aid. This time around Bajirao
himself was in proximity to Bundelkhand (at Garha,Malwa) and with his army came to the rescue of Chatrasal.
The Mughal commander Muhammed Bangash was surrounded at Jaitpur (and his son's army, which coming to his
aid was also routed), forcing Bangash to accept defeat . He pleaded with Bajirao for a free passage to Delhi which Bajirao
accepted in return for a promise that Bangash would never trouble Chatrasal ever again.
Extremely gratified towards Bajirao, Raja Chatrasal declared in an open durbar that the Peshwa was now onwards his
adopted son, and accorded him a personal jagir (one third of his kingdom) which included Sagar,Banda and Jhansi
(Bajirao entrusted its administration to Govind Pant - who later came to be known as Govind pant Bundele).
Chatrasal also gifted Bajirao his beautiful daughter Mastani (from his Persian muslim concubine). Mastani later bore
Bajirao a son who was named Shamsher Bahadur.
Note: The love story between Bajirao and Mastani is regarded as a tragedy, as this alliance didnt go well with Bajiraos
orthodox family, especially after the Peshwa started neglecting his first wife Kashibai. They never accepted Mastani as
their daughter in law. Even the brahmins of Poona refused to conduct the thread ceremony of Shamsher Bahadur
(Krishnarao), him being born from of a muslim woman. What irked the orthodox Brahmins more was the fact that Bajirao
despite being a Chitpavan Brahmin, disregarded the principles of Brahmanism. On his expeditions, he openly consumed
meat and alcohol and now commited sacrilage by begetting a child from a muslim woman.
Later, Shamsher Bahadur died fighting for the Marathas in the third battle of Panipat. His son Ali Bahadur got charge of a
part of Bajiraos jagir in Bundelkhand. There he formed the state of Banda (in present day Uttar Pradesh).
Gujarat
Gujarat had a lot of free booters (Maratha confederates who often acted independently in the province of Gujarat).
Prominent amongst these were Pilaji Gaekwad and Kanthaji Kadam Bande.They owed their allegience to Sarsenapati
Khanderao Dabhade who weilded influence in those regions.
The Maratha senapati Khanderao Dabhade was officially given charge for Gujrat by Ch.Shahu himself after the former
had subdued the mughal officers in that state. After the death of Khanderao in 27th Sept,1729 his son Trimbakrao
Dabhade was made senapati.
In Gujarat there was another player in the form of Hamid Khan who was a protg of the Nizam ul Mulk.
When the mughal emperor despatched Sarbulund Khan in July 1724, to get control of Gujrat which was engulfed in rivalry
between mughal nobility, Hamid Khan entered into a understanding with Bande to prevent the imperial interference. He
gave him rights to collect chauth towards the north of river Mahi. Bajirao then asked (through his representative Udaji
Pawar) Sarbulund Khan to grant him the chauth rights of Gujarat but was spurned. So Bajirao despatched his brother
Chimaji Appa to Gujrat who looted the towns of Petlad and Dholka.
Sarbulund Khan was unable to simultaneously tackle Bande as well as the Peshwas armies and he was forced to sign an
agreement with the Peshwa in 1730 whereby the Peshwa was given chauth and sardeshmukhi rights for Gujrat region
(seaport of Surat was excluded from this agreement). But this didnt go very well with the mughal court and they replaced
Sarbulund Khan with Abhay singh, son of Ajit singh of Jodhpur. But Abhay singh too reconciled with the idea that the
Peshwa was the only person who could rein in the free booters and compromised with him.
Meanwhile the treaty between the Mughals and the Peshwa didnt go well with Maratha Senapati Trimbakrao Dabhade,
who considered the Gujrat affairs his heridatory right . He was already having ego clashes with the Peshwa, whom he
wasnt entirely comfortable accepting as a second supreme authority after the king. Note the Peshwa on his part was also
encouraging new blood like Holkar-Shinde-Pawar and starting on war campaigns without consultations with the
sarsenapati.Now this Gujarat issue only aggravated matters further. Sarsenapati Trimbakrao Dabhade accused Peshwa
Bajirao II of breaching the contract made between the Dabhade family and Chatrapati Shahu.Finding the king also

evasive in the matter, he decided to take on Bajirao directly. In a skirmish that followed at Dabhoi in April 1731, Trimbakrao
Dabhade was killed (Pilaji Gaekwads son Sambhaji also died in that battle). Also captured were rebels like Udaji Pawar
(he had fallen out with Bajirao) and Chimnaji Damodar who were fighting from Dabhades side.
Note: Meanwhile, Shahu had forced Sambhaji II to sign the treaty of Warna in 1731 after the defeat of the latter at
Vishalgad. Sambhaji II had to accept Shahu as his overlord.
Nizam ul Mulk was also made to eat the humble pie at Rohe Rameshwar in 27th Dec,1732 whereby he sought the
Peshwas forgiveness for conspiring against him.
The Elephant War with the Siddis
The trouble between Marathas and the Siddis (Abysinnian muslims) resurfaced when a Siddi (Abyssinian) faujdar, Siddi
Satt desecrated the hindu temple at Parshuram in the Konkan and insulted a saint by the name of Bramhendra swami.
This happened in the year 1729, after a elephant gifted by the Nawab of Savnur to the Siddis of Janjira was being
transported through Maratha territory by the disciples of Bramhendra swami and enroute it had been captured by a
contingent of the Maratha sarkhel(admiral) Kanhoji Angre. Presuming it to be a conspiracy of the swami, the Siddis faujdar
roughed up the swamis disciples and vandalised the Parshuram temple.
Bramhendra swami was a highly revered person and this strained the historically stretched relations between the
Marathas and the Siddis. Meanwhile Siddi nawab Rasul Yaqut died in 1733 and a succession war started between his
sons. Kanhoji Angre had also died on 4th July 1729 and was succeeded by his son Sekhoji Angre as the Maratha sarkhel.
Bajirao sensing an opportune time despatched his army and besieged Janjira by sea. The fort was just about to fall , but
for the untimely death of Sekhoji in 1733.
Sekhojis brother Sambhaji refused to take orders from the Peshwa and due to his non cooperation the siege had to be
called off. Luckily for the Marathas, the Siddis son Abdul Rehman approached Bajirao for a succession settlement with his
uncles and cousins whereby Marathas gave him the desired help. In return the previous territories of the Siddis like
Raigad,Rewas,Chaul and Thal were recognized as parts of Maratha territory (1736).The other brothers too found it futile
to resist the marathas and gave in.
Siddi was thereafter confined only to the territories of Janjira, Anjanvel and Gowalkot, with his powers greatly diminished.
The main antagonist Siddi Sat was also killed in an encounter with Chimaji appa in few months time.Thus concluded what
is now termed as the elephant war.
Bajirao thunders at the gates of Delhi
By 1735, the marathas had virtually gained control over entire Gujrat and Malwa. But some towns and areas under the
influence of local mughal officers and zamindars refused to acknowledge Maratha control.
The Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah was also dillydallying over passing an official order chartering chauth and
sardeshmukhi rights to the Marathas. Efforts by Bajirao to seek audience with the mughal emperor were also ignored. The
Marathas decided to assert themselves and started plundering the adjoining territories of Rajasthan. The Mughals also
retaliated by sending troops under under their Vazir Qamruddin Khan and Mir Bakshi Khan i Dauran. But both the
contingents were routed by Maratha commanders (Pilaji Jadhav defeated the forces of the Vazir and Ranoji Shinde,
Malhararao Holkar subdued the forces of the Mir Bakshi).
Note: Ranoji Shinde and Malharrao Holkar were to set up their permanent headquarters at Gwalior and Indore respectively. In years to
come both became separate princely states.

The Peshwa then decided to teach the mughal emperor a lesson of his lifetime. Bajirao personally marched towards Delhi
with a large Maratha army in Dec 1737.
He divided the army into two. One contingent was led by Peshwa Bajirao and the other by Pilaji Jadhav and Malharrao
Holkar. The contingent of Holkar was however anhilated by a much larger army led by Sadat Khan , the Nawab of Oudh
and mughal governor of Agra . Malharrao Holkar himself managed to escape and reach the other group led by Bajirao.
Meanwhile, thinking that the Maratha threat was over, Sadat Khan sent the good news to Delhi. To join in the celebrations
of his perceived success, the other mughal commanders also joined in , leaving Delhi virtually unguarded.
That was when the contingent of Bajirrao, in a swift movement , completely bypassed the encamped mughal army and
reached the outskirts of Delhi (28th March 1737), covering a ten day journey in just fourty eight hours.
What followed thereafter was the total loot of the suburbs of Delhi. The Mughal emperor himself hid in the safe confines of
Red Fort, while Bajirao and his men plundered the countryside in glee abandon. A eight thousand strong mughal army led

by Mir Hassan Koka did try to take on Bajirao , but they were hopelessly outmanouvered and Mir Hassan himself was
wounded in the skirmish.
Then before the main mughal army could gather their wits, Bajirao with his entourage returned back to the Deccan.
On 31st March 1737, the victorious Maratha army left Delhi with their large booty leaving behind Delhi, mauled and
humbled.
On the way back to Pune , Bajirao planted his trusted lieutenants at various places in north and central India, which were
to remain their permanent places of influence in the near future.

Treaty of Bhopal
Now the emperor turned back to Nizam ul Mulk who had earlier fallen out with him. Nizam ul mulk was made the supreme
commander of the imperial forces and sent with an seventy thousand strong contingent to attack the Maratha dominions.
On the way, many mughal officers, chieftains joined him. This large mughal contingent reached Bhopal to extract revenge
from the Marathas.
But it was again a futile exercise. The Marathas led by Bajirao himself and his brother Chimaji Appa were all ready for the
imperial army.
They completely surrounded the Mughals in Bhopal, cutting off all their supplies. Finally forcing the Nizam to sign yet
another treaty, this time the treaty of Bhopal (7th Jan 1738, Dora Sarai) whereby, the mughals conceded entire Malwa,
region between Narmada and Chambal rivers, besides fifty lakh rupees as war indemnity.
Note: Nadir Shah of Persia attacked and plundered Delhi between Feb to March 1739. Nadir Shah took away with him several precious
jewels,ornaments, besides the famed bejeweled peacock throne and several slaves. He also annexed Afghanistan,
Baluchistan,NWF,Sind, four districts of Punjab to the Persian empire.This was the culmination of the decline of mughal leadership in
India.

Bajirao and the Portuguese

Bajirao had already quelled the Portuguese threat to Manaji Angre in the Konkan. In return Angre promised him an annual
tribute of 7000 rupees.
Bajirao was also having a grouse against the Portuguese over the island of Salsette (part of Mumbai, which the
Portuguese had refused to lease out to the Marathas for construction of a commercial factory), following which Bajiraos
brother Chimaji Appa (d.1741) attacked the Portuguese regions (near Bombay/ Mumbai) in March 1738. He successfully
captured the regions of Thane,Parsik,Belapur,Dharavi, Arnala and concluded his campaign with the capture of
Versova(Feb,1739) and Bassein (Vasai,May 1739).
Note: Earlier in 1719, Balaji Vishwanath the father of Bajirao and Chimaji had forcibly taken over Kalyan (near Mumbai)from the
Portuguese.
Note2: The English had played a rather duplicit role during the Bassein war by supplying arms and ammunition to both the Marathas
(covertly) and the Portuguese(overtly).
Seige was also laid at Panaji in Goa (during the time of Portuguese viceroy Sandomil) and was called off following a treaty for peace by
the Portuguese in April 1739. Salsette also eventually fell to the Marathas in May, 1739.

Last campaign of Bajirao

Bajirao desired a corridor to Delhi through certain regions of Nizam ul Mulk (which earlier had been promised to the
marathas in the treaty at Bhopal). Nasir Jung the Nizams son however refused. Hence he was besieged by Bajirao at
Aurangabad. He sued for peace (28th Feb 1740) and ceded the districts of Handia and Khargon in Nemad, south of river
Narmada to Bajirao.
Unfortunately this proved to be the last campaign of the great Peshwa.
Death

Bajirao was struck by a virulent fever at Raver (near Indore,south of river Narmada) and hardly in a weeks time, he
breathed his last (on 18 th April 1740). He was just fourty.
At the time of his death his wife Kashibai and son Janardhan were by his side. His son performed his obsequies.
Thus fate cut short the life of one of the most valorous of the Peshwas, a builder of empires and a leader of men.
Epilogue
Bajirao left behind a wife, Kashibai and four sons namely Balaji Bajirao his successor , Raghunathrao( who later became
Peshwa for a small period following the murder of his nephew Narayanrao)& Janardhanrao.(his other son Ramchandra
probably died early).
Bajiraos other wife Mastani too died soon .Some say she commited suicide while some claim she commited sati. Her
body was buried in a place called Pabal,Tal.Shirur (near Pune) which was gifted to her by Bajirao. She left behind a son,
Shamsher Bahadur who was raised in the Peshwa household.
Note: Shamsher bahaddur helped establish the maratha rule in the north along with his step brother Raghunathrao.
Shamsherbahaddur died after succumbing to injuries bourne in the battle of Panipat. His son Alibahaddur and grandson
Shamsherbahaddur II made noteworthy contributions in establishing the maratha rule in the north and established the
state of Banda (in present day U.P). Shamsherbahaddur II was succeeded by his brother Zulfikar Ali Bahadur.
Shamsherbahaddur IIs nephew Alibahaddur II (son of Zulfikar) was an active participant in the uprising of 1857.
Balaji Bajirao a.k.a Nanasaheb I took the maratha empire to its zenith (ably supported by Sadashivrao bhau, the son of
Chimaji appa). Sadashivrao bhau was himself martyred in the battle of Panipat 1761.
Bajirao also made Puna (Pune) his capital. His aide Bapuji Shripat was instrumental in persuading many rich families of
adjoining towns to settle down at Pune.
Bajirao had the famous temple of Omkareshwar constructed in his lifetime.
Bajirao also had their mansion Shanivarwada constructed at Shanivar Peth (previously Murtuzabad) in Pune. This was to
remain the official residence of the Peshwas.

Peshwas (Part 3) : Peak of the Peshwas and their

debacle at Panipat
Refer previous Peshwa articles to get a sense of continuity viz. Peshwas Part 1: Early Peshwas
(Sonopant,Shyampant,Moropant,Nilopant,Bahirojipant,Ramchandrapant and Balaji Vishwanath Bhat), Part 2: Glory of the
Peshwas (Bajirao I), Part 3: Peak of the Peshwas and Debacle at Panipat(Balaji Bajirao), Part 4: Strife within (Madhavrao,
Narayanrao,Raghunathrao,Sawai Madhavrao), Part 5: Decline of the Peshwas (Bajirao II, Amritrao, Nanasahib).

Pic: Peshwa Balaji Bajirao

Balaji Bajirao a.k.a Nanasaheb (b.12th Dec,1721-d.1761) was the son and successor of Bajirao I.
His reign saw the zenith of the Maratha power and also the commencement of its decline.
Nanasaheb was the eldest son of Bajirao and Kashibai. After the death of Bajirao, Chatrapati Shahu declared his son
Nanasaheb, the next Peshwa (25th June 1740).
The crowning of a nineteen year old to the Peshwas post was met with opposition from the likes ofRaghuji Bhosale of
Nagpur (refer note below on Raghuji Bhosale) and Babuji Naik Joshi (an old rival of BajiraoI, incidently also a kin), an
influential Pune banker. They expressed skepticism about the capacity of a teenager to lead the kingdom .
But Shahu, keeping in mind the yeoman services to the Maratha kingdom of both Nanasahebs father, Bajirao I (and
ofcourse the persistence shown by Chimaji appa, the uncle and guardian of Nanasaheb

Refer note below)

and grandfather,

Balaji Vishwanath , brushed aside all opposition.

Mhadoba Purandare a senior bureaucrat (and an confidante of the Bhat family) was made the Mutalik (deputy) to the
young Peshwa.
Balaji Bajirao despite his young age wasnt exactly a novice to statecraft. He had earlier accompanied his father and uncle
in many expeditions (not to mention Shahus own expedition to Karnataka in 1737-38, and an expedition to northern India
with Pilaji Jadhav).
When Balaji Bajirao became a Peshwa, he was bereft of advice from seniors. His ailing uncle Chimaji appa had also died
within months of his appointment as a Peshwa (and within a year of his fathers death) and his cousin Sadashivrao and
brother Raghunathrao were quite young. But the young Peshwa held on to his own amidst several rivals.

Note: Chimaji appa was said to be a fatherlike figure for young Nanasaheb, especially after Bajirao I was accused of
neglecting his family for his beloved concubine Mastani. However Chimajiappa too died within a year of his brothers death
and Nanasaheb had to take over the reins of the entire family at a very young age.

Note: Raghuji Bhosale was from the clan of the Nagpur Bhosales . He was a kinsman of Ch. Shahu as both had taken
sisters from the Mohite family as their respective wives (Sagunabai was the youngest Queen of Shahu and was from the
Mohite clan).Raghuji had shown his resourcefulness in the campaigns in Berar and the south and he wieled considerable
influence in the Maratha court.
Raghuji Bhosale hailed from the family of Mudhoji Patil of Deor ,Satara. Mudhoji had three sons Bapuji,Parsoji and
Sabaji.Raghuji was the grandson of Bapuji. All these Bhosales had earlier distinguished themselves in the army of
Shivaji.For the same, Parsoji the son of Mudhoji was given the right to collect chauth from Berar, which later passed on to
Raghuji.
Soon the Gond rajas of Berar also came under the influence of Raghuji and the latter became the all powerfull in Berar.
Raghuji established himself in Nagpur, where he reigned nominally as the representative of the Gond prince from 1743 to
1755. By 1751 Raghuji had effected the conquest of the Deogarh territories of Chanda and Chhattisgarh. Ratanpur, the
capital of the Haihaya kingdom, had fallen to the Bhosales in 1741 on the advance of his General, Bhaskar Pant, and four
years later,the last Rajput Raja of that dyasty was deposed. The fort of Chanda was delivered up to Raghuji by the
treachery of its Diwan in 1749 and two years later was finally ceded to him .
The kingdoms that later came under Raghujis dominion and paid him an annual tribute extended from Bengal to
Orissa. When Raghuji had a friction with Peshwa Balaji Bajirao, Shahu brought about a rapproachment between the two
by demarcarting (31st August 1743) their spheres of influence. The Peshwas were not to interfere in the region of
influence of Raghuji Bhosale viz. in Nagpur , Berar and in the eastern parts of India viz Bengal and Orissa (and also
Lucknow in the north). Whereas Ajmer,Agra,Prayag and Malwa were to remain in the Peshwas jurisdiction.Raghuji died in
1755.Raghuji was succeeded by his son Janoji.
Note : On one occasion Balajis rivals had got the better of him and instigated Shahu to dismiss Balaji Bajirao from the
post of the Peshwa (1746), but Shahu soon realized the innocence of Balaji in all the alleged wrongdoings and reinstated
him in a matter of months (in 1747).
War of succession for Shahus legacy and Peshwa becomes the supreme authority
Shahu did not have any legitimate sons to succeed him. His only son from Sagunabai had died in his infancy. This led to a
succession war between his queens Sakwarbai and Sagunabai (d.1748).They both wanted their nominees to succeed
Shahu.
Sagunabai wanted her nephew Mudhoji Bhosale, son of Raghoji Bhosale (her sisters husband), to succeed Shahu.
But Sakwarbai opposed her attempts as it meant an increase in the influence of Sagunabai.
There was also a proposal to install Sambhaji II of Kolhapur (especially by the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao, thus uniting the two
seats of Kolhapur and Satara) + or his half brother Venkoji as the successors. But eventually it was Shahus old foe Tarabai
(wife of Shahus uncle Rajaram) who won the succesion battle, brushing away all the other contestants. She managed to
convince Shahu to adopt her grandson Ramraja and declare him his successor.
Note: Sakwarbai had to commit Sati after Shahus death along with Shahus concubines. Sagunabai had died earlier
(before Shahu's death).
Note+: Shahu despite conciliating with his cousin Sambhaji was never comfortable with the idea of having him as his
successor and he mentioned explicitly in his will that he chose Ramraja over Sambhaji as his successor. Sambhaji was
quite old himself and did not have a male issue. That may have been the other reason.

