CHRONOLOGY – CHHATRAPATI SHAHU MAHARAJ

It would be beneficial if a chronology of the events up to Shahu’s death is provided at this stage.

Date	Events
12 December 1721	Nanasaheb’s birth.
11 January 1730	Nanasaheb’s marriage with Gopikabai.
4 February 1740	Raghunathrao’s Upanayan ritual at Pune.
7 February 1740	Sadashivrao Bhau’s marriage with Parvatibai.
10 April 1740	Aliwardi Khan usurps power in Bengal from Nawab Sarfaraz Khan.
28 April 1740	Senior Bajirao dies.
20 May 1740	Battle of Damalcheri in the Carnatic.
26 May 1740	Nanasaheb departs from Colaba for Pune.
2 June 1740	Sambhaji II arrives at Jejuri.
3 June 1740	Kashibai’s arrival at Pune from the Narmada.
5 June 1740	Nanasaheb departs for Satara.
25 June 1740	Nanasaheb given the protocol robes of the office of the Peshwa.
16 November 1740	Nawab Safdar Ali enters into a secret agreement with the Marathas.
23 November 1740	Nanasaheb leaves for his first northern campaign to Sironj-Bhilsa.
17 December 1740	Chimaji Appa’s death.
24 December 1740	Birubai’s death at Satara.
25 December 1740	Marathas attack the Dutch at Porto Novo in the Carnatic.
December 1740	Tansheth Bhurke given the authority of the royal mint by Shahu.
5 January 1741	Shinde and Holkar capture the Dhar outpost.
7 January 1741	Nizam and Peshwa meet at Edlabad (Muktainagar).
16 January 1741	Tanjore’s Pratapsingh and Raghuji enter into a treaty.
3 March 1741	Nizam arrives at Puntamba to quell Naseer Jung’s revolt.
7 March 1741	Peshwa crosses the Narmada for the northern campaign.
21 March 1741	Battle of Manaparai, Bada Saheb killed.
26 March 1741	Raghuji captures Tiruchirappalli and hands over the control to Murarrao Ghorpade. Chanda Saheb and his eldest son is dispatched to Satara.
13-19 May 1741	Peshwa and Jaisingh meet at Dhaulpur.
27 June 1741	Raghuji felicitated at Satara for a successful Carnatic campaign.
June 1741	Chanda Saheb imprisoned at Satara.
7 July 1741	Nanasaheb returns from Sironj-Bhilsa campaign.
23 July 1741	Naseer Jung defeated at Aurangabad and imprisoned.
7 September 1741	Mughal Badshah issues Malwa grant-notification in favour of Marathas.
18 December 1741	Nanasaheb Peshwa embarks on Prayag-Bengal campaign in the north.
December 1741	Bhaskarram on campaign in Bengal.
11 January 1742	Sarkhel Sambhaji Angre dies.
12 January 1742	Gopikabai returns from Khandesh.
13 January 1742	Dupleix arrives in India.
February 1742	Peshwa cantoned at Chanda. Trimbak Vishwanath riots in Berar.
March 1742	Peshwa captures Gadhamandala.
15 April 1742	Bhaskarram surrounds Aliwardi Khan at Burdwan.
20 April 1742	Manaji Angre comes to Satara to meet Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.
April 1742	Shinde and Holkar attack Abhay Singh.
April 1742	Bapuji and Damaji attack Malwa.
4 May 1742	Raghuji complains about Peshwa’s incursions into his territories to Shahu.
6 May 1742	Mir Habib attacks Murshidabad with the Marathas.
28 May 1742	Kashibai returns from Rameshwar pilgrimage and embarks on the Kashi pilgrimage.
May-September 1742	Bhaskarram surrounds West Bengal.
29 June 1742	Peshwa encamped at Orchha.
July 1742	Yashwantrao Pawar installed at Dhar.
22 July 1742	Vishwasrao is born.
27 September 1742	Aliwardi raids Bhaskarram at Khatwa.
30 September 1742	Raghuji starts from Nagpur for Bhaskarram’s help.
5 October 1742	Murtuza Ali murders Safdar Ali and assumes the office of Nawab.
November 1742	Jyotiba Shinde and other Maratha Sardars killed in Orchha’s Veersingh’s rebellion.
8 November 1742	Peshwa marches off from Bundelkhand to Bengal.
December 1742	Naro Shankar avenges Orchha massacre. Jhansi established.
January-February 1743	Peshwa completes pilgrimage at Prayag-Kashi-Gaya. Tulaji Angre appointed as Sarkhel.
6 January 1743	Jiwaji Khanderao Chitnis dies.
1 February 1743	Nanasaheb at Prayag.
9 February 1743	Aliwardi Khan returns to Murshidabad after triumphant campaign against Bhosales.
10 March 1743	East India Company ship Winchester leaves from England towards India.
31 March 1743	Peshwa meets Aliwardi Khan.
March 1743	Nizam-ul-Mulk arrives at Arcot.
10 April 1743	Peshwa and Raghuji Bhosale clash at the Bend Pass.
4 May 1743	Raghuji clashes with Aliwardi Khan’s forces.
13 May-20 June 1743	Chhatrapati Shahu’s health concerns.
19 June 1743	Chhatrapati Shahu issues grant notification in Babuji Naik’s name.
30 July 1743	Peshwa returns from Prayag-Bengal campaign.
August 1743	Peshwa and Queen Sagunabai reconcile.
August 1743	British and French felicitate the Nizam.
29 August 1743	Murarrao hands over Tiruchirappalli to the Nizam.
31 August 1743	Peshwa and Raghuji meet at Satara and reconcile.
23 September 1743	Sawai Jaisingh dies. Succession dispute arises.
January 1744	Bhaskarram departs for Bengal.
16 January 1744	Peshwa enters into an instalment payment agreement with the Chhatrapati.
1 February 1744	Mahadevbhat Hingne murdered at Delhi.
30 March 1744	Bhaskarram and his 21 colleagues murdered brutally in Mankara camp.
31 May 1744	East India Company’s ship Winchester reaches Madras.
20 November 1744	Peshwa embarks on the Bhilsa campaign.
December 1744	Babuji Naik invades the Carnatic.
23 January 1745	Tulaji Angre captures Govalkot and Anjanvel.
February 1745	Raghuji embarks on the campaign to Bengal.
February 1745	Ishwari Singh defeats Madho Singh.
2 March 1745	Bhopal principal enters into an agreement to pay tribute to the Marathas.
11 March 1745	Ranoji captures Bhilsa station of the Bhopal’s principal.
16 May 1745	Cuttack fort and Odisha province captured.
20 June 1745	Mustafa Khan killed in Battle of Jagdishpur.
1 July 1745	Zakaria Khan, Subedar of Punjab dies.
3 July 1745	Ranoji Shinde dies.
1 August 1745	Peshwa returns from Bhilsa campaign.
21 December 1745	Raghuji defeated at Murshidabad and returns.
16 February 1746	Kashibai leaves Pune on another Kashi pilgrimage.
5 May 1746	Shinde and Holkar capture Jaitpur.
20 August 1746	Sambhaji II leaves for Kolhapur from Satara.
21 September 1746	The French temporarily occupy the city of Madras.
4 October 1746	Madho Singh, Jagat Singh and Umed Singh meet at Nathdwara.
28 October 1746	Peshwa enters into an agreement to install Arjun Singh in Bundelkhand.
31 October 1746	Additional French help marches-off from Pondicherry to help Madras garrison.
25 November 1746	Shripatrao Pratinidhi dies.
17 December 1746	Jagjivanram alias Dadoba Pratinidhi appointed on office. Yamaji Shivdeo appointed Mutalik.
25 December 1746	Amir Khan’s murder.
January 1747	Janoji embarks on campaign to Bengal.
January 1747	Raghuji meets the Nizam and Shahu.
January 1747	Jayappa and Ramchandrababa reconcile.
January 1747	Peshwa sends a warning letter to Chhatrapati Shahu.
January 1747	Sadashivrao Bhau wins his first battle at Ajra near Kolhapur.
January-March 1747	Nanasaheb deposed from the office of the Peshwa.
27 January 1747	Vitthal Shivdeo captures Antri.
9 February 1747	Jaipur’s Dewan Aayamal dies. Son Keshavdas appointed the Pradhan.
23 February 1747	Kashibai performs Shraadh ritual at Gaya.
1 March 1747	Battle of Rajmahal. Madho Singh defeated.
7 March 1747	Madho Singh sues for peace, temporary truce.
30 March 1747	Sadashivrao Bhau meets Murarrao Ghorpade on his Carnatic campaign.
7 March 1747	Peshwa meets Maharaj and submits offerings.
March 1747	Kashibai returns from the northern pilgrimage.
13 April 1747	Chhatrapati Shahu confers upon Nanasaheb the protocol robes and elephant and restores him to the office of the Peshwa.
15 April 1747	Chhatrapati Shahu visits the Peshwa’s camp and meets him.
1 May 1747	Raghuji arrives at Satara, Sagunabai presents him protocol garments.
3 May 1747	Shahu felicitates Tulaji Angre at Satara.
9 May 1747	Sadashivrao Bhau returns from the Carnatic campaign and meets the Peshwa at Jejuri.
24 May 1747	Nanasaheb arrives at Pune.
29 May 1747	Peshwa captures Manikgad fort belonging to Manaji Angre.
7 June 1747	Bajirao’s sister Bhiubai (Babuji Naik’s brother Aabaji Naik’s wife) dies.
19 June 1747	Nadir Shah’s murder, rise of Ahmedshah Abdali.
July 1747	Sheti Mallick secretly inquires about Nanasaheb’s behaviour.
25 October 1747	Naro Appaji appointed over Pune’s administration.
7-10 December 1747	Peshwa on Newai campaign.
10 December 1747	Tulaji captures the Mudagad fort belonging to the Peshwas.
25 December 1747	Yahya Khan, Punjab’s Subedar Zakaria Khan’s son escapes from Lahore.
1747	Najeeb Khan (Rohilla) arrives in Hindustan and starts serving Ali Ahmed.
1747	Construction of Parvati temple begins.
1748	Sabaji invades Bengal.
8 January 1748	Abdali on the outskirts of Lahore.
15 January 1748	Peshwa captures the Rajkot fortress at Chaul.
12 January 1748	Abdali captures Lahore.
February-March 1748	Pratinidhi etc. clash with Tulaji Angre at Mudagad.
10 February 1748	Mughal army reaches Panipat on its way to attack Abdali.
26 February 1748	Mughal army reaches Sirhind on its way to attack Abdali.
February 1748	Peshwa meets the Badshah at Delhi.
19 March 1748	Tulaji Angre meets Chhatrapati Shahu at Satara.
21 March 1748	Battle of Manupur begins, Abdali defeated by Ahmedshah and Safdarjung.
1 April 1748	Naro Rayaji Thakur defeats Tulaji Angre at Mudagad and captures the fort.
11 April 1748	Abdali halts at the River Indus on his retreat.
25 April 1748	Badshah Mohammedshah (Rangeela) dies.
28 April 1748	News of Badshah’s death reaches Ahmedshah at Panipat.
30 April 1748	Madho Singh meets Peshwa at Newai.
April 1748	Mir Mannu and Abdali defeated at Lahore.
12 May 1748	Abdali reaches back at Kandahar.
21 May 1748	Nizam-ul-Mulk Asafjah dies.
June 1748	Muzaffar Jung and Chanda Saheb meet at Satara. Chanda Saheb released from imprisonment.
9 July 1748	Peshwa returns from Newai campaign.
24 July 1748	Peshwa returns Manikgad to Manaji Angre.
10 August 1748	Holkar defeats Ishwari Singh at Wagru.
25 August 1748	Queen Sagunabai dies while at Jejuri.
30 November 1748	Vazir Safdarjung survives an assassination attempt at Delhi.
10 February 1749	Nanasaheb and Raghunathrao visit Satara to meet Chhatrapati Shahu.
9 March 1749	Vishwasrao’s Upanayan ceremony at Pune.
March 1749	Naseer Jung embarks on campaign to the north.
4 May 1749	Naseer Jung returns from the campaign to Delhi from the Narmada’s banks.
19 June 1749	Marwad’s ruler Abhay Singh dies.
3 August 1749	Battle of Amboor, Anwaruddin dies, Ali Ahmed Rohilla dies.
21 August 1749	Peshwa goes to Satara along with Shinde, Holkar and the army.
1 October 1749	Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj issues his own handwritten document about the future administrative system of the kingdom.
13 October 1749	Tulaji Angre carries off British ship Restoration.
October 1749	Chhatrapati Shahu invites Raghuji (to assume throne), but he declines.
22 November 1749	Qaim Khan Bangash dies, son Ahmed Khan assumes his throne.
15 December 1749	Chhatrapati Shahu dies at Shahunagar – Satara. Dadoba and Yamaji arrested.
30 December 1749	Sadashivrao Bhau departs Pune for Satara.
December 1749	Safdarjung captures Ballamgad belonging to the Jats.

