Bajirao

Bajirao I (né Visaji, ; 18 August 1700 – 28 April 1740) was the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. He was appointed Peshwa at the age of nineteen by Shahu I, following the death of his father, Balaji Vishwanath. He is credited with establishing the Marathas as the supreme power in the Indian subcontinent, displacing Mughal dominance.

In the Deccan region, the Nizam of Hyderabad emerged as a major power. The relations between the two states deteriorated after the Marathas under the leadership of Fateh Singh Bhonsle invaded Karnataka in 1725, which came under the Nizam's influence. Alarmed by these incursions, the Nizam decided to contest the Maratha taxation rights in the Deccan granted via the Mughal-Maratha treaty of 1718-19 and attacked Pune. Bajirao in response led a campaign against the Nizam in which the latter suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Palkhed. This victory solidified the Marathas' authority in the Deccan region.

In Bundelkhand, he rescued the Bundela ruler Chhatrasal from a Mughal siege, gaining independence for Bundelkhand. In gratitude, Chhatrasal bestowed one third of his territories to him. In the late 1720s, Bajirao asserted Maratha tax rights in Gujarat. He defeated rebel Trimbak Rao Dabhade at Dabhoi and integrated the whole province except Ahmedabad into the Maratha state by 1737. He also engaged in successful diplomatic missions with Rajput rulers, leading to the imposition of chauth on the Kingdoms of Mewar and Jaipur.

Further efforts to establish the Maratha position in the north saw him responsible for The Raid on Delhi (1737), which may be said to mark the high point of his military career. He officially secured the important territory of Malwa after defeating the combined forces of Mughals, Awadh and Nizam-ul-Mulk in the Battle of Bhopal (1737). He died in 1740 after being struck by a severe fever and was succeeded by his son Balaji Baji Rao.

Bajirao is viewed as a prominent figure in Maratha history. He is regarded as one of the greatest military generals of his time and is reputed to have never lost a battle. His adventurous life has been picturized in Indian cinema and featured in several novels. Bajirao had two wives, Kashibai and Mastani. His relationship with Mastani remains a controversial subject, very little is known with certainty about it.

Early life

Bajirao was born into the Bhat family in Sinnar, near Nashik. His father Balaji Vishwanath was the ''Peshwa'' of Shahu I and his mother was Radhabai Barve. Bajirao had a younger brother, Chimaji Appa, and two younger sisters, Anubai and Bhiubai. Anubai was married to Venkatrao Ghorpade (Joshi) of Ichalkaranji and Bhiubai was married to Abaji Naik Joshi of Baramati who belonged to the Deshastha Brahmin community.

Being born into a Brahmin family, his education included reading, writing, and learning Sanskrit. However, he did not remain confined to his books. Bajirao displayed a passion for the military at an early age and often accompanied his father on military campaigns. He was with his father when his father was imprisoned by Damaji Thorat before being released for a ransom. Bajirao had been on the expedition to Delhi in 1719 with his father and was convinced the Mughal Empire was disintegrating and would be unable to resist northward Maratha expansion. When Balaji Vishwanath died in 1720, Shahu appointed the 20-year-old Bajirao as Peshwa despite opposition from other chieftains.

Appearance and Personal life

Appearance

Bajirao grew up into a tall and broad-shouldered man. He was handsome and had a fair complexion. There is a note that when this famed warrior, whose name had spread across the land for his bravery and triumphs in battle, passed through the towns of Rajputana, both men and women would rush to their windows to catch a glimpse of him.

Personal life

Bajirao's first wife was Kashibai, the daughter of Mahadji Krishna Joshi and Bhawanibai of Chas (a wealthy banking family). Bajirao always treated his wife Kashibai with love and respect. Their relationship was healthy and happy. They had four sons: Balaji Bajirao (also called Nanasaheb), Ramachandra Rao, Raghunath Rao and Janardhan Rao, who died at an early age. Nanasaheb was appointed Peshwa by Shahu in 1740, succeeding his father.

Bajirao took Mastani as his wife, the daughter of Rajput king Chhatrasal, born from his Muslim concubine. The relationship was a political one, arranged to please Chhatrasal. Accounts, however with regard to her origin vary. Some consider her the daughter of the Nizam, while others refer to her as a courtesan of the court of some Muslim chief. The Nizam on the suggestion of his wife married her to Bajirao to promote diplomatic relations with Marathas.

