83-580: Madhavrao I (Madhavrao Ballal Bhat; 15 February 1745 −18 November 1772) was the son of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao and grandson of Peshwa Bajirao I who served as 9th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy . During his tenure, the Maratha Confederacy recovered from the losses they suffered during the Third Battle of Panipat , an event known as Maratha Resurrection . Madhavrao Bhat was the second son of Peshwa Nanasaheb , son of Bajirao . He
166-724: A disregard for conventional constraints. An anecdote involving the Bhonsle chief of Nagpur illustrates his ability to gather intelligence and enforce his will. Madhavrao Peshwa I is remembered as a transformative leader who left an enduring legacy on the Maratha Empire. His contributions to administration, welfare, and military might solidified his position as one of the most capable figures of his era. Justice Kashinath Trimbak Telang citing James Grant Duff narrates an amusing story that illustrates Madhavrao's ruthlessness, omniscience and disregard for religious restrictions. Assessing
249-516: A fine on Raghunathrao for misconduct during the Nizam's invasion, a decision that led to a temporary estrangement from his mother, Gopikabai. However, their bond remained strong, as evidenced by their correspondence. Madhavrao was instrumental in reforming the Maratha administration. He introduced stringent measures to combat corruption, including public flogging of errant officials. The judicial system
332-594: A force of 4,000 soldiers on a need basis. In 1748, Javed Khan, a rival of the Mughal wazir Safdar Jang invited the new Nizam of Hyderabad Nasir Jung , to join an alliance against the wazir. Safdar Jang requested Maratha support against Nasir Jung. Balaji Rao dispatched Scindia and Holkar chiefs to prevent Nasir Jung from reaching Delhi, and thus, saved Safdar Jang. Starting in 1748, the Afghan king Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali) launched several invasions of India, forcing
415-416: A garden, a wooden hall and a fountain outside this favourite temple. 18 November 1772, early morning approximately at eight: Madhavrao died at the temple premises of Chintamani, Theur. Thousands of citizens visited the site and paid their last respects. Madhavrao was cremated on the banks of the river which was about half a mile from the temple. A small memorial carved out of stone rests today at that place as
498-575: A large army under the command of Ramchandra Ganesh Kanade and Visaji Krushna Biniwale in order to recover territory lost in the North due to the defeat of Third battle of Panipat they were joined by Mahadji Shinde and Tukoji Rao Holkar . This Maratha army marched towards Udaipur . The Rajputs there agreed to pay him 60 lakhs as tribute. On 5 April 1770, the Marathas defeated Jats of Bharatpur . In October 1770 they vanquished Najib Khan Rohilla ,
581-506: A letter from the Peshwa loyalist Mahadji Purandare, who denounced him as a traitor. Subsequently, Gaekwad changed course and started advancing towards Satara. Mahadji's brother Trimbakrao Purandare led a 20,000-strong force against him. Gaekwad defeated him at Nimb, a small town north of Satara. He then marched to Satara, where he was received by Tarabai. However, Trimbakrao re-formed his army and on 15 March 1751, he attacked Gaekwad's army, which
664-437: A memorial. His wife Ramabai chose to commit sati with his body at the time of cremation. Madhavrao Peshwa I was a prominent figure of the Maratha Empire, renowned for his administrative acumen and leadership. During his tenure, he implemented significant reforms and exhibited a deep sense of empathy for the populace. Humanitarian and Administrative Abilities An incident highlighting Madhavrao's compassion occurred during
747-492: A result, Balaji Rao ordered Damaji to be put in iron chains at Lohagad. He then sent a military expedition to Gujarat, under his brother Raghunath Rao . Raghunath Rao managed to recover revenues from Surat , but could not advance north of the Tapti River . Meanwhile, Balaji Rao received a setback when his general Shankarji Keshav Phadke was defeated at the siege of Parner . As a result, he decided to seek reconciliation with
830-506: A section of Tarabai's troops in the Satara garrison rebelled against her. Although she crushed the mutiny, she realized that it would be difficult to continue the fight against Balaji Rao. She, therefore, agreed to a peace treaty. She met Balaji Rao in Pune, and accepted the superiority of the Peshwa's office. She agreed to dismiss her lieutenant Baburao Jadhav, whom the Peshwa disliked. In return,