To be continued…

MUDAGAD & RAJKOT

Before the Manikgad affair of Manaji was resolved, Tulaji’s activities became unbearable. Towards the end of 1747, Tulaji Angre captured Mudagad and had wrought a huge havoc in the Konkan and plateau realms belonging to Vishalgad’s Pratinidhi, Bawda’s Pant Amatya Bhagwantrao, Wadi’s Sawant, and the Peshwa.

Going back to 1735, Bajirao Peshwa had promised Sambhaji Angre that he would not attack the fort of Mudagad, which lay strategically on one of the three Ghat paths from the kingdom of Kolhapur towards Vijaydurg. The fort commanded a large territory encompassing the fiefs of several Sardars of Kolhapur and Satara. However, to safeguard these areas, Bajirao broke his promise and demolished Mudagad. And this was not forgotten by Sambhaji or Tulaji Angre.

The Mudagad Fort is on the face of Sahyadri, at the mouth of Kajirda Ghat. In 1747, just after the death of Shripatrao Pratinidhi of Satara, Tulaji returned to the mountain and rebuilt fort Mudagad. From this perch in the Sahyadri mountains, Tulaji then began to attack territories of the potentates who were friendly to the Peshwa. Tulaji first moved towards Vishalgad fort and laid siege to it. The surrounding villages were taken over and taxes were levied, one of which was called the Habshipatti (a tax levied on account of the Habshi or Siddis).

