The fortified enclosure of Bassein, the pride of the Portuguese on the west coast held its own and resisted all attacks by the Marathas from land. This triangular piece of land measuring a mile and a half in circumference had good defensive walls of 5 feet thickness and were almost 30 to 40 feet high.... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: A religious war waged against the Portuguese
The total annihilation of the Portuguese, a dominant naval power with advanced artillery is one of the most glorious chapters of Maratha history. The Portuguese controlled several strategic posts on the west coast extending from Goa to Daman. These fortified enclosures served as impregnable defences to any attacks from land or sea. The Peshwa desired... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Nadir Shah makes a hasty retreat upon learning Peshwa Bajirao’s march to the north
The ruler at Delhi in his hour of distress and humiliation turned to Sawai Jai Singh and summoned him to his aid. However, Sawai Jai Singh on hearing the reports of savagery and atrocities committed by the Muslim invader Nadir Shah and his men chose to stay in Jaipur. Dhondo Govind wrote to Peshwa Bajirao... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Nadir Shah plunders Akhanda Bharat
The Battle of Karnal resulted in a complete decimation of the warring factions of the Mughal army. The Mir Bakshi Khan Dowran VII (Khan-i-Dauran) received mortal wounds and died two days later. Saadat Khan was wounded and captured. Nizam-ul-Mulk did not participate in the actual operations and waited for events to unfold. The Muslim barbarian... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Nadir Shah invades Akhanda Bharat (The Battle of Karnal)
After Nizam-ul-Mulk faced another ignominious defeat at the hands of the astute Peshwa Bajirao, he made a hasty return to Delhi. He did not reveal the events that transpired at Bhopal and refused to proceed with the ratification of the terms of the agreement drafted on 7 January 1738 near Sironj. In December 1738, the... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: The Battle of Bhopal
As the Maratha bands began to harass the Mughals with their famed guerrilla tactics pushing them towards the south where Peshwa Bajirao was waiting in Malwa, the Nizam decided to take shelter in a fortified enclosure where he could keep his men safe and wait and watch. He however, found himself coming straight towards... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Nizam-ul-Mulk prepares to fight Peshwa Bajirao and the Marathas
Nizam-ul-Mulk after being accorded the highest honours by the ruler at Delhi left the capital in October 1737 with a thirty thousand strong army equipped with artillery on a singular mission to chase the Marathas away from the rich provinces of Bundelkhand and Malwa. He turned south, crossed the Jamuna River near Agra and... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Nizam-ul-Mulk despatched to humble Peshwa Bajirao
The Maratha operations came to be clearly defined from the year 1736 with Peshwa Bajirao handling the Maratha - Mughal hostilities in the north and Chimaji Appa leading the Marathas in the south. They were ably assisted by Avji Kavde, Raghuji Bhosle, Vyankatrao Ghorpade and others. After the ruler at Delhi faced an ignominious defeat... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Peshwa Bajirao dashes to Delhi
A very disagreeable report of Peshwa Bajirao by Yadgar Khan reached the ears of the ruler at Delhi. A warlike atmosphere was seen in both Delhi and Satara during the monsoon of 1736. The Peshwa instructed Ranoji Scindia and Malharrao Holkar to set up camp in Malwa and review the situation. The Peshwa held long discussions... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: The ruler at Delhi refuses to meet Peshwa Bajirao
Peshwa Bajirao received tributes from all quarters during his visit to Rajputana. The Mir Bakshi Khan Dowran VII (Khan-i-Dauran) sent five to ten thousand rupees daily. Sawai Jai Singh and the Peshwa held their first meeting on 4 March 1736 near Kishangarh. Their mutual respect and admiration defined the course of their discussions that went on... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Peshwa Bajirao is persuaded by Sawai Jai Singh to meet the ruler at Delhi
Sawai Jai Singh, a peaceful man by nature was tired of engaging in incessant military operations against the Marathas which greatly affected his people and province. He made a calculated estimate that the Marathas would always find a way to get the upper hand under the strong leadership of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Peshwa Bajirao. ... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: The northern pilgrimage of Radhabai in the middle of a Maratha – Mughal war
The year of 1735 saw Radhabai, the Peshwa's mother making a successful pilgrimage through the northern part of Akhanda Bharat when tensions were running high between the Mughals and Marathas and Sawai Jai Singh was heading a military operation against the Marathas. Radhabai left Poona on 14 February 1735 with a large group. Her presence in... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: The military prowess of Pilaji Jadhav, Ranoji Scindia and Malharrao Holkar
