The Maratha Conquest of the North, 1757 - 1758
The Maratha Empire had already expanded upto Delhi during the time of Peshwa Bajirao Ballal. Malwa, Gujrat, parts of Bundelkhand and Rajputana were already under the Maratha rule. Bajirao Peshwa was succeeded by his eldest son, Balaji who was also known as Nanasaheb. Nanasaheb had the support of the major generals like Malharrao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde, Vitthalrao Vinchurkar and Pilaji Gaikwad. One of the major commanders, Raghoji Bhosale was against the Peshwa but that thing was sorted out when Raghoji Bhosale was sent on an expedition to the Eastern province of Bengal. Nana Saheb had a younger brother, Raghunathrao, who was a better commander than most. His cousin, Sadashivrao Bhau was an expert in Civil affairs and administration.
In 1756, Ahmed Shah Abdali invaded the Northern regions of India and captured Delhi with support from the Rohilla Chief, Najib ud Daulah. Abdali installed Alamgir II on the Mughal Throne but left the true power in the hands of Najib, in return for an annual tribute of 20 lakh gold coins. This was resented by Alamgir II and his wazir, Imad ul Mulk. They requested the Marathas to save them from the attrocities of the Rohillas who were ravaging the Mughal empire.
In response to this, Peshwa Nanasaheb sent an army of 30,000 troops under the command of his younger brother, Raghunathrao (also known as Raghoba Dada). Raghoba was accompanied by Sakahram Bapu Bokil, Gangoba Taya and Samsher Bahadur and left for Indore in October, 1756. Malharrao and Tukoji Holkar joined the army at Indore on 14 February, 1757.
The lack of sufficient funds was a bigger problem than the Afghans and Rohillas. Raghoba dada ordered a fund raising expedition into the Rajput lands who had not paid tribute to the Peshwa. On 12 July, 1757, the Marathas signed an agreement with Madho Singh of Jaipur and gained 11 lakh rupees as a tribute.
Another army led by Sakharam Bapu, Gangadhar Tatya, Antaji Mankeshwar and Vitthal Shivdev had entered the Ganga Yamuna Doab to recover the territory lost to the Afghan - Rohilla coalition. This army advanced upto Agra in May, 1757 and made peace with Maharaja Surajmal of Bharatpur. Meerut was the main city garrisoned by the Rohillas but was swiftly captured by the Marathas.
On 27 June, 1757, Samsher Bahadur reached Rewari with his artillery divisions and even Sakharam Bapu had occupied Patpargunj. By the beginning of August, 1757, the Maratha forces camped near Delhi on the opposite banks of the Yamuna. Here, they were joined by Wazir Imad ul Mulk and Ahmed Khan Bangash. Najib had already set up his defense with 2500 soldiers under the command of Qutub Shah and Mulla Khan and commanded another 5000 himself with some artillery.
Raghoba dada sent two divisions to take over the city and both of them did an excellent job. The first division stormed through the Lal Darwaza and defeated Najib's garrison led by Bakhtawar Khan. The second divison attacked from the South East and forced Qutub Shah to flee inside the Red Fort. Najib expected to be protected by the walls of the Red Fort but he underestimated the determination of Raghoba dada who ordered a siege. Malharrao Holkar, Vitthal Shivdev and Bahadur Khan Baluch attacked the Northern Kashmir gate. Manaji Paygude was at the Kabul gate. In desperation, Najib asked for a truce but Raghoba Dada put some difficult terms which Najib was reluctant to accept. On 29 August, Raghoba attacked the Delhi gate and Imad attacked the Lahore gate. The lack of food in the fort led to mass desertings on the Rohilla side and Najib finally agreed to surrender. The peace was finally made operative on 6 September, 1757. Najib was forced to vacate Delhi and surrender his post of Mir Bakshi and was replaced by Ahmad Khan Bangash.
