PORTUGUESE ANGLE

The news of the fall of Madras to the French reached Nanasaheb, who had to be in attendance to Shahu at Satara. He wrote to Pilaji Jadhavrao on 9 December 1746, that the French were likely to attack the British on the west coast at Mumbai and then, even the Maratha posts of Vasai or Versova, “In the Carnatic the Firangis (French) attacked and took the place of the British. Anwaruddin Khan sent an army, but this was also given a thrashing. They took a few more places. This means they might attack Mumbai or even Vasai and Vesave (Versova). Hence, I am sending you there. In Vasai, you can put wet wood with a little mud around the fort, do not send the horsemen to fight. You are aware of the powerful artillery of the Firangis. Versova is vulnerable to fire from ships, so strengthen it with brave soldiers. Our guns should fire at the ships, they may not be able to stand it. Once Sardars like you are there, the enemy will not be able to approach. I am sending (Sadashivrao) Bhau on a campaign to the Carnatic to distract the Firangis. I had written in the past that you should accompany Bhau. However, you are required at Vasai at this time… in the past the Firangi British had attacked Khanderi, but they were beaten back as the fort was manned by the brave.”

The moment Shahu dispatched Sadashivrao to the Carnatic, Naik got angry and began venting out his frustrations in front of Shahu. On 7 February 1747 a report read, “Babuji Naik is at Satara. He did not complete the ritual feast. The thinking is, present Rajashree with the feast, complete the ritual, and only then embark on the campaign. In Bhau’s campaign, there are twenty-thousand men. The moment Rajashree asked, where Naik would leave for after seeking farewell, Yamajipant informed, he would go towards the provinces of Shire, Chitradurga, Rajadurga, Harpanhalli. Upon hearing this, Rajashree said, ‘Let us see what happens.’”

We get information from Portuguese correspondence of the time about what was at stake. A letter from Goa to the Secretary of State in Portugal in February 1747, discusses a possible Maratha attack on their post at Daman. The Viceroy also asked for troops to attack Vasai but found that Nanasaheb had already sent additional troops to defend the place, “Nana has been detained in the court of Satara for more than a year now. It is learnt that Shahu was scared of him in his Pune court and wanted, therefore, to keep him away from the said court and near to that of Satara to watch him more closely, on account of the jealousy and caution that originated from his power. The junior and senior queens, wives of Shahu, had great animosity with Nana because of the dispute of some lands that the queens wished to gift to one of their persons. Nana was unyieldingly opposed to that gift. Nana began to corrupt the ministers of the Satara court by payment of money. He bribed all the maids of the queens with large sums of money and finally corrupted Shahu himself with very rich presents. He succeeded and planned everything according to his desire.”

Nanasaheb’s own letter of 22 February 1747 gives us his impressions of the matter. The Peshwa wrote to Ramchandrababa that he wished to restore the forts captured from Bhosales of Sawantwadi. However, at this time, it was not possible and the Firangis were not willing to do so. “The Firangi is untrustworthy, he must be taught a lesson, but it is not possible at the present time. We are, therefore, heading towards Bednoor.” This did not, however, prevent the Peshwa from providing the Bhosales with monetary support.

Nanasaheb was, for the Portuguese, the prime mover in the Maratha state. Many of their letters are written with an embedded animosity for the Peshwa. The letter further discusses the other ministers of the court, “Shripatrao (Pratinidhi), Minister of Shahu and enemy of Nana died. Naro Ram, another minister, has reached the decrepit age of eighty. The lone minister, young and intrepid, is Nana now. He has huge forces and a large amount of money. He can soon be master of the entire dominion of Shahu as well as that of Sambhaji II, which, put together will constitute a formidable potency.”

The Peshwa had been at Satara for over a year and a half. In Shahu’s court, Mahadoba Purandare was a partisan, however, Govindrao Chitnis, who had the king’s ear, was considered capable of an independent opinion. Govindrao played a vital role during this time to sound Maharaj about the real state of affairs.

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…

CHRONOLOGY – BAJIRAO

A brief timeline that can be drawn for the beginning of the times of Bajirao as follows.