Mastani had a son, Krishna Rao, in 1734. Since his mother was Muslim, Hindu priests refused to conduct the upanayana ceremony and he became known as Shamsher Bahadur. After the deaths of Bajirao and Mastani in 1740, Kashibai raised six-year-old Shamsher Bahadur as her own. Shamsher received a portion of his father's dominion of Banda and Kalpi. In 1761, he and his army fought alongside Sadashiv Bhau in the Third Battle of Panipat between the Marathas and the Afghans. Wounded in the battle, Shamsher died several days later in Deeg. Shamsher had a son Ali Bahadur through his wife Mehrambai. He helped Mahadaji Shinde to restore Maratha rule once again in Northern India.

Bajirao moved his base of operations from Saswad to Pune in 1728, laying the foundation for the transformation of the kasba into a large city. He began the construction of Shaniwar Wada on 10 January 1730.

Appointment as Peshwa

Bajirao was appointed Peshwa, succeeding his father, by Shahu on 17 April 1720. By the time of his appointment, the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah had upheld Maratha's claims to the territories held by Shivaji at his death. The Mughal-Maratha Treaty of 1718-1719 gave the Marathas the right to collect taxes (chauth) in the Deccan's six provinces.

Bajirao convinced Shahu that the Maratha Empire had to go on the offensive against its enemies to defend itself. He believed the Mughal Empire was in decline and wanted to take advantage of the situation with aggressive expansion into North India. Bajirao compared the Mughals' declining fortune to a tree which, if attacked at its roots, would collapse. He is reported to have said:

As a new Peshwa, however, he faced several challenges. Bajirao promoted young men like himself, such as Malhar Rao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde, the Pawar brothers and Fateh Singh Bhosle, as commanders; these men did not belong to families who were hereditary Deshmukhs in the Deccan sultanates. The Mughal viceroy of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I, Nizam of Hyderabad, had created a ''de facto'' autonomous kingdom in the region. He challenged Shahu 's right to collect taxes on the pretext that he did not know whether Shahu or his cousin, Sambhaji II of Kolhapur, was the rightful heir to the Maratha throne. The Marathas needed to assert their rights over the nobles of newly acquired territories in Malwa and Gujarat. Several nominally-Maratha areas were not actually under the Peshwa's control; for example, the Siddis controlled the Janjira fort.

Military campaigns and wars

The Nizam

At the outset of Bajirao's Peshwa rule, the Mughal nobles, led by Nizam-ul-Mulk, rebelled against the Sayyid Brothers. To quell the uprising, the Sayyid brothers sought assistance from the Marathas. They did receive some level of support from individual Maratha chiefs against the orders of Shahu and Bajirao at Balapur (1720).

The Nizam following his victory over the Sayyid Brothers decided to contest the Maratha claims of chauth. However, his forces were defeated by the Marathas near Godavri in December 1720. Afterwards on 4 January 1721, Bajirao met Nizam of Hyderabad at Chikhalthana to resolve their disputes. However, the Nizam refused to recognize the Maratha right to collect taxes from the Deccan provinces.

The Nizam was made vizier of the Mughal Empire in 1721 by emperor Muhammad Shah, who, alarmed at his increasing power, transferred him from the Deccan to Awadh in 1723. The Nizam rebelled against the order, resigned as vizier and marched towards the Deccan. The emperor sent an army against him, which the Nizam defeated at the Battle of Sakhar-Kheda; this forced the emperor to recognize him as viceroy of the Deccan. The Marathas, led by Bajirao, helped the Nizam win this battle. For his valor, Bajirao was honored with a robe, a 7,000-man mansabdari, an elephant, and a jewel. After the battle, the Nizam tried to appease the Maratha Chhatrapati Shahu and the Mughal emperor; in reality, however, he wanted to carve out a sovereign kingdom and considered the Marathas his rivals in the Deccan.