Tarabai initially controlled Ramraja . But after Ramraja came of age he started resenting his 'grandmothers' dominating
nature and yearned for freedom of action.
Friction between the Ramraja and Tarabai led to a point whereby Tarabai publicly disowned Ramraja , categorically stating
that he was never her real grandson, but rather someone whom she had adopted and used to fill in the leadership void.
This created a lot of illwill amongst the maratha nobles, as they had married off their daughters to Ramraja, only because
Tarabai had declared him her grandson.
Ramraja was greatly distressed because of Tarabai's words and the strain between them thereafter became quite
apparent. Then onwards Ramraja started working in close unison with the Peshwa much to the dismay of Tarabai.
In 1750 , Ramraja signed the critical 'Sangola' agreement, whereby he invested the Peshwa with more authority and
reduced himself to being a titular king . This was in return for continuation of his rights as a Chatrapati and protection from
machinations of Tarabai.
But the gritty lady Tarabai, was not the one to give up so easily. She caused a coup detat and confined Ramraja to prison.
The Peshwa felt it prudent not to act against Tarabai, as she was a respected and senior member of the royal family and a
wife of an ex soveireign .Also added to his decision was the fact that he had to concentrate on the Nizam Nasir Jung who
was creating mischief in Karnatak. He therefore simply tried to impress upon Ramraja to be patient and bide time until
some alternate solution could be found.But as we saw the solution never came about and Ramraja continued to languish
in prison.
However the Peshwa did weaken Tarabais position by subduing her partizans like Pant Sachiv (the Peshwa took over the
control of his fort Sinhagad), Pant Pratinidhi (his fort at Sangola was taken over), Yashwantrao Dabhade (confiscated his
rights in Gujarat).
Damaji Gaekwad who ( who along with his master Dabhade) had taken cudgels on behalf of Tarabai was also forced to
submit.
Note: Thereafter, Damaji duly transferred his allegiance to the Peshwa and the latter transferred half the control of Gujrat,
which earlier was in the hands of Dabhades over to Damaji Gaekwad.
Tarabai was eventually isolated. All her intrigues had failed and the grand old lady was forced to accept Peshwa Balaji
Bajirao as the supreme authority in the Maratha kingdom (Sept 1751). However to both their credit, the relations thence
between Tarabai and Balaji Bajirao remained cordial.
Note: Tarabai categorically told the Peshwa that she stood by her statement that Ramraja was not her real grandson and
wished that the Peshwa wouldnt interfere in her decision of keeping Ramraja in confinement. The Peshwa too did not
want to disturb the staus quo and Ramraja continued being a prisoner of Tarabai until her death in 1761 (Balaji Bajirao too
had died by then). The new Peshwa, Madhavrao (Balajis son and successor) then reinstated Ramraja as the Chatrapati at
Satara.
Maratha Confederacy
Balaji Bajirao continued his fathers expansionist policy. He patronized many Maratha commanders who were instrumental
in the steady expansion of the Maratha dominions. These Maratha commanders were later to carve out their own spheres
of influence, which gained an semi independent status with allegiance to the Chhatrapati and his Peshwa.These
commanders had the right to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi from various vassal kingdoms of India.This perpetrated a
loose Maratha confederacy throughout India but also ensured maratha hegemony in the politics of the country.

Campaigns under Balaji Bajirao

Earlier in 1741, the young Peshwa had come to an understanding with Raja Sawai Jaisingh of Amber, whereby the latter
secured from the mughal court , the continuation of the chauth and sardeshmukhi rights for Malwa ( This was after the
death of Bajirao I) .
In 1742-43, the Peshwa led an expedition to Bengal. This was done at the behest of the Mughal court in exchange for the
chauth rights of Malwa. The Mughal governor of Bengal, Nawab Alivardi Khan was perturbed with Raghuji Bhosales (who
was acting independent of the Peshwas control) repeated raids in Bengal and had asked the Peshwa to check Raghujis
growing influence in the east (in return Peshwa was promised chauth in Bengal). Raghuji being a rival of the Peshwa in
the kings court, the Peshwa readily obliged the Mughal governor. In return for his service Alivardi Khan, paid the Peshwa
a sum of twenty two lakhs.
Note: Later Chatrapati Shahu later brought about reconciliation between Raghoji Bhosale and Peshwa Balaji Bajirao by
clearly demarcating their spheres of influence. Raghuji was given the territories of Berar,Bengal,Orissa,Lucknow, Bihar
while the Peshwa got Konkan,Malwa,Ajmer. Raghuji thereafter remained passive towards the Peshwa.
Other personal expeditions of Balaji Bajirao to the north were Bhilsa (1744-45) and Newai(1747-48).
Maratha imperialism
Then onwards Balaji Bajirao confined himself to the administration of his kingdom from Pune (moreso to consolidate his
power base in the Deccan region) .
Note:His critics say that after the first ten years of hardwork, the Peshwa gave in to a life of pleasure and delegated the
responsibility of the kingdom to his cousin Sadashivraobhau. But this criticism seems a little harsh, moreso because
despite his perceived epicureanism, the Peshwa never neglected his administrative work and virtually transformed Pune
into a sprawling city. From wherever he was stationed, he always had the final say in all major matters happening all over
the country. Not to mention that he had to contend with some antagonistic politics ( indulged by Tarabai, Dabhade,
Gaekwad, Pant Pratinidhi, Pant Sachiv and the Nizam) back home as well. Moreover he started concentrating on
pursuing his dream of subjugating Karnataka, leaving the politcs of the north to his generals whom he had stationed there
permanently.
All the latter Maratha expeditions were carried forward by his commanders like Sadashivraobhau,Ranoji Scindia,
Malharrao Holkar,Pilaji Jadhav,Yashwantrao Pawar, Gopalrao Patwardhan,Visaji Krishna Biniwale etc.
Note:It has to be noted that there are no records of Balaji Bajirao having personally taken part in an armed conflict (even
during his expeditions to the north).His role was more of a general who planned and executed campaigns.
In Dec 1746, Peshwa sent his force under his cousin Sadashivrao bhau (son of Chimajiappa) to chastise the Nawab of
Savnur in Karnataka. The competant Bhau (as Sadashivrao was fondly called) subdued the Nawab with immediate effect
and 'chauth' was levied in the regions between Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.The Nizam ul Mulks army under his son
Nasir Jung was also defeated in May 1747 by Bhau and his men.
Nizam ul Mulk died in May 1748 and was succeeded by Nasir Jung who thereafter adopted a conciliatory approach
towards the Marathas, until his assassination in 1750 by his treacherous ally Muhammad Khan, the Nawab of Kadappa.
He was succeeded by Muzzafar Jang in 1751 and thereafter by Salabat Jang.
Salabat Jang renewed hostilities against the Marathas at the instigation of the French agent Bussy. The Nizams forces

met reverses at the hands of the Marathas on each occasion.

Later Ghaziuddin Sr brother of Salabat Jung sought the help of the Peshwa in toppling his brother. In return Salabat jang
supported the forces of Sambhaji II and Tarabai against their common foe the Peshwa.
But again the Peshwa proved the successful one.
Meanwhile, Ghaziuddin Sr became a victim of the palace intrigues (he was poisened by his brother/stepmother) and
Salabat Jung remained in power. However, Salabat concluded an armistice+ with the Peshwa. and even agreed to honour
Ghaziuddins commitment to the Peshwa, whereby the latter was to be paid 15 lakhs along with territory west of Berar
from Tapti to Godavari rivers.
Note+:All this happened when one Sayyad Lashkar became the diwan of Salabat Jung and he weaned out the Nizam
from the influence of the French.
This however proved shortlived as the French agent Bussy, soon had Sayyad Lashkar removed and once again gained
access in the Nizams court.
But in 1763, Salabat Jung himself was deposed and murdered by his brother Nizam Ali.
In 1753, the Peshwas forces under Sadashivrao bhau (accompanied by a young Shamsher Bahadur, step brother of
Peshwa Balaji Bajirao and Vishwasrao, Balajis son) renewed their southern operations. They attacked Srirangapattan
near Mysore. The French and the Nizam had already established their influence in the Mysore court. They requested the
Peshwa to make the Maratha forces spare Mysore from plunder.The Peshwa heeded their request and turned away.
In 1754-55, the Maratha forces conquered Bagalkot,Harihar, Mundalgi and Bidnur.
In 1756, Murrarao Ghorpade of Gooty who had switched sides with the Nizam entered into an alliance with the Nawab of
Savnur,Karnool and Kaddappa and together they decided to resist the Maratha attempts to collect chauth.However all had
to submit one by one, before the sword of the Marathas.
From 1758-60, the Marathas freely collected chauth from all these regions in Karnataka.
In 1756, the seven year war between the English and French had started. Much to the chagrin of Salabat Jung, his
protector the French agent Bussy was recalled and Salabat feeling vulnerable switched sides to the English.
But before the English could consolidate their hold over Hyderabad, Peshwa ordered attack on the Hyderabad dominions
in Oct,1759.
Burhanpur,Asirgad,Daulatabad,Ahmednagar, and Bijapur fell to the Marathas.the final submission of the Nizam was at
Udgir in 1760. The Nizam Salabat Jung soon sued for peace.
Meanwhile in 1758, Hyder Ali had deposed the weak raja of Mysore. Marathas launched an assault on him and after a few
skirmishes, subdued Hyder Ali.
By 1753, the last vestiges of Mughals in Gujrat also disappeared after marathas under Damaji Gaekwad and
Raghunathrao captured Ahmedabad.
Note1: The Peshwa Balaji Bajirao is also criticised by many historians for taking English help to suppress insubordination
by the Tulaji Angre. The Angres were traditionally the Admirals of Maratha Navy and this action weakened the Maratha
navy to a great extent . It also provided a foothold for the English (who were till then fringe players) in the Indian politics.
But from Peshwas point of view, the English were the rivals of the French, who actively supported the Peshwas enemy,
the Nizam and the Peshwa therefore may have considered it prudent to make the enemy of his enemy a friend. Moreover,
during that time the English were never considered as a potential enemy with a desire to rule but more as a trading
community contented only with the fulfilment of their commercial rights.

Note2: Malharrao Holkar (b.1693-d.1766) was born in a dhangar (shephard caste) family at Jejuri(Pune district) to one
Khandoji Holkar from Vir. He rose in the ranks of the Maratha army and served under Balaji Vishwanath ,Bajirao I as well
as Balaji Bajirao. He was one of the commanders responsible for Maratha successes in the North. A brave warrior and a
accompalished commander, he was one of the officers in charge f collecting revenue from Malwa. He established his
headquarters at Indore, which was to be the capital of Holkar dominion in years to come. Malharrao was part of the
Maratha succeses in Delhi,Malwa,Rajputana and Bassein.
Malharrao had earlier lost his son Khanderrao in an campaign against the Jats (though he reconciled with them in the
interests of the Marathas). After Malharraos death at Alampur he was succeeded briefly by grandson Malerao, and
because of Maleraos premature death within a year, by his legendary daughter in law Ahilyabai Holkar, who proved to be
a capable and benevolent administrator and a social reformer and a builder of many social welfare institutions and
temples. Ahilyabai is still deified in the areas ruled by the Holkars.
Malharrao also took part in the debacle of Panipat, where he is accused by many historians of retreating at a crucial
juncture ( but Holkars defence was that it was done at the behest of his commander in chief Sadashivrao, after the fall of
Vishwasrao in the battle. According to Malharrao, it was Sadashivaraobhau who ordered him to prioritise the safety of
Parvatibai and the other civilians who were stuck in the thick of the battle. But the as er sequence of events Parvatibai
was saved because of a loyal servant and she joined Holkars party much later ). But understanding the psyche of
Malharrao Holkar, he was a man following the traditional gureilla style of warfare and the basic idea behind it was, if
necessary retreating from battle if necessary and living to fight for another day.
Ahilyabais son was dead and when the succession question arose, Tukoji Holkar a distant kin and commander in chief
became an obvious choice. But Ahilyabai was not so much in favour of Tukoji and would have preffered another
successor (possibly an adopted son), if not for the pressure exerted from Pune (especially by Nana Phadanvis). But till
Ahilyabai was alive she had a strong backing from Mahadji Scindia of Gwalior whom Malharrao had extracted a promise
from at his deathbed, that he would always support Ahilyabai. Hence despite opposition from even Raghunathrao,
Mahadji continued to support Ahilyabai. Nana supported Ahilyabais rival Tukoji , as he wanted to weaken Mahadji (Nana's
court rival), by propping up a powerfull person like Tukoji Holkar in the northern politics.
Thus, rivalry continued between Tukoji Holkars descendents and Mahadjis descendents for years to come and the
advantage of this rivalry was taken by the British.
Marathas in the North
With the weakening of the Mughal power (which remained restricted between Attock and Delhi & parts of Gangetic Doab),
the Marathas were now looked upon as the most powerful force in India.+
The services of the Marathas were even sought by the Mughal wazir Safdar Jung , who was facing a threat to his position
from the emperor himself (influenced by his mother Udhambai and her aide Javed Khan the eunuch. Not to mention the
help they sought from Nizam Nasir Jang of Hyderabad and the threats from the Pathans of the Doab who harboured
dreas of reviving the Afghan rule at Delhi) in return they were promised lands in the north. This led to a conflict of interest
with the Rajputs and the Jats who were also vying for those regions. This was to prove detrimental for the Marathas in the
third war at Panipat.

Note: Jayappa Scindia was murdered in Nagore,Rajasthan in 1759, when he was involved in solving the succession
dispute of the royal throne of Jodhpur.
Note+: The northern powers knew that marathas werent colonialists and would never usurp their thrones. They were only
present in the north for the sake of revenue generation and hence were looked upon as mercenaries.

In 1750, the Rohillas and the Bangash pathans of Farukhabad had risen in rebellion against their Mughal masters.
Note: Rohillas were Afghan pathans hailing from regions of northwest frontier and Afghanistan who had settled in northern
India.
Hence the wazir(Safdar Jang,Nawab of Awadh) of the Mughal emperor, sought the help of the Marathas in suppressing
these revolts. The Marathas (Shinde-Holkars) sprang to Safdarjangs rescue and in the 1751 Farukhabad battle, quashed
the Bangash-Rohila (Pathan) combine. However when Safdar Jang was unable to keep his renumeration promises to the
marathas (and also dillydallied over the issue of handing over the hindu pilgrimage sites of Kashi and Prayag to the
marathas). The emperor also decided to do away with Safdar Jang and seduced the maratha agents Hingne and Antaji
Mankeshwar (with promises of the subahs of Avadh and Allahabad)to help him further his interests.A new wazir Intizamud-daulla was also decided upon .Mir Bakshi Imad ul mulk Gaziuddin Jr (grandson of Nizam ul Mulk who established the
kingdom of Hyderabad and son of his eldest child Gaziuddin Sr) too threw in his lot with the emperor.As did Najibudaulla
Khan Rohilla, an rival of Safdar Jang and Madhosingh of Jaipur. Safdarjangs only supporter was Surajmal Jat whose
Gosavi forces were also routed by the imperial forces.
Safdarjang was thereafter forced to retire to Avadh.
Note1:Gaziuddin Sr had earlier sought the help of the marathas in the succession battle with his brother Salabat Jang, but
was poisened to death by his step mother.
Note2: Earlier Gaziuddin Jr was elevated to the position of Mir Bakshi by Safdarjung himself, who was then the Wazir. But
Ghaziuddin wasnt a person of high moral values and he soon turned against his patron.

Note3: Eventually the promised subahs of Avadh and Allahbad were never delivered to the marathas, as the emperor had
already managed to subdue Safdarjang, who later sought pardon and agreed to retire to his province of Avadh forever.
Safdarjang died within a years time.
Prelude to the Third War of Panipat

Pic:Ahmed Shah Abdali

In 1752, the Afghan king Ahmed Shah Abdali invaded Punjab and took over its possession. He then proceeded towards
Delhi and demanded fifty lakhs as a tribute from the mughal emperor. The Mughal emperor then pleaded for help to the
Marathas and a formal treaty (with the Maratha commanders Malharrao Holkar and Jayappa Scindia) was signed

between them (fifty lakhs to be paid to the Marathas along with chauth of Punjab and Sind), seeking their immediate
assistance viz.the "Ahadnama pact" (Ahamdiya). Thereafter Safdar Jang hastened to Delhi with a fifty thousand strong
Maratha army. By then Abdali had already retracted to Afghanistan after the the panic stricken mughal emperor ceded
Lahore and Multan to him.
Note. Punjab was bravely defended against the afghans by its Mughal Governor Mir Mannu , but seeing no help coming
from the emperor and his wazir (who was a court rival of Mir Mannu), despite deperate pleas for reinforcements, he
switched sides to the Afghans.
The Mughal emperor wasnt in a position to keep the promises made by his wazir to the marathas. This created bad blood
between the emperor and his wazir, when the latter accused his emperor of doublespeak and acting on the advice of his
rival at the court, the eunuch Jawed Khan, chief of the royal guards.
The Marathas on the other hand refused to vacate Delhi, unless the emperor and his wazir honoured their agreement and
pay them fifty lakhs as promised. When this couldnt be arranged the Marathas (moreso their mercenary army of Pindaris)
freely plundered Delhi much to the dismay of the emperor and his wazir.
By then Ghaziuddin Sr the brother of Salabat Jang, the new Nizam ul Mulk had staked claim to Hyderabad and had
sought the help of the Peshwas. The Marathas then forced the Mughal emperor to issue a sanad recognizing Ghaziuddin
as the Nizam ul Mulk and Mughal subedar in Deccan. In return Gaziuddin promised to pay 30 lakhs to the Peshwa on
behalf of the emperor of Delhi as part payment towards the earlier mentioned treaty. Also had been promised a
governorship of Ajmer and Agra (which were earlier promised to the Rajputs and the Jats). Also the earlier promised
chauth from Punjab and Sind was also a part of Abdalis possessions. Hence the treaty between Delhi and the Marathas
still remained unfulfilled.
Then, ten thousand Maratha troops were left behind in Delhi under the Maratha commander, Antaji Mankeshwar, while the
rest returned back to their respective posts. The Peshwa also sent Mahadev Pant Hingane to the Delhi court to act as his
representative.
In 1754, the Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur was virtually made a prisoner (his advisor Jawed Khan had been
murdered earlier by Safdar Jang) by Safdar Jang. But then Safdar Jang himself was removed in a coup.
Note: Marathas had wanted the control of the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Varanasi and Allahbad, which were in the
jurisdiction of Safdar Jung. But the wazir wasnt willing to part with them, something which did not go well with the
Marathas. But the mughal emperor cleverly ceded them to the marathas , much to the dismay of his wazir. The wazir
Safdar Jung rebelled against the emperor and the Jats assisted his cause. Then Imad ul Mulk Gaziuddin Jr implored the
Marathas to come to their rescue in the name of the Ahamdiya treaty. The Marathas who were already feeling slighted
over Safdar Jungs refusal to hand over Varanasi/Allahbad decided to take the call in favour of the emperor. But before
they reached Delhi, Safdar Jung and the Jats were routed by the imperial forces led by Najib Khan Rohilla. However the
emperor forgave Safdar Jang and Surajmal . But Imad ul Mulk wasnt contented and wanted to finish off his rivals. So he
again asked the Marathas to carry out that task for him (also promising them the moon). In 1754, Raghunathrao the
brother of the Peshwa and his deputy, Malharrao Holkar led an army against the Jat King, Raja Badan singh and his
commander (and son) Suraj Mal. While the seige of the Jat fort was on, Malharrao lost his son Khanderao to a stray
cannonball fired from the Kumher fort. A vindictive Malharrao came down heavily on the Jats. The Jats sued for peace.
The Jats implored Jayappa Scindia to use his influence with the Peshwas brother, Raghunathrao to pacify Malharraos ire.
Eventually Raghunathrao prevailed on Malharrao to come to terms with the Jats and the Marathas settled with thirty lakh
rupees as war indemnity to be paid in three installments. In return the Jats were allowed to eat into mughal provinces. The
Jats thereafter maintained friendly relations with the Marathas.

But all this definately made the Marathas lose the valuable support of their erstwhile ally the Nawab of Awadh (Safdar
Jang and his son Shujauddaullah). Something they might have desperately wanted in the battle of Panipat (in the near
future).

Note3:Abdali had returned to India not just for pillage but also in response to the pleas of Najib and Shah Waliullah, a
muslim cleric from Delhi who had given the clarion call of Islam in danger after the advent of the marathas in the north (in
addition to other hindu forces like Jats and Rajputs) , imploring Abdali for assistance in vanquishing them.

Imad ul Mulk Gaziuddin (Jr) proved even worse for the emperor. Fearing a realignment between Ahmad Shah and his ex
wazir Safdar Jang, the new wazir deposed the emperor and installed in his place Alamgir II. Imad ul Mulk then tried to
repossess the territories of Punjab which had earlier been taken by Abdali. Abdali then reinvaded Delhi in 1756.
Note:Abdali had also been enticed by Mughlani begum, the widow of Mir Mannu who provided Abdali with details of the
riches of Delhi. ( Mir Mannu was the ex governor of Punjab after whose death Gaziuddin occupied Punjab and deposed
Mughlani begum. She had since sworn to depose Gaziuddin and asked Abdali for help). Najib Khan, the Mir Bakshi had
also secretly sent his representatives to Abdali asking him to invade Delhi and rid it of the Marathas. Earlier the erstwhile
emperor Muhammed Khans queen Mallika Zaman had complained to Najib of her plight after the pindari bands
associated with the maratha army had robbed her of her belongings and Gaziuddin himself had deprived her of her basic
pensions.Najib then had promised to help out the ex queen.

Meanwhile in 1757, Abdali was advancing towards Delhi. The Maratha commander Antaji Mankeshwar repulsed the first
attack by Abdali. But the Maratha party while returning back was ambushed by Najibuddaullah Khan the Chief of
Sahranpur, who acted as an double agent for Abdali (while simultaneously professing loyalty to the mughal throne).
Note: Najibuddaullah was a Yusufzai Afghan migrant who took service in the mughal army. He rose to the position of the
chief of Sahranpur (he was married to the daughter of another Mughal noble, a Rohilla chief named Dunde Khan). Najibs
intelligence and courage impressed both the Mughal emperor and Imad ud Daullah and he was made the Mir Bakshi. He
was amongst the main architects of the war of Panipat and had orchestrated not just the arrival of Abdali in India but also
the conclusion of the war with the marathas.
This created panic in the mughal ranks and Imad ul Mulk too surrendered Delhi to Abdali. The maratha envoy Mahadev
Pandit Hingane aka Raja Bapu the agent of the Peshwa, was imprisoned, but he later escaped from captivity.
Abdali then entered Delhi virtually unchallenged.Abdali then plundered Delhi. The mughal royalty and nobles were virtually
divested of all their wealth and their womenfolk were made a part of the Afghan harem.
Meanwhile the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao dispatched a Maratha army (under his brother Raghunathrao and Malharrao Holkar
as his deputy) to take on Abdali and his 'gilchas' (a maratha term for the afghans). But Raghunathrao was slow in his
movements (he believed he did not have the requisite streangth to take on Abdalis larger army and said to have spent
considerable time capturing forts/ collecting funds in Rajputana) , and Abdali raped and pillaged the countryside.
Abdalis troops even ravaged the Jat territory of Mathura. A genocide of hindus followed and their holy places were
descecrated. It is said Abdali paid his men for every severed Hindu head.
Abdali also asked the Jat raja Surajmal to cough out a heavy sum, which the Jat king refused and the afghans continued
with the massacares in the Jat country.