913-465: A subordinate, and asked Balaji Rao to consult Umabai. On 30 April, Balaji Rao launched a surprise evening attack, and Damaji's camp surrendered without resistance. Balaji Rao then surrounded the Satara fort, and asked Tarabai to release Chhatrapati Rajaram II, whose physical and mental condition had deteriorated considerably. Tarabai refused, and Balaji Rao left for Pune, since a siege of the well-provisioned and strong Satara fort would not be easy. Later,
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#1732780034801996-576: A treaty with Hyder Ali , much to Madhavrao's disappointment. Raghunathrao intentionally made this move, since he was now fearfully aware of Madhavrao's burgeoning power. The power of the Young Peshwa Madhav Rao could be seen from a letter which Raghunath Rao wrote to Gopika Bai in 1765 which was as follow. " He has become very wise. He is managing everything and doing more than Nana Saheb Peshwa and Bhau Saheb ever did." Additionally, his loyal assistant Sakharam Bapu also warned him against
1079-494: A treaty. Raghunathrao agreed to sign the treaty with Madhavrao and asked him to move back to a non-attacking position. Madhavrao did so. However, Raghunathrao deceived Madhavrao. When the Maratha camp under Madhavrao was relaxed and unsuspecting of a battle, they were caught unawares as Raghunathrao attacked treacherously. Thus, Madhavrao was defeated in the Battle of Alegaon and on 12 November 1762, surrendered near Alegaon. After
1162-508: A war by offering him ₹ 4,000,000; but, Raghunath Rao was not satisfied with the offer. The Marathas besieged Bharatpur's Kumher fort in early 1754 for around four months, before a peace treaty was concluded. The Marathas accepted an offer by Suraj Mal to pay ₹ 3,000,000 in three yearly installments. During Baji Rao's tenure, the Mughals had nominally granted the Malwa to the Marathas, but
1245-645: A war of succession between Bakht Singh and Ram Singh . Ram Singh sought help from Jayappa Scindia. By the time Scindia marched to Jodhpur in September 1752, Bakhat Singh had died. He was succeeded by his son Bijay Singh, who sought help against the Marathas from the Mughals, the Rohillas and Madho Singh. With Madho Singh's help, Maharaja Vijay Singh resisted the Marathas for a year, before he agreed to peace talks. During one such peace negotiation, Jayappa Rao Scindia
1328-463: A war on Ishwari Singh for his failure to pay the arrears. Ishwari Singh was desperate as he did not have sufficient money to pay off the Marathas, and he could not impose excessive taxes on his citizens. As a result, he committed suicide by consuming poison. After Ishawari Singh's death, Madho Singh became the ruler of Jaipur. However, he no longer trusted the Marathas, having seen their treatment of his elder brother. He participated in battles against
1411-830: The Hooghly River . During this period, warriors called as " Bargis ", perpetrated atrocities against the local population, against Hindu Bengalis Muslims and Biharis . As reported in Burdwan Kingdom's and European sources, the Bargis are said to have plundered villages, and Jan Kersseboom, chief of the Dutch East India Company factory in Bengal, estimated that perhaps 400,000 Hindu civilians in Western Bengal and Bihar were dead owing to
1494-534: The Keladi Nayaka Kingdom and her son who were kept in confinement in the fort of Madhugiri by Hyder Ali. They were rescued by Madhavrao I and were sent to Pune for protection. Sira subah was absorbed into Maratha confederacy. who retained it until Haidar's son, Tipu Sultan , recaptured it in 1774. The Peshwas were expanding their territory in the northern regions of India. Raghunathrao , Holkars and Shindes together marched towards Delhi with
1577-695: The Rohillas , and by recovering from them an additional tribute of Rs.40 lakhs. Mahadji Shinde made his mark as a Maratha general while serving with Biniwale in North India. During his northern campaign Biniwale persuaded the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam to return to Delhi and reclaim his throne in 1771. Peshwa Madhavrao I was so delighted with Visaji Krushna's grand victory in the Rohilkhand that he specifically mentioned in his written will to shower golden flowers on him during his arrival at
1660-618: The Third Battle of Panipat and conquered much of the lost territories which they lost after the Third Battle of Panipat. Shah Alam spent six years in the Allahabad fort and after the capture of Delhi in 1771 by the Marathas, left for his capital under their protection. He was escorted to Delhi by Mahadaji Shinde and left Allahabad in May 1771. During their short stay, the Marathas constructed two temples in Allahabad city, one of them being