Date	Events
18 August 1700	Bajirao born.
2 April 1720	Balaji Vishwanath dies.
17 April 1720	Bajirao granted protocol robes of the office of the Peshwa.
8 May 1720	Nizam crosses the Narmada and comes to Deccan.
20 May 1720	Nizam captures Ashirgad and arrives at Burhanpur.
19 June 1720	Battle of Khandwa. Dilawar Ali dies.
27 June 1720	Nizam returns to Burhanpur.
20 July 1720	Nizam cantons at Shevgaon.
31 July 1720	Battle of Balapur. Aalam Ali dies.
10 August 1720	Shankaraji Malhar dies.
September 1720	Shahu-Bajirao meeting.
30 September 1720	Pratnidhi’s Bankapur campaign.
8 October 1720	Sayyed Hussein Ali murdered near Jaipur.
14 November 1720	Sayyed Abdullah arrested (murdered later on 11 October 1722).
15 December 1720	Chandrasen defeated on the Godavari.
21 December 1720	Mughals besiege Bhilwadi.
4 January 1721	Bajirao-Nizam meeting at Chikhalthana.
February 1721	Vazir Aamir Khan dies. Nizam recalled to the north.
February 1721	Nizam and Mubarij Khan in the Carnatic.
21 October 1721	Nizam goes to the north.
18 January 1722	Nizam arrives at Delhi.
13 February 1722	Nizam meets Badshah. Appointed Vazir.
May 1722	Haidar Quli Khan arrives in Gujarat.
30 August 1722	Giridhar Bahadur appointed as Subedar of Malwa.
2 October 1722	Nizam goes to Malwa.
8 October 1722	Bajirao embarks on northern campaign.
24 October 1722	Haidar Quli Khan recalled from Gujarat.
5 December 1722	Bajirao meets Aiwaj Khan in Khandesh.
January 1723	Nizam arrives in Malwa.
13 February 1723	Nizam meets Bajirao at Badkashan.
15 May 1723	Nizam starts towards Delhi from Malwa. Azimullah appointed as Subedar of Malwa.
4 July 1723	Nizam at Delhi, meets Badshah.
18 July 1723	Chandrasen fights Santaji Pandhare, Santaji dies.
7 December 1723	Nizam appoints his son as Vazir and himself returns to Deccan.
27 January 1724	Bajirao embarks on Malwa campaign from Satara. Mubarij Khan attacks Shahu.
10 January 1724	Bajirao-Portuguese Treaty.
24 February 1724	Nizam leaves Agra.
27 February 1724	Shahu calls all Sardars.
27 March 1724	Shahu sends Sumant to meet Aiwaj Khan.
18 May 1724	Bajirao-Nizam meeting at Nalchha.
2 June 1724	Subedar Giridhar Bahadur arrives at Ujjain.
11 June 1724	Nizam captures Aurangabad.
27 July 1724	Kamruddin Khan appointed Vazir at Delhi.
29 July 1724	Shahu orders his Sardars to remain neutral.
3 September 1724	Nizam attacks Mubarij Khan from Aurangabad.
30 September 1724	Battle of Fatehkherda (Sakharkherda). Mubarij Khan dies. Nizam declares virtual independence.
January 1725	Nizam arrives at Hyderabad.
28 February 1725	Nizam’s envoy meets Bajirao.
8 April 1725	Pratinidhi defeats Bhagwantrao Amatya at Panhalgad.
April 1725	Bande and Pilaji Gaikwad spar at Khambayat. Pilaji defeated.
April 1725	Marathas start implementing Chauth over Gujarat.
2 June 1725	Giridhar Bahadur appointed as Subedar at Ujjain.
20 June 1725	Nizam appointed as Subedar of Deccan by Badshah. Bajirao granted imperial Firmans.
November 1725	Bajirao’s Chitradurga Campaign.
30 December 1725	Shahu writes Treaty for Sambhaji II.
March 1726	Rambhaji Nimbalkar, Udaji Chavhan, Turktaj Khan cause troubles in Shahu’s territory.
Monsoon 1726	Sambhaji II takes Nizam’s support.
23 August 1726	Shahu orders to get Nilkanthrao Jadhav released.
August 1726	Shahu dispatches Rayaji Jadhav against Udaji.
November 1726-April 1727	Bajirao’s Shrirangapatnam Campaign.
Summer 1726	Nizam campaigns in the Carnatic.
19 November 1726	Sultanji Nimbalkar removed from Sarlashkar office.
End-August 1726	Sultanji Nimbalkar and Chimnaji Damodar join the Nizam.
21 September 1726	Khando Ballal dies.
4 March 1727	Bajirao stays at Shrirangapatnam.
27 August 1727	Bajirao attacks Nizam.
29 September 1727	Sidhoji Nimbalkar appointed Sarlashkar.
September 1727	Nizam instructs Sawai Jaisingh against Shahu.
October 1727	Nizam attacks Bajirao.
5 November 1727	Bajirao defeats Aiwaj Khan. Attacks Gujarat afterwards.
8 February 1727	Siddi destroys the Parashuram temple.