The river Yamuna changed colours to blood red as heaps of mutilated corpses were thrown in the Yamuna. But as fate
would have it this also gave rise to the cholera epidemic and it took its toll in the afghan camp. The summer heat also
made matters worse for the afghans.
These natural calamities and the news of a rebellion back in his home town, prompted Abdali's decision to return back to
Afghanistan, but not before threatening the Jat king Surajmal to come back to finish matters.
This unsettled the Jat king and he started thinking in terms of taking Maratha protection.
Meanwhile before returning to Afghanistan, Abdali allowed Imad ul Mulk to continue as the wazir, but also created another
power, in the form of Najib- ud- daullah Khan as the Mir Bakshi to watch over the wazir.
Note:The Afghan army on their way back was looted by the roving Sikh bands. The Afghans in retaliation descerated their
temples in Amritsar.

After Abdalis departure,what followed was a struggle for complete power between Gaziuddin Jr and Najib khan. Earlier
Qutub Shah the preceptor of Najib had attacked Imads house in Delhi and dishonoured his women folk. Imad thereafter
swore vengeance against Najib.
However Najib had become too powerfull and Gaziuddin Jr had to flee Delhi. He took along with him his puppet emperor
Alamgir II as a security (and a prisoner) .
Eventually Alamgir II was murdered by Gaziuddin after the latter intercepted letters sent by the emperor to Abdali asking
him to relieve himself from the clutches of Gaziuddin . It is to be noted that Alamgir II sent similar letter to the Peshwa as
well complaining about his overbearing wazir and seeking maratha help in his removal..
Gaziuddin Jr continued his attempts to regain control of Delhi. He also succeeded briefly to install Shah Jehan II .
Also the growing proximity between Imad ul Mulk Ghaziuddin and the Marathas made Shujaudaulla (son of Safdar Jung
and Gaziuddins rival) , wary and suspicious of the Marathas.
Meanwhile the Marathas advanced and Abdali retreated. Marathas took over Doab and Meerat. They rode through the
Rohila territory and plundered it to their content.
They soon marched unto Delhi and removed Najibud daullah Rohila.
Najib was said to have bribed Holkar to escape from Delhi (Najib apparently sweet talked Malharrao calling him a father
like figure and asked for his protection). Raghunathrao was too young to oppose the veteran Malharraos decision and
despite his reservations allowed Najib to get away.
Note1: Things between Malharrao Holkar and his commander Raghunathrao had not remained hunkey dory as
Raghunathrao suspected Najibuddaullah of having bribed Malharrao Holkar to seek his leniency. Already there was
friction between the two as Malharrao resented taking orders from a much younger Raghunathrao. Ealier because of
Raghunathraos (cajoled by Jayappa Scindia) insistence Malharrao had to make a treaty with Surajmal Jat, despite the
fact that the Jats had killed Malharraos son Khanderao. This also added to the effect.Also relations between Najib and
Malharrao Holkar were very cordial and others believed that Malharrao was deliberately being lenient towards
Najib.Malharao is also accused (by a section of historians) of deliberately keeping the threat of Najib alive to counter any
moves in the future (if at all they were made) by Peshwa and Scindia. Najib also repaid his debt to Malharrao Holkar by
letting his armies escape from the battlefield of Panipat.

Note2: Later, the Marathas under Raghunathrao rushed the maratha armies to Delhi. They chased the Afghans (including
Abdalis son Taimur) right upto the northwest frontier (at the request of the mughal governor of Jallandhar Adina Beg and
the Sikhs). The Marathas (Raghunathrao,Manaji Paygude, Sabaji Shinde) held sway over the north.
(Attock,Lahore,Peshwar,Multan,Sirhind etc) for over a year(Nov 1758-Mar 1759). But Raghunatrao true to maratha
character started feeling homesick (It is to be noted, that Marathas were never comfortable being colonisers and always
yearned for their homeland) and returned to Deccan. Also contributed were other factors like the fact that Marathas didnt
want to be seen as a occupying force and create friction with the locals. Moreover they didnt have the resources to
sustain a large army in Punjab.
So Raghunathrao left behind a small garrison under Sabaji Shinde to defend Punjab and returned to Pune. Abdali had left
little to loot in the north and there was little the marathas themselves gained from this expedition to Punjab besides a ego
boost of planting the Maratha flag atop the Attock fort. So all Raghunathrao had done was drive away the afghans from
Punjab at the cost of his own men and n the process incurring a additional debt of eighty eight lakhs.

Note3: As Abdali was busy in Afghanistan quelling his internal rebellions, the Marathas never expected him to return back
so soon.

Meanwhile Najib the wily fox was all the time pretending to be wanting to reconcile with the Marathas, but at the same
time maintaining secret correpondence with Ahmed Shah Abdali, apprising him about the maratha movements.

Note: The task entrusted to Dattaji by the Peshwa was to secure Punjab and head toward east India to collect the
revenues.Dattaji trusted Najib to build a bridge (Pontoon bridge-floating bridge of boats) for him across the Ganga to head
towards the east. Though Najib overtly promising help to the marathas , covertly sought Abdalis help to remove the
marathas from the north. He dillydallied citing heavy monsoons as the reason for his inability to make the bridge, but all
the while apprising the Afghans of maratha positions and waiting for their armies to arrive.

Before the marathas could realise what was happening, the Afghans had re entered India and regained most of the posts
they had lost earlier to the Marathas including Delhi. The small maratha garrisons left behind were easily surrmounted.
Abdalis general Jahan Khan even surprised and routed away a contingent of Malharrao Holkar at Sikandarabad.
Holkar then had to seek refuge at Bharatpur , a province of his erstwhile foe Surajmal Jat.

Note:Rohillas hailed from the Roh mountains in Afghanistan, hence the name.

Dattaji realised Najibs duplicity (through Sabaji Shinde who had returned from Punjab), albeit too late.
Then in order to chastise Najib , Dattaji (along with Govindpant Bundele and Sabaji Shinde) laid seige on Najibs fort at
Shukratal. However Najib defended the fort till help came in form of the nearby Rohilla chiefs and also Shuja of Oudh (*).
Soon Najib was reinenforced by the Rohilla and Oudh army and Shuratal seige became more untenable. Thats when
Dattaji decided to withdraw the Shukratal seige and concentrate on preventing Abdali from crossing the Yamuna. But that

was not to be.

Note: Najib wasnt particularly liked by his fellow Rohillas and other Bangash pathans as well and was considered a
upstart.But the fear of Marathas gaining ground in the north compelled them to support Najibs cause.

Note*: Shuja feared that the marathas may force him to cede the hindu pilgrimage sites of Prayag and Benares, which
were being contended since the time of his father Safdarjang. Hence he joined Najib in warding off the marathas.
Dattaji wrote to Malharrao Holkar (who was busy laying a seige on Jaipur against Madho singh) to join him with immediate
effect. But Najib also maintained secret correspondence with the Jaipur raja asking him to delay Holkar at Jaipur.
Meanwhile, Najib and the Rohillas managed to slip away and join Abdalis army (which had avoided Dattajis army and
joined Najib at Sahranpur), thus swelling the enemy numbers.

Note: Though Dattaji Shinde the maratha commander

(who was supporting Gaziuddin)

had instructed the mughal wazir Gaziuddin

to streanthen the defences of Delhi ( Dattaji had also despatched his artillery for the defence of Delhi and even sent his
family there for the safety ) and hold on the Afghans till reinforcements arrive. But Gaziuddin fled seeing maratha reverses
(sought refuge with the Jats at Bharatpur), leaving the Delhi gates open for the Afghans.
Though Dattaji sent contingents to check the Afghan army , they met with reverses near Thaneshwar.
The sword weilding maratha army faced a rout at the hands of the Afghan musketeers. Dattaji then took a halt at Sonepat
before taking on the Afghans directly at Buradi ghat (Sabaji Shindes son Bayaji was also killed in battle). However on Jan
1760, Dattaji himself was wounded by a Afghan bullet in battle and found himself surrounded by the enemy. Dattaji was
then decapitated by the Najibs aide and preceptor, Qutub Shah and his head was presented to Abdali. Dattajis nephew
Jankoji was also wounded in the battle and taken away to safety.
Note1:Jankoji Shinde recovered from his battle wounds and later joined Sadashivraobhaus army at Panipat.

Note2 : Abdalis route= Kabul/Kandahar-Peshawar- crossed Indus at Attock-RawalpindiLahore-Jalandhar-Sirhind-crossed Yamuna at Budhia ghat-Saharanpur-Baghpat (Deeg-chased
Holkars troops at Rewari- surprised Holkars troops at Sikanderabad-Aligarh-AnupshahrShahadara )-crossed Yamuna Gauripur- Panipat

Arrival of Sadashivraobhau in the north

The Peshwa then dispatched ++ his cousin Sadashivrao Bhau and his nineteen year old son Vishwasrao (as per some
bakhars, allegedly at the insistence of the Peshwas wife Gopikabai, who thought Sadashivrao might hog all the credit in
course of a victory+), to supervise the operations. Vishwasrao however had a healthy respect for his uncle and
Sadashivrao also looked upon him as his protege.
Note++ Some historians maintain that Malharrao Holkar had effected a treaty between Abdali and the Marathas, but the
Peshwa hadnt forgotten Dattaji Shindes death or perhaps did not want Holkar to get the credit for the treaty fearing the
growth of Holkars influence in the north. Hence he wanted his own man to effect a treaty with Abdali. Also negotiate with
Shuja over Hindu pilgrimage centres in the north which were under his control. Historians say that An=bdali after the treaty
with Holkar was packing his bags to leave fr Afghanistan. But when Najib heard of Sadashivraos army approaching from
the south, he got fearful of his own safety and persuaded Abdali to stay further.
Note+: G S Sardesai however maintains that sending Vishwasrao to the north was entirely the Peshwas own decision, so
that Vishwasrao could get the requisite experience in the north, while other versions claim that Bhau asked for
Vishwasraos presence as the Peshwas son would provide some weight to Bhau's own authority.

Note: It was decided at Partur (near Jalna) that Sadashivrao should lead the northern campaign (titular/nominal leadership
with Vishwasrao)..
Accompanying him were nobles like Balwantrao Mehendale (Sadashivraos brother in law , brother of Bhaus first wife
Umabai and a close aide(ref.Kincaid) Note:Some accounts mention Mahadji Bhanu to be the father of Umabai-

ref.Oak),

Phadanvis, Nana Purandare, Damaji Gaekwad, Shamsher Bahadur (Peshwa Bajirao I s son from his muslim wife

Nana

Mastani) etc. Other nobles like Visaji Krishna etc stayed behind with the Peshwa at Pune (ostensibly to keep a watch on
the Nizam of Hyderabad, their old vacillating foe).

Pic: Sadashivraobhau , source Peshwa museum Parvati

Note1: Sadashivraobhau was the son of the valourous Chimaji appa, the younger brother of Peshwa Bajirao I. His father
died when he was young and was raised in the Peshwa household. After gaining adulthood he took charge as the diwan
of the Peshwa (after a stint with Raghuji Bhosle and as Peshwas representative in Ch.Shahu's Satara court where he
learnt the art of administration under Ramchandrababa Shenvi an ex Scindias employee , who took up service in the
Peshwas court court. Ramchandrababa also wanted his protege to take a job offer at the Kolhapur court, but the Peshwa
realising the danger in the same,recalled him to Pune and made him the diwan ). Known to be a very competant and
principled administrator, a hard task master, Sadabhau or simply Bhau as he was populularly called was apt with the
sword as well as the pen. He won for the Peshwa the battles of Ajra, northern Karnataka and humbled the Nizam of
Hyderabad at the battle of Udgir. He also added the legendary fort of Daulatabad to the maratha empire.
Note2: Though Sadashivraobhau was flush with confidence after his successfull campaign in the south, he didnt have
much knowledge about the terrain or climate in the north. Moreover he was hampered by the ever present fiscal debt of
the marathas and the infighting between his own captains. The fiscal situation also didnt improve on the way, as the local
kings dithered from paying their revenues to the marathas citing previous payments already made to the Afghans.
Basically they were waiting for the outcome of the final war between the marathas and the afghans , before deciding on
whom to make the payment to. Even the experienced maratha revenue collectors in the north like Govindpant Bundele,
were unable to meet the demands of their army and couldnt even provide the requisite boats required for crossing the
rivers like Gambhira (Bhau also wanted Bundele to cut off the Afghan supplies from the Rohilla Doab region. But
Govindpant found difficulty on that count as well. Many angry as well as frantic pleas from Bhau to Bundele and v.v are
recorded ). All these reasons slowed down Bhaus movements and it took him almost 120 days to reach Panipat, while his
rival Abdali already had the advantage of being present earlier at crucial junctures, not to mention the overt and the covert
support from the resident Afghans and other northern chiefs in north India coupled with a comparitively better financial
position with help coming from many quarters.

Note3: It is said that the Jats and Gaziuddin didnt want Sadashivrao Bhau to enter the north ,as they suspected him to
prove inimical to their scheme of things. But the threat of Abdali being imminent they couldnt do without Maratha
presence in the north either. So it is alleged that they bribed the diwans of Shinde and Holkar (Dabholkar and
Chandrachud) to dissuade Sadashivrao from entering north (especially controlling Delhi) but to send his army to the north
instead. Apparently Sadashivrao bhau got a inkling of things and matters didnt go as per their plans.

In July 1760, the Maratha commander Sadashivrao bhau entered Delhi (resistance was minimal and the pathans under
Yakub Khan who were guarding Delhi were soon routed by the heavy artillery of Ibrahim Gardi).
Note1: Gaziuddin had murdered the emperor Alamgir II on an earlier occassion and installed Shah Jehan II as his puppet
emperor. But Marathas deposed Shah Jehan II and declared the previous emperor Alamgir IIs son Ali Gauhar (who had
taken refuge with Shuja and later the British) as the emperor and he came to be known as Shah Alam II.
Later Shah Alam II was deposed after a confrontation with the British, only to be reinstalled by the Marathas (Mahadji
Shinde brother of Dattaji Shinde) in 1772 .Mahadji Shinde was to act as his regent for the next decade or more.
Note2:

Sadashivraos route= Udgir-Patdur (Partur near Jalna where Vishwasrao was declared

nominal head with executionary leadership being placed with Sadashivrao)-SindkhedBurhanpur (all aratha sardars assembled here. Burhanpur was gateway to the north)-HandiaSehore-Berasia-Seronj-Aron-Narwar-Gwalior-crossed Chambal river nr Dholpur- Muchkand
teerth - crossed Gambhir (a flooded Gabhira river ear Dholpur delayed maratha march for a
month- Govindpant Bundele unable to provide boats).n Banganga rivers-

Agra-Mathura

(wasted a lot of time visiting pilgrimage sites)- Delhi - Kunjpura-on way to Kurukshetra
(returns amidst news of Abdali crossing Yamuna)-Panipat

As per some historians, Sadashivrao Bhau was over confident of the Maratha might and behaved high handedly with the
people from the north (however many historians dispute this and maintain that Sadashivrao did try to convince the Jats,
but because the Jats were refused control of Agra, they abstained from the war. The Marathas also no longer trusted
Gaziuddin with the wazirship and were said to be entertaining thoughts of making Shujauddaula of Awadh, the next
wazir.Therefore, both Surajmal and Gaziuddin decamped from Delhi without informing Sadashivraobhau.
The Rajputs anyways werent very keen on helping the marathas whom they viewed as outsiders, extortionists and threats
to their own sovereignity. Earlier the marathas had involved themselves the succession war between brothers Ishwari
singh and Madhosingh for the Jaipur throne which had led to the death of Ishwari singh. Ishwari singh and Madho singh
each were supported by different rival factions amongst the Marathas viz. Jayappa Scindia supported Ishwari singh while
Malharrao Holkar supported Madho singh. To ascend their thrones, the Rajput princes had earlier accepted the heavy
demands by the marathas in return for their help. But later found meeting the maratha demands too cumbersome (also
the mughal emperor had ceded the governorship of Ajmer to the marathas, which wasnt particularly liked by the
Rajputs).This culminated in friction between the Rajputs and the Marathas. Eventually the Peshwa had to intervene and
the Scindia had to back out from his support to Ishwari and eventually the Holkar ensured that Madho singh became the
king of Jaipur, much to the chagrin of Jayappa Scindia. Later Jayappa demmanded a portion of the Jaipur kingdom from
Madho singh as a compensation. Madho singh having achieved his purpose, now was finding the marathas too
cumbersome.Also he resented the fact that the Marathas were given the governorship of Ajmer, something for which he
was a contender as well. Madho singh thus wanted the Marathas out of the northern regions.
Madho singh then invited both the Shinde as well as the Holkars to dine in his palace. Madho singh had wanted to poisen
the meal and do away with the maratha threat once in for all. But Jayappa Scindia declined the invitation and Madho
singhs plan fell through.
Note1: Madho singh of Jaipur even instigated the lynching of a Maratha contingent in his region. The Marathas wanted to
chastise Madho singh for this act, but due to the Ahadnama agreement with the Mughal, they were diverted to ward of the
Afghan threat. As a result Madho singh heaved a sigh of relief.

Note2: Later, Jayappa Scindia involved himself in another rajput succesion imbroglio, this time in the kingdom of Jodhpur.
It however resulted in his murder by the disaffected party of Bijay singh.
Also, Madhosingh of Jaipur surreptiously gave a written undertaking to Abdali that he would not help the Marathas and on
the contrary help him in his quest against the marathas. Thus Rajput support to the Marathas didnt come about and on the
contrary was provided to their enemy.
The Sikhs (Sardar Ala singh in particular) were also threatened by Abdali against sending supplies to the marathas.

Surajmal , the Jat Raja had earlier promised help, but he insisted on the increased control of Delhi
and the retainership of the Agra fort (something Sadashivbhau wasnt very forthcoming about and
wanted the decision to be postponed till the war with the Afghans was over. Also the Jats and
Gaziuddin suspected that Sadashivrao wanted Shujauddaullah as the wazir of Delhi and not
Gaziuddin as Sadashivrao viewed Gaziuddin as too unreliable, especially after his flight at the arrival
of the Afghans and leaving Dattaji Shinde in the lurch .

Pic:Nawab Shuja ud daullah of Oudh

Note, it is said that Shujas men were secretly maintaining contact with Sadashivraobhau.
Negotiations were going on between Shuja and Sadashivraobhau to exchange the long pending
demand of the marathas for the sacred places of Allahbad and Varanasi to be exchanged for the
wazirship of Delhi (as per the instructions of the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao himself).
The duo also suspected that Sadashivrao will agree to Shujas bidding for the replacement of
Gaziuddins and Surajmals puppet emperor Shah Jehan III with Shah Alam II, son of Alamgir II a the
emperor who was earlier murdered by Gaziuddin Jr).
With no firm promises from Sadashivraobhau forthcoming, an slighted Surajmal and Gaziuddin
decamped from Delhi at the middle of the night and thereafter stayed away from the battle .

Note. Surajmal Jat and Imad ul Mulk Gaziuddin who once were foes had reached an secret understanding to keep the
marathas away from Delhi and using a puppet mughal emperor as a front, control most of the affairs of Delhi. But the
Peshwa and Bhau, no longer trusted Gaziuddin and wanted to use the post of the wazir of Delhi as a bargaining chip to
negotiate with Shujauddaula in exchange for the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Benares and Allahbad. Shuja himself was keen
on a agreement with the marathas as he was an reluctant ally of the Afghans and wished heart in heart that the Afghans
reach an agreement with the Marathas and return back to Afghanistan. This sentiment was also echoed by some Rohila

chiefs like Hafeez Rehmat Khan. However it was not be as the persistence shown by Najib Khan made Abdali stay
behind. Najib laid down such conditions (Afghans wanted Sirhind as the boundary between the Marathas and the Afghans
and Najb back as the Mir Bakshi, whereas Marathas wanted the Indus to be made the demarcation and Najib ousted from
the scene altogether) that the marathas couldnt accept at any cost. Hence a compromise between the Marathas and the
Afghans could never be reached.

The marathas thus found themselves isolated and without supplies. Also to pay off the armys wages

(especially to quell the disgruntlement amongst the mercenaries within the maratha army), as well as
support their own dependents and the mughal royals, the marathas had to sell off the embellishments
(the canopy) on the emperors bejewelled throne (earlier half of the embellishments were already
removed by Imad ul Mulk GaziuddinJr, Nadir Shah of Iran and Ahedshah Abdali). *

Note*: It was actually the silver of the ceiling of diwan e khas that was removed by Bhau to mint coins to pay his army.
Note: Maratha army had camped itself in woods in the vicinity of present day Shankar road Delhi) as also present day
Peshwa road in Delhi.

