Raghunathrao
Encyclopedia
Raghunathrao was Peshwa
of the Maratha Confederacy from 1773 to 1774. He was instrumental in the downfall of the Peshwa clan.
. His father was Peshwa Bajirao I & mother was Kashibai. Raghunathrao was born in Mahuli near Satara
on 1 August 1734. Much of his childhood was spent in Satara.
In his early years he fought with great success in the north. His first expedition during 1753–1755 was concluded by an advantageous treaty with Jat. In his second expedition he expanded the Maratha Empire to Attock
(now in Pakistan
) until 1760 . He is favorably remembered by Hindus for the fact that during that expedition he brought an end to Muslim rule at Hindu religious places such as Mathura, Vrindavan
, Gaya
, Kurukheshtra etc. Raghunathrao imprisoned Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur
and made Alamgir II
Emperor in his place.
When Ahmad Shah Durrani
(of present day Afganistan) approched Punjab
in 1760 and defeated Dattaji Shinde, who was killed in battle, Raghunathrao was supposed to go to north to handle the situation. Raghunathrao asked for large amount and an army, which was denied by Sadashivrao Bhau
who was Diwan
of Peshwa
, so he declined to go. Sadashivrao Bhau was thereupon made commander in chief of the Maratha Army, under whom the Battle of Panipat was fought.
After the defeat of Third Battle of Panipat
and his brother's death in 1761, Raghunathrao wanted the Peshwa throne for himself, but instead the throne was passed on to Madhavrao Peshwa
, Son of Nanasaheb.
to the young Peshwa, but tried to interfere with the administration. He soon fell out of favour with the Peshwa, and even tried to conspire against him by joining the Nizam
of Hyderabad
against the Peshwa. The alliance was defeated at Ghodegaon, and Raghunathrao was placed under house arrest
. After Madhavrao's death in 1772, Raghunathrao was released from house arrest. He then became the regent of Madhavrao's younger brother Narayanrao
. Together with his wife Anandibai
, he had his nephew Narayanrao murdered. Anandibai herself was brave, a capable administrator, and a very sharp and intelligent person.
Legend has it that when the assassins attacked the young Peshwa, he ran to Raghoba crying "Kaakaa malaa waachwaa" (Uncle, save me). His cry fell on deaf ears and Raghoba stood by as his nephew was killed. After Narayanrao's murder, Raghoba became Peshwa, but he was shortly overthrown by Nana Phadnis and 11 other administrators in what is called "The Baarbhaai Conspiracy" (Conspiracy by the Twelve).
At Kasegaon near Pandharpur
the first battle between the Baarbhai and Raghobadada took place in 1774. He then went to Khambayat with hope of getting help from the British, who did not help but transported him to Surat
from their ship. At Surat
a treaty was signed between Raghunathrao and the British East India Company
. According to the treaty it was decided that Thane
, Vasai and Sashti
were to be handed over to the British, and in return the Company would assist Ragunathrao to become the Peshwa.
However, the Company was not yet ready for war, so that the treaty between the Baarbhai and the Company was signed at Purandar
. After the treaty, the Company openly distanced itself from from Raghunathrao and asked him to live as their pensioner. But due to the fear of the Baarbhai, Raghunathrao was unhappy to leave Surat
and in fact the Company did not insist on it, so he kept on living there.
In 1776, Raghunathrao unsuccessfully tried to get help from the Portuguese
. After that he came to Mumbai
. During that period Company gave him 15000 Rs. At the Battle of Talegaon, the East India Company was defeated. A treaty was signed at Vadgaon
according to which Raghunathrao's claim on the position of Peshwa was rescinded.
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
of the Maratha Confederacy from 1773 to 1774. He was instrumental in the downfall of the Peshwa clan.
Early life
Raghunathrao, also known as "Raghoba" and "Ragho Bharari," was the younger brother of Nanasaheb PeshwaNanasaheb Peshwa
Nanasaheb Peshwa , also known as Balaji Bajirao, was the son of Bajirao from his marriage with Kashibai and one of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. He contributed heavily to the development of the city of Pune, India. He was appointed as Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahu himself...
. His father was Peshwa Bajirao I & mother was Kashibai. Raghunathrao was born in Mahuli near Satara
Satara
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
on 1 August 1734. Much of his childhood was spent in Satara.
In his early years he fought with great success in the north. His first expedition during 1753–1755 was concluded by an advantageous treaty with Jat. In his second expedition he expanded the Maratha Empire to Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
(now in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
) until 1760 . He is favorably remembered by Hindus for the fact that during that expedition he brought an end to Muslim rule at Hindu religious places such as Mathura, Vrindavan
Vrindavan
Vrindavan also known as Vraj is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India...
, Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
, Kurukheshtra etc. Raghunathrao imprisoned Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur
Ahmad Shah Bahadur
Ahmad Shah Bahadur was born to Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. He succeeded his father to the throne as the 15th Mughal Emperor in 1748 at the age of 22. His mother was Udhambai, . When Ahmed Shah came to power the rule of the Mughal Empire was collapsing...
and made Alamgir II
Alamgir II
Aziz-ud-din Alamgir II was the Mughal Emperor of India from 3 June 1754 to 29 November 1759. He was the son of Jahandar Shah....