19 December 1727	Sarbuland Khan grants the Chauth of Gujarat to the Marathas.
December 1727	Nizam wreaks havoc in Pune province.
8 February 1728	Nizam marries off Sambhaji II at Pune. Bajirao wreaks havoc in Khandesh. Chimaji Appa and Shahu at Purandar.
25 February 1728	Battle of Palkhed. Bajirao defeats Nizam. Sambhaji II leaves Nizam and returns to Panhalgad. Brahmendra Swami arrives at Dhawadshi.
May 1728	Pilaji campaigns in Daman province. Kanhoji revolts. Senapati Piraji Ghorpade (Kolhapur) dies. Son Ranoji made new Senapati.
6 March 1728	Treaty of Mungi-Shevgaon. Dawalji Somvanshi appointed Sarlashkar. Replaces Sidhoji Nimbalkar.
June 1728	Mohammed Khan Bangash defeats Chhatrasal at Jaitpur.
29 November 1728	Battle of Amjhera. Two Subedars killed. Chimaji achieves unprecedented victory.
13 December 1728	Chimaji Appa at Ujjain.
20 December 1728	Bhawaniram attacks Chimaji Appa.
January 1729	Udaji Chavhan surrenders to Shahu.
February 1729	Bajirao enters Bundelkhand.
12 March 1729	Bajirao-Chhatrasal meet at Mahoba.
28 April 1729	Bajirao defeats Bangash. Govindpant Bundele appointed (at Bundelkhand).
December 1729	Pawar-Holkar capture Mandavgad.
4 July 1729	Kanhoji Angre dies.
27 September 1729	Khanderao Dabhade dies.
21 July 1729	Sekhoji Angre appointed Sarkhel.
October 1729	Jaisingh appointed Subedar of Malwa.
1730-1731	Period of Chhatrasal Bundela’s peak prowess.
1730	Bangash appointed Subedar of Malwa.
1730	Murarrao Ghorpade meets Shahu at Satara.
1730	Shahu invades Sambhaji II. Sambhaji and Udaji Pawar counterattack.
8 January 1730	Trimbakrao Dabhade appointed Senapati. Yashwantrao appointed Senakhaskhel.
February 1730	Chimaji Appa and Udaji Pawar enter Gujarat. Pawagad captured.
23 March 1730	Pratinidhi defeats Sambhaji II. Captures his queens and brings them to Satara.
June 1730	Abhay Singh appointed as Subedar of Gujarat.
10 October 1730	Abhay Singh captures Ahmedabad.
1730	Marathas defeat Portuguese at Khambayat.
12 July 1730	Shahu orders Angre to capture Vishalgad.
8 August 1730	Kolhapur’s Sambhaji II sends Nilkanth Trimbak Pradhan to Shahu requesting treaty.
September 1730	Jaipur’s Deep Singh’s embassy to Satara.
November 1730	Deep Singh meets the Nizam at Aurangabad and returns.
November 1730	Shahu’s Sardars arrive at Panhalgad to bring Sambhaji II for treaty.
25 November 1730	Bhav Singh Toke granted benefice by Bajirao.
December 1730	Nizam starts for Dabhade’s aid.
16 December 1730	Sambhaji II starts from Panhalgad.
December 1730	Bajirao arrives at Surat. Chimaji Appa in Khandesh.
29 January 1731	Bajirao confiscates the Pawar Mahals.
29 January 1731	Udaji Pawar’s benefice confiscated.
17 February 1731	Shahu and Sambhaji II meet at Jakhinwadi.
12 March 1731	Sambhaji II arrives at Satara.
17-28 March 1731	Bangash-Nizam discuss plans on the Narmada.
March 1731	Bajirao-Abhay Singh meeting at Ahmedabad.
25 March 1731	Bajirao arrives at Saanvli in attack on the Senapati.
1 April 1731	Battle of Dabhoi. Senapati Trimbakrao Dabhade defeated, dies.
8 April 1731	Bajirao fights the Nizam near Surat.
13 April 1731	Treaty of Warana. Sambhaji II returns to Kolhapur.
29 May 1731	Bajirao arrives at Satara.
10 February 1732	Bajirao-Portuguese Treaty.
12 February 1732	Bajirao meets Sekhoji Angre at Colaba.
29 July 1732	Peshwa distributes Malwa Mahals.
27 November 1732	Sambhaji II comes to Satara for second time.
December 1732	Nizam and Bajirao meet at Rohe-Rameshwar.
20 October 1732	Chimaji Appa goes on Malwa Campaign.
February 1733	Jaisingh blockaded near Mandsaur.
April 1733	Bajirao attacks Siddi.
May 1733	Pratinidhi and other Sardars enter Konkan.
7 June 1733	Chimaji returns from Malwa.
8 June 1733	Raigad captured.
8 July 1733	Battle of Govalkot.
28 August 1733	Sekhoji Angre dies.
August 1733	Shahu felicitates Shinde-Holkar.
December 1733	Bajirao wraps up campaign against Siddi.
6 December 1733	British and Siddi enter into treaty against Marathas.