This irked many so called mughal loyalists who considered it the high handedness of the Marathas.
But it can be concluded that Sadashivrao had little options as there were no other sources
of funds forthcoming from anywhere.

Note: because of the war clouds the farmers too werent in a position to pay revenue. Abdalis earler invasions had also left
the people impoverished. Also many moneylenders had fled town in the course of the impending war situation.

Nawab Ahmad Shah Bangash of Farukhabad had already switched sides to Abdali.

Shuja ud daullah, the Nawab of Awadh also switched sides towards the Afghans (despite his mother Badrunissa begum
advising him to take sides with the marathas) and inspite of his distrust towards the Sunni Afghans (afterall his father
Safdar Jung had opposed Abdali during his earlier expedition and the young nawab feared the afghans vindictiveness)
and moreso Najib Khan.
Abdalis side was mainly presented to Shuja Begum Mallika uz Zamani, widow of ex emperor Muhammed Shah Rangila
(who was incidently the chilhood friend of Sadrunissa Begum) and later emotively by Najib himself , who promised to save
Shujas kingdom from pillage at the hands of Abdali if Shuja joined them.
Note1: Mallika uz Zamani was (after her husbands death) virtually starved of funds by the then erstwhile wazir Safdar
Jung. Also her entourage on one occasion was even robbed (1754) by a mercenary Pindari contingent of the Holkars
army. Hence the old Queen was very much anti Maratha and had even implored Najib Khan Rohilla to devise a plan to
alleviate her suffering. That was when Najib Khan had begun secret correspodence with Abadali to invade India. Najib
was also joined in his plans by a radical muslim cleric Shah Waliullah Khan who sent similar letters to Abdali about the
growing power of the Hindus (Marathas,Rajputs,Jats) and the fall from grace of the Muslims who he complained were

living in penury.

Note 2: Pindaris were a group (a medley mix of Hindus and Muslims) of mercenaries from central India who were often
patronised by the Holkars and the Scindias. They were more of pillagers who accompanied the maratha army as their
irregular arm.
Note3:Another person who invited Abdali was Mughlani begum, the widow of Mir Mannu, who was facing difficulty in
holding on to the viceroyalty of her province, as her nobles had replaced her with their man. She enticed Abdali with news
of the treasures hidden in Delhi (especially in the palace of her mother in law). Eventually Abdali took away the treasure,
but Mughlani begum was not reinstated . On the contrary a small pension was granted to her, which she obviouly refused.
For her perceived impetuousness she was apparently flogged by Abdalis general Jahan Khan.

Note4: it is also possible that Najib threatened Shuja with reprisal through Abdali if he helped the marathas. The proximity
of Abdalis allies to his kingdom may also have weighed Shujas decision. Also weighing on Shujas mind may have been
the lack of support the marathas had earlier shown towards his father during his court rivalry with Imad) and aligned
himself with Abdali (probably a little reluctantly, as there was no love lost between Najib a Sunni muslim and Shuja a Shia
muslim).
It is also possible Najib played the emotive muslim brotherhood card and created a fear psychosis that the marathas may
conquer their pilgrimage places like Prayag , Benares(Kashi) etc, descecrate the mosques and relegate muslims to
playing the second fiddle in the north. Najib had also spread the rumour that Sadashivrao wanted to instal his nephew
Vishwasrao on the throne of Delhi (Note, marathas were never keen to replace the mughal emperor with Vishwasrao as
this would have alienated many mughal loyalists and probably the entire [sizable] muslim population in the north. The
marathas couldnt afford so many enemies) .Whatever may have been the actual reason, eventually Shuja did change
sides from the Marathas over to the Afghans. Abdali however received Shuja with great respect and even called him like
his farzand (son), as did the wazir Shah Wali. Even when some of the traunt Sunni Durrani soldiers who hated the Shias,
created trouble in Shujas camp, Abdali stuffed their noses with arrows and paraded them to Shujas camp giving him the
choice of either pardoning them or sentencing them to death. Thus Shujas fears of Abdalis wrath were soon dispelled.

All these proved to be ominous signs for the Marathas. By ensuring support from the muslim kings and with the Rajputs,
Sikhs and Jats abstaining, supplies to the Marathas were successfully blocked by Abdali.
Note:Ahmed Shah Abdali (1723-1773) was the son of Mohammed Zaman Khan, the chief of the Abdali tribe. He served
the Persian king Nader Shah after the latter rescued him from the prison of Hussain Khan the Ghilzai governor of
Kandahar. He was named as Durrani or the 'Pear of Pearls' by Nader Shah. After the assasination of Nader Shah in 1747,
by his Turkoman guards, Ahmed Shah Abdali left with his men to Afghanistan, where he was elected the chief of his tribe.
He unified all Afghan tribes under his banner. He expanded his kingdom by conquering Ghazni(from the
Ghilzais),Kabul,Herat,Nishapur,Masshad, (Kashmir,Sindh and Punjab from the Mughals). He made as many as seven
invasions in India and was well acquainted with its routes and climate. He plundered Delhi and its adjoining regions and
defeated the Marathas at Panipat and sacked the Golden temple at Amritsar in Punjab. Eventually the Sikhs rallied
against Abdali and drove his armies out of Punjab. Abdali then retreated to Kabul, where he met his death in 1773.
Ahmed Shah Abdali- Durrani is remembered as the father of modern Afghanistan. He was an astute and tenacious war
commander and to his enemies a ruthless and ferocious foe.

Note2: Both Malharrao Holkar and Surajmal Jat had advised Sadashivraobhau to take on Abdalis army using gureilla
warfare. But Sadashivrao who had seen the efficacy of his artillery during his wars against the Nizam, concluded that an
open pitched battle spearheaded by heavy artillery would be the best approach. Also the fact that Abdali was himself a
master of gureilla warfare added to Bhau's decision , as also the nature of the battlefield (which was more of vast expanse
of open land without the presence of mountains or ravines that suited gureilla warfare) .

Third War of Panipat, 14th January 1761

Marathas had heavily aligned themselves with a well equipped artillery under the Gardis and their commander Ibrahim
Khan Gardi (a converted Telugu muslim previously employed with the Nizam Salabat Jung of Hyderabad and trained by
his French army commander Bussy. After leaving the services of the succeeding Nizam Ali over a disagreement, his
service were sought by Sadashivraobhau. The word 'Gardi' itself is derived from the French word 'Garde' meaning the
guards) and Le Corbosier (a French mercenary who was earlier in the service of Tuloji Angre), not to mention their famed
cavalry (huzurat) and infantry under the likes of Jankoji Shinde,Tukoji Shinde and Mahadji Shinde (half brothers of
Jankoji), Malharrao Holkar, Vinchurkar,Bhoite, Purandare, Shamsher Bahadur,Damaji Gaekwad,Manaji Paygude,Satvoji
Jadhavrao,Khanderao Nimbalkar,Sonaji Bhapkar etc. Hence were confident of victory.
Note:Ibrahim khan Gardis uncle Muzaffar Khan was previously in charge of the maratha artillery, but Sadashivraobhau
didnt find him trustworthy and replaced him with Ibrahim Khan. The humiliated Muzzafarkhan then made an unsucessfull
assasination attempt on the life of Sadashivraobhau, from which Bhau miraculously survived with wounds. Muzaffar Khan
was then arrested and hanged.
Sadashivraobhau had tremendous faith in the artillery power of Ibrahim Khan Gardi and met the Gardi demands for
regular payment of troops even during times when there was a scarcity of funds. Therefore many of the maratha regulars
(even the old guard like Holkar,Vinchurkar etc) were resentful of the Gardi influence in their camp.
Note2: The maratha artillery was mainly heavy and not as sophisticated as its european counterpart. The cannons and
muskets were mainly a part of the war booty captured in their various battles. Even the gunpowder wasnt so easily
available for them. Also, the concept of open pitched battles with a artillery was itself a new concept for the marathas who
were traditionally sword weilding army that relied on their cavalry. They werent used to the coordination of the artilerry with
the cavalry and the infantry. This is what proved to be their undoing at Panipat.
Also accompanying the marathas were the bunga viz. their families, relatives, friends (who had plans of visiting holy
pilgrimage sites on the way), the attendents, carpenters,cobblers,tailors,blacksmiths etc . This was to prove another
costly mistake (though many modern historians maintain that it was a regular practice to take bungas on long campaigns,
not the families, but the attendents and the people required for maintaining the needs of the army. However the practise of
carrying families was apparently started by Gopikabai mother of Bajirao I esp. after the Mastani episode and the other
sardars followed suit). Shivaji always strictly prohibited an entourage during his war campaigns. But these Marathas did
not heed this golden rule set forth by their ancestor.This increased the mouths to be feeded and also slowed down troop
movement.
Note: The practise of taking along families, harems on war campaigns was a mughal practise, which was later adopted by

the marathas after they too started on long stays away from home.

Kashirajs account of military strength on both sides:

Maratha leaders

Cavalry

Khas paga/household troops

6000

Vishwasrao

5000

Shamsher

3000

Holkar

5000

Shinde

10,000

Gaekwad

3000

Powar

2000

Jadhav

3000

Vinchurkar

3000

Mehendale

7000

Gardi

2000+9000 cavalry with firelocks+40cannons

Misc

18,000

Total amounted approx 55,000 horse,15,000 foot

Abdalis forces
Abdali & his afghans had 24 dastas,6 Abdalis slave contingent koleron,2000 camels with zamburkas,shaturnals.
Shuja

2000horse,2000 foot,20 cannons

Najib

6000 horse, 20,000 foot,rockets

Dundi Khan & Hafiz Khan 15000 foot,4000horse,cannons

Bangash 1000 horse 1000 foot
Irregulars were 4 times the above nuber
Total amounted approx 41,800 horse,38000 foot,78 cannons
Note: Abdali also had bungas with him.

The marathas were in need of funds and food supplies and Kunjapura ( It was a arms depot and treasury for the Rohila. It
was 45 km north of Panipat, west of Yamuna river. Refer note below) seemed a likely choice.

Pic: Pre Panipat battle scenario

Note. Amidst the growing financial problems the marathas launched a surprise raid on the Rohilla fort of Kunjapura .
Kunjapura fort has been called a 'robbers den' by the historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar, as it hoarded all the wealth fleeced
from unsuspecting travellers. The Rohillas often disguised themselves as Abdalis soldiers and forced travellers to part with
their belongings. It was controlled by Najabat Khan (Najibs cousin) . Also present were the armies of Abdus Samad Khan
and Qutub Khan (Najibs preceptor who had earlier decapitated the wounded Dattaji Shinde). Ibrahim Khans guns boomed
at the fort and it soon fell to the marathas. Abdus Samad Khan and Najabat Khan were killed (Najabats son Diler Khan
escaped) and marathas avenged the death of Dattaji Shinde by decapitating Qutub Khan. Dattaji elephant 'Zavergaj' who
had fallen in the hands of the Rohillas was also reclaimed by the Marathas.The Kunjapura raid fetched them a substantial
ammount. Unfortunately it wasnt enough to last them for long.
Abdali himself was held up because of a flooded Yamuna and couldnt asssist his fellow Afghans. Presuming that Abdali
wouldnt be able to cross the river at least for a month, the arathas busied themselves plundering Kunjpura while Bhau
decided to visit the nearby holy pilgrimage centre of Kurukshetra and then move forward to seek the Sikh help against the
Afghans. However Abdali managed to surprise the marathas by crossing the Yamuna within 3 days and killing the small
maratha contingents left behind by Bhau to guard the fords. The afghans blocked all the supply routes of the marathas
(especially the one from Delhi) once gain reducing the marathas to a precarious position..Abdali soon camped south of
Panipat. Hearing the news of Abdali, Bhau also rushed back to Panipat. Both the armies were now at a close distance to
each other. Both trying to gauge each others moves, streangths and weaknesses, before the final assault. Bhau had
entrenched the maratha camp in the midst of a artillery cover (surrounded by a ten feet deep ditch) and was waiting for
Abdali to make the first attack.But Abdali knew the power of the maratha artllery and refused to take the bait. Both
depended on light cavalry movements to harass their enemy.
Some skirmishes took place between the two. Holkars contingent attacked a afghan camp of Shah Wali Khan. The
Afghans also won a few posts and even the Kunjapura fort which was wrested by Diler Khan (the son of the slain erstwhile
fort keeper Najabat Khan).
On 7th Dec 1760, Najib and Shujas armies attacked the marathas near Chajpur. Though the Rohilla armies were routed
and one Khalil ur Rehman (Najibs uncle) and five thousand Rohillas were killed, the Marathas lost a major war
commander in the form of Balwantrao Mehendale (Bhaus closest aide), who was struck down by a bullet.

Meanwhile Govindrao Bundele managed a few successes in his fund collection effort in Doab and was proceeding to
Bhaus camp. On the way while camping with a few thousand of his soldiers, he saw an army approaching with a maratha
flag . However when the army got closer, Bundele realised that it was a afghan army (led by Atai Khan, nephew of Shah
Wali Khan, Abdalis wazir). The young Atai Khan surprised the old Govindant Bundele and beheaded him on the spot (20th
Dec 1760). Earlier Govindpant Bundeles presence had been betrayed by Jeta singh Gujar a local headman, to Abdali.
Govindpant Bundeles head was then sent over to the maratha camp.This was the second major casualty on the maratha
side in quick succession. The second maratha revenue collector Gopal Ganesh Barve (brother of Raghunathraos first wife
Jankibai) was also routed by Shujas army. Even the little money collected from Doab never reached the maratha camp as
it was interceted on the way by the afghans. A pindari contingent was also slaughtered when it was out hunting for wood
for the maratha camp.
The afghans thus managed to cut off all the supplies of the marathas, thus forcing the marathas to a point where the final
battle seemed imminent.
Earlier the Peshwa had promised to send a larger army and asked Bhau not to negotiate with the enemy. He reminded
Bhau that Raghunathrao wouldnt like it if he just gave up the territory captured by him. The Peshwas son Vishwasrao also
wrote to his father about the precarious condition the maratha army was in the north and the Peshwa did promise to
hasten help. But for some reason the promised help from the Peshwa got delayed.
Apparently, the Peshwa and his brother Raghunathrao had started assembling their forces in order to join Bhau. However
the Peshwas march halted at Paithan due to his deteriorating health. Even attempts to engage the help of their old foe the
Nizam of Hyderabad had failed.
It was a matter of time before people and animals started dying of starvation in the maratha camp in Panipat. The food
reserves were dwindling and the soldiers were forced to live off wild plants and roots.
Negotiations with the afghans (through mediation by Kashiraj pant, an aide of Shuja) also failed when Najib Khan (and
one Qazi Idris who raised the Islamic bogey) vehemently opposed it, disregarding the wishes of Shah Wali and the Rohilla
chiefs who would have preffered a compromise to war. Earlier Najib had put forward the terms that Sirhind be made the
boundary, the emperor be made the responsibility of the afghans and Najib be placed in command of the mughal army.
This demand the marathas refused outright, stating that they preffered the responsibility of the mughal emperor & Abdali
ought to retreat beyond the Indus. Najib knew very well that if Abdali makes peace with the marathas and returns back to
Afghanistan, he will surely killed by the arathas and therefore he made every attempt to stall a settlement.

By now the situation worsened in the maratha camp and all the maratha nobles too made an appeal to Sadashivrao that
they would rather die in battle than die of starvation.

Eventually after a two and half months wait, Sadashivrao bhau took the final call of a direct confrontation with Abdalis
army.
Note: Bhau was more interested in protecting the non combatants. So it was decided to form a golaakaar (hollow square)
with the non combatants at the core and the artillery at the helm and force the way through the afghan army and move
towards the Yamuna and along the river take the way to Delhi. There they planned to hold the afghans till help arrived
from Pune.
Note:The afghans were arranged in a chandrakor (crescent formation).
On the day of the battle the troops assembled at a distance from Kala Amb (Ugrakheri near Panipat) sometime in the
morning (9.30am).

Note: the afghan and maratha encampment was between Shahanahr (a canal running from Yamuna to Delhi, near the
present day Grand Trunk highway. It is no longer in use) and Yamuna river near Panipat in present day Haryana state.
In the maratha lines were Holkar and Shinde on the right (with their Maratha soldiers and other mercenary groups like the
Pindaris, Purbis and even some Arabs). Sadashivrao,Vishwasrao and their men in the centre and Maratha (led by Sardar
Panse) and Gardi mercenary artillery under Ibrahim Khan Gardi on the left cavalry led by Sardar Damaji Gaekwad (with
the 3000 horses),Sardar Vithalrao Shivdev Vinchurkar behind them and the Sardar Bhoite led
infantry,archers,musketeers,pikesmen providing a cover for the artillery).Behind the cavalry were the inexperienced
soldiers guarding the civilians. On the other side(Afghan) were Shah Pasand Khan on the extreme right. Next to him were
Shuja (with his part Persian Qizalbash and part Hindu Naga Gosavi troops and artillery) and Najibs forces On the centre
left were Ahmadshah Bangash of Farrukhabad ,Najibs father in law Dunde Khan, the Rohilla chief of Bareily, Rohilla chief
Hafiz Rehmat Khan . In the centre was Abdalis wazir Shah Wali Khan along with theirsipasalar (commander in
chief)Jahan Khan and on the extreme left were Amir Beg and Barkhurdar Khan with their artillery (heavy long range
cannons called 'zamzama' and camel mounted light guns 'zamburaks'-with two musketeers with large bore guns and
'shaturnals'-camel mounted swivel type guns). There were also irregulars who nubered four ties ore.Abdali stayed behind
on a elevation with his slave battallion (Koleran) and his reserve troops (Qizalbaaz) to watch (with his telescope) and
direct the proceedings of the battle. The afghan harem and non combatants stayed behind the troops.
The battle cries of the maratha 'Har Har Mahadev' (in praise of lord Mahadeva) and the afghan 'Din Din' (for the faith)
soon vociferated in the skies.
Note:The Afghan Maratha force ratio was thus approx. 1,00,000 afghans to the 70,000 marathas (plus 30,000 pilgrims
and non combatants).

In the earlier half of the battle the marathas seemed to be in a winning position, with Ibrahim Khan Gardis musketeers and
canons wrecking havoc on the afghan-rohilas (placed somewhere at Chajpur Khurd near Panipat). Also Bhaus forces
managed to cut down the Afghan lines into two, almost demolishing the contingent of the wazir Shah Walikhan.
Ataikhan,the nephew and adopted son of the wazir, was said to have been killed during this time when Yashwantrao
Pawar climbed atop his elephant and struck dead Ataikhan.
Incidently Ataikhan was the person responsible for the death of the maratha representative in north Govindpant Bundele.
The maratha cavalry led by Bhau, Shamsher and Vishwasrao then charged through the fleeing Afghans.
Vishwasrao was said to have fought valiantly on that day striking the enemy with an an array of arrows from his elephant,
as did Shamsher.
Note: Abdali seeing his fleeing army sent his military police the 'Nasaqchis' after the deserters and forced them to turn
around and kill the reluctant ones.
As per their original plan, Bhaus cavalry should have followed its artillery, but the force of the battle was such that it took
them deep into the enemy lines.It thus became difficult to change direction.
Abdali also used a strategy that came to be known as 'taulqama'. It involved splitting the musket/matchlock bearing
cavalry (horses/camels) into several segments. Each segment charged on the enemy with ready fire and disengaged,
making way for the next segment to repeat the same and so on and so forth.

In the afternoon both Vishwasrao (the Peshwas eldest son) and Bhau had got down from their elephants and had
mounted their horses.
However as they were rallying their troops, a stray enemy fire from a zamburak struck dead Vishwasrao and he died on
the spot. This proved to be the turning point of the battle. Vishwasraos deeply aggrieved uncle, Sadashivraobhau got
down from his horse and placed his dead nephew Vishwasraos corpse on his elephant and then remounting on his horse
(named Baswant) he charged towards the afghans in a blind rage.This was sometime in the afternoon.
Note: The horses of Sadashivrao bhau are mentioned as Pari, Chandrasen and Baswant while the horse of Vishwasrao
was called Dilpak.
But in the thick of the battle, the Maratha soldiers saw the vacant ambaari of their commander and the thought that he had
fallen and thus panicked. Many fled the battlefield. After a bullet struck Sadashivrao on his thigh, he fell down from his
horse. However he tried to pull himself up with the help of his spear.Just then Sadashivrao bhau found himself surrounded
by five Afghans. He fought valiantly, but eventually succumbed to the numbers.
To Sadashivbhaus credit, he like other maratha sardars had every opportunity to escape from battlefield but the brave
Sadashivraobhau preferered to die fighting .
Note: Bhaus Kaifiyat states that Tukoji Shinde requested Bhau to turn back and leave the battle for him to finish.But Bhau
refused saying that he has already lost a nephew whose care he was entrusted with and he now had no face to show
back home. So he'd rather give up his life fighting the enemy.

Pic: Panipat battle formations

Note 1: Sadashivrao constructed the Sadashiv Peth, a residential colony at Pune.

Note 2: The corpses of Vishwasrao, Sadashivraobhau and many other marathas were said to have been purchased from
the afghans by Nawab Shujaudaula of Oudh and his diwan Kashiraj Pandit (who later wrote his treatise on Panipat) and
later cremated as per hindu customs.