Emperor in his place.
When Ahmad Shah Durrani
Ahmad Shah Durrani
Ahmad Shah Durrani , also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī and born as Ahmad Khān, was the founder of the Durrani Empire in 1747 and is regarded by many to be the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan.Ahmad Khan enlisted as a young soldier in the military of the Afsharid kingdom and quickly rose...
(of present day Afganistan) approched Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
in 1760 and defeated Dattaji Shinde, who was killed in battle, Raghunathrao was supposed to go to north to handle the situation. Raghunathrao asked for large amount and an army, which was denied by Sadashivrao Bhau
Sadashivrao Bhau
Sadashivrao Bhau was son of Chimaji Appa and Rakhmabai and nephew of Peshwa Baji Rao I and served as the commander of the Maratha army.-Birth and early years:...
who was Diwan
Diwan
Dewan, Diwan or Divan may refer to:*The Arabic/Persian word Dewan or Divan , with a range of meanings:**"book"*** The Diwan or Girgam, a record of the Kanem Empire...
of Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
, so he declined to go. Sadashivrao Bhau was thereupon made commander in chief of the Maratha Army, under whom the Battle of Panipat was fought.
After the defeat of Third Battle of Panipat
Third battle of Panipat
The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, at Panipat , about 60 miles north of Delhi between a northern expeditionary force of the Maratha Confederacy and a coalition of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali with 2 Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and the...
and his brother's death in 1761, Raghunathrao wanted the Peshwa throne for himself, but instead the throne was passed on to Madhavrao Peshwa
Madhavrao Peshwa
Thorle Madhavrao Peshwa was fourth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire.-Early life and ascendancy to Peshwa:...
, Son of Nanasaheb.
Regency
He was appointed as a regentRegent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
to the young Peshwa, but tried to interfere with the administration. He soon fell out of favour with the Peshwa, and even tried to conspire against him by joining the Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
of Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
against the Peshwa. The alliance was defeated at Ghodegaon, and Raghunathrao was placed under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
. After Madhavrao's death in 1772, Raghunathrao was released from house arrest. He then became the regent of Madhavrao's younger brother Narayanrao
Narayanrao Peshwa
Narayanrao Peshwa was fifth Peshwa or ruler of the Maratha Empire from November 1772 till his death by murder in August 1773.-Early life and ascendancy to Peshwa:...
. Together with his wife Anandibai
Anandibai
Anandibai is infamous in Maratha history for successfully plotting the death of her nephew - the 13 year old king Narayanrao. Her husband Raghunathrao was acting regent and next in line for the throne, at the time of Narayanrao's death....
, he had his nephew Narayanrao murdered. Anandibai herself was brave, a capable administrator, and a very sharp and intelligent person.
Legend has it that when the assassins attacked the young Peshwa, he ran to Raghoba crying "Kaakaa malaa waachwaa" (Uncle, save me). His cry fell on deaf ears and Raghoba stood by as his nephew was killed. After Narayanrao's murder, Raghoba became Peshwa, but he was shortly overthrown by Nana Phadnis and 11 other administrators in what is called "The Baarbhaai Conspiracy" (Conspiracy by the Twelve).
At Kasegaon near Pandharpur
Pandharpur
Pandharpur is an important pilgrimage city on the Bhimā river in Solāpur district, Maharashtra, India. The Vithoba temple attracts about half a million Hindu pilgrims during the major yātrā in the month of Ashadh ....
the first battle between the Baarbhai and Raghobadada took place in 1774. He then went to Khambayat with hope of getting help from the British, who did not help but transported him to Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
from their ship. At Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
a treaty was signed between Raghunathrao and the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. According to the treaty it was decided that Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
, Vasai and Sashti
Sashti
Sashti is a Hindu goddess of fertility and child birth, worshiped all over India and other parts of the world. She is depicted with a child on her lap and a cat as her Vahana or carrier....
were to be handed over to the British, and in return the Company would assist Ragunathrao to become the Peshwa.
However, the Company was not yet ready for war, so that the treaty between the Baarbhai and the Company was signed at Purandar
Purandar
Purandar may refer to:* Purandar tehsil - for a tehsil in Pune, Maharashtra* Purandar fort - for a fort in Pune, Maharashtra...
. After the treaty, the Company openly distanced itself from from Raghunathrao and asked him to live as their pensioner. But due to the fear of the Baarbhai, Raghunathrao was unhappy to leave Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
and in fact the Company did not insist on it, so he kept on living there.
In 1776, Raghunathrao unsuccessfully tried to get help from the Portuguese
Portuguese India
The Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
. After that he came to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. During that period Company gave him 15000 Rs. At the Battle of Talegaon, the East India Company was defeated. A treaty was signed at Vadgaon
Vadgaon
Vadgaon or Vadgaon Maval is a census town in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Demographics:...
according to which Raghunathrao's claim on the position of Peshwa was rescinded.