As both Peshwa Bajirao and Chimaji Appa were busy with military operations in the Deccan, Pilaji Jadhav, Ranoji Scindia and Malharrao Holkar were despatched to Malwa towards the end of 1733. These highly competent chiefs proceeded with a large army right up to Bhadawar collecting tributes on the way and returned just before the monsoon in May... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Sawai Jai Singh’s misadventure in Malwa
While the Peshwa and the Nizam met at some spot in Ausa (rumoured to be Rohe - Rameshwar), about 8 miles north of Latur on 27 December 1732, Sawai Jai Singh arrived in Ujjain to take charge of the government of Malwa. Chimaji Appa had been despatched from the Deccan to receive Sawai Jai Singh and... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Peshwa Bajirao and Nizam-ul-Mulk reach an agreement
The decisive defeat of the combined forces of Trimbakrao Dabhade and Nizam-ul-Mulk at Dabhoi made the Nizam rethink his attitude towards the astute Peshwa Bajirao. The Nizam suggested a personal meeting to put an end to the frequent clashes between them that had always been instigated by the former for reasons better known to him. The Peshwa... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Malwa
The utter decimation of the Mughal forces in Malwa and Bundelkhand created a major crisis for the ruler of Delhi. A clear division of opinion emerged in the counsel with one party headed by Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur and the Mir Bakshi Khan Dowran VII (Khan-i-Dauran) who were in favour of peace and conciliation... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Siddi Sat killed in a bloody battle by Chimaji Appa
The sudden demise of Sarkhel Sekhoji Angre on 28 August 1733 proved to be a serious impediment to the war preparations. Sekhoji Angre possessed remarkable foresight and patience and exercised a considerable hold over his three brothers namely Sambhaji, Manaji and Tulaji. His unfortunate demise at the prime of his youth signalled the end of... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Plan to attack the Siddis of Janjira delayed by the lackadaisical approach of the Pratinidhi
The desecration of the Parashuram Temple at Chiplun was viewed by the Marathas as a serious attack on their Motherland and Hinduism. It became imperative to curb the activities of the Muslim mercenaries at Janjira. The main point discussed by the Marathas was to free the capital of Raigad from the Siddi's control. This fort... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: The Siddis of Janjira desecrate the holy shrine of Parashuram at Chiplun
The Siddis of Janjira, Muslims of Abyssinian descent had invaded the Deccan and the western coast in the late 16th century - early 17th century forming their own colony of mercenaries formally trained by Malik Ambar in the impregnable Janjira Fort. This independent principality was under the protection of Aurangzeb and had managed to thwart... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Trimbakrao Dabhade meets his end
Peshwa Bajirao had set up camp at Savli when he learned about the plans of Trimbakrao Dabhade and Gaikwad. The two had decided for an open attack on the plain of Dabhoi and Bhilapur with a force of 40 thousand while the Peshwa had managed to gather just about 25 thousand for this armed conflict. ... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Trimbakrao Dabhade refuses to make peace with the Peshwa
Peshwa Bajirao and Chimaji Appa left Poona on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, 10 October 1730 on the instructions of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. They had been given a clear assignment to dissuade Trimbakrao Dabhade from aligning with Nizam-ul-Mulk and instead to return to Satara to resolve the situation. As they made their preparations and... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Trimbakrao Dabhade in alliance with the Nizam
It became clear to Peshwa Bajirao and Chimaji Appa that the strong chiefs who espoused the Peshwa's leadership would affect the prospects of Nizam-ul-Mulk as their territory was intermixed with his. The Nizam began to use powerful artillery to crush them into submission to protect his interests. By the end of 1730, the Peshwa and Chimaji Appa began... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Dabhades and the Peshwa
Khanderao Dabhade, appointed as Senapati by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj on 11 January 1717 had once been a competent leader. However, he was greatly overshadowed by the dashing Peshwa Bajirao who had proved his mettle more than once. The Peshwa on his part continued to serve the Chhatrapati assiduously by raising independent armies to secure the boundaries and lead expeditions... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Sambhaji of Kolhapur subdued
The evil machinations of Sambhaji of Kolhapur were revealed for one and all to see when Udaji Chavan sent agents to murder Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj when he was out hunting. Shahu Raje immediately set aside his friendly disposition towards his cousin and instructed Trimbakrao Dabhade to lead the army to march into Sambhaji's territory. ... Continue Reading →
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