The Maratha Period
Janoji Bhosle & Madhavrao Pesva
In the Maratha-Nizam struggle which ended in the Battle of Raksasabhuvan, Janoji because of his changing policy had displeased both the Nizam and the Pesva. He had given up the wise policy of his father of supporting the Pesva as the strong man. His policy was devoid of any sound principle. It was guided by the idea of extending one's own territory at the cost of others, including that of the other Maratha potentates. This was rather the common malady form which the entire Maratha power was suffering. Madhavrav was determined to correct this defect. With great difficulty he had brought Janoji into his camp in the life and death struggle with the Nizam. The sack of Poona in which Janoji carried fire and sword was an act which the Pesva was not prepared to foreget. In the family dispute between Madhavrav and Raghunathrav Janoji always espoused the cause of the latter. Rahunathrav in his own way gave easy terms to Janoji looking upon him as his supporter in his dispute with Madhavrav.
Madhavrav was waiting for an opportunity to punish Janoji. Berar was subject to the dual administration of the Bhosles and the Nizam. This naturally created friction between the two on several occasions. In 1765 Moro Dhondaji an officer of the Nizam in Berar was attacked by Janoji's men. The Nizam' fiasco in the battle of Raksasabhuvan was the result of Janoji for his breach of trust. He therefore appealed to the Pesva for help when his officer was attacked. The Pesva at once decided to help the Nizam. On 17th October 1765. Madhavrav proceeded from poona and was joined by the Nizam's divan Rukan-ud-Daula camped at Edalabad in December 1765. Raghunathrav also came with his force to join his nephew. The Nizam started from Hyderabad and camped at Karanja. His army was well equipped with artillery. From Edalabad the Pesva's forces went to Balapur and started looting the territory of the Bhosle after dividing themselves into suitable batches. Sums of Rs. 1,75,000 and Rs. 1,70,000 were exacted from Balapur and Akola respectively as tributes. Janoji and Mudhoji took shelter in the fot of Amner along with their families, Later, they shifted to the stronger fort of Chanda. Janoji finding the combined forces too strong for him to overcome sued for peace through the Pesva's envoy Vyankat Moresvar. The Pesva too had no stomach for the fight. He was satisfied with the pounishment he had meted out to the disobedient Janoji. The terms of the treaty were finalised at Kholapur, near Daryapur in 1766. It was decided that the Bhosle should retain territory worth Rs 8 lacs only. Out of the total territory of Rs. 32 lacs he had received from the Pesva, in the Battle of Raksasabhuvan. Out of the remaining 24lacs, the Pesva was to giive the Nizam territory worth 15th lacs and was to retain for himself the rest. Many differences between the Nizam and Janoji were settled on this occasion. Following rapprochement Janoji sent his men to help Raghunathrav in his north Indian Campaign.
When the negotiations between Madhavrav and Janoji were in progress the former's agent conveyed him Janoji's contention. Its gist is indicative of the general state of affairs in the maratha Confederacy. Janoji was not slow to understand that the dispute between him and the Pesva would only benefit the Nizam. But desire for power rendered any satisfactory solution difficult. The letter written to the Pesva by his agent conveying Janoji's mind runs as follows: "The Srimant being angry with us (Janoji)has invaded Berar. I am not guilty of burning Poona.When the Nizam indulged in this act I did not support him. I, however, admit that I did not help in the campaign against Haidar Nayak. It is after all human to err. But the punishment meted out to me by depriving me of territory worth Rs. 30 lacs is too heavy. That has now been offered to the Nizam. Should the serpent be fed with milk? If I am ordered to attack the Nizam, I wourld destroy him in no time…. I shall proceed by rapid marches to meet your honour. I should not be let down." Janoji gave expression to his feelings in these words. But it seems that he did not really repent for what had happened. For, within a couple of years after the treaty of Daryapur he once again sided with Raghunathrav in his dispute with Madhavrav and drew the latter's wrath upon himself.