The Peshwa wrote to Tulaji asking him not to charge the tax on the territory. He reminded Tulaji that even his father Kanhoji never collected taxes or troubled the people in this area. Brahmendra Swami also wrote to Bhagwantrao Amatya stating it is everybody’s desire to punish Tulaji, and taking the help of Sawants and the Pratinidhi, this should be done. It became clear that only an armed intervention would force Tulaji to leave the area.

One of the employees with the Pratinidhi was a Naro Rayaji Gode. Gode volunteered to go to the Sawants and raise men to join the army against Tulaji. Accordingly, Gode brought two thousand men from the Wadi’s Sawants and with the three thousand men from the Pratinidhi, formed an army. Tulaji’s brother Yesaji alias Appaji Angre joined the above rulers and fought against him. Gode personally led the attack on Mudagad. The battle was fierce, but Gode won a complete victory. He then proceeded to demolish the fort completely, ploughing it with an ass and marking the spot with “a torn sandal and a broken Kowrie” (Vahan-Kowrie means a torn sandal and a broken Kowrie tied together as a symbol of desertion of a place). Then, Appaji Angre, along with the Pratinidhi, Amatya and Sawant, devastated Tulaji’s territory from Rajapur to Sangameshwar. From the month of January 1748 up to March 1748, this campaign occurred including many big and small battles.

Here, Shahu himself was also unhappy about Manikgad affair, and in early 1748 wrote to Sadashivrao Bhau to return the fort to Manaji Angre. Shahu wrote, “The fort of Manikgad and the surrounding region belonging to Manaji Angre was taken by you and it should be returned immediately. You have the Deshmukhi of Chaul, however, you are not running it well. This should first be done. The revenue from Kalyan and Bhiwandi amounting to fifteen thousand per year should also reach us. The Wajaratmab (Manaji Angre) is an old and loyal servant of the king. You should help him in any way you can. The moment you receive this letter, without further delay, the fort must be returned. In this manner, you will not disturb the goodwill towards you from the king and the two Wadas (mansions / queens). You are prudent enough.”

On losing Manikgad, Manaji countered by seeking help from the Portuguese at Rajkot, his fort near Chaul (which had three forts, Rajkot was with Manaji, while Revdanda and Korlai were with the Peshwa). While Tulaji Angre was struggling to save Mudagad, the Peshwa was fighting with Manaji at Chaul’s Rajkot. Chaul harbour originally belonged to the Portuguese. When Vasai fell, they had given it to the British. But the Peshwa felt that he should capture it. When the Peshwa captured Manikgad and other stations belonging to Manaji Angre, he opposed the Peshwa and went to Chaul to the Portuguese seeking their succour. A letter from Ramaji Mahadev gives some details of Manaji Angre taking away some ships of the Peshwa’s navy and his own countermeasures. Manaji’s brother Appaji Angre was also with Ramaji at this time and intriguing with the men at Rajkot, “I have asked Shankarpant to come from Ghodbunder to Thal so that Manaji himself will come and oppose us. Once he does, we will defeat him all at once. Between Vasai and Thane, we have six Ghurabs and thirty Galbats and some smaller boats. Appaji Angre is working on the politics in Rajkot. Near Revdanda, Manaji himself with nine ships came face to face with Bajirao Belose. There was a battle. His own ship sprung many a leak, and he was defeated.”

Revdanda was a short distance to the south of Rajkot. Manaji began a massive cannonade from Rajkot on Revdanda. Ramaji wrote to the Peshwa that the fire was intolerable. He decided then to bring his armada into Revdanda harbour, and fire at Rajkot from the ships, while an attacking party attacks by land. Ramaji assured the Peshwa that the harbour at Revdanda was so good that the armada would be safe even if Tulaji or the Portuguese came to help Manaji. Rajkot was captured soon after. Manaji himself led the defence at Rajkot, however, he had to flee in the face of the strong Maratha attack. A minaret in a mosque at Rajkot had been used to fire guns at the Maratha navy. On 15 January 1748, Rajkot and the mosque were captured, and the Peshwa’s permission sought to demolish them.

Ramaji Mahadev fought with both the Portuguese and the British, “besieged Chaul’s Rajkot. On 15 January 1748, the high fortress and the Masjid within were captured through the prowess of Swami’s virtues. The fortress and the Masjid should be destroyed. Then Manaji Angre will not trouble much and come to meet face-to-face.”

To be continued…

SARKHEL TULAJI ANGRE

Manaji Angre did not want Chimaji Appa to have the fort of Chaul and Revdanda, located so close to Colaba, and represented to the Portuguese that he will even pay for their upkeep. However, his efforts were in vain and the Portuguese-Maratha treaty was finalised in October 1740. In the same month, Manaji tried to take over Chaul, but the Portuguese foiled his attempt to do so.

The Portuguese gave the forts to the Marathas in exchange for two villages in Bardesh near Goa and the fort of Daman. At this time, the Portuguese envoy asked for some more territory around Daman, which was refused. Chimaji told the envoy, “Like Bajirao, it is my desire to drive the Portuguese out of India. However, I did not do so in order to favour the British.”

The muted antagonism between the British and Maratha powers had disappeared after Vasai, and the Maratha court looked at the British favourably. There was ample evidence that Chhatrapati Shahu, represented by the Peshwa, and the Maratha navy headed by Sambhaji Angre did not see eye to eye. Keeping in mind the hostility with Sambhaji Angre and the now-on now-off friendship with Manaji, the Portuguese-Maratha treaty of 1740, with prophetic prescience, had this clause, “when we fight with the Angre, the Portuguese will support us in all respects including their warships.”

Although, Shahu did not give up his efforts to bring the Sarkhel fully under his authority, he could achieve only partial success. The capture of Sashti and Vasai in 1739 and Chaul and Korlai from the Portuguese in 1740, had afforded the Peshwa new places to set his own Navy to sea. The island of Arnala near Vasai was used for building new warships. This fleet was outside the command of the Angres and the British feared that the greater resources of the Peshwa would soon allow it to grow rapidly.

The Portuguese, however, had not yet come to terms with the loss of Vasai. On 12 November 1741, Sambhaji Angre wrote to the Viceroy at Goa, “If you wish to recapture Vasai, please let me know and I will secretly make the necessary arrangements.”

The Portuguese too responded on 2 December 1741, agreeing to such a treaty and recommending a unity in operations at sea between the two powers. However, before a treaty could be taken any further, Sambhaji Angre died on 11 January 1742. His death once again opened the issue of succession between Manaji and Tulaji Angre, both sons of Kanhoji by the same mother. Before this, dividing the Angre possessions in two parts, the elder brother Sambhaji had been appointed as Sarkhel and installed at Vijaydurg, while the younger brother Manaji had been appointed as Wajaratmab and installed at Colaba. It was not appropriate to divide the possessions like this. But the Peshwa had felt at the time that this plan was beneficial to him in that it had helped keep the two Angres under his check. After Sambhaji’s death, Manaji went to meet Shahu Maharaj at Satara, trying to secure the office of the Sarkhel for himself since he was next in line for the inheritance. Maharaj announced, whoever frees two most important locations, Anjanvel and Govalkot, from the Siddis the office of the Sarkhel would be conferred upon them. It was a matter of deep shame that the efforts to capture these two locations had been going on for so many years till then. Yamaji Shivdeo was mediating on behalf of Manaji. Later, Tulaji Angre took up the adventure of freeing those two locations, and Yamaji Shivdeo stood guarantee, upon which the office of the Sarkhel was given to Tulaji by Shahu. In 1743, Tulaji seems to have been referred to with an epithet of Sarkhel. While at Satara, Manaji submitted written complaints against the Peshwa and Ramaji Mahadev to the Chhatrapati. In it, the main complaint was that the Peshwa had captured his stations like Paalgad, Mirgad, Uran etc. belonging to him. But Shahu could not resolve these complaints.