December 1733	Pilaji Jadhavrao on Malwa Campaign.
10 January 1734	Siddi Ambar killed in battle beneath Raigad.
8 March 1734	Marathas capture Bankot.
22 April 1734	Shinde-Holkar capture Bundi fort.
July 1734	Rajputs band together against the Marathas.
November 1734	Pilaji Jadhavrao on Bundelkhand Campaign.
1734	Portuguese start building fortress at Thane.
13 February 1735	Shinde-Holkar defeat the Mughals near Rampura.
14 February 1735	Radhabai embarks on Kashi pilgrimage. Returns towards end of May 1736.
28 February 1735	Holkar plunders Sambhar.
24 March 1735	Khan Dauran and Jaisingh fulfil Chauth agreement at Kota.
6 July 1735	Shinde-Holkar felicitated at Pune and Satara.
4 February 1735	Bajirao settles down Angre arrangement at Colaba.
6 November 1735	Saadat Khan captures Ghazipur.
5 December 1735	Siddi recapture Bankot.
3 February 1736	Bajirao halts at Udaipur.
4 March 1736	Bajirao and Jaisingh meet near Kishangad.
26 April 1736	Sambhaji II visits Satara fifth time. Shitole and Ghorpade reconcile.
19 April 1736	Siddi Saat dies in Battle of Rewas.
End-May 1736	Bajirao returns to Pune.
November 1736	Bajirao embarks on campaign to the north this time for Delhi.
10 January 1737	Marathas capture Bhilsa.
1737-1740	Shahu’s Miraj Campaign.
18 February 1737	Marathas capture Ater.
12 March 1737	Saadat Khan attacks the Marathas in the Doab.
27 March 1737	Chimaji Appa captures Thane’s fortress.
28 March 1737	Mughal Sardars gather at Mathura.
28 March 1737	Bajirao attacks Delhi.
5 April 1737	Bajirao returns to Jaipur.
7 April 1737	Nizam embarks towards the north from Burhanpur.
May 1737	Bajirao starts campaign against Portuguese.
10 May 1737	Nizam crosses the Narmada and goes to the north.
28 May 1737	Nizam meets Pilaji at Sironj.
July 1737	Bajirao returns to Pune.
1 July 1737	Chimaji Appa returns to Pune after wrapping up first Vasai campaign.
2 July 1737	Nizam arrives at Delhi. Meets Badshah.
October 1737	Nizam embarks on campaign to Malwa from Delhi.
30 November 1737	Bajirao arrives on the banks of Narmada.
13 December 1737	Nizam and Bajirao battle near Bhopal.
16 December 1737	Nizam blockaded at Bhopal.
26 December 1737	Raghuji Bhosale-Shujaat Khan battle.
7 January 1738	Treaty of Sarai-Dorai (Doraha).
6 February 1738	Bajirao plunders Koyar Pargana.
December 1738-May 1739	Second campaign against Vasai.
29 December 1738	Battle of Tarapur starts.
8 January 1738	Nadir Shah arrives at Lahore.
9 January 1738	Mahim captured.
12 January 1739	Vyankatrao Ghorpade attacks Goa.
15 January 1739	Vyankatrao Ghorpade captures Madgaon.
24 January 1739	Baji Bhivrao dies in Battle of Tarapur.
13 February 1739	Nadir Shah defeats Badshah at Sirhind.
7 March 1739	Nadir Shah arrives at Delhi. Engages in many brutalities at Delhi.
9 March 1739	Saadat Khan consumes poison and commits suicide.
29 April 1739	Raghuji Bhosale attacks Aavji Kavde.
25 April 1739	Nadir Shah issues a Firman addressed to all Hindi rulers and Peshwa to protect the Badshah.
1 May 1739	Nadir Shah leaves Delhi for homeland.
27 April 1739	Vyankatrao-Portuguese enter into Treaty of Goa.
1 May 1739	Passionate attack on Vasai.
5 May 1739	Maratha-Portuguese Treaty.
12 May 1739	Vasai falls into Maratha hands.
June 1739	Inchbird meets Chimaji Appa and Treaty of Thane.
12 May-12 July 1739	Captain Gordon’s embassy to Satara.
3 October 1739	Pratinidhi captures Miraj.
November 1739	Mastani put under security guards at Shaniwarwada.
8 November 1739	Pratinidhi captures Athni station from Udaji Chavhan.
24 November 1739	Mastani escapes security to join Bajirao at Patas.
12 December 1739	Bajirao attacks Naseer Jung.
14 January 1740	Inchbird meets Bajirao in camp on the banks of Godavari.
26 January 1740	Mastani kept under imprisonment at the Parvati garden.
27 February 1740	Naseer Jung defeated. Treaty with Bajirao.
12 March 1740	Naseer Jung and Bajirao meet at Aurangabad.
28 April 1740	Bajirao dies.

