Raghoji I of Nagpur
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| Raghoji I | |
|---|---|
| Senadhurandar Sarkar Senasahibsubah[1] | |
 Raghuji I Bhonsle | |
| 1stRajaofNagpur | |
| Reign | 1739– 14 February 1755 |
| Predecessor |
|
| Successor | Janoji I |
| Born | Raghuji Bhonsle c.1695
|
| Died | 14 February 1755(aged 69–70)
|
| Issue |
|
| House | Bhonsle(Nagpur) |
| Father | Bimbaji Bhonsle |
| Mother | Kashibai |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Raghoji I(Raghoji Bhonsle;Marathi pronunciation:[rɑːgʰoːɟiːbʰoːⁿsəleː];1695 – February 1755)[2][3]was aMarathageneral of theBhonsleclan who established theNagpur Kingdomin much of east-centralIndiaduring the reign ofChhatrapatiShahu I.[4]His successors ruled the kingdom until 1853.
Origin
[edit]TheBhonsalefamily branch of Raghoji were known as Hinganikar as they were originally chiefs from Berdi near Hingani inPune Districtestablished by Bimbaji Bhonsle. Raghoji's great granduncle Rupaji I, great grandfather Mudhoji and grandfather Bapuji with two brothers Sabaji and Parsoji had fought in the armies ofShivaji.Mudhoji resided inPandavgad,ruling over a Mauza nearWaiin Maharashtra, which Shivaji had granted to him as Jagir for his spectacular exploits, while his brother Rupaji I resided at Bham in the district ofYavatmal.[5][need quotation to verify]
Rupaji I was childless therefore his property also passed over to Raghoji's great grandfather Mudhoji which gave Hinganikar Bhonsles a foothold ineast Maharashtrafor future conquests. Chhatrapati Shivaji entrusted high military command and the collection ofchauth(tribute) inBerarto the most distinguished of them. Mudhoji's son Sabaji was given villages of Rakhswari and Poorkikotar however it was Parsoji who attained highest position in the family.[citation needed]
DuringMughal-Maratha Warsthe title of Senasahibsubha (meaning Master of provinces and armies) was bestowed on Parsoji Bhonsle byChhatrapati Rajaram Bhonslealong with rights to regions ofDevgad,Gondwana,ChandaandVarhadfrom where he could exact tribute. Bapuji only had one son Bimbaji who was the father of Raghuji I. Parsoji had three sons; Santaji, Kanhoji and Ranoji each with a distinguished career. Santaji was part of various campaigns of Chhatrapati Shivaji and the other commanders, till his murder in Delhi during the 1719 campaign to deposeFarrukhsiyarled by SenapatiKhanderao Dabhade.Ranoji was given title of Sawai Santaji (meaning Superior Santaji) along with other compensations for the loss of his brother's life.[citation needed]
In 1722,Shahu Ipresented Badnera andAmravatito Ranoji Bhonsle, further extending presence of Hinganikar Bhonsles in east. Kanhoji went on to secure the family title of Senasahibsubha and paved the way for future conquests by ruling for 20 years. The lesser prominent Bimbaji Bhonsle was without a son until one was finally born, who Bimbaji believed to be a result of prayers of a piousVaishnavasaint Ramajipant. On those grounds Bimbaji named his son Raghuji (Raghava) after theavatarof VishnuRama.[6][better source needed][7][full citation needed]
Early life
[edit]Bimbaji died shortly after his son was born, and Raghuji grew up with his mother Kashibai and grandmother Baijabai at the samePandavavadinear Wai. On attaining maturity Raghuji served under his uncle Ranoji as aShiledar(cavalryman) atAmravati,participating in various military operations.[8][need quotation to verify]His uncle Senasahibsubha Kanhoji Bhonsle based at Bham, sixteen miles south ofYavatmal,invited him to his fief as he was heirless up to that point.