From the time Tulaji took over as Sarkhel in 1742, his attacks on the British shipping hurt the Company to the extent of five lakh rupees a year. In 1743, he attacked their ketch (usually a two-mast sailboat approximately 40 feet long) called Salamander, which took shelter in the fort of Colaba. In November 1743, a twelve-hour gun-battle with a British convoy and several of Tulaji’s ships was followed by another on the first day of December 1743, when Tulaji’s Ghurabs had to flee from the scene. When Tulaji attacked forts of Govalkot and Anjanvel in 1744, the British sent two ships named ‘Restoration’ and ‘Bombay’ to thwart his bid.

To be continued…

ANGLO-MARATHA ALLIANCE

The defeat of the Portuguese at Vasai in May 1739 at the hands of the Marathas, led to their territories shrinking to Goa and a few outposts. The forts of Korlai and Chaul held by them were south of Colaba and had a garrison of eight hundred men. However, given their weak position, the Portuguese decided not to retain possession of these and wrote to the British whether they would be willing to take over Chaul and Korlai. The British discussed this offer of the Portuguese Viceroy and wrote back that rather than allow Manaji to get the possession of these strongholds, and the Siddis being too weak to be able to hold them, they should be offered to Shahu. The British refused to take over the forts saying, “Our situation is now so dangerous, as lays upon us a necessity to keep measures with these new neighbours, who would immediately be alarmed with jealousies on our application to the Shahuraja’s court.”

They concluded, “So that there remains no choice but the Marathas, whose effects are already so powerful that the reduction of the whole coast to their obedience seems infallible and sooner or later they cannot fail to get possession of these forts.”

The Marathas at Sashti, only across a narrow strip of water from Bombay, were thus considered such a threat that they did not wish to excite the suspicions of Bajirao and Chimaji by taking over these forts. The Portuguese signed a treaty with the Marathas thereafter, by which the forts of Chaul and Korlai would be handed over to them.

Eventually, it was Sambhaji’s battle with Manaji that did the greatest harm to the power of the Angres as well as the Maratha Navy. In early 1740, when Bajirao and Chimaji Appa were near Aurangabad fighting Naseer Jung, Sambhaji once again made a bid to capture Colaba. To save Manaji, Nanasaheb and Chimaji came to the Konkan, as did Captain Inchbird from Bombay. Sambhaji’s fleet was caught between the Maratha land forces and the British fleet, however, Nanasaheb did not accept the British offer to close the issue and allowed Sambhaji to withdraw.

Nanasaheb did, however, imprison Sambhaji’s brother Tulaji Angre, and carried him off to Pune in chains. Sambhaji Angre, a devotee of Brahmendra Swami, requested him to obtain Tulaji’s release. The Swami assured him that he will get it done and wrote to Chimaji and Nanasaheb. The Swami’s request was complied by Chimaji Appa, who wrote, “You have ordered that I should remove the shackles of Tulaji Angre. So, I have written and it is done.”

Nanasaheb too wrote to the Swami, “There is nothing more to me than your order. I have already brought Tulaji to Pune and broken his shackles.”

Manaji was saved from Sambhaji in April 1740, but the loss of Karanje and Elephanta island to the Peshwa’s army stung him. He felt that the growing power of the Peshwa would soon overwhelm him. He, therefore, patched up with Sambhaji.

With distant campaigns to the south, the north, and the east, the Marathas spread across the Indian land mass in the next two years. Sambhaji’s activities in the south Konkan from his stronghold at Vijaydurg contined, while Manaji stayed at Colaba. Captain Inchbird – the most experienced British diplomat who was well-versed with native customs and language – supported a treaty with the Peshwa against Sambhaji. On 16 May 1740, he submitted his report to the Board at the fort of Bombay, “The Marathas are so jealous of Sambhaji’s power and so many hostilities have already passed between them, that they are bent upon reducing him and will in all probability attack him as soon as a proper season will allow of the entering upon action. Chimaji having at present retreated with his forces up country to secure his family interest and succession on Bajirao’s death. They have been likewise very pressing to gain a declaration of our intentions in case of their attacking Sambhaji Angre whether we will assist them with our fleet or not.

“The Board are unanimously of the opinion that in our present situation and state of war with Sambhaji Angre and the little prospect there is of bringing him to any reasonable terms of peace, we cannot do better than embrace the Maratha party, and assist them in any expedition against him.”

At this time, the British were close friends of the Maratha power. They were also united in their opposition to Sambhaji. In separate letters Shahu wrote to the Peshwa and Chimaji that he trusts them and that “they behave with loyalty”. The talk of a combined Anglo-Maratha force attacking Vijaydurg thus began as early as 1740. It was Bajirao and Chimaji’s death in that year that delayed this measure by over a decade.

To be continued…

SAMBHAJI-MANAJI CLASH

Manaji Angre used to always remain in the Peshwa’s party and Sambhaji as well as Tulaji would oppose them. Bajirao met a sudden death. It is important to understand the activities of this Angre family around that time so that the context is set.

Leaving Aurangabad on 13 March, Chimaji Appa, exhausted by the rigours of war and enfeebled by a chronic chest ailment, had stopped at Parner near Ahmednagar on his way back to Pune around 10 April 1740. Here he received an urgent message, “Rajashree Sambhajiraje Angre Sarkhel has suddenly entered Alibaug and taken Hirakot, Sagargad (forty-six miles east of Alibaug), forts of Chaul and Thal, and cut the water supply to the fort of Colaba. Manaji Angre has urged Nanasaheb to protect him during this difficult time.”

On receiving this message, Nanasaheb sent his chiefs Vitthal Shivdeo, Antaji Narayan and Vasudev Joshi with five hundred Rauts to the Konkan. Manaji had written a letter to Chimaji, which was forwarded to him, which he received on the way. Chimaji travelled by long marches and after stopping at Ghod River in early April 1740. He first sent a letter of assurance to Manaji. The next day, Chimaji’s convoy covered six Kos and arrived at Lohagaon. He dispatched some letters to the British to provide some help to Manaji. The same night, Chimaji called Nanasaheb from Pune, and Chimaji’s entire army accompanied Nanasaheb to the fort of Colaba. Nanasaheb reached Colaba on the fifth day. The British took supplies to Colaba and anchored off the coast with their ships. Sambhaji was at Colaba with his navy. From their ships they fired at Alibaug from Colaba. The British fire forced Sambhaji’s men to leave Alibaug and move to Hirakot’s north for shelter from the shelling.