The End.

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…

GOA’S BLOCKADE

Some area around Goa, too, is named Sashti. When the Peshwas attacked Vasai, to ensure that the Portuguese at Goa did not provide any help, they got Vyankatrao Ghorpade and Kolhapur’s Chhatrapati’s Sardar Dadajirao Bhave Nargundkar to capture the Sashti province around Goa. Goa did not have enough men to withstand Vyankatrao’s attack. Vyankatrao Ghorpade was in the Vasai campaign in 1737, and he was well-aware of the tactics to be employed in such campaigns. Since the regions of the Carnatic to the south of the Krishna River was under the purview of Kolhapur’s Sambhaji II, to ensure he did not create any obstacles in the campaign, his Sardar Dadaji Bhave was appointed on the campaign with Sambhaji II’s permission. These two men accomplished the responsibility with much success. On 12 January 1739, Vyankatrao got down into Goa via the Dighi mountain pass. In a short while he harassed the Portuguese. Sawantwadi’s Sawants and the Portuguese had a running dispute. Therefore, upon the Peshwa’s request, the Sawants helped Vyankatrao, due to which the Portuguese were brought down to their knees so quickly. Vyankatrao’s force consisted of seven thousand cavalry and equal amount of infantry. He was assisted by Sardars like Sayaji Gujar, Manaji Paygude etc. The Viceroy wrote to General Martinho de Silveira de Menezes, who was defending Vasai, “Here we find ourselves in a state of consternation created by crossing of the Maratha forces on 23^rd instant (12 January by the old calendar) captained by Vyankatrao, into Salcette… this consternation makes it impossible for me to help the fort of Vasai and other forts of that province with men, but, on the other hand, puts me in need of utilising the troops of Vasai to defend this island of Goa.”

On 15 January, Madgaon was taken, and the fort of Fonda was won by the Raja of Sondhe, who was a Maratha ally. Very soon, he captured most of the Sashti province except for the locations of Raitoor and Marmugoa. Fonda’s fort Mardangad fell into his hands on 19 February. On 22 February, the Wadkars began wreaking havoc in Bardesh. The Bardesh district of Goa also fell. With Goa itself threatened, the war entered its last phase. Upon this, seeing that the Marathas were not threatening to capture the whole of Goa island, the governor began negotiating for peace. Vyankatrao had resolved that the Portuguese must be driven out from this country once and for all. At the same time, Bajirao got the news that Nadir Shah had captured Delhi. Due to this, he dispatched a final order to Vyankatrao, that they should end the Goa battle and immediately return. The moment the Portuguese sued for peace, Vyankatrao informed them, “We have been ordered to capture all of your kingdom. After capturing Vasai, the Peshwa is going to himself attack Goa.”

Hearing this, the Portuguese officials became extremely concerned. They also tried to entice some of the Maratha army men to act as spies. But having left no other option, on 27 April 1739, they accepted the terms of the treaty and avoided any future calamity.

The important elements of the treaty were as follows – Out of the revenue of the Sashti and Bardesh provinces, the Portuguese must pay the Marathas forty percent amount. They were to pay the Marathas seven lakh rupees fine as the expenses of the campaign. This way, Chimaji Appa had captured the northern Konkan province, and Vyankatrao had vanquished their power to the south around Goa to a large extent.

The following description is available relating to that, “The Portuguese emissaries kept visiting the camp for ten more days to keep haggling. The terms agreed were, in Sashti and Bardesh, we were granted 40 percent, while they were to keep 60 percent. Some of the outposts were handed to us, some retained by them. They were to allow people to follow Hindu religion. These Portuguese are sinful people. The achievement of their annihilation is an extraordinary accomplishment. Excellent terror has been established around Goa.”

Tubaji Anant wrote, “Vyankatrao captured eight or nine stations in the Sashti and Bardesh province. The Portuguese were taught a much-needed lesson. All of it is the greatness of the Swami’s virtue. Vyankatrao too is renowned warrior. The fame of his name has spread across Goa. Now capturing Goa should not take much time or effort.”

However, Goa was saved as the Viceroy managed to secure the good offices of Dadaji Bhave Nargundkar with a well-placed bribe, and the Portuguese fort of Raitoor which he was to attack, was saved. Dadaji was in charge of a large tract between the Tungabhadra and Malaprabha rivers in the Carnatic on behalf of Sambhaji II of Kolhapur. Through the good offices of Dadaji, envoys and rich merchants were sent to the Marathas to contract a peace. The first meeting began at the Maratha camp where the Firangi envoy was told by Dadaji that should the Portuguese choose to leave India and sail away in ships owned by them or the British, the Marathas would allow them to go unmolested. This opening gambit did not find favour and when the meeting did not appear to be reaching a conclusion, there were new proposals put up from the Maratha side that asked for tribute and full religious freedom in Goa. Vasai, Daman, and Karanje were to be handed over to the Marathas. These proposals were not accepted by the Portuguese.

Eventually, Vyankatrao summoned the Portuguese envoys again and it was conveyed to them that Bajirao will not return any of the areas won and will even take Goa. However, should the Firangis wish to hold Goa, they should give Bajirao the arrears of tribute of sixty years at the rate of three Khandi (a measure of weight that equals roughly two hundred and thirty-six kilograms) of gold per year. He also demanded that Goa should allow Hindu temples to be built and they should be allowed to practice their religion. Abolition of the ‘Shendi’ (a tuft of hair preserved on their heads by the Hindus) tax was another demand.

The Portuguese then obtained a letter from Shahu to Vyankatrao, asking him to make peace. However, this was not accepted by him. The negotiations dragged on. Bribes were offered. Two lakh rupees were paid as a tribute. However, Madgaon remained in Maratha hands. A treaty was finally agreed on 22 April 1739, however with Maratha allies like the Sawant of Sawantwadi and Dadaji looking after their own interests, the complete removal of the Portuguese power at Goa was not insisted upon. Further negotiations continued in Pune and Captain Inchbird met Bajirao at Paithan in January 1740 to come to an agreement on behalf of the Firangis. The treaty was eventually signed after further negotiations in December 1740.