City of Bham or Bhambraja, was located on a small plateau near theAdanriver, raised 300 ft. above the level of the valley. It is a vast but completely abandoned site of immense stone ruins and traces of planted trees. The expanse of the original settlement could be imagined by the traditions of 5,000 houses owned byBairagis(ascetics) alone under the protection ofMarathas.[9][need quotation to verify]
Senasahibsubha Kanhoji looked after and mentored Raghuji, who was the son of his cousin Bimbaji, with hopes of gradually passing his duties to him. But after the birth of his son Rayaji Bhonsle, his plans for adopting Raghuji ended and their relations were disrupted.[10][full citation needed]
Rise to power
[edit]
Raghuji then left his uncle and travelled with 100 horsemen to offer his services toGond Kingdom of Devgad,then under rule of Chand Sultan, where he fought for many years and familiarised himself with local politics. Eventually Raghuji returned toSatarato directly serve theChhatrapati Shahu Bhonsle.Raghuji's status dramatically escalated when he bravely slew a maneater tiger which threatened Shahu's life during a hunting expedition. Following this Shahu bestowed many rewards on Raghuji, most importantly arranging the marriage of his own Shirke clan wife Rani Sagunabai's sister Salubai to Raghuji. This further bound the Chhatrapati Bhonsle and the Senasahibsubha Bhonsle families.[10]
This was simultaneously followed with the Senasahibsubha Kanhoji Bhonsle's downfall who had entered into talks with theNizam.For further examination he was invited by Chhatrapati Shahu to Satara. On 23 August 1725 Kanhoji left Satara without permission, fleeing the officers sent after him. After 3 years of distant correspondence, Chhatrapati Shahu finally appointed Raghuji Bhonsle as the new Senasahibsubha in 1728.
Following Raghuji's appointment to the post of Senasahibsubha, Chhatrapati Shahu granted him thesanadsforBerarandGondwanaand the right to extend the levy ofchauthaitoChhatisgarh,Patnain Bihar,AllahabadinAwadh SubahandMaksudabadinBengal Subahserving as directives for his conquests.[11]
Raghuji's first campaign as Senasahibsubha was to bring his uncle Kanhoji to justice and restore centralization in the eastern provinces for which he was deployed with an army of 30,000 cavalry. Raghuji's armies roved in all directions exacting the pendingChauthand Sardeshmukhi, which served as return of central authority over the lands. In 1731 Raghuji Bhonsle killed Isa Khan and seized all the villages inKherlaas well as the Fort of Salbardi.[12]
Raghuji followed this by defeating Shujayat Khan ofAkola,the deputy of the Nawab of Ellichpur and subjugated his territory. In this duration Kanhoji and prepared countermeasures by fortification of his base at Bham. Raghuji received the aid of his uncle Sawai Santaji Ranoji Bhonsle ofAmravati.The two armies jointly besieged the fort of Bham and killed Kanhoji's general TukojiGujjar.The death of Kanhoji's general Tukoji Gujjar broke Kanhoji's patience and he fled from the fort, closely pursued by cavalry of Senasahibsubha and Sawai Santaji. Raghuji and Ranoji overtook Kanhoji at Mandar nearYavatmaland defeated him in the fight. Kanhoji was imprisoned in the fort of Satara while his son Rayaji continued at Bham.[11]
The tensions regarding Rayaji and Raghuji's rights over Senasahibsubha post ended only by 1748 when Rayaji died childless ensuring the supremacy of Raghuji Bhonsle's line. Shahu Chhatrapati then bestowed the authority to imposechauthaiandmokasaof prominent Mughal cities and regions likeLucknow,AllahabadinAwadh,MurshidabadinBengal Subah,Berar(claimed byNizam), Bitia inMalwa Subah,HajipurandPatnainBihar Subah(under Nawab ofBengal Subah) and of the Gond Kingdoms ofDevagad,Gadha,Bhavargad andChanda.This ensured the direction of Raghuji's future expansions.[11]
Reign and military campaigns
[edit]
Bold and decisive in action, Raghuji was the archetype of a Maratha leader; he saw in the troubles of other states an opening for his own ambition, and did not even require a pretext for invasion. Twice his armies occupiedBengal,and it was he who attained the conquest ofCuttack.Chanda,Chhattisgarh,andSambalpurwere added to his dominions between 1745 and 1755, the year of his death. He was succeeded by his sonJanoji Bhonsle.[13]
Campaigns in South India
[edit]The Nawab of Carnatic Dost Ali Khan, sent his son, Safdar Ali andHusayn Dost Khanbetter known as Chanda Sahib to extort tribute from the Hindu states of Deccan. Through treachery Chanda brought about the abdication of queen ofTiruchirappalli.After entering the fort by swearing the most solemn sacred oaths on theQuranof peace and behaving like a brother to the widowed queen, Husayn facilitated the storming of the fort by having his men enter through the palace known as Dilwar Mandap adjoining the fort of Tiruchirappalli. Heartbroken on such betrayal the widowed queenburnt herselfin disgrace.[citation needed]
The extension of the Muslim power in the far south had set in motion a Hindu reaction led by Vangaru Tirumala, a member of theMadurai Nayak dynastyand a former rival of queen Minakṣhi and Sayaji Bhonsle, the deposed Maratha ruler of Tanjore who appealed toChhatrapati Shahu,the most powerfulHinduruler of the times, for aid. Hindu Kingdoms such asRamnad,SivagangaandPudukkottaiandKingdom of Mysorecalled upon the Marathas for intervention, and offered co-operation against the Arcot Nawab.[14][need quotation to verify]They demanded the expulsion of the Navayet Nawabs. Even theNizamsupported Maratha intervention against them.