In 1725, the Nizam sent an army to clear Maratha revenue collectors from the Carnatic region. The Marathas dispatched a force under Fateh Singh Bhosle to counter him; Bajirao accompanied Bhosle. According to Govind Sakharam Sardesai, Bajirao personally led the campaign under Shahu's command. In contrast, Stewart Gordon's account suggests that Bajirao was present during the campaign but did not assume command. The local rulers supported by Nizam were defeated by 1727 and offered their submission to Bajirao.

In the Deccan, Sambhaji II of Kolhapur State had become a rival claimant to the title of Maratha King. The Nizam took advantage of the internal dispute, refusing to pay the Chauth because it was unclear who was the real Chhatrapati (Shahu or Sambhaji II) and offering to arbitrate. Shripatrao Pant Pratinidhi advised Shahu to begin negotiations and agree to arbitration. Sambhaji II was supported by Chandrasen Jadhav, who had fought Bajirao's father a decade earlier. Bajirao convinced Shahu to refuse the Nizam's offer and instead launch an assault.

The Nizam responded by invading Pune where he installed Sambhaji II as the king. He then marched out of the city, leaving behind a contingent headed by Fazal Beg. The Nizam plundered Loni, Pargaon, Patas, Supa and Baramati, using his artillery. On 27 August 1727, Bajirao began a retaliatory guerilla attack on the Nizam with his trusted lieutenants Malhar Rao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde and the Pawar brothers. He began to destroy the towns held by the Nizam; leaving Pune, he crossed the Godavari River near Puntamba and plundered Jalna and Sindkhed. Bajirao destroyed Berar, Mahur, Mangrulpir and Washim before turning north-west to Khandesh. He crossed the Tapi River at Kokarmunda and entered eastern Gujarat, reaching Chota Udaipur in January 1728.

After hearing that the Nizam had returned to Pune, Bajirao feinted toward Burhanpur; he thought that after hearing about the threat to the strategically important Burhanpur, the Nizam would try to save it. Bajirao did not enter Burhanpur, however, arriving at Betawad in Khandesh on 14 February 1728. When the Nizam heard that his northern territories had been devastated by Bajirao, he left Pune and marched towards the Godavari to meet Bajirao on an open plain where his artillery would be effective. The Nizam went on ahead of his artillery; on 25 February 1728, the armies of Bajirao and the Nizam faced each other at Palkhed, a town about west of Aurangabad. The Nizam was quickly surrounded by Maratha forces and trapped, his lines of supply and communication were cut. He was forced to make peace; he signed the Treaty of Mungi Shevgaon on 6 March, recognizing Shahu as the King and the Maratha right to collect taxes in the Deccan.

This event is considered as an example of brilliant execution of military strategy. In his ''Military History of India'', Jadunath Sarkar wrote: "This campaign gives a classic example of what the predatory horse, when led by a genius, could achieve in the age of light artillery."

Bundelkhand

In Bundelkhand, Chhatrasal rebelled against the Mughal Empire and established an independent kingdom. In December 1728, a Mughal force led by Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked him and besieged his fort and family. Although Chhatrasal repeatedly sought Bajirao's assistance, he was busy in Malwa at the time. He compared his dire situation to that of Gajendra Moksha. In his letter to Bajirao, Chhatrasal wrote the following words:
In March 1729, the Peshwa responded to Chhatrasal's request and marched towards Bundelkhand with 25,000 horsemen and his lieutenants Pilaji Jadhav, Tukoji Pawar, Naro Shankar, and Davalji Somwanshi. Bangash was later forced to leave, signing an agreement that "he would never attack Bundelkhand again". Chhatrasal's position as ruler of Bundelkhand was restored. He granted a large jagir to Bajirao and gave him his daughter Mastani. Before Chhatrasal's death in December 1731, he ceded one-third of his territories to the Marathas.

The Portuguese

Bajirao was drawn into the conflict due to the Maratha chief Kanhoji's plea for help against the Portuguese. The religious intolerance of Portuguese added to the friction between them and the Peshwa. The negotiations soon failed and Bajirao dispatched 40,000 Maratha cavalry under Pilaji Jadhav to attack the Portuguese. Consequently, a peace treaty was signed between the two powers. However, the Portuguese later refused to send a representative to Satara due to the demand for sardeshmukhi (a fixed tribute) from their areas which led to increased tensions with the Peshwa.