Chimaji stopped at Pune for three days to recover, and after meeting his mother left for Colaba, reaching there on 9 April 1740. The same day, the army captured Sambhaji Angre’s post at Hirakot, killing about thirty of his men. Tulaji Angre, his brother, was injured and brought prisoner. Nanasaheb went along the creek beneath Sagargad and encountered around twenty-five men of Sambhaji with their Sardar. Five to seven out of them were killed, the rest ran away. Six or seven of them were captured alive. Chimaji wrote to Brahmendra Swami about how the two Angre brothers’ quarrel and Manaji’s ingratitude had been a source of trouble to him, “If Sambhaji sees this outcome and retreats to save his life, it will be good. Fearing the British, he has already sent away his grabs and big ships to Suvarnadurg. Small boats are here. If he stays holding onto his siege positions, we will lay siege and bring him to submission through the strength of the Swami’s blessings. Sambhaji asked the British to give him safe passage, but they refused. Seeing I am away in Aurangabad province, and are not focussing on this province, Sambhaji attacked here. We had established Manaji’s rule here, but he too seems to have forgotten that and has misbehaved with us in many ways. You won’t understand it in detail even if we write it down here. Whenever we look at your sacred feet, we will relate. He grabbed Uran from the Firangis. I wrote about money and other affairs to him, but he does not take cognizance of it. For the last five years he has not paid any of our dues. This was utter disrespect. His eyes need to be opened. Therefore, two of his places that Sambhaji had taken – Paal and Mirgad – for which we made efforts to defend them, took them under our control and unfurled our flags there. Uran had been strengthened which also was captured. Just today, we received a letter that Uran has been captured. In summary, now his eyes have opened. We have saved his life from Sambhaji too. Tomorrow and day-after we also plan to get down the Ghats and up to Colaba. If we don’t find him there, and Sambhaji matter is resolved before, then good. Whatever happens, we will write back.”

On the other hand, Sambhaji’s side of the story is available as documented in one of his letters dated just two days after the above letter, on 12 April from Alibaug, addressed to Brahmendra Swami. “We entered the Sakariya creek along with the navy, and captured Alibaug, Hirakot, Thal fortress, Rajkot, Sagargad, etc. stations, through the Swami’s grace. We had kept our standards flying over Pali, but Rajashree Bajirao Pradhan’s forces came there, and mounted their own standard. All the Rauts and forces have gathered beneath the Ghats at Pali. They plan to help Manaji at Alibaug and fight with us. The British have also come. This is a difficult time. We will not leave from here. If Rajashree Swami deems fit to come here and provide his protection, it will be good. Please do whatever you feel is appropriate. Please yourself go to Rajashree Swami and get orders issued for Rajashree Chimaji Appa, the British, and Manaji. You must do this.”

To be continued…

ANGRE DISPUTE

We must step back a little to see how Bajirao had previously tried to settle the dispute between two Angre brothers who managed the most important arm of the kingdom. Western coast had always been an important boundary of the Maratha kingdom, and the kingdom’s benefit lay in taking good care of the same. Since after Kanhoji, disputes arose amongst his sons, it began hurting the kingdom. The Peshwas tried to stop this as much as possible. In this intervention, or partly because of it, the relations between the Angre family were destroyed. All this history is memorable and eminently readable in many respects.

While Shahu’s Siddi campaign was going on, the dispute between Sambhaji and Manaji Angre intensified. Due to this, the Angres were not able to perform much in this campaign. Kanhoji Angre had three wives, Mathurabai, Lakshmibai and Gahinabai. Out of them, Mathurabai and Lakshmibai seemed to have some kind of capability and intention to preserve the prestige of their family, on the basis of available correspondence. Sekhoji and Sambhaji born to Mathurabai; Manaji and Tulaji to Lakshmibai; and Yesji alias Appasaheb and Dhondji to Gahinabai; were the Angre sons. The family went into self-destruct mode mostly because of the disputes amongst these brothers. After Sekhoji’s death, Sambhaji began looking after the administration. Due to that, a dispute arose between him and Manaji. Many of the court officials at Shahu’s court like Naro Ram Shenvi etc. favoured Sambhaji, while Manaji had the support of the Peshwas. At the beginning of 1734, Sambhaji took Tulaji along and attacked the Siddis to capture Anjanvel from them. Before beginning the campaign, Sambhaji gave the responsibility of Colaba to Dhondji, while that of the navy to Manaji. But after coming back, Sambhaji did not like the way these two had run the affairs. Manaji had deviously brought the Portuguese into Colaba, gave the position of the Dewan to Tulaji, came to Colaba during the night, and blinded Yesji. Sambhaji came to know that Manaji was conspiring against him upon the advice of the Peshwas and Brahmendra Swami, and had begun to align the British and the Portuguese to his cause. Due to this, he was incensed. Nagaon’s Parasnis (Farsi interpreter) Mahadaji Ram was dispatched to the British at Mumbai by Manaji, fearing that Sambhaji would kill him, and he himself had gone to live at Revdanda in the Portuguese realms. The two brothers had been acting against each other for quite some time this way. Sambhaji’s nature was impatient and short-tempered, due to which he became unacceptable to many. The British took the advantage of this dissension in the ranks and planned to remove Sambhaji. While Sambhaji’s project to capture Anjanvel and Gowalkot stations from the Siddis (Abyssinians), the British provided some help to the Siddis (Abyssinians). Due to that, Sambhaji’s project failed, and he was even more angry at Manaji. On 27 November 1734, Manaji wrote, “Due to Sambhajibaba’s indiscretion, we intentionally left the property, recognising the crisis, and came to Chaul within Revdanda. The Portuguese captain accorded respect and welcome, and has provided much support. Sabaji Prabhu came and met us, due to which we were happy. At this time, both of you should come and meet us along with your sons. The plans will get firmed up. Earlier we had thought about moving to the plateau, thinking we were refugees. But after Sabaji Prabhu came, many of our thoughts were found to be beneficial upon our orders. Holding on to them for the time being, we have dispatched letters at the service of Rajashree Swami at Satara, Rajashree Jiwaji Baba, Govindrao Chitnis, Yashwantrao Potnis, others there, Rajashree Bajirao Pandit Pradhan, and Appa Daji. We need to convince the British and the Shyamal (dark-skinned) to join us at this time. It is not beneficial to hold enmity against the British at this time. The plan to align them to our cause cannot come to fruition without Mahadaji Aaba and you. At the time of late father, you remained loyal and participated in many of the activities. Considering that, we deeply respect you. Apart from Sabaji Prabhu, Krishnaji Prabhu and you, there is nobody who could look after the administration. This is the truth. We are confident that you will trust this, and immediately come to join us. Therefore, we have dispatched the Mahagiri (ship) through the Palava creek. So, leave no family members behind there, and bring everyone here with you.”