At the same time, Adina Beg, the Mughal Governor of Punjab requested Raghunathrao to march into Punjab to drive out the Afghans who had settled there after Abdali's invasion. On hearing about the Maratha mobilization, Abdus Samad Khan, an ally of Abdali, attacked Thaneshwar. Raghunathrao refused to be drawn into an open battle and sent Malharrao to ravage the area around Kunjpura. Abdus Khan was surprised by this and retreated to Sirhind fort on 12 January, 1758. Malharrao had extracted 5 lakh rupees from Kunjpura.
In February 1758, Raghunathrao entered Punjab with the main Maratha army. He allied with Adina Beg, Baba Ala Singh Jat of Patiala and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. The combined armies laid a siege to Sirhind fort where Abdus Khan was preparing for the Maratha attack. Sirhind fell to the allied Maratha - Sikh forces on 21 March.
The fall of Sirhind was a great blow to Afghan morale. Timur Shah Durrani, the son of Ahmed Shah Abdali, fled from Lahore with whatever he had. Mir Hazar Khan was defeated by the Marathas who were pursuing Timur Shah. On 20 April, 1758, Malharrao Holkar and Raghunathrao captured Lahore with almost negligible resistance from Afghans. At the same time Tukoji Holkar was advancing in the North. He captured Multan, Kashmir and Dera Ghazi Khan. On 28 April, 1758, the Marathas conquered the great fortress of Attock. The phrase "अटकेपार झेंडा रोवणे" (Planting the Maratha Flags beyond Attock) came into use after this. Narsoji Pandit was left as the head of it's garrison with 4000 troops. This was followed by the capture of Peshawar on 8 May, 1758 by Raghunathrao Peshwe, Malharrao and Tukoji Holkar. This was the greatest achievement of the Marathas till date. For the first time, the Maratha Bhagwa (Saffron flag) was flying high over the walls of Peshawar and Attock, around 2000 km away from the Peshwa's seat at Pune.
Adina Beg was appointed as the Governor of these captured provinces on the condition that he would pay an annual tribute of 75 lakhs to the Marathas. Seeing no signs of invasion by Abdali, Raghunathrao and Malharrao returned back to Pune and Indore respectively.
Though successful, the Marathas did not consolidate the conquest. The Governor, Adina Beg retired soon and then was replaced by many other generals who did not have the military skills of Raghoba dada or Malharrao Holkar. Moreover, they did not sign a treaty or forge an alliance with the Sikh Chieftains. Baba Ala Singh, though remained on friendly terms with the Marathas. The Rajputs had become a bit hostile towards the Marathas as well. Supplies and finances had also become a bit of problem for the Marathas. Nana Saheb was not efficient in managing the finances or the army. Sadashivrao Bhau tried to make the finances strong once again but his efforts were interrupted by the next invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali, which led to the Third Battle of Panipat.
Ahmed Shah Abdali
In 1756, Ahmed Shah Abdali invaded the Northern regions of India and captured Delhi with support from the Rohilla Chief, Najib ud Daulah. Abdali installed Alamgir II on the Mughal Throne but left the true power in the hands of Najib, in return for an annual tribute of 20 lakh gold coins. This was resented by Alamgir II and his wazir, Imad ul Mulk. They requested the Marathas to save them from the attrocities of the Rohillas who were ravaging the Mughal empire.
Peshwa Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb)
In response to this, Peshwa Nanasaheb sent an army of 30,000 troops under the command of his younger brother, Raghunathrao (also known as Raghoba Dada). Raghoba was accompanied by Sakahram Bapu Bokil, Gangoba Taya and Samsher Bahadur and left for Indore in October, 1756. Malharrao and Tukoji Holkar joined the army at Indore on 14 February, 1757.
Subedar Malharrao Holkar
Shrimant Raghunathrao Bhat
The lack of sufficient funds was a bigger problem than the Afghans and Rohillas. Raghoba dada ordered a fund raising expedition into the Rajput lands who had not paid tribute to the Peshwa. On 12 July, 1757, the Marathas signed an agreement with Madho Singh of Jaipur and gained 11 lakh rupees as a tribute.