1743-465: The Third Battle of Panipat in early 1761. The Maratha forces suffered heavy losses, including Nanasaheb's eldest son and heir Vishwasrao Bhat , and cousin, Sadashivrao Bhau . He died on 23 June 1761, at Parvati Hill in Pune . After his father's death, the sixteen-year-old Madhav Rao was made the next Peshwa of Maratha Confederacy . His paternal uncle, Raghunathrao was to act as regent . At
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#17327800348011826-590: The Dabhades to share Gujarat revenues as per the agreement. Umabai personally met him in 1750 and argued that the agreement was void because the Dabhades had signed it under force. The Peshwa refused to entertain this argument. Umabai dispatched 15,000 troops led by her lieutenant Damaji Rao Gaekwad in support of Tarabai's rebellion. Gaekwad initially advanced towards Pune, prompting the Peshwa's mother Kashibai and his grandmother Radhabai to flee from Pune to Sinhagad . While encamped at Pargaon near Pune, he received
1909-479: The Dabhades were also arrested, and deprived of their jagirs and titles. In Pune, Balaji Rao repeatedly pressurized Damaji to cede half of Gujarat on behalf of Yashwant Rao Dabhade. Damaji kept refusing, and on 19 July 1751, Balaji Rao placed him and his dewan Ramchandra Baswant in strict confinement. On 14 November, he sent them to captivity in Lohagad . A few weeks later, Ramchandra Baswant escaped to Gujarat. As
1992-569: The French, but the English refused to get involved in the conflict. The Marathas wanted Salabat Jung's brother Ghazi ud-Din Khan to be appointed as the Nizam; as he had promised them a payment of ₹ 6,000,000 among other favours. However, Khan was poisoned to death by his step-mother. Ultimately, Balaji Rao and Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau concluded a peace treaty. Raghoji Bhonsle also agreed to peace on
2075-526: The Gaekwads. In March 1752, Damaji finally agreed to abandon Dabhades and join Balaji Rao. In return, he was made the Maratha chief of Gujarat, and Balaji Rao offered him assistance in expelling the Mughals from Gujarat. Gaekwad promised to pay an annual tribute of ₹ 525,000 to Peshwa in addition to a one-time payment of ₹ 1,500,000. He was also asked to maintain a cavalry of 20,000 horses in service of
2158-456: The Governor of Ajmer and Agra . The Marathas were also granted the right to collect chauth from Lahore , Multan , Sindh , and some districts of Hissar and Moradabad . However, the Mughal emperor had also ceded Lahore and Multan to Ahmad Shah Durrani in order to pacify him. In addition, he did not ratify the transfer of Rajput-ruled territories like Ajmer to the Marathas. This brought
2241-402: The Marathas in conflict with Durranis as well as Rajputs. From 1741 to 1751, the Marathas under Raghuji Bhonsle invaded Bengal six times. The first one in 1741, The second in 1742, as also the third in 1744 and the fourth in 1745 were led by Raghuji himself. The fifth in 1747 and the sixth in 1748 were undertaken by Janoji and Sabaji respectively. These invasions caused heavy destruction in
2324-513: The Marathas) was made provincial governor of Orissa under nominal control of the Nawab of Bengal . It made The Nawab of Bengal a tributary to the Marathas who agrees to pay Rs. 1.2 million annually as the chauth of Bengal and Bihar, and the Marathas agreed not to invade Bengal again. The Nawab of Bengal also paid Rs. 3.2 million to the Marathas, towards the arrears of chauth for
2407-528: The Marathas, but later left the alliance due to a misunderstanding with Bhau. Between 1759 and 1761, the Durranis and the Marathas fought each other in several skirmishes and small battles, with varying results. Due to the extended duration of the siege of the Maratha garrison at Panipat which Balaji's reinforcements were supposed to break but never reached beyond the Narmada , the Durranis decisively defeated
2490-456: The Marathas, until Safdar Jang intervened and convinced the Marathas to leave with an apology and some compensation. After Safdar Jang's death, the Marathas again invaded the Rajput territories. This forced Madho Singh to seek help from Safdar Jang's successor Shuja-ud-Daula as well as the Afghan king Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali). In 1749, Abhai Singh of Jodhpur (Marwar) died, leading to
2573-413: The Marathas. Madho Singh later sought arbitration from Balaji Rao, who personally came to Jaipur and convinced Ishwari Singh to cede 4 mahals to Madho Singh. Ishwari Singh initially agreed, but refused to abide by his promise after Balaji returned to Pune. Malhar Rao Holkar then not only forcefully captured the mahal s for Madho, but also imposed a tribute on Ishwari Singh. In 1750, the Marathas declared