To be continued…

DEFENCE OF THANE

The Marathas could bring thousands of men to the battlefield. The Firangis on the other hand, faced shortages on all fronts. To take a sea-facing fort purely by the use of land forces was difficult and one fraught with the risk of high casualties. In March 1738, Shankaraji Keshav complained to Chimaji, that Manaji was not honouring his permits to trading vessels. These letters show the divide between not just the Angre brothers but also divisions between the Peshwa’s Sardars and Manaji, who was an ally. The intense war between the two powers, and the higher casualties that an attacking force normally sustains, turned this fairly local war into a battle of will and attrition. Chimaji was determined to oust the Portuguese and, despite his own failing health, personally directed the campaign on the ground. The Portuguese General Cardin, despite his apparent success, got hardly any help from Goa. He therefore, resigned from his post in April 1738 and De Mello was appointed in his place.

The situation within the fort at Vasai was not favourable for the Portuguese. They had no money and Goa could not spare any men to defend Vasai. As on 18 September 1738, there were four hundred and eleven men at Dharavi and some more at Mahim and other places. Vasai had eight hundred and ninety-seven soldiers, of which five hundred and twenty-one were Portuguese. In addition, a further nine hundred were defending the fort from without and one hundred and ninety were stationed on the beach. It was only in October 1738 that Goa managed to send a further four hundred and eighty men to Vasai. As against this, the Marathas had three thousand men at Thane and Pilaji Jadhavrao was in the region with seven thousand foot and seven hundred horse.

The monsoon months did not witness much fighting. Chimaji returned to Pune by the end of May 1738 to recoup his health. The final act in this war began after October 1738.

After the monsoon months of 1738, at a time when Nadir Shah was still in Kabul, Chimaji threw all his resources into the battle in the Konkan. In Pedro De Mello, the Portuguese too had a brave captain. His ambition to retake the fort of Thane was his undoing; that eventually led to a turn in the fortunes of the Marathas. At this time, the Marathas had worked to make the Thane fort strong in all respects and ready for battle.

On 24 November 1738, De Mello sailed from Vasai with about one thousand freshly arrived troops from Portugal. Sailing south past Bombay, they turned into the creek towards Thane. The water at Thane was shallow. De Mello’s artillery could not be brought close to the fort as the water did not permit his larger ships to approach the Thane fort. He, therefore, had to use them from a distance and they would not serve any purpose. De Mello, therefore, decided to get closer to the fort with some of his men. Khandoji Mankar was commanding the Thane fort and he replied to the Portuguese fire with some of his own. As De Mello edged closer to Thane, he was hit by a Maratha shell and he died on the spot. The defeated Portuguese withdrew to Vasai. The British watched the Portuguese defeat, which they had foretold; the force was inadequate, they had said, and the Marathas had an overwhelming superiority in numbers. The Portuguese lost all courage because of their Commander’s death. Their attack, mounted after much preparations, turned back towards Vasai.

The time around 1738 was favourable for the Peshwas on all sides. They had no other external affair which would have created a dilemma for them troubling their minds. Due to this, they got the opportunity to concentrate their whole power on the Vasai campaign. Men and material were poured into the Konkan from November onwards. Troops and guns were sent to Konkan by the Peshwa from his base in Pune. A rumour spread that Nadir Shah would come to Deccan. For that, Bajirao left towards Khandesh, and in the month of December 1738, Chimaji Appa again got down into Konkan. All principal Maratha chiefs like Shinde, Holkar, Baji Bhivrao Rethrekar, Tukoji and Jiwaji Pawar, Pilaji Jadhavrao etc. fought the battle and were present in the Firangan at this time. Many guns were brought from various foundries in Kalyan, Junnar, and Pune. Bajirao sent eight thousand horse and ten thousand foot-soldiers to serve under Shankaraji Fadke in November 1738. Both the parties engaged in passionate clashes at all the major junction points. Everybody was convinced, that this was the final battle. In all, in the battles at Dharavi, Mahim, Tarapur and Vasai, the Marathas displayed immense capability and bravery. Portuguese supplies to Vasai were coming from Goa to the south and Daman in the north. Ranoji Shinde, therefore, attacked Daman, while Vyankatrao Ghorpade attacked Goa itself to ensure that the Portuguese at Goa were kept in check, after the monsoon of 1738.

To be continued…

BATTLE OF MAHIM

In the first year of war, the Portuguese lost most of the island of Sashti, and a few places around Vasai. However, Vasai, the nerve centre of Portuguese power in the Firangan remained in their hands. For the present, Chimaji had to leave this campaign to return to Pune. Another trial of strength with an old adversary loomed large.