This reversed the tide of the battle to the detriment of the marathas.
Jankoji Scindias attack on Najib Khan was also repulsed . Jankoji Shinde , Tukoji Shinde then rushed with their forces to
Bhaus aid. As did Santaji Wagh from the Holkar army.
However the tide of the battle was changing in the favour of the afghans.
Jankoji after a fierce fight was captured .
Note.Jankoji was later secretly held for ransom by Barkurdar Khan but later executed by him, fearing the wrath of Abdali.
Natural factors also didnt seem to favour the marathas. One such factor was the 'Dakshinayan' an effect of the sun, where
sunrays (from Dakshin-south) pierced the eyes of several hungry maratha soldiers (remember, the Afghans had earlier cut
off the food supplies of the marathas leading to famished stomachs just before the battle) and many fainted simply by
heatstrokes. They were all butchered by the rejuvenated afghan forces [ref. 'Panipat' by Vishwas Patil].
Another factor that changed the tide for the afghans was , when the maratha artillery under Ibrahim Khan Gardi was
wrecking havoc in the afghan lines, the other Maratha commanders like Vithal Vinchurkar and Damaji Gaekwad (who
were in charge of guarding the artillery) overzealously broke ranks (seeing the retreating enemy) and overran the maratha
artillery and entered deep into the enemy lines.Since the maratha cavalry was blocking the view of their artillery, Ibrahim
Gardi ordered a stoppage of fire.
Note1: the old guard like Malharrao Holkar,Vinchurkar etc were against the european battle styles and more in favour of
their traditional gureilla warfare. Hence their support was said to be rather half hearted.

Note2: It can be said about Sardar Vinchurkar , whose main job was to guard the Gardi artillery, did not want the Gardis to
take the entire credit for destroying the enemy and to make his mark felt in battle,impatienly broke away from the originally
decided 'Golaachi ladhaai' (circular battle formation) .In hindsight we can conclude that this proved detrimental to the
maratha cause.
Seeing the guns silenced the fleeing Rohillas turned back and fought the marathas while the reserve Rohillas gunned
down the charging sword weilding maratha cavalry. The maratha artillery was thus left unguarded and the advancing
Rohila troops (led by Barkhurdar Khan) soon overpowered it. Ibrahim Khan Gardi himself was captured by the
afghans(earlier Gardis son, nephew and son in law were also killed in the battle).
Note: The Afghans later tortured Ibrahimkhan Gardi to death.
The Afghans capitulated on the confusion in the Maratha ranks and cut through the Maratha flanks. The maratha arms
werent able to back an impact on thick mountain clothing of the afghans whereas the afghan sword easily pierced the
cotton clothing of the marathas. Lakhs were massacared including thousands of civilians. Seeing the massacare of the
Maratha army, Malharrao Holkar also fled from the battlefield, as did many leading maratha commanders.By evening
(5.30) the marathas had lost the battle.
Note: Damaji Gaekwad was already wounded. Vithal Vinchurkar and Damaji then made way out of the battle. Several of
his soldiers also started fleeing.

It is reported that earlier, Vithal Shivdev Vinchurkar had admitted some Afghan slaves (who wanted to switch sides after
the fall of Kunjapura) in his maratha contingent. They were given saffron turbans to distinguish them from the other
afghans. However seeing the change in the tide of the battle. These afghans threw down their headgear and joined the
other afghans in attacking and looting the maratha non combatants. This accentuated the panic.
Seeing his men fleeing, Bhau spoke to his aide Sonaji Bhapkar asking him to remain steadfast. But Sonaji instead said
that he will go after their fleeing troops and force them to return. But Sonaji never returned. His corpse was found latter of
the day amongst the dead.
Many sought refuge with the Jats and the Sikhs (and Shujaudaullah of Oudh) who generously tended to them. Thus
Panipat proved to be a big debacle for the Marathas .Moreso in terms of the men lost. Many commanders were killed
(prior to and during the battle) like Govindpant Bundele (killed before the final battle), Balwantrao Mehendale (killed before
the final battle), Dattaji Shinde (killed earlier before the final battle) and Jankoji Shinde (captured but later beheaded by
the Afghans), Shamsher Bahadur (Peshwa Bajirao I's son from Mastani, who succumbed to his battle wounds. His tomb
lies in Bharatpur), Tukoji Shinde (died fighting alongside Sadashivbhau), Yashwantrao Pawar (died fighting alongside
Bhau), a son of Pilaji Jadhav, Santaji Wagh (Holkars captain who succumbed to his injuries), Manaji Paygude, Khanderao
Nimbalkar etc.
Antaji Mankeshwar (escaped the battle, but fell to an treacherous ambush by some preying Baluchis at Farruknagar),
Ibrahim khan Gardi (captured and beheaded), Vishwasrao and last but not the least their general Sadashivraobhau .
Many escaped with their life like Nana Phadanvis (who wrote his memoirs on Panipat. Nana was to play a major role in
the Maratha politics in the future. His mother was amongst the unfortunate civilians who died at Panipat. He served as a
regent and chief minister to a latter Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao, grandson of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao a.k.a Nanasaheb),
Vinchurkar(escaped with severe wounds), Damaji Gaekwad (who was wounded and escaped with his life. He was one of
the early patriarchs of the royal house of Baroda), Mahadji Scindia (who escaped from battle but was severely wounded
after an chase and attack by a afghan and rendered a limp all his life.Mahadji too would have succumbed to his wounds if
not carried away to safety by a muslim water carrier by the name of Rana Khan. Mahadji later was also to become one of
the leading commanders of the maratha army in the coming future and the patriarch of the royal family of Gwalior. Mahadji
never forgot his saviour Rana Khan who became one of his closest aides), Naro Shankar Dani (who was kept in charge of
the Delhi fort to escaped after hearing about the Maratha debacle), Nana Purandare etc.
It was ironical that the fateful day of the Panipat debacle for the marathas coincided with 'Makar Sankranti' their harvest
festival.
Note 1: Surajmal Jat did however provide relief to the escaping maratha refugees and tended to them, unmindful of the
consequences, as did Shujauddaullah who is said to have paid a fortune to the afghans to allow cremation of the slain
maratha leaders.
Note 2: As per some versions, Malharrao Holkar claimed that he was asked by Sadashivraobhau to take the civilians and
his wife to safety. Thats the reason, why he retreated from the battlefield. But the fact was that Parvatibai was taken to
safety by a servant Janu Bhintada (and two aides Virsingrao Baravkar and Piraji Raut) and they joined Holkars party only
days later.
But to the credit of Malharrao, he was no coward but a natural survivor who believed in the gureilla style of warfare and its
tradition of living to fight for another day.Moreover he wasnt wholly convinced about Bhaus war strategy and his support
was peripheral. Some accounts (Kashiraj, an aide of Shuja) mention Bhau acting haughtily towards Holkar and calling him
a goatherd. But it seems highly unlikely considering Holkars seniority and differences in his age and Bhaus.
Bhaus arrogance has also been mentioned in a letter by Nana Phadavis, he complained that Sadashivraobhau had set
aside his usual wisdom and was ignoring his natural advisors Balwant Mehendale and Nana Purandare and was relying

more on new advisiers like Bhavani Shankar (Peshwas Vakil in Shujas court) and Shahanawaz Khan. Another version is
that due to the failing light and Bhau not being in sight, Malharrao thought it prudent to take the survivors to safety.

The afghans amused themselves with decapitating the captured maratha men and distributing their children and women
amonst themselves. Many to be taken as slaves to Afghanistan.
The sons of Abdus Samad Khan and Qutub Khan (who were slain at Kunjapura) demanded retribution and Abdali granted
them two hours to kill as many marathas as they can. They thereafter swept down on the hapless maratha non
combatants and prisoners, severing thousands of maratha heads as they could.
Apparently the Afghans wanted to stuff the good looking Vishwasraos corpse and take it away to Afghanistan as a war
trophy. However Shuja ud daullah and Kashiraj, implored Abdali not to let his men do the same as it was against the
principles of war. On the contrary he purchased the corpses of a beheaded Sadashivrao bhau (recognised by his scar
inflicted by Muzzaffar Khan , mole and his fair body sculpted by his daily 1000 suryanamskars / prostrations before the
sun) and Vishwasrao from the Afghans and accorded them a decent funeral as per hindu traditions (obsequies were
performed by Anupgir Gosavi).
Note: a wounded Jankoji Shinde was found by Kashiraj in the camp of Barkhurdar Khan who apparently wanted to
ransom him for a price. But somehow the news reached the ears of Najib, who in turn informed Shah Wali who was a rival
of Barkhurdar. Shah Wali informed Abdali who questioned Barkhurdar.
Barkhurdar denied the same and before Abdalis soldiers could discover Jankoji, he had him beheaded and his body
buried.
Reasons for the maratha debacle at Paniat can be summed up as under:

1.Faulty diplomacy of the Maratha commanders in the north before the Panipat war leading to no support from the
northern kings.
2.Self interests & caste equations of the Maratha commanders and the prevalent corruption in the north.
3.Maratha cavalry and infantry were not acquainted with the tactics of their artillery arm. This led to the lack of
coordination between their various arms. The light mobile artillery of the afghans proved more effective than the
heavy cumbersome artillery of the marathas.
Artillery was a new concept for the marathas as also inevitable with changing times, as new wars were being fought using
modern weaponary and marathas happened to be in their infancy as far as modern artillery warfare was concerned.
The afghan artillerry in comparison to the marathas was lighter and more mobile in nature.
Panipat taught lessons to the marathas of the changing face of the battle game and the marathas, post Panipat made
serious attempts to adapt to these modern tactics of warfare.
Note: Post Panipat first thing that Mahadji Scindia did was start a trained artillery unit with French help.
4.The Marathas carried with them a large entourage of non combatants (including pilgrims) which increased the mouths
to be feeded especially amidst scarcity of food supplies and also slowed down their movements.
5. The Marathas werent natural colonialists by nature and in themselves lacked the requisite army to take on the Afghan
army (supported by the Rohillas, Bangash pathans and Shuja of Oudh) by themselves. Allies , funds and supplies would
have made a major difference during the war.
6. Maratha spy network was found lacking.

7.Diplomacy would have been a better option considering the lack of war preparedness, supplies in the maratha camp.
Perhaps a wait of a few days more may have prevented a war. This can ofcourse be said in hindsight.
8. Natural factors werent in favour of the marathas. The Dakshinayan effect took its toll on the hungry maratha
stomachs.The thin cotton clothing of the marathas wasnt able to resist the cold winter of Panipat.
9. There was no plan B (no reserve force) for the marathas which Abdali had.
10. No timely succor was provided from the capital Pune, despite pleas for help.There was a overconfidence in Pune that
the maratha army in the north will succeed despite their help.
11.The Afghani steed was much swifter and stronger than its maratha counterpart.

The debacle at Panipat left an indelible scar on the Maratha psyche for quite some time to come.
The Afghans had indeed won the battle , but they also lost many commanders and men in large numbers (35,000 afghan
casualties were reported in comparison to the 80,000 on the maratha side) . Also the treasury in Delhi was virtually empty
and there was nothing much to loot. The Afghan soldiers with time had got battle weary and refused to move further into
India (Surajmals territory as suggested by Najib). Also due to non payment of the soldiers (coupled with a home sickness
and the natural aversion for the Indian summer) there was growing discontent in the afghan ranks, not to mention news of
a brewing rebellion back home.
Thus despite winning the battle of Panipat, the Afghan victory proved a pyrrhic one.
The Afghans ruled north India for a very brief time but soon returned to Afghanistan leaving Najib ud daullah in charge of
northern India except Punjab where Abdali stationed his garrisons.
Note1: Ahmedshah Abdali had already suffered great losses in his conflict with the marathas. He had gained first hand
knowledge of the Maratha tenacity and was prudent enough about not wanting to remain in India for long. He proposed
peace with the marathas through their lawyer Bapu Hingane who had remained in Delhi. Abdali even wrote a letter to the
Peshwa praising the valour of the martyred maratha soldiers at Panipat and asked him to let bygones be bygones and
reiterated that he never wished to occupy the Delhi throne and would rather return back to Afghanistan and the Sutlej river
can serve as a natural boundary of spheres of influence of the afghans and the marathas. A similar letter was written by
Abdali to Madho singh of Jaipur praising the valour of his defeated enemy. Abdalis cousin Yakub stayed behind to
conclude a treaty with the marathas.
Najib Khan fearing retribution retired to the foothills of Kumaon. Later he did try repeating the Panipat by reassembling the
Rohillas and Bangash pathans. But they were all routed.
All the northern chiefs who had sided with Abdali now vied for a peace with the marathas.
Note2.the Afghans too agreed on Shah Alam II as the titular mughal emperor in absentee who by now had escaped
Gaziuddins clutches and sought refuge in the eastern provinces. Surprisingly Gaziuddin was made the wazir (disregarding
Shujas claim to the post), but the main powers of administration rested in the hands of Najibudaullah who was reinstated
as the Mirbakshi.
Abdali had more faith in the cunning and valour of Najib to protect his interests in Delhi and knew very well that
Ghaziuddin would never again try any misadventure if kept under the watchful eye of Najib.
But Gaziuddin never trusted Najib enough to return to Delhi and remained with the Jats.
Shuja too was upset with Abdalis men (Durranis) who resented Shuja on account of his Shia faith and made the life of his
soldiers difficult in the camp. Shuja was also revulsed by the fact that a Gaziuddin was given a preference over him for
the Wazirship of Delhi and attributed it to his Shia faith. As a result Shuja too left Abdali for his kingdom in disgust .
Najib too who had earlier promised Abdali the moon expressed his inability to pay Abdalis army claiming that the Panipat

campaign had rendered him bankrupt. Thus Abdalis army remained short of finances and discontent started brewing in
their ranks.
Shah Alam II too hesitated to return to Delhi (till a much latter date) because of the presence of his arch foe Ghaziuddin.

Note 3. The Afghans took away several maratha men and women as slaves to Afghanistan. Their descendents still survive
in parts of mdern day Pakistan and Afghanistan amongst the Bugti,Marri and Gorchani tribes. Some marathas took refuge
in the villages surrounding Panipat and are today known as Ror marathas. Some marathas were rescued by the Sikhs
and many maratha women married their rescuers (Sikh soldiers) and settle in Punjab.

Note 4. Near modern day Panipat (state.Haryana), there exists a village called Bhaupur, named after the martyred
Sadashivrao bhau. There also exists a temple and samadhi built in his memory where ballads singing his praises still
resonate.
"Jeeve ambaranda taara , chamke Veer Sadashiv pyara".......a Haryanvi ballad eulogising Sadashivrao bhau.
Note the temple at village Saandhi (Rohtak dist,Haryana) belongs to one Bhaunathji baba whom the locals believe was
Sadashivrao bhau who survived the battle and lived the remainder of his life as a ascetic.
Note*: Panipat battle had a tremendous impact on marathi history and literature which can be seen from the following
phrases in Marathi....1)'Vishwas Paanipataatach sampala'- Literally it means that Vishwasrao died in Panipat, but
'Vishwas' being the term for 'trust' the statement also means that the world is no longer trustworthy.(2) 'Tyaache Paanipat
zhaale'- he was destroyed / finished (in reference to the destruction of the maratha army at Panipat).(3) 'Tyaachyaa
satraashe saath bhaangadi'- his 1760 problems, refering to the (approx) date of Panipat.
Note 5: On their way back the battle weary afghan army was ambushed at several places by the Sikh misl armies.The
afghans did make a couple of attempts to subdue the Sikhs by force and by emoluments, but failed on all counts. Abdali
attacked Punjab four times after Panipat, but was never satisfied with the outcome. Eventually in a few years time all the
afghans were driven out of Punjab.
Gaziduddin the ex wazir of the mughal emperor eventually retired to the Deccan.
Surajmal Jat died in 1763 fighting a battle with Najib. Najib himself died in 1770, but not before concluding a peace
understanding with the marathas through the Holkars. But his kingdom Najibabad was attacked and ravaged by the
Marathas after his death ( when Najibs son, Zabita Khan had rallied afghan forces against the marathas. The Scindia
forces however crushed them down and a lot of Rohilla territory was captured by the marathas. Zabita Khan himself was
taken a prisoner by the marathas but again released by Tukoji Holkar the commander of Malharrao, giving rise to
speculation about a secret relationship between the Holkars and Najibs.).
Note1: Both Zabita Khan and Ahmed Khan Bangash competed with each other for the position of Mir Bakshi.
Note2: Zabita Khan for sometime is said to have converted to Sikhism.
Note3:It was Zabita Khans son Ghulam Qadir who blinded the mughal emperor Shah Alam II on finding that there was
nothing left to loot in Delhi. Later his honorary regent, Mahadji Scindia the maratha avenged the incident by capturing
Ghulam Qadir and taking him prisoner to the Delhi court whereby the mughal emperor put Ghulam Qadir to death and
finishing the dynasty of Najib Khan.

Raja Madho singh of Jaipur who had helped the Afghans with supplies later tried to muster support to prevent the
marathas from reentering the north. But Malharrao Holkar chastened by the defeat at Panipat , atoned for it by later
defeating Madho singh in battle at Bundi.
However the veteran of wars, Malharrao was sustained wounds and retired to Alampur where he died on 20th May 1766.
Marathas however rose like the phoenix from the ashes of Panipat and within ten years they reoccupied Delhi.
Shujauddaullah the reluctant ally of Abdali later reconciled with the marathas when he sought their help against the
English (Note: Earlier the Rohillas led by Hafeez Rehmat Khan were promised help by Shuja against future attacks by the
maratha army in return for a compensation of 40 lakhs. But the Rohillas later refused to pay Shuja , as the approaching
Maratha army had withdrawn at the last moment due to the untimely death of Peshwa Madhavrao (son and successor to
Peshwa Nanasaheb) and the main war against the Rohillas actually never took place). As a result Shuja attacked
Rohilkhand with English help. But soon friction developed between the English and Shuja and the latter fought an
unsuccessful battle of Buxar against them. Later he again sought the Maratha help to fight the English, albeit
unsuccessfully. Shuja faced defeat at the hands of the English in the Battle of Kara Jahanabad in 1765). Shuja died in
1775.
Note: Peshwa received the news of the Panipat battle while camping near Narmada river (M.P) , while on his way to
Panipat. It was in a cryptic message, ' 2 pearls dissolved, 27 gold coins have been lost and one cant total the silver and
copper coins cast up'.
Peshwa dies

Peshwa Balaji Bajirao was on his way to join the maratha army before he received the news of the death of his son and
cousin. His state alternated between grief and anger. He wanted to avenge the deaths of his son and cousin. But his
weakened disposition was not permitting him any repreive.
Meanwhile Abdali too tried to pacify the Peshwa by opening discussions with him. He expressed regret for the death of
his brother and son, but stated that his actions were only in self defence. All that he desired was Punjab and the marathas
if they wanted could retain their hold at Delhi.
The Peshwa would have attacked Abdali regardless of his overtures, if not for failing heath. His tuberculosis had been
accentuated by his state of depression and his health was rapidly deteriorating.
The Peshwa eventually returned to Pune.
The Peshwa breathed his last in 1761 in the temple premises of Parvati in Poona. He left behind his wife Gopikabai and
two legitimate sons Madhavrao (successor) and Narayanrao*. His mortal remains were cremated near Pune at what is
now known as Yeshwantrao Chavan bridge.
Note1: Curiously there are reports of the estates of many sardars including Shindes,Pawars and Holkars being
confiscated by the Peshwa, immediately post the Panipat war (apparently out of anger for the debacle and loss of his son
and cousin or because of inherent distrust of his commanders in the north) . But apparently , later they were restored back
to those families. Apparently there are reports of the otherwise polite Peshwa being very irritated and short tempered
during his last days.

Note 2 :Interestingly, Peshwa Balaji Bajirao had married the second time, to a nine year old daughter of a rich
moneylender (Sawkaar Naroba Naik) from Paithan . He had also married off two of his colleagues (Abaji Purandare &
Veereshwar Dikshit ) during the same time.This has perplexed many historians about the reasons behind such an action.

Why would a man weakened by tuberculosis marry a girl much less than half his age, especially when his men were
out on the important Panipat expedition. Some have attributed this to the 'alleged ' discord between the Peshwa and his
first wife Gopikabai, while some have attributed this to monetary reasons (afterall his father in law was a rich moneylender
and the Peshwas always had a fiscal drain).
But this marraige delayed the Peshwas movement to Panipat. Something which probably made him feel guilty and
remorseful and this hastened his death.

Note 3: Balaji Bajirao had two more sons Yeshwantrao and Moreshwar who probably died early.

Note*:Balaji Bajirao also had some illegitimate sons (natakshala). P.Oak mentions the name of a concubine Yesu, through
whom Balaji Bajirao sired Krishnasinh,Haibatsinh,Laxmansinh. However Riyasatkar Sardesai mentions that these may
have been the illegitimate children of Raghunathrao.One cannot deny the possibility of more children.