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2656-547: The Mughals to seek Maratha help. In 1752, the Rohillas of the Doab region rebelled against the Mughal emperor. They defeated Safdar Jang in a battle, and invited Durrani to invade India. Once again, Safdar Jang sought assistance from the Marathas, who helped him crush the rebellion. The Marathas and the Mughals signed an agreement in 1752. The Marathas agreed to help the Mughals defeat external aggressions as well as internal rebellions. The Mughals agreed to appoint Peshwa Balaji Rao as
2739-582: The Nizam. After months of chasing, the Peshwas faced the Nizam's army on 10 August 1763, in the Battle of Rakshasbhuvan near Aurangabad . the Nizam's army suffered huge losses in this war, and Nizam retreated. In January 1764, for the second time, Madhavrao gathered his defences and conquer Hyder Ali . This time his massive army included efficient generals like Gopalrao Patwardhan, Murarrao Ghorpade, Vinchurkar and Naro Shankar. Raghunathrao declined his offer to join him, and instead chose to visit Nashik . This
2822-561: The Peshwa forgave her. On 14 September 1752, the two took oaths at Khandoba temple in Jejuri , promising mutual peace. At this oath ceremony, Tarabai swore that Rajaram II was not her grandson, but an impostor from the Gondhali caste. Nevertheless, the Peshwa retained Rajaram II as the titular Chhatrapati and a powerless figurehead. In May 1751, Balaji Rao had arrested Damaji Gaekwad and his relatives, and sent them to Pune. Sometime later,
2905-542: The Peshwa. In 1751, Balaji Rao had invaded the territories of Nizam of Hyderabad Salabat Jung , who was supported by the French Governor-General of Pondicherry Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau . Due to Tarabai's rebellion and the French-trained enemy troops, the Marathas had to retreat. In 1752, Balaji Rao launched a fresh attack against the Nizam. He also sought support of the English to counter
2988-584: The Peshwa. He then returned to South India, where he defeated Chanda Sahib in March 1741, before being forced to retreat by Chanda Sahib's French allies from Pondicherry . After returning to Satara, Raghoji continued to oppose Balaji Rao. In 1743, Raghoji Bhonsle attacked Alivardi Khan 's forces in Orissa . Khan paid ₹ 2,000,000 to Balaji Rao, who helped him expel Raghoji from Orissa in 1744. Raghoji then complained to Chhatrapati Shahu, and got himself appointed
3071-421: The Peshwa. Shortly before Balaji's appointment as the Peshwa, Raghoji had led a Maratha force to South India. His mission was to help Pratap Singh of Thanjavur , a royal of the Bhonsle clan, against Dost Ali Khan . Raghoji killed Dost Ali in May 1740, and installed Dost Ali's son Safdar Ali Khan as the Nawab of Arcot . He returned to Satara, and unsuccessfully lodged a protest against Balaji Rao's appointment as
3154-477: The Raste family. She was impressed by Gopikabai's Orthodox Hindu upbringings as she was well versed in priestly religious matters and the prevailing customs followed in priestly Brahmin families. Despite her young age, Radhabai proposed the marriage of Gopikabai to her Grandson Balaji Bajirao, who was 10 at the time. The two eventually got married on 11 January 1730. The couple had three sons, Vishwasrao who died in
3237-463: The Yavateshwar garrison, defeating Tarabai's forces. He then joined Trimbakrao, who had been keeping a watch on Gaekwad's army. Gaekwad was compelled to declare ceasefire and meet Balaji Rao to discuss the terms of a peace treaty. Balaji Rao demanded from him half of Gujarat's territories in addition to a war indemnity of ₹ 2,500,000. Damaji refused to sign an agreement, stating that he was only
3320-438: The aftermath of a war. Pune's citizens, facing dire circumstances due to the conflict, sought relief at Shaniwar Wada. Despite being occupied with treasury management,Madhavrao personally met with the affected families, ensuring their losses were compensated. This episode exemplifies his reputation as a benevolent ruler. Despite a strained relationship with his uncle Raghunathrao, Madhavrao maintained personal affection. He imposed
3403-495: The armies of the Nawab of Bengal. Nawab Alivardi Khan was successful in repelling only the first invasion in 1741. In 1743 two Maratha armies invaded - one belonged to Raghoji Bhonsle and the other of Balaji Rao. Alivardi Khan was obliged to pay him a subsidie, promising to pay him Chauth tax. The continuous conflict took a heavy toll on the population of Bengal. The Hindu Maratha warriors invaded and occupied western Bengal up to