Despite the treaty, occasional raids were continued by the Marathas in the Portuguese territories. This forced the Portuguese General Francisco da Guerra de Mesquita to raid the Maratha territories in retaliation. The Marathas saw this as a breach of treaty and invaded the Portuguese areas around Bassein. This resulted in the Luso Maratha War of 1729-1732. Marathas could not take advantage of their numerical strength due to lack of coordination within their armies. The Portuguese effectively utilized the English support and further appealed to Mughals for help. The conflict ultimately ended in 1732 with the Treaty of Bombay. The Marathas according to the treaty withdrew from Portuguese territory.

Nevertheless, Bajirao planned to resume hostilities against the Portuguese with an attack on Salcette Island on 13 March 1733. The hostilities continued but no major expedition was sent by the Marathas as the Peshwa was busy dealing the Siddi threat. Once it was over, Bajirao sent a major expedition under his brother Chimaji Appa to invade Bassein. The Marathas were largely successful in their campaign and after two failed attempts successfully captured the fort of Bassein in 1739. This was a major achievement for Bajirao during his tenure as Peshwa.

Gujarat

After consolidating Maratha influence in central India, Bajirao decided to assert the Maratha right to collect taxes from the wealthy province of Gujarat and sent a Maratha force under Chimaji Appa there in 1730. Sarbuland Khan, the province's Mughal governor, ceded the right to collect chauth to the Marathas. He was soon replaced by Abhay Singh, who also recognized the Maratha right to collect taxes. As a result, the Peshwa claimed half share of the territory. This irked Shahu's senapati (commander-in-chief), Trimbak Rao Dabhade, whose ancestors had raided Gujarat several times and asserted their right to collect taxes from the province. Annoyed at Bajirao's control of what he considered his family's sphere of influence, he rebelled against the Peshwa. Two other Maratha nobles from Gujarat, Damaji Rao Gaekwad and Kadam Bande, also sided with Dabhade. Trimbak Rao also formed an alliance with Bangash and Nizam.

In response to Dabhade's alliance with the Nizam, Bajirao marched into Gujarat. Meanwhile, Bajirao learned that Dabhade and Gaikwad had made preparations for an open fight on the plain of Dabhoi with a force of 40 thousand, while Bajirao's numbers barely reached 25 thousand in all. Bajirao repeatedly sent messages to Dabhade to solve the dispute amicably in the presence of Shahu. When the negotiations failed, a battle ensued in which Trimbak Rao Dabhade's forces were routed by Bajirao at Dabhoi. The Nizam after his failed attempt met Bajirao at Rohe-Rameshwar on 27 December 1732 and promised not to interfere with Maratha expeditions.

Shahu and Bajirao avoided a rivalry with the powerful Dabhade clan after subduing Trimbak Rao; Trimbak's son, Yashwant Rao, was appointed as Shahu's senapati. The Dabhade clan were allowed to continue collecting chauth from Gujarat if they deposited half the revenue in Shahu's treasury.

Rajputana

The Maratha commanders forced the Mughal governors Jai Singh and Abhay Singh to pay the chauth for Malwa and Gujarat by 1732. Seeing these encroachments on Mughal territories, Rajputs and Mughals made a joint expedition against the Marathas. They amassed huge forces numbering nearly 2 lakhs to expel the Marathas from Malwa and Rajasthan. The Mughal armies were divided into two with vizier Qamar-ud Din Khan heading from east via Ajmer and Mir Bakshi Khan-i-Dauran leading the faction from the west.

Learning of the expedition, Maratha chiefs Ranoji Shinde, Malhar Rao Holkar and Pawar brothers marched into north with a much smaller force. Bajirao also dispatched his son Balaji along with Pilaji Jadhav towards Bundelkhand to halt the advance of vizier. Pilaji defeated the Mughal Vizier Qamar-ud Din Khan at Narwar. Scindia's armies also managed to check the advance of Khan-i-Dauran at Rampura. Meanwhile, the Maratha armies under Holkar plundered Rajasthan. Ultimately after a costly campaign, Mughals compromised for peace and agreed to pay an annual chauth of 22 lakhs to the Marathas. The Mughal emperor was not happy with these developments, and it led to increase in anti-Maratha voices at the Mughal court.