The next Peshwa Madhavrao later despatched his commanders like Visaji Krishna Biniwale,Mahadji Shinde ,
Ramchandra Ganesh to the north to reestablish maratha authority in the north. They did so commendably and the
Maratha influence in the north managed to last for three decades more.
Later a civil war between Peshwa Madhavrao and his ambitious uncle Raghunathrao caused the first cracks to develop in
the maratha empire. Its advantage was taken by the English who were only waiting in the wings to establish the next
empire in India.
Contributions of Balaji Bajirao to Pune

Balaji Bajirao was a shrewd tactician, a brilliant administrator and a good man manager.
To the credit of Balaji Bajirao, he was a very good administrator. When he became the Peshwa, the state was reeling
under financial problems, mainly because of the maratha wars for expanding their boundaries.
But being an astute administrator, Balaji Bajirao improved the fiscal condition of the kingdom.
Balaji Bajirao transformed Pune, his capital, from a village, into a well planned city.
He ensured good infrastructure, built good roads, wells, water reservoirs,rest rooms,bridges, temples etc.
The famous temple of Parvati was also constructed by him. Balaji Bajirao also established a water reservoir system at
Katraj that provides water to city of the Pune, till date.
He also built a wooden bridge over river Mutha, known famously as Lakdi Pul .
He established residential areas like Sadashiv Peth, Nana Peth and invited people to come and reside there.
Hence inspite of all his shortcomings (the Panipat debacle, rebellion of the Angre etc) , which may be called mistakes in
hindsight, Balaji Bajirao contributed immensely to the Maratha empre.
Note: Shukrawar Peth was build by Jivajipant Khasagiwale in rule of 'Shrimant Balajirao Peshwa', as also Guruvar Peth.
Vyavahare Joshi developed Rawaivar Peth in Pune during the time of Balaji Bajirao .
Maratha administration under the Peshwas

The Maratha kingdom was divided into Tarf,Pargana,Sarkar and Subah. The Subah was under a Sar Subhedar. Under
them were the Mamledars. Under the Mamledars were the Kamvisdars. The mamledars and kamvisdars were in charge
of the local administration . The revenue collection under them were managed by the Patils (in
marathwada,Pune,Khandesh) and Khots (in Konkan).All these posts under the Peshwas had become heredatory. The
Deshmukhs and the Deshpandes acted as chief district officials.Their assistants were known as Kulkarnis .They
maintained the records. Then there were the local magistrates, the chief magistrate etc.Each area had Kotwals in charge
of police work. Under them were the Havaldars who acted as the police constables, under whom were the 'Shipais'.
Overall the administration under the Peshwas, though traditional, was fairly efficient and well managed.
The drawbacks perhaps lay in the maratha administration outside Maharashtra (barring perhaps the fiefs of the
confederate generals), where regions were mainly seen as revenue yeilding and no attempts were made to implement
any permanent systems of administration and control. The army also remained scattered outside Maharashtra in different
pockets with only small contingents left to guard the captured areas. As a result, recapture of those areas proved
comparatively easy for the enemy.

Peshwas (Part 4) : A Strife Within

Refer previous Peshwa articles to get a sense of continuity viz. Peshwas Part 1:Early Peshwas
(Sonopant,Shyampant,Moropant,Nilopant,Bahirojipant,Ramchandrapant and Balaji Vishwanath Bhat), Part 2:
Glory of the Peshwas (Bajirao I), Part 3: Peak of the Peshwas and Debacle at Panipat(Balaji Bajirao), Part 4: Strife
within (Madhavrao, Narayanrao,Raghunathrao,Sawai Madhavrao), Part 5: Decline of the Peshwas (Bajirao II,
Amritrao, Nanasahib).

Peshwa Madhavrao I a.k.a Madhavrao Ballal a.k.a Thorale Madhavrao (b.15th Feb.1745-rule starts 1761d.18th Nov.1772) was the second son of Balaji Bajirao from his wife Gopikabai.
Succession Differences The Post of Peshwa, by now had become heridatory . After the death of Balaji Bajiraos eldest
son Vishwasrao at Panipat, there were differences as to who should succeed the Peshwa.
A camp led by Gopikabai (widow of Balaji Bajirao) and her brother Sardar Raste, wanted the second son Madhavrao to
succeed, whereas another camp led by Anandibai (wife of Raghunathrao) and Sakharambapu Bhagwant Bokil (a friend of
Raghunathrao and the Kulkarni of Hivare) wanted the Peshwas younger brother Raghunathrao to become the next
Peshwa.
Both Gopikabai and Anandibai were cousins. Also, both , inspite of their little education in statecraft were ambitious and
wanted to control the affairs through their respective nominees.
And both were to play a dishonorable role (moreso Anandibai) in the years to come.
Eventually it was decided that Madhavrao Peshwa would be the next Peshwa and his uncle Raghunathrao would act as
the Regent and Sakharambapu as the Diwan.
Initially, matters went on smoothly, until Madhavrao attained maturity.

At the bidding of Gopikabai, Madhavrao started looking over the matters of the state personally. This was the start of the
friction between the nephew and his uncle.

Note: Both the nephew and the uncle had their own coteries. Madhavraos camp consisted of Gopalrao Govind
Patwardhan (Sangli), Triambakrao (Mama)Vishwanath Pethe (Maternal uncle of Sadashivraobhau), Baburao
Phadnis, Balaji Janardhan Bhanu (Nana Phadanvis),Hari Ballal Phadke and Ramshastri Prabhune.
Whereas on Raghunathraos side were Sakharambapu Bokil, Gulabrao and Gangoba Tatya.
Start of the reign and his subsequent campaigns
Because of the defeat at Panipat, the Maratha treasury was virtually bankrupt and heavy in debt. To top it all the women in
the household (especially Gopikabai) were indulging in daily religious rituals which were draining the already strained
exchequer.
Madhavrao first started discipline from his own home. He first curtailed the household expenditure on daily religious
practices.
Later when Madhavrao started demanding more say in the matters of the government, both Raghunathrao and
Sakharambapu resigned from office to put pressure on the young Peshwa (hoping that Madhavrao will feel powerless
without them).
But they had underestimated Madhavrao. He filled in the post of Regent with his own man Trimbakrao Pethe and made
Nana Phadanvis and Hari Ballal Phadke his secretaries. Ramshastri prabhune was made the chief justice.
Sakharambapu who though the diwan was sidelined as he was Raghunathraos loyalist.
Note: Earlier when the Nizam presuming the depleted might of the marathas attacked them , but was repelled by the
marathas. Raghunathrao had an oppurtunity to exterminate the threat of the Nizam once and for all, but he rather let him
off with leniency, ostensibly because of the advice by his aide Sakharambapu Bokil. The idea was to use the Nizams
services in the future, incase he came into direct confrntation with his nephew the Peshwa.
That was when Raghunathrao (assisted by Janoji Bhosale) secretly sought the help of Nizam Ali (who had by then
deposed his brother Salabat Jang to become the Nizam ul Mulk) to help him overthrow his nephew.
The Nizams army launched a surprise attack on Pune.
The forces under Raghunathrao also looked the otherway, as Nizams army reached the outskirts of Pune.
The Peshwas army , already divided because of Raghunathrao couldnt match up to this surprise attack.
The biggest sufferers were the residents of Pune. They were robbed and harrased by the invading army.
Eventually Madhavrao deciding to put an end to the quarrel, himself rode to his uncles camp and put him at his mercy.
Blood being thicker, Raghunathrao too treated his nephew with due courtesy. But he removed all the Peshwas men from
their offices and confiscated their properties.
But soon Nizam Ali revealed his true intentions. Through his agent, Vithal Sundar, he led both Janoji Bhosale and the king
of Kolhapur to believe that he was giving them the regency of the Maratha kingdom by displacing the Bhat Peshwas.
When Raghunathrao heard this, he once again reconciled with his nephew Madhavrao. Their collective armies then
besieged Nizam Alis forces. Nizam Ali when he he realized that his plan had been exposed, quickly begged forgiveness
from Raghunathrao (blaming his agent Vithal sundar for ill advice),something which a rather nave Raghunathrao bought
hook , line and sinker.
Madhavrao was reinstalled as the Peshwa by Raghunathrao while Madhavrao reinstated his uncle to his original position.
Madhavrao also on his part agreed to give due credence to the authority of Raghunathrao.
In 1764, there was a provocation from Hyder ali of Mysore. In response to which the young Peshwa led an assault on the
Mysore forces .
Again he had a altercation with his uncle Raghunathrao, who himself wanted to lead the forces. But Madhavrao eventually
had it his way. He and his forces completely routed Hyder Alis army, and returned back victorious.
Hyder Ali sought escape by coming into an understanding with Raghunathrao, who prevailed upon his nephew to forgive
Hyder Ali.
Reluctantly, to placate his uncle, the young Peshwa agreed.
Meanwhile Janoji Bhosale (who had earlier assisted Raghunathrao and Nizam Ali), whom the Peshwa had publicly
rebuked, tried to stir a revolt against the Peshwa. But the Peshwas vigilant secret service got a whiff of this. Peshwa then
conspired with Janojis old ally Nizam Ali and raided Berar provinces of Janoji Bhosale.

Note:The perfidious Nizam Ali even offered help for the Marathas against Hyder Ali, at the same time conspiring with
the English to defeat both Hyder Ali and the Marathas.To top it all , Nizam Ali offered help to Hyder Ali to gain Arcot
from Muhammed Ali. In 1766, Madhavrao again led successfull campaigns against Hyder Ali who had gone back on his

earlier promises. Meanwhile Madhavraos successes couldnt be matched by Raghunathrao who had engaged in his own
campaigns in the north.
Envious of his nephews success , Raghunathrao once again fell back to the evil advice of his wife Anandibai, who asked
him to demand from Madhavrao, half the kingdom .
Madhavrao predictably refused.
As a result Raghunathraos forces (in assistance from Janoji Bhosale) and Madhavraos forces again clashed at Dhodap
fort near Nasik. Raghunathraos army was badly mauled and he himself was taken a prisoner and sent to house arrest at
Shanivarwada in Pune. Janoji Bhosale too was forced to sue for peace and pay a war indemnity of five lakhs and accept
allegience to the Peshwa.
In 1769, Hyder Ali again provoked the Marathas by breaking his treaty.
Madhavrao , then marched with his army to the Karnataka regions. His army reached Bangalore without opposition. He
then took Kolar, Nandidurg,Mulwagar by forced assault.
In June 1770, Madhavrao was struck by illness and had to return back to Puna, and sent Trimbakrao Pethe and Appa
Balwant Mehendale against Hyder Ali.
In Jan 1771, Hyder Alis army was subdued at Balapur. Pethe then proceded ,taking over one district of Mysore after
another.
In March 1771, Pethe inflicted another defeat on Hyder Ali at Cherkoli Hills.
In June 1772, Maratha army reached Srirangapattam, which was the capital of Hyder Ali.
Hyder Ali finally sued for peace.
He ceded Kolar,Bangalore,Ouskota,Balapur ,Mudgiri,Gurukonda to the Marathas and thirty six lakhs as war indemnity and
an annual tribute of fourteen lakhs per annum.

Note:But when the deposed king of Mysore, Nandaraj tried to appeal to the Marathas to have him instated on the
Mysore throne, Hyder Ali had him murdered in his bathtub and replaced him with his brother Chamraj instead.
Note1: On one occasion there was an attempt on the life of Madhavrao by one of his men Ramsingh.Madhavrao
had escaped with a bruise on his shoulder. But Madhavrao believed it to be done at the behest of his uncle. As there
was no proof, Raghunathrao went unpunished, but Ramsingh was excecuted.
Scene at Delhi after Panipat
Meanwhile, Abdali had left for Afghanistan(22nd Mar 1761).
Note: Between 1762-67, the Sikhs thwarted Abdali's attempts to gain control of Punjab.
April 14th,1772, Abdali dies. [courtesy Ambareesh Phadanvis]
The Mughal Emperor had sought refuge with Shujaud daullah the Nawab of Awadh, while Najib ud daullah Khan(agent of
Abdali) ruled Delhi in his absence. After the fall of Awadh(Oct 1764) to the English(at Buxar), the Emperor sought the
protection of the East India Company. Suraj Mal the Jat king tried to take over Delhi, but was killed in the fight with Najib.
But the war between the Jats and the Rohillas continued through their respective sons.
Malharrao Holkar had already died in 1766. His predeceased sons (Khanderaos) widow Ahilyabai had adopted one
Tukoji Holkar,no immediate kin,but one of Malharraos trusted officers, to succeed the Holkars.
Ranoji Scindia too was dead and his successor was an illegitimate son, Mahadji Scindia, who had already distinguished
himself in Panipat.
Peshwa Madhavrao wanted to extract revenge of Panipat . He therefore sent a huge Maratha army under the command
of Visaji Krishna Biniwala and assisted by Tukoji Holkar and Mahadji Scindia.
The Maratha armies swept across the north.
First the levied ten lakhs as a tribute from Rajputana.
Then they extorted the Jats to cough out sixty five lakhs.
Then they turned their wrath against the Rohillas. They ravaged the Rohilla land between Ganga and Jamuna and
captured the Etawah fortress of Doab. Soon entire Rohilkhand fell to the Marathas.
This prompted the Mughal emperor Shah Alam to switch sides from the English, over to the Marathas.
Shah Alam was once again restored to the throne of Delhi by the Marathas (in the leadership of Mahadji Shinde) .
The Rohilla chief Najib ud daullah Khan had died by then and he was succeeded by his son Zabita Khan.
The Marathas held Rohilakhand (along with its harem) for huge ransom and returned its possession to Zabita khan (who
had fled to the hills) only after the ransom was paid.
Note: Sequence of events in the north (courtesy Ambareesh Phadanvis)
1769 - Marathas proceed Northwards
April 5 1770 - Battle of Govardhan, Marathas victorious, take possession of Agra and Mathura. Marathas enter Doab
against Bangash Nawab and encamp at Ramghat
Sept 1770 - Treaty of peace with Jats.
Feb 10, 1771 - Mahadaji takes possession of Delhi
March 4, 1771 - Mahadaji captures Shukratal
April 14 1772 - Abdali dies. Marathas capture Najibabad, spoils of Panipat recovered by Marathas. Mahadaji and
Visaji Krishna arrange affairs of Delhi.

Death of the Peshwa

The Peshwa who had returned to Puna cutting short his Karnataka expedition, met an premature end by Tuberculosis on
18 th Nov 1772. The great Peshwa died at the precincts of the Chintamani temple at Theur near Puna. Madhavrao was
just twenty eight at the time of his death.
An promising life was snatched by the clutches of death.
Madhavraos wife Ramabai (daughter of Shivaji Joshi Ballal , killedar of Solapur fort) keeping the traditions attained Sati.
Contributions of Madhavrao Peshwa
In his very short tenure Madhavrao, inspite of opposition, contributed tremendously to the Maratha kingdom. Madhavrao
was an symbol of equanimity. He was an astute judge of character , an efficient administrator and a brave general.
After the debacle of Panipat, he rekindled the Maratha spirit by his unwavering leadership. He resurrected a flagging
economy and replenished the treasury of the Maratha kingdom through various expeditions. Madhavrao was known to be
a benevolent Peshwa who cared for his subjects. He ensured every man in his kingdom was heard and proper justice was
meted to all.
Inspite of differences with his uncle, he always was respectfull at a personal level. Though he had kept his interfering
mother Gopikabai at a distance (at Nasik), he was always respectful towards her and was always enquiring about her well
being.
He was never vindictive towards his enemies. Like in the case of Janoji Bhosale, whom he had severely reprimanded, but
never humiliated beyond a point, nor were his personal possessions every taken away by the Peshwa inspite of repeated
provocations.That was an indication of the magnanimity of Madhavraos character.

Note: Sardar Jivajipant Khazgiwale an noble in the court of Madhavrao had developed Ganesh Peth (Pune) in
1775 ,named after Lord Ganesha.
Madhavrao redeveloped Mohitabad and renamed it Budwar Peth (Pune).

Narayanrao Peshwa (b.10 aug.1755,rule started on:13th Dec 1772, d. 30 aug.1773)

Madhavrao having no son , was succeeded by his brother Narayanrao.
Narayanrao continued with Sakharambapu as the diwan, and other advisers like Nana Phadanvis, Moroba Phadanvis,
Hari Ballal Phadke (military) and Babaji Barve.
A very brief reign
Narayanrao, unlike his brother lacked the fortitude of character. Soon he found himself completely under the sway of his
mother Gopikabai, who since the death of her son Madhavrao had resumed her stay at Puna (from Nasik, where she had
been kept by Madhavrao to prevent her interference in the daily affairs of the state). Raghunathrao who had escaped from
Shanivarwada had been rearrested and confined to prison by Madhavrao, but soon released after he got a solemn oath
from his uncle, that he would accept Narayanrao as a heir. Initially Raghunathrao kept his promise, but soon differences
started arising between Narayanraos mother Gopikabai and her cousin Anandibai, the wife of Raghunathrao (who in turn
was completely enamoured by his wife).Raghunathrao for his treacherous ways was captured and imprisoned.

However on Gopikabais instructions (and much against the wishes of Nana Phadanvis), Narayanrao turned
Raghunathraos imprisonment into a house arrest at Shanivarwada.
Note: Narayanrao's youthful impetuousness (as also certain policies e.g mainly towards the Kayathas, whom he refused
to recognise on par with the Brahmins) also inadvertently led to antagonising some nobles who crossed over to
Raghunathraos side. Even the Peshwas closest advisers, Nana Phadanvis and Sakharambapu were not very happy with
the immature Peshwas conduct. It is also possible that the young Peshwa was trying to assert himself much to the chagrin
of his nobles who had wanted to control him. The nobles may have also wanted to replace Narayanrao with
Raghunathrao.
Hyder Ali and his son Tipu were witnessing the strife in the Maratha kingdom and wanted to take advantage of it. So they
started raiding the Mysore regions. Narayanrao therefore decided to launch an offensive in Karnatak. So he recalled Visaji
Krishna Biniwala, his agent in the north back to Pune with his army. As a result Maratha stranglehold in the north
collapsed. Other enemies of the Marathas like Nizam Ali, Najaf Khan, Shuja ud Daullah also started raising their tentacles.
Narayanraos Murder The women of the Peshwa household especially Gopikabai, used to perform a lot of daily religious
rituals and spent huge amounts of money in giving away alms to the Brahmins. This hampered the treasury leading to non
payment of the soldiers and other employees. There was discontent amongst many including the Gardis a community
who were the traditional bodyguards of the Peshwas. Raghunathrao sent them overtures promising them higher
payscales provided he was assured of their help.
Raghunathrao sent the chief of the Gardis a letter stating that he would intervene and settle the pay dispute. But for the
same Narayanrao should be seized (dharaa in Marathi) and be produced before him. But as the legend of the bakhar
goes (though there are no conclusive documents to prove the same), the letter was forged by Anandibai , who changed
the word dharaa to maaraa meaning to kill.
Note: Anandibai always maintained that she had nothing to do with the Peshwas murder and she was being wrongly
maligned.
On the fatefull night of 30th August 1773, the Gardis swarmed in Shanivarwada , hacking down anyone who came in their
way. Two of Narayanraos servants by the names of Chaphaji Tilekar and Naroba Phatak who tried to shield the Peshwa
were hacked down. The panicky Peshwa Narayanrao then fled to his uncles quarters and implored him to save him. But it
was all in vain, for the Gardis (sumersingh, Kharaksingh,Mohommed Yusuf and Tuloji Pawar a servant of Raghunathrao)
wasted no moment in striking down the young Peshwa.
Narayanrao left behind him a wife Gangabai (daughter of Krishnarao Sathe) , who was pregnant with his son Madhavrao
II. His body was secretly taken away through the Narayan gate of Shanivar wada and cremated near Lakdi pul, where his
samadhi exists.
Contribution of Narayanrao
Narayanrao constructed a residential locality in Pune by the name of Narayan Peth, which exists till date.

Raghunathrao Peshwa a.k.a Raghobadada a.k.a Ragho Ballal a.k.a Raghobharaari (b.18 Aug.1734, rule.
5 Dec.1773-1774, d. 11 Dec.1783) was the younger son of Bajirao I and the brother of Balaji Bajirao.