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3486-455: The ascendancy of Madhavrao, the Maratha Confederacy was in complete shambles as their defeat at Panipat had accumulated big debts to their wealth. At Shaniwar Wada , the prime residence of the Peshwa , religious rituals and ceremonies were frequently being conducted. The discipline required for the smooth running of administrative affairs was almost non-existent. The security at the treasury
3569-467: The battle of Panipat in 1761, Madhavrao who succeeded Nanasaheb as Peshwa and Narayanrao who succeeded Madhavrao in his late teens. Nanasaheb had an able brother called Raghunathrao whose ambitions to be the Peshwa became disastrous for the Maratha empire. In early years of Balaji Rao's tenure, Raghoji I Bhonsle helped extend Maratha influence in South and East India. However, he was not on good terms with
3652-543: The border of Pune . The Capture of Delhi was a battle in 1771 when the forces of the Maratha Confederacy led by Mahadaji Shinde captured Delhi along with the Red Fort, and gave Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II the throne back with the treaty. The Marathas captured Delhi from Najib Khan 's son Zabita Khan who was put in charge by the Afghans. With this capture, Marathas regained their lost supremacy in North India after
3735-541: The capital city of Pune and in other parts of the Maratha Empire. In his twenty-year reign as the Peshwa, Nanasaheb subdued three major powers under his tenure, viz. Mughals in the North, the Nizam in the South and the Bengal Sultanate. Along with that he also weakened the Afghan control over Punjab, stopped their repeated invasions on the imperial capital of Delhi, subdued the Rajputs and Rohillas and neutralized
3818-597: The condition that Nizam would grant him some jagirs in Berar . Balaji's father Baji Rao aimed to establish a Hindu Padshahi (Hindu kingship) in India, and maintained good relations with the Hindu Rajputs . However, during Balaji Rao's tenure, the Marathas alienated the Rajput rulers. When Jai Singh II of Jaipur died in 1743, a war of succession broke out between his sons Ishwari Singh and Madho Singh . Madho
3901-443: The condition that they would remit half of the revenues collected from Gujarat to his treasury. Umabai's minor son Yashwant Rao was made the titular Senapati , while she held the actual executive power in Maratha territories of Gujarat. The Dabhades never actually shared any revenues, but Shahu did not want to take any action against a grieving mother. However, after Shahu's death Peshwa Balaji Rao faced an empty treasury and pressurized
3984-414: The consequences of conquering Hyder Ali. The Peshwa's failure to impose his authority over Hyder Ali triggered a major setback on Madhavrao's health. In 1767, Madhavrao I organized a 2nd expedition against Hyder Ali . Supported by the defection Hyder Ali's brother, he inflicted defeats on Hyder Ali in the battles of Sira and Madhugiri and made a surprise discovery of Queen Virammaji, the last ruler of
4067-465: The control was not actually passed to the Marathas. After becoming Peshwa, Balaji Rao approached the Mughal emperor through Jai Singh II , and managed to get appointed as the Deputy Governor of Malwa (with Ahmad Shah as the titular Governor). In return, he pledged faithfulness to the Mughal emperor. He also agreed to keep a force of 500 soldiers at the emperor's court, in addition to providing
4150-732: The death of his father, the Peshwa Bajirao I . During his tenure, the Chhatrapati (Maratha Emperor) was a mere figurehead. At the same time, the Maratha empire started transforming into a confederacy , in which individual chiefs—such as the Holkars , the Scindias and the Bhonsles of Nagpur kingdom —became more powerful. During Balaji Rao's tenure, the Maratha territory reached its zenith. A large part of this expansion, however,
4233-498: The evening of 7 September 1769. Madhavrao was returning from the Parvati temple at Pune with his comrades, when one of his generals Ramsingh suddenly attacked him with a sword. Madhavrao was warned just in the nick of time, and he suffered a blow from the sword on his shoulder as he tried to dodge Ramsingh. Madhavrao believed that this was Raguhnathrao's attempt to murder him, but he imprisoned General Ramsingh. In 1769, Madhavrao sent
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#17327800348014316-429: The famished and under-equipped Maratha army in the Third Battle of Panipat on 14 January 1761. According to Suresh k Sharma, "It was Balaji Bajirao's love of pleasure which was responsible for Panipat. He delayed at Paithan celebrating his second marriage until December 27th, when it was too late." The defeat at Panipat resulted in heavy losses for the Marathas, and was a huge setback for Peshwa Balaji Rao. He received