Pratapsingh Bhonsle of Tanjore was neither regular in the payment of tribute nor obedient to the Subehdar, causing the Nawab to remove him from Tanjore by force and install a Muslim deputy. Finally incensed by the atrocities of the Nawab, Chhatrapati Shahu deployed Raghuji Bhonsle ofNagpurand Fatehsingh Bhonsle ofAkkalkotwith army of 40,000 to wreak vengeance on the wrongdoers. Raghuji defeated the Nawab ofCuddappah,exacted tribute from the Nawab ofKarnoolbefore advancing southwards into the subah ofArcot.[citation needed]
The rapid advance of the Marathas filled the Nawab Dost Ali Khan with dismay. Soon afterwards took place theBattle of Damalcherryin May 20, 1740, which was a major confrontation between theNawab of the Carnatic,Dost Ali Khanof Arcot and the MarathaSenasahibsubhaRaghuji I Bhonsle of Nagpur.[15]The battle was a victory for the Marathas in which Arcot Nawab Dost Ali Khan, his son and nearly all his officers were killed. Dost Ali Khan's Diwan Mir Assud was taken captive. The Nawab's capital city of Arcot was plundered and the rich treasures were taken as booty by the triumphant Marathas.[16][17]The news of this defeat spread dismay and consternation in the country. Safdar had by then only reachedArcot.He started negotiations for a truce with the Marathas through Mir Assud who was in captivity in the Maratha camp. The Marathas were disappointed by the desolate condition of the country and many in the circles were ready to come to terms. Raghuji however demanded a high fees for sparing Chanda Sahib who offered only 7 lakhs with a statement threatening to continue the conflict if the terms were rejected.
Raghuji discarded the meagre offer and deployed his men againstTiruchirappalli.The main body of the Maratha cavalry took positions before the city and cut off its communications. In this while, a large body of the Nevayet troops under Chanda Sahib's brother Zaynut Abdul Khan, known asBada Sahib,marched to the northern borders of their territory to prevent a total encirclement.[18]The Maratha contingents attempted to intercept the march of Bada Sahib, but the flank of his brother Sadak Sahib, defeated their stretched lines atDindigul.The two then merged their forces and rushed toTiruchirappallifor aiding their brother but were intercepted by Senasahebsubh Raghuji Bhonsle atManapparai.In the fierce battle which lasted for nine hours the Marathas emerged victorious. Raghuji killed Bada Sahib and Sadak Sahib with more than 3,000 men in each of their contingents slain. This decisive victory of the Marathas considerably helped their siege of Tiruchirappalli. Despite the formidable odds, Chanda Sahib resisted the onslaught for more than a month.[19]
On the 16th of March 1741, the Marathas finally scaled the walls of the ramparts ofTiruchirappallifort, surprised the garrison and conquered the Nevayet stronghold. The fort was surrendered to Raghuji on the day ofRam Navami,but it was the banner of Fatehsingh Bhonsle which was raised on the fort. Chanda Sahib negotiated for peace by offering to pay twelve lakhs of rupees for his safe departure, but the Marathas demanded one crore. Eventually the talks broke down and the Marathas carried away the Husayn Dost Khan together with his son Abid Ali as prisoner toBerarand then toSatara.Raghuji Bhonsle appointedMurari Rao Ghorpadeas the new ruler atTiruchirappalliwhich marked the end of the Nevayets and the culmination of the Maratha campaign.[19]
According to Ramesan, it must have been at this time of his invasion in 1740 when Raghuji was in theChittoor districtand very near toTirupatithat Raghuji Bhonsle took the opportunity to visit theVenkateswara templeand offer his obeisance to the deity with offerings of many valuable jewels. These jewels are still preserved in the temple in a chest known "Raghojivari Pette".[20]
Conquest of Chhattisgarh
[edit]Raghoji Bhonsle's Diwan PanditBhaskar Raminvaded and placed Mohansingh, an illegitimate son of Raghuji, in charge of the States ofRaipur,Ratanpur,BilaspurandSambalpurin Chhattisgarh before advancing on to Orissa.