Seizing the moment of his nephew Peshwa Narayanraos death, Raghunathrao made himself the next Peshwa.
He confirmed Sakharambapu Bokil as his diwan, and made Chinto Vithal Rairikar and Sakharam Hari Gupte his chief
confidantes.
But Raghunathrao met opposition in the form of Nana Phadanvis, and the Chief Justice Ram Shastri Prabhune (who even
passed the death penalty against the ruling Peshwa for the murder of his nephew, and relinquished his post and left Pune,
when his decree wasnt obeyed), Trimbakrao Pethe,Hari Ballal Phadke etc who soon deposed Raghunathrao as the
Peshwa.
Note: Though many nobles wanted Narayanrao to be replaced by Raghunathrao, they did not wish for Narayanrao's
murder. Also they found that the matured Raghunathrao was not as pliant as they desired.
The conspirators later instated Madhavrao II, the infant son of Narayanrao on the Peshwas seat and themselves formed a
council which would serve as a regency council for the child Peshwa. This council came to be known as the Barbhai
(twelve brothers) council. The council included (besides Nana ) Hari Ballal Phadke, Moroba Phadnis, Sakarambapu Bokil
(who joined in after resenting the ascension of Sakharam Gupte in Raghunathraos inner circle), Trimbakrao mama Pethe,
Mahadji Shinde, Tukojirao Holkar, Phaltankar, Bhagwanrao Pratinidhi, Maloji Ghorpade,Sardar Raste and Babuji Naik.
Note: Nana Phadanvis managed to sway Sakharambapu over to his side by accepting his seniority in the Barbhai council.
However with time, friction between the two resumed and eventually when Bapu tried to rejoin Raghunathraos side (as
also support Nanas enemies like his cousin Moroba etc), but was imprisoned by Nana on charges of treason. Bapu died
behind bars.
First Anglo Maratha war
In April 1774, Raghunathrao entered into an alliance with the English (Bombay Government). Skirmishes between the
English forces and the Marathas started. But just then,on 19th Oct 1774, a supreme council (led by Warren Hastings and
Col.Clavering,Col Monson,Philip Francis, Richard Barvel )authorized by the English parliament to take charge of all
English dominions ,arrived on the shores of Calcutta. They declared the treaty between the Bombay government and
Raghunathrao as invalid and instead sent their own envoy Col Upton to negotiate with the Barbhai council. They signed
the treaty of Purandar in Dec 1775, whereby Raghunathrao was to be surrendered to the Marathas an in return
Bassein ,Salsette,revenue of Bharuch were to be handed over to the English along with twelve lakhs to be paid to the
Bombay government for war yaexpenses.
But Raghunathrao was never handed over to the Marathas and he continued enjoying the asylum of Bombay government
at Surat.
Meanwhile , due to internal rivalry some members (Moroba Phadanvis, Sakharam bapu,Tukoji Holkar) of the Barbhai
council had broken away. They conspired with Raghunathraos avowed well wishers like Bajaba Purandare, Sakharam
Gupte,Chinto Rairikar to bring back Raghunathrao to the seat of the Peshwa.
But Nana Phadanvis artfully managed to wreck the conspiracy.Most of the conspirators were chained and put behind bars.
Some died in prison and some were killed.
But on 23rd Dec 1778, the Bombay Government disregarding the treaty between the supreme council and the Marathas,
launched an offensive against the latter.
But by 13 th Jan 1779, the Bombay Governments forces faced defeat at Wadgaon.the English sued for peace and
returned everything they had gained from the treaty of Purandar.
But English offensives renewed at the behest of Warren Hastings (Governor Genreal at Calcutta) , who wanted to wipe
out the disgrace of Wadgaon. English forces led by General Goddard defeated the forces of Mahadji Shinde and other
Maratha commanders at various places like Gwalior,Ahmedabad, and pushed down Mahadji Shinde upto the town of
Sipri. There were heavy losses on both sides.
Mahadji Shinde (due to loss of his central territories) eventually prevailed upon the Marathas to conduct the treaty of
Salbai on 17th May 1782, whereby the English would forsake all support to Raghunathrao and recognize Sawai
Madhavrao (Madhavrao II) as the true Peshwa. In return the Marathas promised the English all help in their fight against
Hyder Ali. This treaty was ratified by Hastings in June 1782 and by Nana Phadanvis in February 1783. The treaty also
returned to Shinde all his territories west of the Yamuna. It also guaranteed peace between the two sides for twenty years
and thus ending the first Anglo Maratha war.
n
* Barbhais sought Nizam and Hyder Alis help against the English. Nizam stayed neutral, but while making the peace
treaty with the Marathas, the English specifically asked the marathas to keep away from Hyder Ali. Due to pressure from
Mahadji Shinde, Nana Phadanvis had to oblige. But Hyder Ali felt very slighted and the marathas lost on a potential friend.

Note: Mahadji Shinde ( Shinde is anglicized as Scindia) a.k.a Madhavrao I Sindhia a.k.a Patil bua (b.1730d.1794)was the illegitimate son (born from a Rajput concubine Chimabai) of Ranoji Shinde (son of Jankoji Shinde,
the Patil of Kanherkhed). Ranoji Shinde was entrusted by Bajirao I , the charge of Malwa, where he made Ujjain his
headquarters. Ranoji was succeeded by his son Jayappa who died at Panipat. Hence the mantle of the family was
passed on to Mahadji Shinde. Mahadji had already distinguished himself at Panipat where he received a leg wound
that would last him for life. Mahadji Shinde succeeded in bringing all Rajput (Medtya, Ratangarh, Lalgarh, Bikaner,
Laswari, Lachhmangarh, Kumher and Deeg and the states with territory of Jaipur and Jodhpur)and Jat (except
Bharatpur and Vijaynagar) states under Maratha suzerainty.he also conquered Mathura in 1755. After the treaty of
Salbai in 1782, Mahadji took full advantage of his neutrality with the English and exercised full control over north
India. He shifted his capital to Gwalior after he won it fom the Jats of Gohad. Mahadji Shinde was responsible for
reinstating Shah Alam II on the Mughal throne at Delhi (after the emperor was blinded and deposed by the Rohillas)
and ruled as his Regent. Mahadji had increased his army to three brigades under the captainship of Benoit de
Boigne, a French mercenary, and developed it into a disciplined force with added artillery and cavalry power.
Mahadji Shinde was also responsible for decimating the influence of Nizam of Hyderabad.the great Mahadji Shinde
died without an heir and was succeeded by his brothers(Tukaram Shindes) grandson Daulatrao Scindia.
However because of Mahadjis growing influence in the north, Nana Phadanvis grew suspicious. When Mahadji
supported the cause of Ahilyabai Holkar (d.i.l of Malharrao), Nana unduly tried to raise the importance of Ahilyabai's
commander Tukoji Holkar (this also sowed seeds of discontent between Ahilyabai and Tukoji). Nana even sent over
Alibahaddur (grandson of Bajirao I) to reduce the relience on Mahadji in the north (and Bhosales were sent to the
east). Mahadji on his part also tried to to reduce Nanas power in Pune by trying to woo away Peshwa Sawai
Madhavrao, accusing Nana's man an minister of Pant Sachiv of corruption.
Note: While her husband had taken refuge with the Surat English, Anandibai stayed at fort Dhar ( her son Raobaji was
born at Dhar while her foster son Amritrao stayed with their father at Surat) and tried to fight the Barbhais albiet
unsuccessfully . Relations between husband and wife though they were on speaking terms were not the best .
Raghunathrao resented Anandibai trying to influence him all the time.
Barbhais had assigned Visaji Govind Athavle and Khanderao Trimbak Odhekar to rein in Anandibai. Eventually she
escaped and went via Mandleshwar to fort Maheshwari under the protection of the Holkars.She stayed their for two years
and later joined her husband in Burhanpur. Later after the Salbhai treaty the entire family shifted to Kopargaon.
Death
Thus seeing all hopes to (once again) becoming the Peshwa wither away, Raghunathrao retired with his famiy to
Kopargaon at the banks of river Godavari, where he breathed his last (11th dec 1783) at Kacheshwar.
Raghunathrao left behind his wife Anandibai, a son Bajirao II , an adopted son Amritrao (10 years older to Bajirao II or
Raobaji) and a posthumous son born to Anandibai named Chimnaji Appa (9 years younger to Bajirao II).
Raghunathraos character
Raghunathrao was a brave warrior and military commander who carried the Maratha flag right upto Attock (presently in
Pakistan and under his leadership, the Marathas had held sway over Punjab, Kashmir and Northwest frontier for over a
year Mar 1758-Nov 1759) . But he lacked the prerequisites of a good ruler. He was myopic and impetuous. Moreover, he
was almost completely under the sway of his ambitious wife Anandibai. He shared a love and hate relationship with his
nephew Madhavrao. Though both loved and respected each other, personal ambitions ruined a fruitfull relationship
between the two.

ra

Peshwa Madhavrao II a.k.a Sawai Madhavrao a.k.a Madhurao Narayan (b.18 Apr.1774,Rule start:13th
Dec 1774, d. 27 Oct.1795) was the posthumous son of Peshwa Narayanrao and his wife Gangabai. He was born amidst
the political intrigues following Narayanraos murder.
An infant Sawai Madhavrao was declared the Peshwa after deposing Raghunathrao, who managed Peshwa ship for a
few months before being displaced by the Barbhai regency council led by Nana Phadanvis.
He more or less ruled under the guidance of Nana Phadanvis the Maratha Machiavelli and the Barbhai regency council.
Sawai Madhavrao was a witness to Raghunathraos treachery, when the latter brought the English to the forefront of the
Maratha politics. Raghunathrao tried to remove Sawai Madhavrao from the post of the Peshwa with English help. But
Sawai Madhavrao was gallantly defended by the Barbhais.
Though, by the treaty of Salbai (1782), the English recognized Sawai Madhavrao as the true Peshwa abandoning the
aspirations of Raghunathrao.

Note: When he came of age, Sawai Madhavrao did try to assert his authority against his adviser Nana Phadanvis ,
whom he felt was becoming overbearing. It was once in the case of the despotic police inspector of Pune, the
infamous Ghashiram Kotwal (a trusted aide of Nana, n younger brother of the equally notorious prior Kotwal,
Anandrao).
Note1: Nana was rumoured to have an eye for the fairer sex (though many historians like Pagadi have rejected this
as mere speculation and without any authentic historical proofs and more of a imagination by certain fiction
authors). It was rumoured that Nana Phadanvis made Ghashiram the Kotwal (Pagadi has stated that appointment
of a kotwal/police chief was outside Nanas jurisdiction and more of that of Sakharambapu Bokil's) as he had fallen n
love with the latters beautiful daughter (Pagadi has stated that Ghashiram Savaldas the kotwal, never had a
daughter in the first place). Ghashiram became very unpopular amongst the Puneites for his cruel ways. One day
he imprisoned some dakshini brahmins(Ghashiram himselm was a Kanauji brahmin), who later suffocated to death.
When this matter came to the notice of Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao, he handed over Ghashiram to the people of
Pune who stoned him to death.) and secondly when the Peshwa asked Nana Phadanvis to release his cousins
(Bajirao II, Chimnajiappa,Amritrao viz. sons of Raghunathrao) from prison. But Nana Phadanvis had overruled the
Peshwa, as he felt the Peshwa was being misled by his rivals. But mainly because Nana Phadanvis never trusted
the sons of Raghunathrao, whom he believed wouldnt hesitate to depose the Peshwa at the slightest opportunity.
However, the Peshwa it is said, felt humiliated and went into a depression. Soon he contracted a disease
considered Tuberculosis, which rendered him in severe bouts of fever.
Note1: Nanas court rival was Mahadji Scindia, who even tried releasing Nana's treacherous cousin Moroba from
prison and replacing Nana with him. But Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao rejected this move.
Nana was always suspicious about Mahadjis activities in the north especially when the Emperor of Delhi decided to
award Mahadji with the title Vakil e Mutalik (above that of the Peshwa). Though time and again Mahadji tried to
explain that he would always be subservient to the Peshwa, Nana was never convinced about it and sent over
Alibahadur (grandson of Peshwa Bajirao I) on the pretext of helping Holkars in their affairs, but the real reason was
always to keep a check on Mahadjis activities.
Note2: It is said that due to Nana's over protective nature towards the Peshwa which perhaps bordered on being
overbearing, Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao displayed very cranky and whimsical behaviour at times. As he grew up he
tried to be rebellious, which started creating friction between him and Nana.
+ Gopikabai the grandmother of Sawai Madhavrao never trusted Nana and believed that he did not provide the right
guidance to Sawai Madhavrao (same charge has been levied on Nana by Anandibai vis a vis her son Bajirao II) thus
deliberately keeping him weak and uncultured. She prefffered staying away from her grandson because of her
discontent with his upbringing.
*Nana Phadanvis sought the help of Hyder Ali of Mysore and the Nizam against the English. But at the last moment
Nizam withdrew and the Maratha sardars like the Nagpur Bhosales etc delayed attacking the English (citing lack of
funds to pay their army) thus isolating Hyder Ali (much to the chagrin of Nana Phadanvis who had gathered all the
three powers to face the English).
* During the reign of Sawai Madhavrao , Tipu Sultan of Mysore attacked some maratha territories which his father
had earlier surrendered to the marathas, as a result the Marathas sought English help in curbing Tipu (as Tipus
army was trained in modern warfare by the French).
* The first English resident in the Peshwas court was Sir Charles Malet. The available paintings of Sawai
Madhavrao, Nana Phadanvis, Mahadji Scindia etc have been painted by artist James Wells the father in law of Sir

Malet. Malets sons also were distinguished diplomats in the service of the British East India Company. One of his
sons Hugh is credited to the discovery and recreation of Matheran a famous hill station in Maharashtra.
Sawai Madhavrao died under mysterious circumstances. Though there were rumours that he commited suicide by
jumping from the high walls of Shanivarwada , some even speculated murder. But the popular story is, he was running
high fever and in delirium lost balance and fell down from his window/balcony.
As per historians like Duff and Kincaid, in his dying declaration, Sawai Madhavrao named his cousin Bajirao II as his
successor ,much to the chagrin of Nana Phadanvis. Nana had earlier asked Yashodabai (daughter of Ganesh Vishwanath
Gokhale of Vijaydurg), the widow of Sawai Madhavrao to adopt Chimaji, the youngest son of Raghunathrao, so that
someone from the family would become the Peshwa, and because of Chimajis young age, Nana could continue as the
regent for the new Peshwa. But now because of Sawai Madhavraos will and also because of the opposition from the other
courtiers to this arrangement Nana had to back out. Apparently the fact that Chimaji a brother in law of Yashodabai be
adopted as a son did not go down well with the courtiers, and also many resented the fact that this would give Nana
another stint as a regent).

Note: The Shanivarwada complex had a beautiful sixteen-petal-lotus shaped fountain: the Hazaari Kaaranje
(fountain of a thousand jets). This unique fountain, was constructed for the pleasure of the infant Sawai Madhavrao.
With the form of a sixteen petal lotus, each petal having sixteen jets with an eighty foot arch each.
Nihal Peth, a residential colony in Pune during the reign of Sawai Madhavrao, was renamed Nana Peth after Nana
Phadanvis.
Nana Phadanvis also converted Bhawani Peth (previously known as Borevan) an residential colony built by
Sambhajiraje into a commercial place and invited many traders to set up their storage facilities in that area.
Sardar Anandrao Laxmanrao Raste built Rasta Peth in Pune during the reign of Sawai Madhavrao.
Note1: Nana Phadanvis a.k.a Balaji Janardhan Bhanu was an old friend and confidante of the Bhat Peshwas. He
was born at Satara. His family hailed from Velas, an village near Shrivardhan (Konkan region) , the ancestral village
of the Bhat Peshwas. His grandfather, Balaji Mahadji Bhanu (He was killed in a skirmish in the north while
accompanying Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath to Delhi when attacked by the forces of Aminkhan) was promoted to the
title of Phadanvis (Finance secretary) at the behest of Balaji Vishwanath Peshwe. Nana inherited the title from his
grandfather during the time of Madhavrao (due to Nana's intelligence , competrancy and loyalty towards
Madhavrao) Peshwe and was a die hard loyalist of that royal line. Nana virtually saved Sawai Madhavrao from the
evil machinations of the Raghunathrao camp , as a result of which his reputation enchanced to a great extent. Nana
Phadanvis acted as the regent of Sawai Madhavrao and was virtually the main decision maker of the Maratha
kingdom during that time. It was then that the Maratha forces had inflicted a crushing defeat over the Nizam of
Hyderabad at Kharda, when the latter had refused to honour his financial commitments to the Marathas.
Nana Phadanvs was a person of frail disposition, but was an astute diplomat, responsible for keeping the Maratha
kingdom afloat by providing leadership at a difficult juncture. A extremely religious person by nature, he was also
very meticulous in his habits and was an extremely hardworking person.
He understood the dangers of foreign powers like English and along with Hyder Ali and Nizam he tried to briddle
them. However due to a lack of unity and coordination between the Indian powers the English proved to be difficult
to handle. Due to Nanas role in upstaging Raghunathrao, he was always hated by Raghunathraos son Bajirao II.
Nana had once virtually imprisoned the sons of Raghunathrao at Shivner ,after the death of their mother Anandibai
at Nasik ,in Apr,1794, lest they become instruments in the hands of his rivals. Moreover he distrusted the eldest son
Bajirao II, because of the latters inert deviousness. This also added to Bajiraos dislike for Nana Phadanvis. Nana
Phadanvis was imprisoned by Sardar Sakharam Ghatge and Peshwa Bajirao II in 1797, at Ahmednagar fort amidst
political intrigues following the death of Madahvarao II (apparently Bajirao II had promised Daulatrao Scindia , huge
amounts of money to stay put in Pune , as he feared that once Daulatrao leaves for Gwalior, Nana would once gain
dethrone him. Bajirao II therefore advised Daulatrao to collect the promised sum from Nana, whom he accused of
hoarding a lot of illicit wealth).But once Daulatrao discovered that he had been misled by Bajirao II, he once gain
diverted his pressure towards him.
Bajirao II now had no choice but to get Nana released (also because of some pressure exerted by Nanas allies like
the Nizam) and reconcile with him.
But the prison term had made Nana Phadanvis very weary and he was no longer his old self. Also, he never
regained his old position thereafter.
Nana Phadanvis died on 13th March 1800 at Pune.
Note: Nana and Daulatrao Scindia always shared an uncomfortable relationship and due to the latters pressure he
had to resign from office for sometime and take solace at Mahad. But the wily Nana was not a person to give up and

used his diplomatic channels like Nizam,Tipu etc to once again get himself reseated as the Peshwas primary
advisier.
Note:Bajirao also imprisoned Yashodabai , his dead cousins widow, first at Purandar and later in Raigad. She later
died in prison in 1811.
Nana Phadanvis was called the Indian Machiavelli, by Grant Duff in his treatise on the Marathas, because of Nanas
political manoueverings to maintain the sanctity of the seat of the Peshwas. Nana Phadanvis left behind two wives
(Nana Phadanvis had married nine times. Only Bagubai and the fourteen year old Jiubai remained. Bagubai died
within a month of her husbands death) , but no son (none of his children had survived infancy). After Nanas death
the Peshwa Bajirao II had attached Nanas estates and confined his fourteen year old wife,Jiubai at Shanivar wada
(Jiubai was later freed by Yashwantrao Holkar. She later came under the protection of the English who ensured her
a pension.In 1827, she even adoped a son Madhavrao Bhanu).
During the time of Sawai Madhavrao the maratha kingdom was at its peak, mainly due to the competance of his
nobles like Nana Phadanvis and Mahadji Shinde.

Peshwas (Part 5) : Decline of the Peshwas

Refer previous Peshwa articles to get a sense of continuity viz. Peshwas Part 1: Early Peshwas
(Sonopant,Shyampant,Moropant,Nilopant,Bahirojipant,Ramchandrapant and Balaji Vishwanath Bhat), Part 2: Glory
of the Peshwas (Bajirao I), Part 3: Peak of the Peshwas and Debacle at Panipat(Balaji Bajirao), Part 4: Strife within
(Madhavrao, Narayanrao,Raghunathrao,Sawai Madhavrao), Part 5: Decline of the Peshwas (Bajirao II, Amritrao,
Nanasahib).

The late 18th century marked the decline of the maratha empire. The premature death of Madhavrao Peshwa had left behind a
great void in the maratha empire. He was probably the last unifying force amongst the marathas. Stalwarts like Mahadji Shinde,
Nana Phadanvis etc did try to sustain the empire , but they were not cohesive enough to provide a unified command to the
marathas. Thereafter the empire was wrecked by individual vested interests who were more interested in furthering their own
small causes rather than that of the maratha empire as a whole. During this period was born Bajirao II who only proved to be a
product of his times.

Peshwa Bajirao II (b.1775 in Dhar,M.P , rule: 4 Dec.1796-3 Jun.1818, d.28th Jan 1851) was the eldest son of
Raghunathrao Peshwa and Anandibai. During this time his father was at Surat allied with the English.
Political intrigues before accession
The ailing Peshwa Madhavrao II on his deathbed had named (allegedly) his uncle, Bajirao II, as his heir.
Note, earlier Bajirao II had started communication with his cousin and gained his sympathy by using the name of Nana
Phadanvis as their common cause of discomfort. It was done through Balwantrao Vamorik whom Nana himself had posted to
keep a watch on Bajirao II. But Balwantrao developed a tilt towards Bajirao II. When Nana got the whiff of this, he had
Balwantrao arrested.
But his old regent Nana Phadnavis was never comfortable with the idea of Bajirao II as the next Peshwa.
Nana knew very well that Bajirao resented him and would try his utmost to undermine his authority.
Nana therefore convinced Madhavraos widow to adopt a son whom, Nana would then anoint as the next Peshwa, thus
continuing to rule as a regent on his behalf.
But Bajirao II (who was in prison) had other plans. He wooed over Sardar Baloba Tatya Pagnis, the influential minister of
Daulatrao Shinde (anglicized as Scindia), by promising him Nana's position. In return, Pagnis was to persuade Scindia to
throw in his might behind Bajirao II in the race for Peshwa's seat.
But Nana got the whiff of Bajirao's clandestine plans and started planning his counter move.
Nana knew very well that he could never match Scindia's might. So he thought it would be prudent if he came to an
understanding with Bajirao II. Subsequently, Nana had Bajirao released from prison.
Thereafter, Nana made a pact with Bajirao whereby Bajirao would be made the next Peshwa and in return Bajirao would allow
Nana to continue as the chief minister.
Bajirao too agreed with the proposal, as he knew that having the duo of Baloba Pagnis and Scindia around him for too long
would also be counterproductive in the long run. He knew the duo would never allow Bajirao to function freely as the Peshwa,
so he thought it was best that he for the time being agree to Nana's proposal.
Thus Bajirao II was declared the next Peshwa. In return, Bajirao withdrew his original commitment to Sardar Pagnis and
declared that Nana would continue as his chief minister.
However, Nana was well aware that Baloba Pagnis would never take this lying down and would instigate Scindia to dislodge
Bajirao and himself from their posts.
Thus before Scindia's forces (led by an disgruntled Baloba Pagnis) could march onto Pune, Nana took refuge in the fort of
Purander on the outskirts of Pune.
Predictably, Sardar Pagnis urged Daulatrao Scindia to appoint Bajirao II's younger brother Chimnaji Appa as the next Peshwa.
The wily Nana Phadanvis who had by now shifted base to Mahad, began secret negotiations directly with Daulatrao Scindia
(Nana also sought help from the English,Nizam,Tipu,Nagpukar Bhosales,Holkars,Karveerkars to isolate Scindia and put
pressure on him via what is now famously known as Mahad conspiracy).
Nana tacitly gave his approval for the appointment of Chimnaji as the next Peshwa, in return for his continuation as the chief
minister.
Note, initially Nana had wanted to declare Shahu II of Satara as the king and rule as his prime minister. But due to Shahus
uncertainties, Nana extended his support to Chimnaji (younger brother of Bajirao II) as the next Peshwa.Chimnaji was thereby
adopted by Yashodabai, the widow of Sawai Madhavrao and he was declared the Peshwa and Bajirao II was once again
confined to prison.
Meanwhile, Sardar Pagnis who would settle for nothing short of replacing Nana Phadanvis, was making plans of seizing Nana.
He had already started poisoning Scindias mind against Nana.
Nana on his part also never underestimated Pagnis's influence over Scindia. So in anticpation of a possible imprisonment, Nana
went underground once again.
He renewed his pact with Bajirao to get him released from prison and make him the Peshwa, but both knew this wasnt possible
without the approval of Daulatrao Scindia.
They knew, they had to wean away Daulatrao Scindia from Pagnis's side and over to their own .
They therefore utilised the offices Sardar Sakharam Ghatges (of Kagal) . They persuaded Ghatge to send the marraige proposal
of his beautiful daughter Baijabai, to Daulatrao Scindia.
In return they promised him a greater say in the affairs of Pune. As per their expectations Daulatrao accepted the marraige
proposal. Thus Sakharam Ghatges influence over Daulatrao Scindia increased considerably.This isolated Sardar Pagnis.
Note: But Sarjerao Ghatge also became notoriously famous for taking advantage of the situation and looting Pune in 1797. When Bajirao II couldnt cough up the promised sum to
Daulatrao Shinde, he let loose his father in law on the happless city of Pune. What followed was a period of absolute cruelty. Ghatge looted Pune with glee abandon. He threatened
all of Nana Phadanvis's supporters to not lend him funds or financial support. He extracted lakhs from them and rendered them all financially weak so as not to be in a position to
support Nana. Later Daulatrao Scindia captured Nana by deceit in connivance with Peshwa Bajirao II and imprisoned him at Ahmednagar fort.