This dispute between the Angre brothers went on escalating with time. Manaji called Bajirao urgently for his help. In one-and-a-half day, Bajirao travelled from Pune to Pali. From 4 February to 3 April 1735, full two months, Bajirao stayed in Konkan near Colaba. Bajirao was fully aware of the nature and ability of the two principals, Sambhaji and Manaji. Siddis, British and Portuguese had been waiting for an opportunity to destroy the Angres. Shahu and Bajirao intended to remove the obstacles in the path of the Maratha kingdom on the western coast too, like the north. Discussing deeply over these things at court, they had planned to distribute two separate regions to the two brothers Sambhaji and Manaji and resolve the dispute between them. The moment Bajirao arrived in Konkan, he captured the two forts, Khanderi and Kothala. After that, he conferred upon Manaji the new epithet of ‘Vajaratmab’, and established him at Colaba. He decided that Sambhaji should be granted the epithet ‘Sarkhel’ and should stay at Suvarnadurg. This helped resolve the dispute between the two temporarily. Some people accuse Bajirao of dividing the total Angre realms in two parts this way, and giving rise to a permanent discord in their household. This should be kept in mind with respect to the affairs that unfolded hereafter.

To be continued…

INCHBIRD-BAJIRAO MEETING

Even though the Vasai battle had finished through a treaty, many of the festering complaints remained behind. Since the fall of Vasai, the Portuguese had been trying to obtain Sashti, Bardesh, and Madgaon in Goa from the Marathas, while they accepted that Chaul and Korlai forts could not be defended and would be given to the Marathas. For this task, they began negotiations through the Mumbai Governor. The Portuguese intended to directly deal with Satara’s Chhatrapati and get their objectives fulfilled. The British volunteered to do this for the Firangis. But the Governor Stephen Law informed them, that since all the power was in Bajirao’s hands, there would be no use of negotiating with Shahu. They had already experienced the same. If the Portuguese agreed, they would negotiate with Bajirao and get the desired outcome. Upon that the Portuguese agreed for the British Governor to begin negotiations with Bajirao himself. Stephen Law, the President at Bombay, therefore, sent Captain Inchbird from Mumbai to Pune once again to meet Bajirao. But Bajirao was on a campaign towards the Godavari. Inchbird travelled hundred Kos from Pune for meeting Bajirao. On 14 January 1740, Inchbird met Bajirao at Paithan, near the river Godavari. He discussed with Bajirao, and Bajirao relayed to Captain Inchbird the following clauses. Of these, one clause is illustrative of the relations between the components of the Maratha Confederacy, in this case, the Angre family and the Peshwa.

1. The Maratha control in Sashti (Goa) and Bardesh would be removed.
2. Revdanda (i.e. Chaul) and Korlai fortresses should be handed over by the Portuguese to the Marathas.
3. We accept Portuguese control over Daman fortress.
4. The Portuguese should not trouble our regions in Vasai, Daman, Thane, Sashti (Thane), Belapur etc. In lieu of that, we won’t trouble Sashti (Goa) and Bardesh.
5. The Portuguese should help us in our activities in the Fonda Mahal and Jambavali Panch-Mahal. When we establish our control in that province, they should not trouble it.
6. If we clash with the Angres, the British and the Portuguese should help us along with their navies.
7. In Sashti (Goa) and Bardesh, whichever followers of Maharashtra Dharma, the Portuguese should allow them. They should allow the same in Goa too.
8. The Portuguese should not object to our ships and vessels on the seas. We will not object to their ships and vessels.

These clauses were confirmed into a treaty on 7 September 1740 by Nanasaheb. However, in that treaty, the 7^th clause above regarding the Maharashtra Dharma was dropped. The 6^th clause above was related to the project to subdue Tulaji Angre. The 5^th clause above seem to be added with an intention to keep Kolhapur’s Sambhaji II in check against the Warana Treaty. In that the intention to expand the Maratha power in the Carnatic is also expressed. Under the above treaty of 7 September 1740, two fortresses of Revdanda (Chaul) and Korlai came under the Peshwa’s control in the month of November.

Although the treaty was approved later, it clearly demarcated areas that would be governed by the Marathas, their right of navigation and so on. The treaties of 1739 and 1740 repeatedly refer to ‘Bajirao’s Navy’, and it appears that the Peshwa and his brother had plans to form their own navy that would challenge the best in the Indian seas. The apprehensions voiced by the British in 1737 looked like coming to fruit.

Numerous big and small memorable incidents occurred at the time of the battle of Vasai. These must be read from the original documents. Since they had defeated a European power in a battle, the Maratha terror spread everywhere in the country and it gave stability to their rule. Other rulers and subjects began treating Bajirao and Chimaji with respect, and began obeying their orders. The British were terrified. Therefore, only a battle of Plassey or Gheriya (Suvarnadurg) did not prove to be the end of Maratha power. The whole Maratha leadership used to feel utmost admiration till the end because of Vasai’s victory. In the betrayal by Raghoba, the Sashti island passed to the British, but Vasai station, which had been lost earlier was acquired back. This was why, Bajirao II sat in Vasai belonging to him, and sought refuge with the British. Vyankatrao Ghorpade wrapped up the Goa treaty, while Chimaji wrapped up the affairs at Vasai, and both arrived at Satara to meet Shahu towards the end of June. At that time, Shahu felicitated both of them wholeheartedly. Similarly, the shower of accolades both of them received from big and small Sardars can only be imagined. One of the gentlemen wrote to Chimaji, “You wrote in your own handwriting about Vasai’s victory. The utmost joy I felt reading that, cannot be written about! There is no comparable virtue and prowess like yours. Such mighty achievement is extraordinary and unintelligible for common people. God and Brahmins have blessed you profusely, which is why you are able to accomplish such huge tasks.”

Another one wrote – “This year, there was abundant rain everywhere. Farmers are planting their crops. The subjects are filled with happiness. Secondly, because Tahmas-Quli Khan returned back, the moneylenders and subjects were filled with hope. You captured Vasai. These three things have turned out to be excellent. Besides the Goa campaign was also successful and some money was earned there. Events that would ordinarily not have happened have all taken place this year. Therefore, both the Swamis are Purnabrahma’s Avatars in this Kaliyuga. These achievements are not for mere mortals. Rajashree Raya’s efforts removed Tahmasp Quli Khan from Delhi and the Swami’s victory has done the job at Vasai and Goa. Only the Tapasvi could see the Swami’s real self. Others used to see Shrikrishna as a human being. Only Vidur, Akroor, and Bheeshm used to see Purnabrahma in him. The Yogi sees same in the Swamis.”

However, one must admit that they achieved this. If the Marathas had willed, it was not impossible for them to uproot the whole of Portuguese power from the western coast at this time. But one needs to remember, that the erstwhile oriental noble policy, that everybody should live amicably with each other, they should live, and let others live, was always alive in Hindu hearts.

To be continued…

BRITISH BEHAVIOUR

The behaviour of the British in the Maratha-Portuguese conflict is to be kept in mind. When the Marathas began their attacks to capture Sashti and Vasai, the Portuguese asked for British help in various ways. But fearing the Marathas and keeping an eye on their own benefits, the British were not desirous of providing any kind of open help to the Portuguese. The relations between them and Thane’s Portuguese were not friendly. But it was natural for the British to feel that instead of powerful Marathas, weak Portuguese were better as their neighbours. When the Portuguese argued with the British for help, they too highlighted exactly on this point. “Today the Marathas are behind Sashti, tomorrow they will never think twice before attacking your Mumbai. Therefore, you must help us in time. Your benefit lies in it. This will help you avoid a loss in future.”

