Chapter 1 Sarsubha Karnatak
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CHAPTER 1 SARSUBHA KARNATAK The history of Marathas in South India can be traced back as early as 17"^ century when Shahjiraje carried an expeditions into Karnatak in 1637 against the Nayakas of Ikkeri on behalf of Adilshahi rulers which was followed by another expedition in the next year. He brought under his control places like Kolar, Hoskote, Chikka Ballapur and Dodda Ballapur, Chikka Nayakan Halli, Kanak Giri etc. Shahjiraje practically founded a Maratha principality in Banglore. He took active part in Karnatak politics till his death in 1664. The Maratha incursions in Karnatak continued during the period of Shi\aji Maharaj. He attacked Hubli in 1664. Basrur in 1665; in 1675 he conquered Ankola. Gokama etc. Shivaji Maharaj collected the tribute from Rani Chennamaji during this period. In 1677 Shivaji Maharaj led an expedition into Karnatak. The aim of his expedition was political as well as economc. He conquered Jinji. Vellore, Arni, Kolar. Dodda Ballapur. Chikka Ballapur. Sira and left them in charge of Rango Narayan and Manaji More. Prior to his Southern campaign he had conquered some parts of north Karnatak like Ramdurg. Nargund and surrounding area. He created an independent administrative unit of the newly conquered territories called Prant Karnatak. Shivaji Maharaj appointed Harjiraje Mahadik as Subhedar of Karnatak. He appointed Ramchandra Pant Amatya as a overall in charge of Prant Karnatak. Sambhaji Maharaj led two expeditions in Karnatak: first in 1682 and second in 1686. He sent his brother in law. Harjiraje Mahadik to take charge of .linji and the responsibility of Karnatak was entrusted to him. but he died in 1689. During these periods the relation between Sambliaji Maharaj and Ekojiraje (ruler of Tanjore) were cordial and he supported Sambhaji Maharaj in his Southern campaigns. Shambhaji Maharaj had mainly two aims and objectives in Kamatak. First to protect the Maratha territories in Karnatak and most importantly to bring together various powers of south India against the Mughals. Bidnur, Mysore, Madura, Tanjore, Jinji, Ikkeri were the prime states in the South. Marathas attacked Dharmpuri. Arkot but it proved unsuccessful. He collected tribute from Chikkadevaraya of Mysore. He also conquered some forts and places from Madura state. In 1686 he attacked Shrirangapattan but was unsuccessful. Sambhaji Maharaj and Rajaram Maharaj continued the policy of their father in respect of chauth and never caused any harm to those who paid the tribute to them. Rajaram Maharaj left Panhala about the end of June 1689 and after many difficulties and taking shelter in Bednur for some time reached Vellore in October and finally he could reach Jinji. Mysore became an ally of Mughals during this period. The Mughals had laid siege to the fort of Jinji for almost seven years (1690-97). The Marathas successfully resisted the Mughal attack which was carried by Zulfiquar Khan for such a long period. During this period Raja of Tanjore helped Rajaram with men and money. Meanwhile the Marathas recaptured Vellore in January 1692 which was in possession of Mughals. In 1693 Trichinoploly was ceded to the Marathas by Nayak of Madura. Thus the second front which was opened by Marathas in south Karnatak proved successful. Jinji proved to be best shelter and place of safety for Marathas and their King Rajaram Maharaj for somtime. The disintegration of Mughal Empire after the death of Emperor Aurangzeb's death (1707) created a great confusion in south India. Nizam-uU-Mulk in the Deccan and Sadatullakhan in the Karnatak became almost independent. 10 The petty rulers in Karnatak who were called Polygars always busy in extending their boundaries and quarreling among themselves. In the presence of a powerful enemy they used to unite and pay tribute, sometimes independently or by unitedly. When the peril was over, they again continued fighting among themselves. The southern area of Karnatak under the Mughals was divided into two Subhas i.e. Hyderabad and Bijapur. There were number of second grade Mughal officers placed at different places in this region to help the Subhedar in conducting administration. In due course of the time these petty officers become dominant and started calling themselves as Nawabs. In the 18"' century the ruler of Mysore and Polygars of Bidnur. Chitradurg, Harpanhalli. Anagondee and the like were ruling over their own areas. The Nawabs of Arkot. Shire. Kadappa. Karnool and Savnur were also ruling in their own sphere. Many Maratha families had taken roots in Karnatak since the days of Shahjiraje and have settled there permanently. The Ghorpades were one among them. They had their jahgir at Mudhol. Gajendragad. Gutti (later on shifted to Sundur). The Baves also established themselves at Ramdurg and Nargund. The Patwardhans and Rastes were also other Maratha Sardars who acquired certain jahagirs in the North Karnatak in the latter half of the 18''' century. The Ghorpade of Ichalkaranji was in charge of Karnatak for some time. Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj was always anxious to establish Maratha Supremacy in the south. The Marathas were interested in Karnatak for various reasons. Firstly they wanted to liberate the Maratha region of Karnatak from the Mughals. Secondly they wanted to bring the neighbouring areas under their control and thirdly they wanted to crush the rebellious Polygars and the Nawabs. Karnatak was situated next to Maratha country was also fertile and prosperous. 11 By the treaty of 1719 between Mughals and Marathas all the territories held by the Marathas in the time of Shivaji Maharaj were restored to them which was called as Swarajya. According to another term of the treaty the Marathas were given the right to levy chauth and Sardeshmukhi from six subhas (provinces) of the Deccan. These six provinces of Deccan were as below : l)Khandesh 2) Berar 3) Aurangabad 4) Bidar 5) Vijapur 6) Hyderabad. The approximate collection of revenue of these six provinces was Rs. Seven crores.' The Marathas had to fight with the rulers of this region for collection of chauth and sardeshmukhi. The constant conflict was going on between the Marathas. the Mughals. the Mysoreans and the Europeans throughout the latter 18"^ century in South India. Bajirao 1 had launched a campaign cursorily in South in 1725-26 and exacted tribute from Mysore and some other rulers of South. Nanasaheb Peshwa and Karnatak In 1740 Chhatrapati Shahu entrusted the task of subjugating the Nawab of Karnatak to Raghuji Bhosle, because Nawab was harassing Raja of Tanjore (Who was relative of Shahu) constantly. He defeated Dost Ali the Nawab of Karnatak in the battle of Damalcherry in 1740. He captured Trichinopoly in 1741 and brought Chandasahib, the son-in-law of Nawab to Satara and kept him there as a prisoner. Raghuji Bhosle entrusted the responsibility of Trichinopoly to Murarrao Ghorpade of Gutti. 12 Nizam-ul-Mulk invaded Karnatak in 1743 and took possession of Trichinopoly by driving out Murarrao Ghorpade. Nanasaheb Peshwa sent Sadashivrao Bhau to settle the affairs there. After the treaty of Bhalki in 1752 with Salbat Jung (Nizam) Nanasaheb Peshwa was free to undertake the campaign in Karnatak. He led compaigns in Karnatak in 1753. (Shrirangapattan). in 1754 (Bagalkot), in 1754-55 (Bednur), in 1755-56 (Savnur) and in 1757 (Shrirangapattan). Nanasaheb Peshwa had three main objectives in the South : 1. To liberate the Maratha part of the Deccan from the Mughal rule. 2. To bring the outlying Deccan and Karnatak provinces under control. 3. To crush rebellious Polygars and Nawabs. From 1753 to 1760, Nanasaheb Peshwa launched number of campaigns in Karnatak to establish Maratha supremacy and to secure a regular flow of money by way of tribute. Dharwad was taken from Prithvisingh. the Mughal commandant of the fort in 1753.' The pattern of conquest of Karnatak was quite different which was followed in Malwa (as stated by Stewart Gordon) by the Marathas. In the initial stage they regulary collected the tributes form various chiefs of Karnatak including Raja of Mysore. The collection of tribute was carried out without much violence and bloodshed. Once the tribute was received the Marathas did not harass either the chiefs or people. In the second stage they started acquiring the territory of various Chiefs like Savnur. In the third stage they established well regulated tax collection system (Revenue system) and administrative system in the conquered territories. There was a 13 gradual expansion of tillage area, a continuous rise in the number of land holders, increase in the revenue collection, increase in the trade and commerce and it was achieved without coercion. There are number of documents in Peshwe Daftar (Pune Archives) to support the above conclusion (theme). Nizam was defeated in 1760 by the Marathas. They got four famous places Burhanpur with fort Asirgad, Daulatabad. Ahmadnagar and Vijapur. Vijapur was the part of Kamatak. Dr. B. Muddachari blamed the Maratha rulers who came after Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj for showing very little sympathy towards their own Kinsmen in the South. According to him Nanasaheb did not do anything to improve the position of Pralapsingh of ranjore when he v.as hard pressed by the Mysoreans and other southern powers. This policy of indifference had a disastrous effect on the Maratha principalities in the south.' The rise of Hyder Ali after 1761 checked the Maratha expansion in the south. In 1761 Hyder Ali and Basalat Jung (Nizam) captured Hoskote, Dodda Ballapur and Sira. Early in 1762 he occupied Chikka Ballapur, Penukonda. Madaksira. Raidurg and Harpanhalli and the like. His aggression in Karnatak deprived Peshwa Government of tribute amounting to about 50 lakhs of rupees'* Madhavrao I and Karnatak While the Marathas were paralysed by internal strife and Nizam"s invasion. Hyder Ali occupied Bidnur. Sonda. Ratehalli. Bankapur. Shirhatti and Dharwad in 1763.