Expeditions in Orissa and Bengal
[edit]TheExpeditions in Bengalwas taken by theMaratha Empireafter the successful campaign inCarnaticat theBattle of Trichinopolly.The leader of the expedition was Raghoji ofNagpur.Raghoji was able to annexOrissapermanently as he successfully exploited the chaotic conditions prevailing in the region after the death of their GovernorMurshid Quli Khanin 1727.[21]Nawab of Bengal ceded territory up to the river Suvarnarekha to the Marathas, and agreeing to pay Rs. 20 lacs aschauthforBengal(includes both West Bengal and Bangladesh) and 12 lacs for Bihar (including Jharkhand), thus Bengal becoming a tributary to the Marathas.[22]
Final takeover of Devagad
[edit]Dissensions continued between theDevgadGond brothers and once again, the elder brother Burhan Shah requested the aid of Raghoji Bhonsle. Akbar Shah was driven into exile and finally poisoned atHyderabad.However this time, Raghoji Bhonsle did not pass the opportunity of conquering such a plentiful and rich country, with it being within his grasp.[23][24][better source needed]
He declared himself 'protector' of the Gond king. Thus in 1743, Burhan Shah was practically made a state pensionary, with real power being in the hands of the Maratha ruler. After this event the role of the Gonds in politics of Deogarh region fades out of history.[25]
Death and legacy
[edit]
King of Nagpur Raghuji Bhonsle died on February 14, 1755. Six wives and seven concubines of Raghuji Bhonsle are said to have immolated themselves on his funeral pyre. Other chronicles record 8 of his 13 wives and innumerable concubines conductedSati.He left behind four legitimate sons Janoji, Mudhoji, Sabaji and Bimbaji and one known natural son Mohansingh.
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^Vaidy, Sankara (7 April 2024)."Vaidya-daptarantuna Nivadalele Kagada".
- ^The Cyclopedia of India: Biographical, Historical, Administrative, Commercial.Book Traders. 1992. p. 312.
- ^Mishra, Prabhu Lal (1979).The Political History of Chhattisgarh, 1740-1858 A.D.Vishwa Bharati Prakashan. pp. 38, 39, 88.
- ^Daniyal, Shoaib (21 December 2015)."Forgotten Indian history: The brutal Maratha invasions of Bengal".Scroll.in.Retrieved18 July2024.
- ^Congress, Indian History (1975).Proceedings.Indian History Congress. p. 311.
- ^"Maharashtra state Gazetteer district Nagpur".gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in.
- ^Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas.Pratik gupta. 1 August 2014.
- ^Malik, Zahiruddin (1975)."Side Lights on the Administrative System of the Bhonsle State of Nagpur (1740-1772)".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.36:310–320.ISSN2249-1937.JSTOR44138856.
- ^Maharashtra (India) (1960).Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Ahmadnagar.Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. p. 698.
- ^abMaharashtra State Gazetteers: Akola.Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1977. p. 139.
- ^abcMaharashtra (India) (1977).Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Akola District.Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. p. 134.
- ^"Eighteenth-Century South Asia and the Maratha Political".academiccommons.columbia.edu.
- ^Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas.Pratik gupta. 1 August 2014.
- ^Kunju, A. P. Ibrahim (1959)."TRAVANCORE AND THE CARNATIC IN THE XVIII CENTURY: Fresh Light Thrown by the Matilakam Records".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.22:368–377.ISSN2249-1937.
- ^Jeremy Black (2012).War in the Eighteenth-Century World.Palgrave Macmillan. p. 280.ISBN9780230370005.
- ^Saswadkar, P. L. (1965)."Prohibition under the Peshwas in the latter half of the eighteenth century".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.27.JSOR: 326–328.JSTOR44140671.Retrieved13 December2020.
- ^"Brief history of Arcot"(PDF).Tamil Nadu Govt.Retrieved13 December2020.
- ^Proceedings of the Indian History Congress Pg. 277
- ^abRajayyan, K. (1970)."The Marathas at Trichinopoly: 1741-1743".Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.51(1/4): 222–230.ISSN0378-1143.
- ^Ramesan, n (1999).The Tirumala Temple.
- ^Government of Maharashtra (1974).Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Wardha District(2nd ed.). Bombay: Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. p. 63.OCLC77864804.
- ^Fall Of The Mughal Empire- Volume 1 (4Th Edn.), J.N.Sarka
- ^Hunter, William Wilson (1881).Naaf to Rangmagiri.Trübner.
- ^Society (MANCHESTER), Northern Central British India (1840).Proceedings of a Public Meeting for the formation of The Northern Central British India Society held in the Corn Exchange, Manchester, on Wednesday evening, August 26th, 1840.Northern Central British India Society.
- ^Kurup, Ayyappan Madhava (1986).Continuity and Change in a Little Community.Concept Publishing Company.
Notes
[edit]- Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al. (1908).Imperial Gazetteer of India1908-1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.