Here, the Maratha emissaries were also sitting at Mumbai. They began demanding cannons and ammunition to the British, and if that demand was not met, they threatened the British to cut the supplies of food-grains and firewood that the British received from Pen, Panvel and Thane areas. They also insisted that whatever secret help the British had been providing the Portuguese, that also stopped immediately. Like today, Mumbai had always been dependent upon the provisions supplied to it from the surrounding areas. Due to this, the British found themselves in a huge difficulty. Still, they faced this difficult situation with great shrewdness. To ensure the Marathas were not upset, they informed, “We are traders. We do not have the permission to engage in battles or war.”

Since they were almost convinced that the Portuguese won’t survive in front of the Marathas, they refused any direct kind of help. Instead, they focussed heavily on protecting the Mumbai Island. As the Portuguese situation grew more and more difficult with the passing day, they again requested the British to provide help. They reminded the British, that they both were co-religionists and had friendly relations in Europe. Upon that, the British agreed to supply them provisions and ammunition against cash or keeping gold or bullion as collateral.

A letter dated 20 February 1739 mentions that the British provided some ammunition to the Portuguese. On 24 March 1739, Vasai official wrote a letter to the British and informed them, “We are in extreme crisis. No money for expenses. No help can arrive from Goa. Even the gold and bullion from the churches has been finished. Please give us one lakh rupees as loan. We have sent a man to bring it back.”

But the British did not give them the cash. They replied that they did not have authority to give any cash. But when the Portuguese demands about money and ammunition went on becoming more urgent and pleading, the British took some goods as security and gave them fifteen thousand rupees as loan on 17 April 1739. They also agreed to send some workmen. After that, their letter dated 28 April 1739 mentioned that all their hopes of Vasai being saved had ended.

On 13 May 1739, the treaty was agreed upon and Vasai came into Maratha hands. The Portuguese themselves have mentioned, that the Marathas followed all that they had agreed with complete honesty and treated their enemies with due respect. Around eight hundred Portuguese army vacated the Vasai fort and lived at Mumbai for the monsoon season. They stayed there until the end of October. Meanwhile, many complaints arose amongst them and the British. They were paid a monthly sum of five thousand rupees by Mumbai’s British as loan for their expenses. Their ships were getting repaired. After this reached a sum of fourteen thousand rupees, the British refused to give them any further loan. Upon that, the Portuguese army began facing starvation. Finally, they left Mumbai somehow.

The bells that the Marathas found in the Portuguese churches were excellent and would produce a sweet sound while tolling. Due to that, the Marathas confiscated them. There are letters mentioning, “Need great bells to tie in our temples. Two of them, each weighing a full two Maunds are needed. Find out whether they have been brought down from their own country. Otherwise, write to Vasai and find out whether they can be bought there.”

One of the scribes says, “We captured new region. To maintain good security in the area, we will need at least ten thousand men. These guys should be trustworthy.”

Vasai’s capture was a great example of, not paying any attention to countless obstacles, not leaving the task mid-way, if one applies oneself to it, success must follow. The Portuguese and British felt that the Marathas were not so tenacious. Since they had experienced earlier that just a handful of their armed contingents had driven away the Marathas, the Portuguese did not care much. But Chimaji Appa dispelled any such misconceptions they had. This is documented by the Portuguese themselves. The Portuguese viceroy decided to vacate Chaul, i.e. two stations of Revdanda and Marol, and bring the army stationed there back to Goa. They also thought that they could sell these stations to the Marathas and earn some money. Initially they thought about giving these stations to the Siddis or the Dutch government. But since they felt that the Siddis would not be able to protect them, they decided to give them away to the British. But at this time, the British trade was in losses, and they themselves were worried that they won’t be able to protect Mumbai in front of this recent Maratha aggression. So, the Portuguese began some negotiations at Shahu’s court through Naroram Shenvi about Chaul harbour. Around that time, Manaji Angre surrounded Chaul, and seeing that it had almost reached the point of falling into his hands, the Portuguese informed the British at Mumbai, that they should decide whom Chaul should be handed over to. Upon that, the British made a resolution that they would themselves hand over Chaul to Bajirao and Chimaji Appa. Because at this time, Bajirao’s prestige had attained great weight and Shahu was acting with his advice. Therefore, there was no gain in negotiating with Shahu regarding Chaul. If they struck a deal with the Siddis or Angres, Bajirao would get upset. Therefore, they passed a resolution in the Mumbai Council on 25 November 1739, that they should hand over Chaul to Bajirao on their own, so that it would remove any suspicions he harboured towards them, and it will help protect Mumbai. At this time, the British informed the Portuguese, that there was no possibility to engineer a split amongst Shahu and Bajirao. And Bajirao would not stop now until he captures the complete western coast. They would not be able to digest the two fortified locations of Chaul and Marol. Therefore, the Portuguese were advised to only retain Daman and some of the adjoining region with them, and hand over all of the remaining coastal region to the Marathas.

To be continued…

TREATY AND AFTERMATH

The Portuguese emissaries came to Chimaji bearing white flag, and accepting that they would vacate the Vasai fort on 5 May 1739. After finalising the terms of the treaty, they vacated the fort on Saturday 12 May. The Marathas entered the fort after that. There were twelve clauses in the treaty.

1. The Marathas should allow the Portuguese army, their camp followers along with their equipment and weapons, to safely step out of the fort in procession with their band.
2. Chimaji Appa should allow whichever Christian, Hindu, or Muslim families living at Vasai, who desire to leave the place, to safely leave along with their properties.
3. Whichever ships had anchored in the Vasai harbour, they too should be allowed to leave the harbour along with their ammunition and artillery.
4. With regard to clause 2 above, if the people need any additional ships to leave from Vasai, those additional ships should be provided by the Marathas. Chimaji Appa should arrange to ensure that until these people reach their destinations, their ships are not troubled by Angre etc. on their journey.
5. Christian priests should also be allowed to leave safely taking along their property.
6. Portuguese had ammunition and provisions stored within Vasai. They should have freedom to carry it away along with them (Chimaji Appa did not agree to this clause, instead buying everything from them for a price).
7. Whichever Christians desire to stay within the Vasai realms of their own free will, the Marathas should not object to them following their own religion, or should not threaten their lives. This clause should be applicable to Muslims and Hindus as well.
8. The prisoners of war captured by both the parties should be returned.
9. While vacating the fort, to ensure that the Portuguese army was not troubled in any way, Chimaji should move his army at a distance at Madrapur. Until the Portuguese board their ships and move out of gunshot range, the Marathas should not enter the fort.
10. Any equipment or goods within Vasai, should be bought by the Marathas by paying appropriate price for it.
11. There were three Christian churches in the Vasai city. The Marathas should ensure they remain untouched, and their deities and ornaments are not touched.
12. After signing this agreement, to ensure the clauses are followed, Chimaji should depute one of his officials on the Portuguese vessel, and the Portuguese should depute one of their officials in the Maratha control.

Chimaji immediately signed the agreement. The Marathas followed all the clauses to the letter. This treaty is a brilliant and memorable example of the typical eastern war behaviour.

