Parasoji was succeeded by his son
Kanhoji. Chatrapati Sahu granted Kanhoji is hereditary title and also
some land at Khed for the maintenance of his father's memorial - Darva
was taken by Kanhoji and he made Bham headquarters. In the struggle
between the Sayyad brothers and Nizam-ul-mulk for the control of the
Delhi affairs, the former received the support of Sahu. Sahu sent
Bajirav Pesva and Kanhoji Bhosle against the Nizam. In the battle of
Balapur fought of 10th August 1720, the Nizam came out victorious.
Many Marathas lost their lives. In the battle of Sarkar-Kheda, 1724,
Kanhoji Bhosle offered to help Mubarji Khan against the Nizam, but
Mubarji impudently refused it. Kanhoji was a religious minded othodox
Maratha nobleman. It is said that he accepted food prepared by
Brahmans alone. The religious bent of his mind was probably due to his
having no son. He performed sacrifices, religious rites and observed
fasts so that he should be blessed by God with a son. Kanhoji soon got
a son whom he named Rupaji.
Kanhoji it seems was hot tempered. He
could not carry on well either with the Chatrapati or the pesva. When
called by the Chatrapati to explain the causes of his failure to pay
the dues int o the3 trasury, Kanhoji could neither pay the dues nor
explain the accounts. The fact seems to be that he was not prepared to
brook control with Sahu. As the relations worsened, Kanhoji on 23rd
August 1725, decamped from Satara and hastened to the Nizam for
asylum. The Nizam, however, did not back Kanhji as Sahu reminded him
that such an act was against the treaty entered into between them,
when all attempt at rapprochement failed, saju set Raghuji Bhosle
against Kanhoji. Raghuji had been asking Kanhoji, his uncle, for his
share in the ancestral Jagir. This had naturally strained the
relations between the nephew and the uncle. Chatrapati Sahu in setting
the nephew against the uncle exploited the family feud to his own
advantage.
After making the necessary preparation
Raghuji marched in 1728 from Satara against his uncle. Sahu granted
him the Mokasa of Devur near Wai. For this grant the Bhosle of Nagpur
were also styled as the Rajas of Devur. Raghuji received the robes to
Senasaheb Subha, sanads for Berar and Gondavana, and the right to
extend the levy of Cauthai to Chattisgad. Patna, Allahabad and
Makasudabad (Bengal).
Raghuji entered Berar via Aurangabad.
Near Jalana Samser Bahaddar Atole objected to Raghuji's taking the
army through his territory as the old route passed through Nanded and
Asti. Raghuji avoided an encounter with Atole and encamped at Balapur
after crossing the Lakhanvada ghats. From Balapur Raghuji sent his
armed men all over the Berar and collected tributes. Sujayat Khan
Pathan of Akola serving under the Navabs of Elicpur was easily
defeated by Raghuji and hi sterritory subjugated. Thus, after
establishing his rule over a greater part of Berar, Raghuji proceeded
towards Bham, the headquarters of his uncle, in 1730A.D. the small
fortress at Bham was besieged by Raghuji's Army. He was joined by his
other uncle Ranoji. Finding himself in a difficult situation Kanhoji
escaped from Bham and ran for safety towards Mahur. He was hotly
chased by Raghuji and Ranoji and overtaken near mandar (vani). In the
skirmish that took place. Kanhoji was defeated and taken a prisoner.
Kanhoji, the second Senasaheb Subha, spent the remaining part of his
life as a prisoner at Satara. At one time Kanhoji was an enterprising
officer of Sahu. He made some conquests in Gondavana and led an
incursion into Katak, laying the foundation of Maratha expansion
eastward. His proposals that he should be allowed to maintain 200
horse, and Akola and Balapur in Paya Ghat should be restored to him,
were not accepted. All was lost , once he lost the favour of Sahu. The
end of Kanhoji's new opportunities in Berar, Nagpur and the region
beyond to the east.