Madhavrav attacks Janoji and humbles him.-In the quarrel between Madhavrav and Raghunathrav in 1768. Janoji decided to support the latter. However, Rahunathrav was defeated and arrested before Janoji's army could join him. Madhavrav was determined to teach Janoji a lesson for violating the treaty of Dearyapur in which he had agreed to support his cause. Janoji was apprehensive of a fresh attack by the Pesva. He, therefore, sent his envoy Cimanaji Rakhamangad Citanis to the Pesva for a talk. The Pesva refused to listen to the envoy and asked Janoji \to send Devajipant to Poona. As he considered Devajipant to be the Mischief-maker in the Pesva-Bhosle altercation. Madavrav arrested Devajipant and marched on Berar. The Pesva was accompanied by his generals Gopalrav Patvardhan and Ramachandra Ganes Kanade. The Nizam sent a force of eight thousand strong under Rukna-ud-daula and Ramchandra Jadhav. The Pesva with the forces of his ally occupied Bhosle's territory to the west of the Wardha river. The relatives of Janoji had taken shelter into the fortof Gavigad. Jewellery too was removed to this place. Janoji with his forces encamped at Tivasa t o the west of Wardh River, 7-12-1768.
The Pesva did not chase Janoji. He took the fort of Amner (20-1-1769) and straightway proceeded to Nagpur. Nagpur was looted and burnt. The burning of Poona by Janoji was fully avenged. The fort of Bhandara was besieged and reduced by Ramachandra Ganes.
The fort of Chandrapur of Chanda the strong-hold of the Bhosles was the next target of attack. The fort was besieged by the Pesva's army. Janoji who was outside moved form place to place carrying on a running warfare with the Pesva's army. In order to relieve the pressure on the fort of Chanda Janoji spread rumours that he was marching towards Poona to release Raghunathrav form the custody. At the same time Devajipant who was in the custody of Madhavrav managed to receive secret letters from Janoji stating that when the Pesva was engaged with the siege of Chanda. Janoji should attack Poona and set Raghunathrav free. The letters were intended to be seized by Pesva's intelligence department. This ruse had its effect. The Pesva's apprehension of Janoji's attack onf Poona was strengthened. When these rumours gained currency, Poona was in the grip of conternation as the memory of Janoji's first invasion was yet fresh. The Pesva at once decided to raise the siege of chanda and sent his men against Janoji. He sent a letter through Rukna-ud-daula to Janoji on 3rd March 1769, expressing his desire for peace. Janoji who was eager to end the war sent his terms ad the treaty was finalised on 23-3-1769 near Kanakpur. Devajipant was the principle figure on behalf of the Bhosle in bringing about this treaty.
In the treaty of Kanakpur it was decided that-
Madhavrav and Janoji met at Mehekar cermonially. Parties and presents were exchanged. The Nizam's divan Rukna-ud-daula was also present at Mehekar.
A careful analysis of these terms shows that Madhavrav's aim was to bring central control in the Maratha confederacy, which was so necessary for its growth and survival. From the days of Bajirav I, the Pesvas were struggling hard to assert their authority over the Bhosles of Nagpur in their capacity as prime ministers. There was no clear constitutional ruling on this point except the prevailing practice. The Bhosles in their own way considered themselves as the equals of the Pesvas. All accepted the overlordship of the Chatrapati. But after the death of Sahu his successors proved to be nonentities. Under the circumstance the Pesvas tried to assert their authority over with a good degree of success up to madhavrav.
During Janoji's Sena-Saheb -Subhaship Purusottam Divakar alias Devajipant Corghade of Narkhed rose into prominence. He secured for janoji huge sums of money required for war. In his dealings with Madhavrav Pesva Divakarpant was his chief adviser. Madhavrav considered Devajipant as the Machiavelli at the Nagpur Court. He was a full wise man out of the three and a half wise men of the day. For some time toward s the end of Janoji's career Divakarpant lost his master's confidence and fell on evil days. But he was always looked upon as the inevitable man on critical occasions because of his keen grasp of events. Very few original papers are available about this diplomat of Nagpur. He died in 1781. Among other persons of note of Janoji's times may be mentioned Bhavanipnt Munsi. Bhavani Kalo and ganes Sambhaji. Bhavanipant Munsi became Janoji's counsellor when Devajipant fell from his favour. Bhavani Kalo rose to the position of the general. For sometime he was the subhedar of Katak. He constructed the temple of Balaji at Vasim and installed the image. The last, Ganes Sambhaji too acted as the Subhedar of Katak.
Janoji Bhosle had no son. He had decided to adopt Raghuji, the eldest son of his brother, Mudhoji. After the treaty of Kanakpur he was on good terms with Madhavrav Pesva. Janoji travelled to Thevur near Poona where Madhavrav was on his death-bed and secured his consent to Raghuji's adoption. From Thevur he went to the holy places, Pandharpur and Tulajapur. He died at Yeral (Naldurg) on his homeward journey on 16th may 1772, owing to severe stomach-ache. Mudhoji created a monument in honour of Janoji and secured some land from the Pesva for its maintenance.