Following this triumph, the Peshwa with Shahu's consent began a northward journey on 9 October 1735. Accompanied by his wife, Kashibai, he intended to befriend Rajput courts and persuade them to pay chauth for their domains as well. Bajirao arrived at Mewar's southern frontier in January 1736, where Rana Jagat Singh II had made arrangements for his visit. Diplomatic talks got underway and Maharana agreed to pay a lakh and half annually as chauth. Bajirao also visited Jagmandir Palace, in the centre of Pichola Lake at Rana Jagat Singh's invitation, and then left for Nath-Dwara.

After resolving matters in Mewar, Bajirao advanced towards Jaipur. Sawai Jai Singh hastened south with his forces, and they met in Bhambholao (near Kishangarh). Their meeting lasted for several days, with talks about Chauth and the cession of Malwa from the Mughal Emperor. To maintain peace, Jai Singh offered an annual payment of 5 lakh rupees as chauth for Jaipur and promised to secure imperial grants for the provinces of Malwa and Gujarat. Bajirao then returned to the Deccan. The emperor did not agree to his demands, however, and he planned to march on Delhi to force him to agree.

Siddis

The Siddis of Janjira controlled a small, strategically important territory on India's west coast. Although they originally held only the Janjira fort, after Shivaji's death they expanded their rule to a large part of central and northern Konkan. After the death of Siddi chief Yakut Khan in 1733, a war of succession broke out among his sons; one, Abdul Rehman, asked Bajirao for help. Bajirao sent a Maratha force led by Sekhoji Angre, son of Kanhoji Angre. The Marathas regained control of several portions of the Konkan, and besieged Janjira. Their strength was diverted after Peshwa's rival, Pant Pratinidhi, occupied Raigad Fort (near Janjira) in June 1733. Sekhoji Angre died in August (further weakening the Maratha position), and Bajirao signed a peace treaty with the Siddis. He allowed the Siddis to retain control of Janjira if they accepted Abdul Rehman as the ruler; they were also allowed to retain control of Anjanvel, Gowalkot and Underi. The Marathas retained Raigad, Rewas, Thal and Chaul.

The Siddis launched an offensive to regain their lost territories soon after the Peshwa returned to Satara, then Bajirao dispatched a force to prevent them from taking over Raigad Fort in June 1734. Chimnaji made a surprise attack on a Siddi camp near Rewas on 19 April 1736, killing about 1,500 (including their leader, Siddi Sat). In June 1736, Bajirao dispatched a force under Yesaji Gaikwad, Dhanaji Thorat and Sidoji Barge to gain the control territories like Gowalkot. On 25 September of that year, the Siddis signed a peace treaty which confined them to Janjira, Gowalkot and Anjanvel. VG Dighe says that this treaty made Siddis a tributary of Marathas in all but name.

March to Delhi

After the death of Trimbak Rao, Bangash's alliance against the Marathas fell apart. The Mughal emperor recalled him from Malwa, and re-appointed Jai Singh II as the governor of Malwa. However, the Maratha chief Holkar defeated Jai Singh in 1733 at the Battle of Mandsaur. After two more battles, the Mughals decided to offer the Marathas the right to collect the equivalent of 22 lakh in chauth from Malwa. On 4 March 1736, Bajirao and Jai Singh reached an agreement at Kishangad. Jai Singh tried to convince the emperor to agree to the plan. Though, Bajirao was appointed the deputy governor of the region, the emperor did not agree to his other demands. Bajirao subsequently launched a campaign against Mughals to pressure the emperor into accepting his remaining demands as well. Jai Singh is also believed to have secretly informed Bajirao that it was a good time to subdue the weakening Mughal emperor.