4399-513: The famous Alopi Devi Mandir . After reaching Delhi in January 1772 and realising the Maratha intent of territorial encroachment however, Shah Alam ordered his general Najaf Khan to drive them out. In retaliation, Tukoji Rao Holkar and Visaji Krushna Biniwale attacked Delhi and defeated Mughal forces in 1772. The Marathas were granted an imperial sanad for Kora and Allahabad. They turned their attention to Oudh to gain these two territories. Shuja
4482-479: The impact of the loss of Madhavrao, the writer James Grant Duff eulogised: And the plains of Panipat were not more fatal to the Maratha Confederacy than the early end of this excellent prince… Balaji Baji Rao Balaji Baji Rao (8 December 1720 – 23 June 1761), often referred to as Nana Saheb I , was the 8th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy . He was appointed as Peshwa in 1740 upon
4565-528: The in-charge of Marathas in Orissa, Bengal and Bihar . By 1752, Raghoji had taken over administration of Orissa, and also frequently raided Bengal and Bihar to collect chauth . The instability brought by him to Bengal later paved way for the rise of the East India Company there. Tarabai , the senior widow of Rajaram Chhatrapati after being released by her stepson Sambhaji II of Kolhapur
4648-401: The intention of expanding the Maratha Confederacy in these territories. Meanwhile, Madhavrao made a bold decision of bonding with his old rival, Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II . The Nizam also genuinely expressed his desire to do so, and thus the two met at Kurumkhed on 5 February 1766. The next few days saw some cultural exchanges and open expressions of concern. A level of mutual understanding
4731-461: The invasion of Bargis. The resulting casualties of Bargi onslaught against in Bengal are considered to be among the deadliest massacres in Indian history. According to the 18th-century Bengali text Maharashtra Purana written by Gangaram: In 1751, the Marathas signed a peace treaty with the Nawab of Bengal , according to which Mir Habib (a former courtier of Alivardi Khan , who had defected to
4814-480: The main opponent of the Battle of Panipat (1761) . In November 1771, Visaji Krushna Biniwale was appointed ‘In Charge of the Northern front of Marathas ’ by Peshwa Madhavrao I. In February 1772, along with Mahadji Shinde, he overpowered the Rohillas of Rohillkhand at Shukratal by defeating Zabita Khan . They avenged the defeat of Panipat by breaking the tomb of Najib Khan , by looting the artillery and wealth of
4897-538: The news of the defeat of Panipat on 24 January 1761 at Bhilsa , while leading a reinforcement force. Besides several important generals, he had lost his own son Vishwasrao and cousin Sadashivrao Bhau in the Battle of Panipat. He fell in depression and died on 23 June 1761 at Parvati hill and was succeeded by his younger son Madhav Rao I . Raghunathrao Too Many Requests If you report this error to
4980-472: The north to expand the empire, he failed to do so. Instead, he came back to Anandvalli and was again tempted to form an alliance with his generals and fight against Madhavrao. This time, however; Madhavrao was extremely agitated with his uncle's repeated attempts to overthrow him. On 10 June 1768, he waged a war against Raghunathrao, captured him and put him under house arrest at Shaniwar Wada along with his assistant Sakharam Bapu Bokil . The incident occurred on
5063-404: The post of Peshwa. When Rajaram refused, she imprisoned him in a dungeon at Satara , on 24 November 1750. She claimed that he was an impostor, and that she had falsely presented him as her grandson. Tarabai was unsuccessful in getting support from other ministers and the would-be Nizam Salabat Jung . However, she managed to enlist the help of another noblewoman, Umabai Dabhade. Umabai Dabhade
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#17327800348015146-514: The preceding years. The chauth was paid annually by the Nawab of Bengal up to 1758, until the East India Company took over. After his initial invasions of India, Ahmed Shah Durrani appointed his son Timur Shah Durrani as the governor of Punjab and Kashmir. Balaji Rao then dispatched Raghunath Rao to check the advance of the Durranis. In 1758, Raghunath Rao conquered Lahore and Peshawar , and drove out Timur Shah Durrani. This
5229-626: The rising Maratha power. Under these circumstances, Ahmad Shah Durrani launched a fresh invasion of India, reaching Lahore by the end of 1759. He gained allies in the Rohilla noble Najib-ud-Daula and the Nawab of Oudh Shuja-ud-Daula . Balaji Rao responded to the Durrani invasion by dispatching a large force commanded by Sadashiv Rao Bhau . This force was supplemented by the contingents of Holkar , Scindia , Gaikwad and Govind Pant Bundele . The Jat ruler Suraj Mal of Bharatpur also joined