Withdrawal of a section of Maratha troops and Chimaji Appa’s departure in July 1737 from the Konkan for the campaign against the Nizam weakened their position in the Firangan. After that, for around one-and-a-half years, Appa could not pay much attention to the Konkan task. There is no doubt, that if the Nizam invasion had not reared up its head in the north, Vasai would have been captured at the beginning of 1738. But Bajirao had to run towards Bhopal along with his trusted lieutenants to face the Nizam. Due to this, the Konkan task had to be postponed.

Sensing an opportunity to recoup, in September 1737, the Portuguese began pouring men and material into the territory from Goa, Daman, and Europe. The reinforcements reached India, and in the next two months, one-and-a-half thousand men, of which five hundred were Portuguese, reached Vasai by sea. They also brought provisions, food, and gunpowder with them. They began their advance against the Marathas.

Antaji Raghunath, Anjurkar etc. many of the local people had kept themselves engaged in some or the other tasks. Since a dispute arose between brothers Sambhaji and Manaji Angre that too worked in hurting the Vasai campaign. In December 1737, Krishnaji Naik wrote to his kinsman, “Sambhaji Angre’s fleet is at sea. It took away some trading vessels of the Siddi and the Portuguese. Firangi vessels coming here would have been challenged if Sambhaji Angre was on friendly terms.”

Still, the siege positions were being maintained, and skirmishes too kept happening once in a while. The Marathas could not succeed at Vasai unless its blockade was complete and supply routes were closed, so they diverted their attack to Daman. Shankaraji Phadke’s brother Mahadaji went north and attacked Mahim. Mahadaji decided to force the issue at Mahim and the Peshwa sent Ramchandra Hari Patwardhan to help him. Another force went towards Shirgaon.

While the Marathas began their attack to win Vasai, the Portuguese planned to recover their losses. The withdrawal of the Marathas was an opportunity for them to do so. The loss of Thane was the beginning of the loss of Sashti, and for the Portuguese recovering the fort at Thane was of paramount importance.

Shankarajipant’s brother Mahadajipant was sitting in a siege at Mahim. Vasai’s intrepid General Pedro de Mello Maestro de Campo, tried extremely hard once to snatch away the Thane fort from Maratha hands. However, seeing the threat to Mahim, they sent three relief parties by sea in December, the last of which were led by General himself. This Portuguese detachment attacked the Marathas on 23 December and broke the siege. This gentleman was courageous, adventurous, and highly experienced, and it was difficult for the Marathas to face his attack and survive. The Maratha batteries were destroyed and Mahadaji Fadke’s ambitious attack failed. Trapped in a forward position with no shelter, he was killed in the attack along with many of his chief Sardars.

Vasudev Joshi and Raghunath Hari wrote the report of this incident to Chimaji as follows, “Ramchandra Hari and Mahadaji Keshav had besieged Mahim. The British, Portuguese and Siddis banded together. In two to three days, they transported a hundred ships full of soldiers into the fortress from the southern side of Kelve. Therefore, Ramchandrapant took around seven to eight hundred men and on 10^th attacked the Kelve side. He killed twenty-five to thirty enemy soldiers. They also lost one Raut, one or two horses were wounded. After that, the enemy took the opportunity yesterday, and a force of one-and-a-half to two thousand men attacked the siege positions. They attacked all three siege posts at once. They opened up a barrage of gunfire from the ramparts too. The siege positions and our tents caught fire. Men could not find time to step out of the tents and pick up their weapons. So, Ramchandrapant, Amar Singh etc. ten to fifteen Rauts got up on their horses and killed ten to fifteen enemy soldiers. Ramchandrapant himself killed two of them, and forced the enemy to turn around. At that time, Ramchandrapant was hit in his right hand by a bullet. His sword fell from his hand on to his knee. With this, he turned around and the enemy captured the siege positions. Our men lost the patience and they retreated. Mahadaji Keshav, Dhondopant, Waghoji Khanvilkar, Rajabarao Burudkar, Chitto Shivdeo, Janardan Hari, Ganesh Hari, etc. men were within the siege who could not run away. They fought there and laid down their lives. Around two hundred men died, and up to a hundred were wounded. People have lost heart, and the enemy has gained. Even after this, we tried to allay everyone’s fears, again besieged the fort, and have remained in front of the fort with an intention to teach the enemies a lesson. Do write quickly to all our colleagues like Shankaraji Keshav at Arnala and Bahadurpur, Khandoji Mankar at Dharavi, Dattaji Moreshwar at Asheri, Narayan Joshi at Belapur, Bakhaji Tapkir at Kalyan-Bhiwandi, to ensure they take extra care. Our men have been terrorised at various places. Unless the Swami himself provides them encouragement, they would not feel energised and we won’t be able to take the enemies to their logical destiny. So, the Swami must put a thousand of his tasks aside, realising the necessity here, must send some Rauts for help here, and should encourage people at all stations here. Swami must come to the Nasik province, he should render the region desolate in the Daman province, and he should catch up with the enemy at some place, which will increase our prestige immensely.” Before Vasudev Joshi’s above letter reached, the Portuguese had attacked the siege positions and broken the siege.