The emperor anticipating Bajirao's actions ordered the Mughal nobles to deal with Maratha incursions. Meanwhile, the Maratha chiefs Malhar Rao Holkar, Vithoji Bule and Pilaji Jadhav crossed Yamuna and plundered Mughal territories in the Doab. On learning of this, Saadat Ali Khan with his 150,000 strong forces attacked the Maratha chiefs at Jalesar, defeated them and retired to Mathura. Malhar Rao Holkar rejoined Bajirao's army near Gwalior. In response, the Peshwa decided to attack Delhi itself. Believing that the Marathas had retreated to Deccan, Samsam-ud-Daulah, Mir Bakshi and Muhammad Khan Bangash invited Saadat Ali Khan to a banquet in Samsam-ud-Daulah's tent at Mathura. During the feast, they learnt that Bajirao had slipped along the Jat and Mewati hill route (avoiding the direct Agra-Delhi route) and was at Delhi. The Mughal commanders left the feast and began a hasty return to capital.

The Mughal emperor, Muhammad Shah dispatched a force led by Mir Hasan Khan Koka to check Bajirao's advance. The Marathas defeated his force on 28 March 1737 in outskirts of Delhi near Talkatora. When the news of the defeat of the Mughal troops by the Marathas spread, a sudden fear seized the citizens of Delhi who expected the attack of the Maratha conqueror any moment. But Baji Rao did not proceed with his victory although he could have taken the city unopposed. He had received intelligence that the Vazir with his army was coming towards Delhi in rapid marches when he heard that Baji Rao was at the gates of the capital. The Peshwa realised that any further stay in the city would greatly imperil his position and endanger the lines of communication with the Maratha mainland. He, therefore, left Delhi with his soldiers towards the south.

During his way back he encountered the Mughal Vizier Qamar-ud Din Khan at Badshahpur. After a long and tiring march following a heavy engagement, the Peshwa was in no mood to attack the Vazir. Neither could the Vazir array his forces for battle, as his artillery and a part of his men were yet on the road. There was a brush between the two forces in the failing light of the day, one elephant and a few horses were seized by the Marathas with the loss of 30 men at their side. Afterwards, Bajirao with his army moved another eight miles before encamping for the night. Finding himself outnumbered to the Wazir's army and possibility of reinforcement from the other Mughal nobles he made a decision to retreat from Badshahpur during early night. Bajirao passed through Rajputana and reached Narnol and then Ajmer. The Mughal troops were unable to follow the Marathas as the emperor had called them back to Delhi.

Bajirao's invasion of the Mughal capital was intended to make the emperor aware of his power. The event had caused great consternation and dismay in the capital. Although the Peshwa left the city suddenly, he exposed the weakness of the government. The demoralizing effect that the Peshwa's surprise attack produced on the army and the citizens of Delhi was permanent.

Battle of Bhopal

Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah sought help from the Nizam after Bajirao's dash on Delhi, the Nizam set out from the Deccan, met Bajirao's returning force at Sironj, and told the Peshwa he was going to Delhi to repair his relationship with the Mughal emperor. The Nizam was joined by other Mughal chiefs, and a 70,000-man Mughal army (reinforced by artillery), was dispatched against Bajirao.

The Peshwa assembled an 80,000-man force. To counter aid to the Nizam from the Deccan, Bajirao stationed a force of 10,000 (under Chimaji Appa) on the Tapti River with instructions to prevent Nasir Jung from advancing beyond Burhanpur. He and his forces crossed the Narmada in early December 1737, communicating with agents and spies posted to observe enemy moves. The Nizam sheltered in Bhopal, a fortified town with a lake at his rear, to keep his army and artillery secure. Although the Nizam's superior artillery was ineffective against the fast moving Maratha cavalry, it prevented Bajirao from attacking his defensive position.

The Nizam, unable to hold out any longer, signed the Treaty of Bhopal at Doraha on 7 January 1738. Malwa was ceded to the Marathas; the Mughals agreed to pay the equivalent of 5,000,000 in reparations, with the Nizam swearing on the Quran to abide by the treaty. The Mughal defeat at Bhopal confirmed the dominance of Maratha forces in India and marked the emergence of a new great power.

Response to Nader Shah's invasion

In May 1738, Nader Shah, the ruler of Iran and the founder of the Afsharid dynasty, invaded Northern India for funds to fight his archrivals ottomans in the west. He defeated the local Mughal governors of Kabul and Peshawar by Nov 1738 and advanced through the Punjab region. The Mughal emperor, Muhammad Shah alarmed by these developments gathered his prominent nobles and summoned the Nizam to Delhi. Khan Dauran, the Mir Bakshi of Mughal Empire sent messengers among the Hindu Rajputs, especially Sawai Jai Singh, to aid the Emperor. However, Rajput chieftains were reluctant to act due to the growing discontent with the later Mughal emperors.