5312-509: The ruler of this state, had interfered in Jaipur politics in support of Ishwari Singh. This had antagonized Maratha chiefs like Malhar Rao Holkar, who had supported Madho. In 1754, the Mughal wazir Safdar Jang sought Suraj Mal's help against the Mughal emperor. To counter him, the imperial loyalist Imad-ul-Mulk , sought Maratha help. Raghunath Rao used this opportunity and sent a force led by Malhar Rao Holkar to Bharatpur. Suraj Mal tried to avoid
5395-615: The state of Oudh. Balaji Rao was born in the Bhat family , to Peshwa Baji Rao I , on 8 December 1720. After Bajirao's death in April 1740, Chhatrapati Shahu appointed 19-year old Balaji as the Peshwa in August 1740, despite opposition from other chiefs such as Raghoji I Bhonsle . Radhabai, the Grandmother of Balaji bajirao came across Gopikabai , a noble girl aged 6, during her visit to
5478-470: The surrender, Raghunathrao decided to control all the major decisions under the assistance of Sakharam Bapu. He also decided to befriend the Nizam, but this proved to be a wrong move as the Nizam slowly started infiltrating the zones of Maratha Confederacy . As time slipped by, Madhavrao pointed out the gravity of the situation to his uncle. Eventually, on 7 March 1763, the Peshwas, once again under Madhavrao's leadership, decided to attack Aurangabad to crush
5561-476: The two, Raghunathrao decided to abandon the troops midway and return to Pune , while Madhavrao continued. Eventually, a treaty was signed with the Nizam and Madhavrao returned. Both Madhavrao and Raghunathrao had their preferences even over the Sardars (Generals). Madhavrao usually preferred the company of Gopalrao Patwardhan, Tryambakrao Mama Pethe, Nana Fadnavis and Ramshastri Prabhune ; while Raghunathrao
5644-764: Was a particularly long conquest in areas of former Sira Subah which went for almost a year in Karnataka . However, Hyder Ali somehow managed to escape the clutches of the Peshwas. In November 1764, the major Dharwar Fort came into the charge of young Peshwa with the assistance of Gopal Rao and Anand Rao. Only Bankapur was left under the control of Haider Ali. Again Madhavrao defeated Hyder ali on many occasions on such occasion of Battle of Jadi Hanwati and Battle of Rattihalli which eventually gives Hyder Ali many casualties. Eventually, Madhavrao decided to call Raghunathrao for his assistance, but Raghunathrao only signed
5727-566: Was assassinated by emissaries of Vijay Singh of Marwar in July 1755. This led to further hostilities between the Marathas and the Rajputs until Dattaji Rao Scindia concluded a peace treaty in February 1756. The Marathas- Jat relations also worsened during Balaji Rao's reign. Balaji's younger brother Raghunath Rao wanted a share of revenues from the prosperous Bharatpur State . Suraj Mal ,
5810-546: Was born in Savnur in 1745. At the time of his birth, the Maratha Confederacy was stretched across a sizeable portion of Western, Central, and Northern India . On 9 December 1758, Madhavrao married Ramabai in Pune . Nanasaheb had greatly expanded the Maratha Confederacy and had tried to establish better governance. However, he was held partially responsible for the severe defeat of the Marathas by Ahmad Shah Abdali at
5893-497: Was dearer to Sakharam Bapu Bokil , Gulabrao and Gangoba Tatya. The discord between Madhavrao and Raghunathrao was increasing, and on 22 August 1762, Raghunathrao fled to Vadgaon Maval where he started grooming his own army. Raghunathrao's men started looting the nearby villages for warfare and this act angered Madhavrao. He decided to wage a war against his uncle Raghunathrao on 7 November 1762. However, Madhavrao didn't wish to battle against his own uncle and thus, proposed for
5976-536: Was encamped on the banks of the Venna River . Gaekwad was defeated in this battle, and forced to retreat with heavy losses. Trimbakrao kept pursuing him and cornered his force near a gorge in the Krishna River valley. Meanwhile, on hearing about the rebellion, Balaji Rao left the Mughal frontier, and quickly advanced towards Satara, covering 400 miles in 13 days. He reached Satara on 24 April, and stormed
6059-528: Was given asylum by Chhatrapati Shahu, her nephew. In the 1740s, during the last years of Shahu's life, Tarabai brought a child to him: Rajaram II . She presented the child as her grandson, and thus, a direct descendant of Shivaji . Shahu adopted the child, and after his death in 1749, Rajaram II succeeded him as the Chhatrapati . The next year, Peshwa Balaji Rao left to fight against the Nizam of Hyderabad . In his absence, Tarabai urged Rajaram II to remove him from