Thus Bajirao II was declared the new Peshwa with Daulatraos support and Nana Phadanvis remained his prime minister.
But heart in heart , Bajirao II was never in favour of Nana Phadanvis. He held Nana responsible for his father Raghunathrao's
ouster from the Peshwaship. Hence once Bajirao felt himself in control, their old rivalry resurfaced .
Bajirao II induced Sardar Sakharam Ghatge to put Nana Phadanvis behind bars and instead promised him Nanas authority. Thus
several charges were levelled against Nana and he was imprisoned in the fort of Ahmednagar.
But in a matter of time,Bajirao realised that this wasnt such a wise move afterall.
He was finding Daulatrao Scindia's (and Sakhatam Ghatge's) behaviour overbearing and beyond his control.
This was the time he realised the value of Nana's wise counsel.
Thus Bajirao II had his rival Nana Phadanvis released from prison, and reinstated him in his old position albeit with much
lesser authority.
By now, Nana Phadanvis was a tired man . His days in prison had also taken a toll on his health and he soon died in a couple of
years time in 1800, leaving Bajirao II back to his dependency on Daulatrao Scindia.
Treaty of Bassein
Meanwhile Tukoji Holkar had died at Indore leaving behind two sons Kashirao and Malharrao II and two illegitimate sons
Jaswantrao (Yeshwantrao) and Vithoji. Kashirao being the elder was made Tukojis successor, but was challenged by Malharrao.
Even the illegitimate brothers Jaswantrao and Vithoji supported the cause of Malharrao .But Kashirao asked Daulatrao Scindia
for his help.Daulatrao tried to seize Malharrao in person and in the fight that ensued Malharrao II was killed. His son Khanderao
was then taken as a prisoner to Pune. Jaswantrao fled to Nagpur while Vithoji fled to Kolhapur. Vithoji was later captured near
Bhamburda and taken to Pune. Jaswantrao meanwhile built a large army and planned an attack on Scindia who had seated
himself at Pune (much to the Peshwas dismay as the latter was in his control). Scindia sensing an attack by Jaswantrao ,
extracted fourty seven lakhs from the Peshwa, marched out from Pune. Both Scindia and Jaswantraos armies clashed, and after
a fierce battle Jaswantrao was forced to retreat.
Meanwhile Peshwa Bajirao II now feeling free from Daulatrao Scindias stranglehold, now desired to establish his complete
control over Pune. He first decided to eliminate those families whom he considered his rivals (like Raste family) or those that
were in opposition to his father Raghunathrao (self aggrandisment at the expense of his nobles may have been another motive).
The vindictive Bajirao II was merciless with his enemies. Even Vithoji Holkar +(brother of Jaswantrao Holkar) and a friend of
Nana Phadanvis ( and someone whom Bajirao believed fancied Amritrao as a Peshwa rather than Bajirao II) , was tied to an
elephants leg and dragged through the streets of Pune , till he died . (ref.Kincaid).
+[Vithoji Holkar had managed to stir a rebellion against Bajirao II around the Pune region while his brother Yeshwantrao
(Jaswantrao) managed the affairs in central India]
Jaswantrao Holkar when he heard about his brothers death was furious and swore revenge on the Peshwa . He once again
gathered his forces and marched onto Pune. He dodged Scindias forces on the way and made way to Pune. The Peshwa Bajirao
II immediately fled Pune and sought refuge on its outskirts at the fort Sinhagad.(Bajirao did not want to seek help from Scindia,
as that would be inviting his control over Pune, once again, so he decided to seek help from the English). From Sinhagad, he
fled to the Konkan, where he boarded a English ship at Rewandada and sailed to the port town of Bassein (present day
Vasai).There he signed a treaty (6th Dec 1802, Treaty of Bassein) with the English seeking their protection against his enemies.
Note: Earlier in 1791, the Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao had flirted with the English, when he supported them in their battle against
Tipu Sultan of Mysore. For his services the Peshwa had been suitably rewarded with vast lands of Tipus territory.
Meanwhile Jaswantrao Holkar had sacked Pune and after installing the Peshwas brother Amritrao (as per some reports
Amritraos son Vinayakrao) in the place of Bajirao II, he had left for Indore.
Note: Amritrao had been adopted by Raghunathrao after the death of his sons in infancy and the next offspring being a daughter. But subsequently Bajirao II was born followed by
Chimnaji.

The British army accompanying Bajirao II entered Pune. The British army was led by General Arthur Wellesely (brother of , the
Governor General) .
On the way they were joined by Peshwas aides like Patwardhan,Bapu Ganesh Gokhale,Appa Nipanikar,Patankar and
Vinchurkar (grandson of Vithal Shivdev Vinchurkar).
Amritrao was pensioned off by the English to Benaras with his family to Varanasi.
Bajirao II was once again reinstated as the Peshwa at Pune.
Note: Amritrao's son Vinayakrao maintained good relations with the English. He lived in Varanasi

(later Karvi in Banda state) with a comfortable princely amount sanctioned by the English. Vinayakrao adopted a son
Narayanrao. But later relations soured between the father and his adopted son and another son Madhavrao was adopted. But the
family lost a major chunk of their wealth when in 1857 they were suspected by the British of colluding with the mutineers.
Defeat of the Scindias and the Holkars
Scindia did not appreciate Peshwas proximity to the English and nor did Raghuji Bhosale of Nagpur.
Rather both resented the the fact that Bajirao had preferred a foreigners help over their own, not to mention decrease in their
clout over Pune.
They also felt that the English were unnecessarily interfering in what they considered the Maratha affairs . They therefore
decided to punish the English and collected an large army to take them on headlong.
Scindia was confident of a victory over the English, mainly because of his strong artillery and cavalry cultivated and
commanded by a Frenchman called De Boigne.
Jaswantrao Holkar who had a disdain for both Scindia and Bajirao stayed neutral.
But Daulatrao Scindia soon realized that he had underestimated the English.
Scindias army were the first to face defeat (at the battle of Assaye on 21st Sept 1803).
Raghuji Bhosale followed next at Argaon in Berar (on 29th Nov 1803, forcing Raghuji to sign the treaty of Devgaon).
Scindias army were also defeated by Col.Woodington at Bharuch, Champaner,and by Col Lake at Aligad , Delhi and Laswari .
Bundelkhand was reduced by Col Powell.
Finally Daulatrao Scindia accepted defeat and on 30th Dec 1803 signed the Treaty of Surji Anjangaon. Scindia ceded all his
lands between rivers Jamuna and Ganga and control of his lands in Rajputana. Ahmednagar and Bharuch forts were also given
away to the English.
The treaty of Surji Anandgaon was supplemented by the treaty of Burhanpur on 27th Feb 1804, whereby Scindia became an ally
of the English.
Meanwhile successes of the English alarmed Jaswantrao Holkar, who feared for his own possessions. He probably feared that if
Scindia allied with the English, then it was possible that they collectively might encroach on his dominions.
Jaswantrao Holkar started planning an preemptive attack on the English. He raised an army and attacked the English divisions.
But he was isolated against the collective might of the English.
General Wellesely and his troops clashed with the forces of Holkar and soon Holkar too was subdued.
On 14th Dec 1805,Jaswantrao Holkar too became an ally of the English vide the treaty of Beas. But the treaty weighed heavily
on his mind . He tried uniting the Marathas against the British until his premature death by a brain stroke on 20th Oct 1811 at
Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh. He was just thirty five.
Note:Jaswantrao Holkar allegedly (as per British historians like Kincaid and Duff ) went insane and had his brother Kashirao
and his nephew Khanderao killed.Though some historians mention Khanderao dying of Cholera.
Jaswantrao was succeeded by Malharrao Holkar III under the regency of Jaswantraos widow. But the English allegedly plotted
her death. Malharrao III and his later wife Bhimabai continued their struggle against the English inspite of a defeat at Mahidpur.
Indore was later incorporated by the English as a princely state in the Central India Agency.

Bajirao IIs reign and friction with the English

Bajiraos reign was marked by vindictiveness and perfidy. His entire exercise seemed to be
acquiring the estates of his nobles, sometimes over the flimsiest of pretexts. Earlier it had been the
estates of Sardar Raste , Nana Phadanvis.
It was followed by the estates of the Pant Pratinidhi and Pant Sachiv. Bajirao also unsuccessfully
tried to acquire the estates of the Sawantwadi nobles, when the latter were fighting with the Raja of
Kolhapur.
Bajirao II imprisoned Baburao Phadke the son of gallant warrior Hari Ballal Phadke who had so
courageously served the Maratha kingdom.He confined Baburao at Bassein fort where he
died.Thereby the Peshwa attached his property.
Peshwa even attached some lands of Gaekwads of Baroda over a revenue dispute. The English then
intervened and had the Gaekwads send a representative to negotiate matters with the Peshwa. But
the Peshwas aide Trimbakji Dengale (as alleged by the English chroniclers) had Gangadhar Shastri,
the representative of the Gaekwads, murdered.

The English were incensed becaused of this act and arrested Trimbakji. But the man broke free
from the Thana prison and gathered a small army around himself. Bajirao too was beginning to
dislike the regular interference of the English in his affairs and actively encouraged Trimbakji
Dengale.
Then the Resident Monstuart Elphinstone, openly asked for the arrest of Trimbakji Dengale and the
surrender of forts like Sinhagad,Purander and Raigad. When Bajirao refused, Pune was encircled
by the English troops forcing the Peshwa too sign the treaty of Puna on 8th May 1817. Along with
the forts the English also forced the Peshwa to give up all the estates of his nobles which he had
acquired in these years.Bajirao was even asked to dismantle his forces.
Note: To the credit of Bajirao II, he never surrendered Trimbakrao Dengale to the English, though the latter was captured shortly near Khandesh.

By now Bajiraos dislike for the English had turned into intense hatred. He soon started building an
army for himself under the guidance of his confidante Bapu Gokhale. He also tried to seduce the
Indian guards in the English army with emoluments. On 5th Nov 1817, the Peshwas troops and the
English troops clashed at what we now know as the battle of Khadki. Peshwa himself retreated to
the temple of Parvati at a hill top and watched the entire proceedings of the battle. But seeing his
army being routed, the Peshwa fled from battle (earning him the nickname Palputaa or the
Fleeing one). Rest of the period was spent running from fort to fort
(Satara,Nagpur,Kopargaon,Chanda), pursued furiously by the English forces.
Finally on 3rd June 1818, Peshwa Bajirao II surrendered to Col John Malcolm at Mhaw near
Indore.
The British were careful so as not to humiliate the Peshwa, or imprison or execute him, lest he
rebels, or is able to generate sympathy (as in the case of Ch.Sambhaji) which leads to other
marathas rallying under a common banner. Col Malcolm himself has outlined the British policy to
be followed in India. they preffered to purchase the individual loyalties of each maratha sardar,
divide them and thus rule by proxy.
The English exiled the Peshwa to the town of Bhramhavarta or Bithur near Kanpur on the banks of
the Ganges, which was to be his jagir for retirement. He was sanctioned an princely pension to
meet his royal expenses.
Bajiraos family Bajirao II had eleven wives, but none could produce an male heir (his only son
through his eldest wife Varanasibai had died in his infancy). Therefore on 6th June 1827, Bajirao II
adopted a boy, Dhondopant Narayan Bhat, a son of a priest from Venegaon near Bhor ghat.
Subsequently he adopted Dhondopants brothers Sadashivarao and Gangadharrao. Dhondopant
succeeded Bajirao II as the next Peshwa and came to be known as Nanasaheb. Bajirao's daughter
Bayabai was probably the last survivor amongst his children.
Death Bajirao II died in 1851 at a ripe age of eighty.
An estimation of Bajiraos character
Bajirao II remains one of the most controversial Peshwas in Maratha history. Most denounce him as
vindictive, cruel, greedy, extremely money minded, myopic and cowardly (known as Palputaa
Bajirao or the Fleeing Bajirao), while some term him as a victim of circumstances.
Most of Bajirao IIs formative years were spent in prison. Thus his administrative/political
education was neglected , perhaps deliberately (but he was said to be keen on outdoor activities like
wrestling , malkhamb, knowledge of arms-archery,spear throwing,swordsmanship ref.Grant Duff.
Bajirao was also said to be good in the shastras and was a ardent Shivbhakt) and due to the constant

hostilities surrounding him, he grew up to be a very suspicious and vengeful person. He never had
the chance to hone up the qualities of a good ruler, let alone be a capable general like his
forefathers. His personal life was also no different than the princes of those times and quite
amorous. His rule has been largely criticised for the prevailing lawlessness, nepotism, casteism and
wasteful expenditure in superstitions and rituals.
Because of his nature , Bajirao II lost several supporters (his equation with his foster brother was
also one of suspicion and they never got along. Bajirao had even imprisoned his younger brother
Chimnaji for he feared that someone might use him as a tool to upstage him) and eventually he was
isolated and forced with no other option but to seek the help of the English, which paved the way
for their rule in the country.
In the words of Grant Duff ' No other empire was so foolishly lost '.

Nanasahib Peshwa (b.1824) a.k.a Dhundiraj a.k.a Dhondopant, is remembered in the pages
of history as the last Peshwa.
Nanasahib was the adopted son of Peshwa Bajirao II. Dhondopant was the biological son of an
priest, Narayan Bhat and Gangabai.
Nanasahib was declared the next Peshwa after the death of Bajirao II.
Sepoy Mutiny of 1857
Though Nanasahib outwardly professed loyalty to the English, he always resented their sway over
the Maratha dominions. Moreso, he was incensed when he was refused (1853) the title of the
Peshwa (he was known simply as the Maharaja of Bitthur) and his entitlement to the pension by the
English Governor General Lord Dalhousie. The British also started interfering in the Peshwa's
financial and internal matters (On one occassion a property case was filed on the Peshwa indirectly
by the British and the womenfolk in the Peshwas household were summoned to the court).This
infuriated Nanasaheb to no end.
Opportunity to get back at the English came his way, when in 1857 the Indian Sepoy Mutiny broke
out in India.
Nanasahib collected a fifteen hundred strong contingent, maintaining that it was for the protection
of the English lest the rebellion spreads to Kanpur. But on 5th June 1857, he surrounded the 53
Native Infantry division of the British East India Company and declared himself on the side of the
mutineers.

Note: As per some reports Nanasahib was a reluctant leader and was forced to take charge by the mutineers. Acc. to reports neither
was Nanasahib trained militarily nor did he have the basic requisites to be a general. Since the British treasury and arms at Kanpur
were in his temporary charge, he was forced by the mutineers to join in the rebellion.

Nanasahib then proceeded to loot the treasury.He then came across an contingent of mutineers who
were on their way to Delhi. They were soon induced to his cause. He attacked the British
entrenchment led by General Wheeler, the next morning. The English held on to the entrenchment
till June 26th. Thereafter they surrendered to Nanasahibs army on an assurance that he would give
them an safe passage to Allahabad.
Satichaura Ghat and Bibighar Massacare
On 27th June, the English column consisting of soldiers and their families reached the Satichaura
Ghat, from where they were to proceed by boat. For reasons unknown some India boatmen jumbed
in the waters and started swimming to the banks. In the process some lanterns were knocked off
setting some boats ablaze. This led to a lot of confusion. Someone fired the first shot, and soon
there was exchange of fire between the mutineers and the English soldiers. Tatya Tope an aide of
Nanasahib was leading the mutineers that fired upon the English. Many Englishmen were
massacared that day. The women and the children were pulled away and taken prisoners to the
Savada House, and later to Bibighar House (under the supervision of a prostitute by the name of
Begum Hussaini Khanum), where they were united with the other English imprisoned womenfolk
from Fatehgad.
Meanwhile a strong English contingent (consisting of Sikh soldiers) led by General Havelock had
set out from Allahbad to take on the mutineers at Kanpur and Lucknow. They defeated Nanasahibs
army at Fatehgad. They further defeated the army led by Nanasahibs brother Balarao at Aong on
15th July. They were also said to be perpetrating atrocities against the Indian villagers on the way.
When this news reached Nanasahibs camp, the mutineers were furious. They wrecked their anger
against the hapless women and children at Bibighar. They were mercilessly gunned down (despite
Nanasahebs protests).
This sordid incident goes down in history as the Bibighar massacare.
The English forces soon reached Kanpur and captured the town. Nanasahib and his men escaped to
Bithur. The English who by now had gotten to know about the Bibighar massacare went on a
rampage, indulging in arson,loot and killing.
The English troops later entered Bithur. But found that Nanasahib had escaped from there as well.
Nanasahibs general Tatya Tope continued offer a stiff resistance to the English.
It is said that Nanasahibs confidantes like Tatya Tope, Rani Laxmibai and Raosaheb (Nanasahibs
nephew and close associate) met at Gwalior (June 1858) and declared Nanasahib as their Peshwa
and vowed to continue their fight against the English.
But Rani Laxmibai met her valorous end at Jhansi .Tatya Tope also led an brave gureilla campaign
against the English until his alleged capture and execution at Shivpuri.
Note: Tatya Tope (b.1814-d.1859) was the son of Pandurangrao Tope, an courtier of Bajirao II. Tatya was born at Yeola in
Maharashtra. He along with Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi were the childhood friends of Nanasahib Peshwe. He became the
commander in chief of Nanasahibs forces and led an extensive gureilla campaign against the English forces. His skills in
gureilla strategemns were praised even by his enemies.He was captured because of betrayal by a friend and finally executed.

Rani Laxmibai a.k.a Manikarnika a.k.a Manu (19 November 1828 17 June 1858) was the Queen of Jhansi.She was the
daughter of Moropant Tambe an courtier of Peshwa Bajirao II. She married Gangadharrao Newalkar, the Raja of Jhansi. Her son
died in his infancy and was soon followed by her husband. She having no son wanted her adopted son Damodar rao to succeed
her. But the English wouldnt allow it.When the English led siege to the Jhansi fort, Rani escaped and she joined the cause of
the mutineers in 1858. They captured the fort of Gwalior and carried on its defense with the other rebels. This brave woman
preffered to fight the English rather than surrender and met her glorious death in battlefield at Kotah ki Serai,Phoolbagh near
Gwalior. General Sir Hugh Rose commented upon her death that the Rani "remarkable for her beauty, cleverness and
perseverance" had been "the most dangerous of all the rebel leaders.
Both Rani Laxmibai and Tatya Tope are revered as the icons of the First Indian Freedom Movement against the British

Disappearance of Nanasahib
Nanasahibs whereabouts were never known. Some reported that he escaped with his
family to Nepal and died a fugitive in that country. While some claimed sighting him at
Constantinople, while there were also rumours of him having escaped to Tibet. An person
resembling Nanasahib was also caught at Gwalior by Maharajah Scindia, but its veracity
was never confirmed. A ascetic alleged to have been Nanasaheb was also said to be
living in the whereabouts of Sihor, Gujrat. In recent years there were even documents
produced by a family living in Gujrat claiming to be the descendents of Nannasaheb.But
none of these reports could be substantially confirmed.
The last Peshwa of the Marathas seemed to have disappeared in thin air.