Bajirao was initially bewildered by Nader's invasion. He feared that, in the event of Nader's victory over the Mughal emperor, the latter might remain in India and potentially advance southwards, posing a major threat to Maratha supremacy in Deccan. He therefore started preparations for war against Nader. The emperor also sought Bajirao's aid and the Peshwa responded by promising to send the Maratha force under leaders such as Malhar Rao Holkar, Ranoji Sindhia, and Udaji Pawar. But the help could not reach in time as most of the Maratha forces were engaged in Bassein campaign (1737–39) against Portuguese and it was useless to march against a foe like Nader without adequate forces. Meanwhile, Muhammad Shah forces faced a complete disaster at the hands of Nader Shah in the decisive Battle of Karnal.

Bajirao stationed his commander Pilaji Jadhav in Malwa to check possible further advances of Nadir Shah. The Maratha observers posted in northern India transmitted comprehensive accounts of the unfolding events to Bajirao in Maharashtra. Varying opinions were put forward by different officials of what should be done by the Peshwa following the Mughal emperor's defeat. Some argued for Bajirao to confront Nader while others advised to wait for the invader's next move. There were even talks about placing Maharana of Mewar, a Hindu ruler, in place of Mughal emperor. The Maratha agent Dhondo Govind suggested Bajirao to form a coalition of Rajput and Maratha forces. He argued that forces of Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur and Bundelas aided by Peshwa's forces would form a very strong Hindu front and increase the odds of victory against Nader Shah.

Shahu also dictated Bajirao to march northwards. Bajirao obliged Shahu and started moving northwards with his forces. By the time he reached Burhanpur, he received intelligence that Nader had already departed to Iran and had reinstated Muhammad Shah. He was relieved upon hearing the news and exchanged letters with both Nader and Muhammad Shah. Subsequently, he returned to Poona on 27 July.

Although Bajirao and Nizam had the capacity to prevent the sack of Delhi, they never coordinated their efforts. The crushing defeat of the Mughal Empire at the hands of the Persian conqueror left it unable to resist the aggressive Maratha expansion. Over the next twenty years, the Marathas conquered the empire's provinces one by one, becoming the dominant power in Indian subcontinent.

Deccan

Between 1738 and 1740, Nader Shah launched an invasion of India. In response to this threat, Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah summoned the Nizam of Hyderabad, Asaf Jah, to Delhi. Accepting the emperor's request, Asaf Jah mobilized his army and marched to Delhi in a bid to resist the invasion. In the absence of the Nizam, Bajirao launched an attack on Hyderabad with the aim of capturing the six provinces of Deccan. Having already secured Malwa through the Battle of Bhopal from Jai Singh II, Bajirao sought to expand Maratha influence by targeting Hyderabad in the absence of the Nizam. In December 1739, Bajirao marched with 50,000 soldiers towards Aurangabad. Nasir Jung, having received intelligence about the Marathas' intent to capture the Deccan in the absence of his father, mobilized up to 40,000 soldiers and marched against Bajirao. The battle ensued after both parties crossed the Godavari River.

According to most sources, Nasir Jung lost the battle and escaped. Nasir sued for peace and an agreement was signed between Bajirao and Nasir through which Khargone and Handia were ceded to the Marathas.

This marked the final military engagement for Bajirao, as he died in April 1740 following the conclusion of this conflict.

Battle tactics

Bajirao was known for rapid tactical movements in battle, using cavalry. British field marshal, Bernard Montgomery studied Bajirao's tactics in the Palkhed campaign, particularly his rapid movements and his troops' ability to live off the land (with little concern about supply and communication lines) while conducting "maneuver warfare" against the enemy. In his book, ''A Concise History of Warfare'', Montgomery wrote the following about Bajirao's victory at Palkhed:
Montgomery further wrote,

Legacy

Bajirao is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Maratha Empire. Historians like Stewart Gordon, J.L. Mehta and Dr. V.G. Dighe have considered him the most charismatic and dynamic leader in Maratha history after Shivaji.