To be continued…

JOSHIS OF CHAS

The Sashti Bakhar (chronicle) opens with, “The Portuguese took Thane and Konkan and held evil intentions. They took the Watans away and converted village after village to Christianity, in the sixty-six villages and Vasai, people were caught and converted. With the father’s dead body still lying in the house, they would take away the children and convert them. Such a nuisance they began in Maharashtra. Some ran away to the south, all rituals ended, the prayer of God was finished, temples were destroyed, and in their place the Portuguese built their own temples. The religion of the Portuguese was supreme. No Brahmin was allowed to stay in the land. If anybody did any religious ritual at home, he and his neighbours – who attended it – were all caught, detained and allowed to rot in prisons. Such a disaster happened.”

Nearly sixty thousand people from Sashti are said to have been converted at this time, of which six thousand were said to be in the single village of Bandra. People lived in a state of fear. The Inquisition years saw punishments of the more inhuman kind involving torture and burning at the stake. The Inquisition courts in Goa ended in 1774, were resurrected five years later and finally ended in 1812. These atrocities on the people created a strong antipathy for the Portuguese, and explain why of all the western powers, the Portuguese were singled out for vigorous action by the Marathas.

The strong line of fortifications backed by a good army and navy made the Portuguese positions impregnable. The stories of their persecution of Hindus and Muslims in the areas governed by them were the reason the Maratha power was at war with them from 1660 onwards. In the period from 1689 to 1720, there were many other challenges the Marathas faced, and it was only after 1720, when Ramchandra Mahadev of Chas was the Subedar at Kalyan, that the Portuguese question began to appear before the Peshwa more often. Between the years 1720 and 1734, the Marathas and the Portuguese had many engagements and a few treaties.

This Konkan region, like the other regions of Hindustan, would be considered a part of the realms of Mughal Badshah. In 1719, when the Badshah issued the grant-notification for Swarajya in Shahu’s name, Shahu’s rightful ownership was created on the Swarajya of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The moment Balaji Vishwanath returned from Delhi, Shahu dispatched Ramchandra Mahadev Joshi of Chas, got the stations at Kalyan and Bhiwandi captured on 5 August 1719, and handed them over to Pantapradhan. These Joshis were appointed permanently there to protect them, which lasted till the end. Since these Joshis had been helpful for Shahu and the Peshwas through their moneylending business, both especially favoured Joshis. Since Ramchandrapant’s sister Kashibai was married to Bajirao, the erstwhile close relations grew further. “Mahadajipant father-son duo would oversee the administration of Baglan, Junnar, Kalyan etc. provinces. They had provided two lakh rupees as loan when Bajirao went on the campaign to Shrirangapatan.” Later, Mahadajipant retired to Kashi, and Ramchandrapant began looking after the administration.

In this Konkan province, many of the erstwhile powers had their interests, like the Portuguese, Angre, the British, Janjira’s Siddis etc. To keep them under control, and to settle their own authority over these, became the first responsibility of Shahu and his Peshwa. From this, the later hostilities originated. Angre and the British clashed, and in that war the Portuguese came to help the British. At that time Bajirao sent Ramchandrapant Joshi to the Portuguese, and entered into a separate treaty in 1722. Due to this, the British softened their stance a bit. However, it was not possible for the Marathas and the Portuguese to permanently remain in a friendship. On 15 November 1723, Pilaji Jadhavrao mounted a sudden attack on the Vasai province and generated a huge plunder. Due to this, the relations between the two parties soured up a bit. Still, since Bajirao’s attention was drawn towards the Nizam, he resolved the matter with the Portuguese amicably, and gave some permanence to the previous treaty on 10 January 1724. However, as decided in the treaty, the Portuguese did not send their emissary to Shahu Maharaj, due to which the competition between the two parties persisted. Later, in 1728, Bajirao did not hurt the Portuguese until he resolved the Nizam affair.

In the month of March 1728, the Nizam affair ended, and immediately in the month of May Pilaji Jadhavrao sacked two villages in the Portuguese province of Daman. To avenge this, the Portuguese attacked the Kalyan province in the month of August. But, to bring this competition up to its intensity, many other reasons went on presenting themselves. There was a famous village named Anjur near Kalyan, and the Kshatriya family of Pathare used to be significant there. The head of this family Nimbaji Naik had six sons. In them, the eldest Gangaji Naik was the originator of the future war. He met Bajirao in 1722 and since then through various tactics, aligned all the leaders in Sashti to the Maratha cause. He also discovered various attack positions and secret routes and showed them to Ramchandra Mahadev and other Maratha Sardars to defeat the Portuguese. Later, in 1729, Malad’s Zamindar Antaji Raghunath Kavle joined these efforts, which brought them some further substance. The correspondence between Kavle and Bajirao is available. In 1728, Ramchandra Mahadev died, and his responsibilities shifted to his brother Krishnarao Mahadev. However, this Krishnarao Mahadev was not as clever as Ramchandrapant.

To be continued…