6142-460: Was however, unwilling to give them up and made appeals to the English and the Marathas did not fare well at the Battle of Ramghat. The Maratha and British armies fought in Ram Ghat, but the sudden demise of the Peshwa and the civil war in Pune to choose the next Peshwa forced the Maratha army to retreat. In June 1770, the Peshwas set out to conquer Hyder Ali for the third time. However, Madhavrao
6225-508: Was infected with tuberculosis , and his health started deteriorating. Tuberculosis was also termed as "Raj-Yakshma" or the "prince of diseases". Madhavrao had to return from Miraj as the effects of the disease had started becoming prominent. He was even recommended an English doctor for treatment of the terrible disease, and he would follow the advice given by the doctor. However, there were no signs of improvement and slowly it started developing further. The disease had affected his intestine. There
6308-446: Was led by the individual chiefs of the Maratha Empire. Balaji Bajirao's administration worked with his cousin Sadashivrao Bhau , introducing new legislative and financial systems in the state. Under his leadership, the borders of the Maratha Empire expanded to Peshawar in present-day Pakistan , Srirangapatna in the South, and Medinipur in present-day West Bengal. Nanasaheb built canals, bridges, temples and lodges for travellers in
6391-509: Was no cure for tuberculosis in those times. Madhavrao decided to spend his last days in his favourite Ganesha Chintamani Temple, Theur . According to Grant Duff "The third battle of Panipat was not that much fatal to the Maratha empire than the early death of Peshwa Madhav Rao in 1772. " On 6 October 1772, Raghunathrao tried to escape from the house arrest at Shaniwar Wada, but he was caught again. Madhavrao had become excessively weak, and he could no longer bear such incidents. He had constructed
6474-429: Was overhauled under the guidance of Ram Shastri, establishing a reputation for impartiality. Furthermore, Madhavrao prioritized the welfare of the citizens,optimizing revenue utilization for public benefit and strengthening the empire's military capabilities. Character and Leadership While feared by his servants, Madhavrao was approachable to the common people. His leadership style was characterized by decisiveness and
6557-482: Was poor. When these weaknesses were brought to Madhavrao's notice, he introduced changes by personally looking into the administration, accounts and the treasury. He also reduced the religious practices being followed at Shaniwar Wada . In February 1762, Peshwas set out to conquer Karnataka . This was one of the earliest wars against the Nizam ( Battle of Uruli ). When conflict arose between Madhavrao and his uncle Raghunathrao . Due to difference of opinion between
6640-479: Was reached and this relationship started growing stronger. On 3 December 1767, an East India Company officer named Mastin arrived in Pune. Mastin wanted to establish a military presence in the regions of Vasai and Sashthi, but was confronted by Madhavrao who was suspicious of his intentions. Mastin's repeated requests to acquire these regions in return for defeating Hyder Ali fell on deaf ears, and Madhavrao never agreed to them. Though Raghunathrao had marched to
6723-413: Was supported by Jagat Singh II of Mewar and Ummed Singh of Bundi . The Marathas, however, initially supported Ishwari, simply because he offered them more money. Later, Jagat Singh was able to enlist Malhar Rao Holkar on Madho's side, while Jayappa Rao Scindia continued to support Ishwari. This episode not only spoiled the Maratha relations with the Rajputs, but also resulted in internal strife among
6806-581: Was the high-water mark of Maratha expansion, where the boundaries of their empire extended north of the Sindhu river all the way down south to northern Kerala . The Marathas thus became the Durrani's major rivals in the north-western part of the subcontinent. Meanwhile, the Marathas had reduced the Mughal emperor to a figurehead, and Balaji Rao talked of placing his son Vishwasrao on the Mughal throne. The Mughal loyalist Muslim intellectuals of Delhi were alarmed at these developments, and appealed Durrani to check
6889-509: Was the matriarch of the Dabhade family, whose members held the title of Senapati (commander-in-chief) and controlled several territories in Gujarat . Her husband had been killed by the Mughals , and her eldest son had been killed by Balaji Rao's father for a rebellion against Chhatrapati Shahu. However, Shahu had forgiven the Dabhades and allowed them to retain their jagirs and titles on
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