The Maratha king Shahu also had an implicit faith on Bajirao. On one occasion he called Bajirao as "the man with iron nerves". Bajirao's policy of northward expansion (1720–40) brought the provinces from Punjab to Bengal under Maratha influence by 1760 and made Marathas the dominant power in Indian subcontinent throughout the 18th century. His conquests were one of the causes for the decline of Mughal Empire.

Bajirao is considered to be one of the greatest military generals of his time. British Field Marshal Montgomery, renowned for his victory over Rommel in World War II, arguably regarded Bajirao as the greatest cavalry general in Indian history.

Historian Jadunath Sarkar called Bajirao, "a heavenly-born cavalry leader". Also describing his twenty years military career, he wrote:
K. M. Panikkar in his introduction to ''Bajirao I: The Great Peshwa'' commented:
Sir Richard Temple, a wise student of history and politics, remarked:

Death

Bajirao's body was exhausted due to ceaseless wars and military campaigns. Besides, he was also troubled by domestic issues, particularly the imprisonment of his favorite wife Mastani. The first illness Bajirao encountered which appeared on 23 April, when the symptoms were mild. On 26 April the fever has grown to an extent that, Bajirao became delirious. He died on Sunday i.e. 28 April 1740 at night, after about 8:30 p.m. He was cremated the same day on the bank of Narmada River. Balaji Bajirao ordered Ranoji Shinde to build a chhatri as a memorial. The memorial is enclosed by a dharmshala. The compound has two temples, dedicated to Nilkantheshwar Mahadev (Shiva) and Rameshwar (Rama).

In popular culture

*Character of Bajirao is portrayed in Marathi audio web series 'Shrimant Kashibai Bajirao Peshwe' created by Cultural Legacy of India.
*''Bajirao Mastani'', a 1925 Indian silent film about the Peshwa directed by Nanubhai B. Desai and Bhalji Pendharkar.
*'' Rau'', a 1972 fictional Marathi novel by Nagnath S. Inamdar, featured a love story of Bajirao I and Mastani.
* ''Mastani'', 1955 film directed by Dhirubhai Desai. It starred Nigar Sultana, Manher Desai, Shahu Modak and Agha.
*The 2015 historical drama film ''Bajirao Mastani'', directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, starred Ranveer Singh as Bajirao I.
* ''Shrimant Peshwa Bajirao Mastani'', another Indian TV series broadcast on ETV Marathi in 2015.
* '' Peshwa Bajirao'', a 2017 TV series starring Rudra Soni as young Bajirao and Karan Suchak as the adult Bajirao, aired on Sony TV.

See also

* Maratha Empire
* Chhatrapati Shivaji
* Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao
* Peshwa Madhavrao
* Peshwa Bajirao II

References

Further reading

English books:
* Kulkarni, Uday S (2016)
The Era of Baji Rao: An Account of the Empire of the Deccan
'' an in-depth account on the life of Bajirao I.
* Sardesai, Govind Sakharam (1948)
The Expansion of Maratha Power (1707-1772)
'' talks about Bajirao's role in Maratha history.
* Dighe, V.G. (1944)
Bajirao I and the Maratha Expansion
'' highlights Bajirao's military achievements in detail.
* Gordon Stewart (2007)
The New Cambridge History of India - The Marathas (1600-1818)
'' a book on Maratha polity.
* Srinivasan, C.K. (1961)
Bajirao I The Great Peshwa
', talks about Bajirao's wars and expeditions.
* Inamdar, N.S. (2016
''Rau - The Great Love Story of Bajirao Mastani''
covers Bajirao's romance with Mastani.
Marathi books:
*Vidhate, Kaka (2019
देवयोद्धा
* Kature, Kaustubh (2020)
Shahmatpanah Bajirav
'
* Kolhatkar, A. Balwant (2007) मस्तानी

External links

Shaniwar Wada – the Peshwa palace at Pune

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baji Rao 01, Peshwa
Peshwa dynasty
Marathi people
1700 births
1740 deaths
Hindu monarchs
Maratha generals