Peace was declared. The Portuguese lost their entire northern possessions except Diu and Daman. The fall of Vasai and the peace treaty saved Goa, where the Portuguese were able to rule for another two hundred and twenty-two years. Chaul Revdanda came into Maratha possession in 1740. With the acquisition of Habshan earlier, and Firangan in this war, the island of Bombay was sandwiched between two long coastal stretches ruled by the Marathas. It was not surprising that they were extremely anxious about what lay in store for them in the days to come.

On 10 May 1739, the President of Bombay summoned a meeting of his officials. They agreed that their small island would not be able to withstand an attack by the Marathas. The short castle walls with an unprotected city meant there was hardly any defence. The merchants of Mumbai volunteered to raise thirty thousand rupees for augmenting the defence by building a ditch around the town wall thereby safeguarding the business and families of those living therein. The President of the Board at Bombay also felt it was time to send gifts along with a letter to Shahu, taking care not to antagonise the Peshwa by this gesture. A small gift of red and green velvet and white cloth was sent to Chimaji as a compliment for his victory. However, Chimaji asked them to send an envoy to discuss matters. Within days of the fall of Vasai, Captain Inchbird was therefore sent to meet Chimaji, while Captain Gordon made his way to Satara.

The fall of Vasai came not a day too soon. Delhi lay prostrate before the Persian king and quailed before his avarice and cruelty. Shahu had ordered Bajirao to support the Mughal monarchy, and he was at Burhanpur for nearly two months waiting for Chimaji to end his campaign in the Konkan and prepare to face the new challenge.

In this campaign, the Marathas conquered a region around 75 miles in length. In this region, there were 340 villages. Besides there were eight cities, twenty forts, two fortified hills, and two large locations in Vasai and Thane, all of which were captured by the Marathas. Portuguese wasted ammunition worth twenty-five lakh rupees, ships etc. goods, 593 big and small cannons, and were forced to cough up campaign expenses of further 23 lakh rupees. Sashti island was prosperous. It used to produce much food-grain and salt. The communication via waterways on the creeks was convenient and it was possible to secure the country in less expense. Towards Sashti’s south, Mumbai island was just adjacent. Due to this, the British kept a close watch over it. At this time too, they had realised that they won’t be able to do anything in front of the Maratha power. Therefore, they had kept quiet. When the siege of Vasai was on, on 10 March 1739, Manaji Angre besieged Karanje island and captured it. Later, he also besieged Revdanda and Korlai locations and tried to capture them. With time, the Portuguese felt it extremely difficult to protect Chaul, and in the month of September 1740, after a treaty with Nanasaheb Peshwa through Captain Inchbird’s mediation Chaul was handed over to the Marathas. Hereafter, Daman was the only Portuguese station that remained on the coast. The Peshwas had completely uprooted the power which had sunk in deep in north Konkan for the past two centuries.

To be continued…

VASAI SURROUNDED

Shankaraji decided on giving spot awards for all the bravehearts who swim the water channel to go across. On 1 April 1737, he wrote to Chimaji, “The creek filled with the incoming tide. Then what could be done? I had kept some swimmers ready. I gave gold bracelets of one Sher each to all who would swim across. Some lost their swords. They found a boat. Then I gave Satwaji Salokhe and Ramji Tugkar gold bracelets and got more people sent across to Rajavale.”

In this manner the Maratha army reached Manikpura, north of the fort of Vasai. They stayed in the temple there. Chimnaji Bhivrao also came there. Shankaraji said, “the walled village of Bahadurpur was taken.”

This must have been very close to the fort, however no trace of it is found now. The fort of Vasai was too strong to be stormed. The sandy soil was not appropriate to lay the mines. The Marathas then turned towards the island of Arnala just north of Vasai. Obtaining boats from a local village carpenter, they managed to embark four hundred men who reached the island. The people staying there had already been informed and were in favour of the Marathas. Arnala was taken without any loss of life on 28 March 1737, and soon fresh fortifications were erected around it. A plaque was put up on the fort which said, “Bajirao, the Prime Minister, ordered Shankara (Shankaraji Fadke) to kill the westerners & build in the bowels of the sea, the island fort of Arnala.”

Meanwhile, he decided to capture other stations around Vasai. Since Vasai itself was difficult to take with a small contingent of just over two thousand men, other smaller forts were captured, like on 1 April Jivdhan was captured, Takmak on 8 April, Mandavi on 1 May, Tandulwadi on 2 May, Manor on 19 May and Parsik, Belapur etc. All these stations quickly fell into the Maratha hands. Manaji Angre took the fort of Revdanda south of Mumbai from the Portuguese in April 1737. This phase of the Maratha attack met with success and save a few pockets of resistance in Sashti, the island was captured. North of Vasai, many of the smaller forts were also quickly taken.

Botello, disheartened at Karanje, had sent a letter to the Viceroy at Goa informing him of the debacle at Sashti. The Viceroy wrote back on 12 April 1737, “I received your letter of 8 April and received the unexpected news. It is natural you will be disturbed at the tragedy. It is not a time to lament but to put all our energies together. I am equipping two warships here. The winds are blowing in the opposite direction, so we are equipping the ships accordingly. You have said Goa, Bardesh and Sashti (different Sashti outside Goa) may be attacked. Similar fears are expressed at Chaul. I am sending them gunpowder from here, which is not due to my negligence. We may need to ask for it from the British. We need help of other nations. We have to look to the skies for assistance. It is in the interest of the British to help us, so they should. There are rumours that Versova and Bandra have fallen. Looking at the map it seems we must protect Dongri.”

For the Portuguese, the Dharavi fort was important and launching a determined attack, they took it back in the middle of May. Dharavi was a small island right opposite Vasai at the mouth of the creek and therefore of immense strategic value. Any ships coming to Vasai could be attacked if a battery was placed at Dharavi. Once the Marathas occupied it, they could threaten Firangi vessels headed towards Vasai from Goa.

The Marathas then launched their first attack on Vasai itself. This attack of 30 May, by escalade, failed. The Portuguese “captured thirty-two ladders while thirty men were captured and many Marathas killed.”

A month later, the Marathas under Shankarajipant and Gangaji Naik, launched a second attack on Vasai in pouring rain. Baji Bhivrao and Ramchandra Hari came down from Pune. Four thousand men participated. However, the attack failed. The Portuguese found 33 dead bodies, the rest having been taken away by the retreating Marathas.

When the monsoon arrived, keeping Shankarajipant, Moroji Shinde, Gangaji Naik on Vasai; Khandoji Mankar, Ramjipant at Thane; Narayan Joshi at Belapur; and Vitthalpant at Manor; for security, Chimaji Appa returned to Pune on 1 July 1737, to meet Bajirao who was then returning from his attack on Delhi. With almost all of Sashti captured and Vasai isolated from the land side, the monsoon months were not a season to wage a war on the western coast. However, the Maratha attacks continued in between the wet spells.

On 4 September 1737, a third attempt was made to take the fort of Vasai. Bajirao’s trusted lieutenant Baji Bhivrao was sent to lead the attack with a force of nearly six thousand foot and four hundred horse. However, the Portuguese at Vasai were alert and incessant heavy fire from the fort claimed two thousand Maratha lives. Baji Bhivrao sustained injuries to his right shoulder. The Marathas once again had to withdraw with heavy losses.

To be continued…