Another army led by Sakharam Bapu, Gangadhar Tatya, Antaji Mankeshwar and Vitthal Shivdev had entered the Ganga Yamuna Doab to recover the territory lost to the Afghan - Rohilla coalition. This army advanced upto Agra in May, 1757 and made peace with Maharaja Surajmal of Bharatpur. Meerut was the main city garrisoned by the Rohillas but was swiftly captured by the Marathas.
On 27 June, 1757, Samsher Bahadur reached Rewari with his artillery divisions and even Sakharam Bapu had occupied Patpargunj. By the beginning of August, 1757, the Maratha forces camped near Delhi on the opposite banks of the Yamuna. Here, they were joined by Wazir Imad ul Mulk and Ahmed Khan Bangash. Najib had already set up his defense with 2500 soldiers under the command of Qutub Shah and Mulla Khan and commanded another 5000 himself with some artillery.
Delhi Gate
Lahore Gate, Red Fort
Kashmir Gate
Raghoba dada sent two divisions to take over the city and both of them did an excellent job. The first division stormed through the Lal Darwaza and defeated Najib's garrison led by Bakhtawar Khan. The second divison attacked from the South East and forced Qutub Shah to flee inside the Red Fort. Najib expected to be protected by the walls of the Red Fort but he underestimated the determination of Raghoba dada who ordered a siege. Malharrao Holkar, Vitthal Shivdev and Bahadur Khan Baluch attacked the Northern Kashmir gate. Manaji Paygude was at the Kabul gate. In desperation, Najib asked for a truce but Raghoba Dada put some difficult terms which Najib was reluctant to accept. On 29 August, Raghoba attacked the Delhi gate and Imad attacked the Lahore gate. The lack of food in the fort led to mass desertings on the Rohilla side and Najib finally agreed to surrender. The peace was finally made operative on 6 September, 1757. Najib was forced to vacate Delhi and surrender his post of Mir Bakshi and was replaced by Ahmad Khan Bangash.
Najib ud Daulah
Wazir Imad ul Mulk
At the same time, Adina Beg, the Mughal Governor of Punjab requested Raghunathrao to march into Punjab to drive out the Afghans who had settled there after Abdali's invasion. On hearing about the Maratha mobilization, Abdus Samad Khan, an ally of Abdali, attacked Thaneshwar. Raghunathrao refused to be drawn into an open battle and sent Malharrao to ravage the area around Kunjpura. Abdus Khan was surprised by this and retreated to Sirhind fort on 12 January, 1758. Malharrao had extracted 5 lakh rupees from Kunjpura.
In February 1758, Raghunathrao entered Punjab with the main Maratha army. He allied with Adina Beg, Baba Ala Singh Jat of Patiala and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. The combined armies laid a siege to Sirhind fort where Abdus Khan was preparing for the Maratha attack. Sirhind fell to the allied Maratha - Sikh forces on 21 March.
Adina Beg
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Adina Beg was appointed as the Governor of these captured provinces on the condition that he would pay an annual tribute of 75 lakhs to the Marathas. Seeing no signs of invasion by Abdali, Raghunathrao and Malharrao returned back to Pune and Indore respectively.
Attock Fort, Pakistan
Map of the Maratha Empire after the Northern Conquests
Though successful, the Marathas did not consolidate the conquest. The Governor, Adina Beg retired soon and then was replaced by many other generals who did not have the military skills of Raghoba dada or Malharrao Holkar. Moreover, they did not sign a treaty or forge an alliance with the Sikh Chieftains. Baba Ala Singh, though remained on friendly terms with the Marathas. The Rajputs had become a bit hostile towards the Marathas as well. Supplies and finances had also become a bit of problem for the Marathas. Nana Saheb was not efficient in managing the finances or the army. Sadashivrao Bhau tried to make the finances strong once again but his efforts were interrupted by the next invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali, which led to the Third Battle of Panipat.
Comments
Post a Comment