Haidar Alí/Chapter 3

by Lewin Bentham Bowring

CHAPTER III

The Peshwá invades Mysore

While the Mysore army under Nanjráj was still engaged in the hostilities above narrated, the new Nizám, Salábat Jang^[1], accompanied by M. de Bussy, whose exploits in the Deccan had made him famous, marched on Seringapatam, and demanded a large sum as arrears of tribute, only a third of which, or eighteen lacs, could be raised on the spot. Even this sum was collected with great difficulty, the minister Devaráj resorting to every expedient to avoid payment. But, alarmed on hearing that the Maráthás were preparing also to invade Mysore, he resorted to forcible measures, such as plundering the temples and handing over the Crown jewels, to satisfy the Nizám's demands. The rumour that the Maráthás were approaching proved to be true. In March, 1757, the Peshwá^[2] Bálájí Bájí Ráo suddenly appeared before the capital, exacting the payment of a heavy contribution, of which five lacs of rupees were paid in cash, while certain districts were surrendered in pledge for an additional sum of twenty-seven lacs.

Haidar Alí, who had been summoned to Mysore, owing to disputes between Devaraj and his brother Nanjráj, found the troops in a state of mutiny owing to arrears of pay. By his address, and a careful scrutiny of the accounts, he was enabled to pay all legitimate claims, and to disband more than 4,000 men, while he seized the ringleaders of the revolt and plundered them. After the Maráthá troops had withdrawn into their own territory, Haidar counselled evading the payment due to Poona from the assigned districts, but the Peshwá, resenting this breach of the obligations entered into by Mysore, despatched in 1759 a force under Gopál Hari to annex this domain. Having accomplished this task, the Maratha leader invested Bangalore, and seized Chennapatam, between that place and Seringapatam. But Haidar, who had been placed in command of the Mysore army, deputed a favourite officer named Lutf Alí Bég to surprise Chennapatam, a feat which he successfully accomplished, thus compelling Gopál Hari to relinquish the blockade of Bangalore. For some months the rival forces confronted one another, but at length the Maráthá chief, foiled by the incessant activity and energy of his adversary, agreed to withdraw his troops, and to relinquish the pledged districts, on condition that thirty-two lacs should be paid by Mysore. Half of this sum was speedily raised by a forced contribution, while the Maráthá bankers accepted Haidar's personal security for the remainder, the realization of the revenues of the pledged territory meanwhile being confided to him. On the departure of the Maráthás, Haidar returned to Seringapatam, and received from the grateful Rájá the title of Fatah Haidar Bahádur, in recognition of his services on this occasion. This style he invariably used afterwards on all grants made by him. Previously he had been known simply as Haidar Náyak.

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FAMILY TREE OF THE PESHWÁS.

(1) Báláji Viswanáth of Srivardhan in Chául, 1714-20.

(2) Bálájí Bájí Ráo, 1740-61.

Chimnáji.

(3) Bálájí Bájí Ráo, 1740-61.

(6) Raghunáth Ráo, or Raghubá, 1773-82.

Viswás Ráo, killed in 1761 at Pánipat.

(4) Madhu Ráo, 1761-62, s. p.

(5) Náráyyan Ráo, 1772-73, murdered.

(8) Báji Ráo Raghunáth, 1795-1818, deposed

Madhu Ráo Náráyan, 1782-95.

Dhúndhú Panth. Náná Sáhib (adopted), rebelled 1857

1. His nephew Muzaffar Jang was deposed in 1751 by a conspiracy, headed by the Nawábs of Karnúl and Sávanúr, when Salábat Jang was, owing to the influence of M. de Bussy, put on the throne.
2. The Peshwás still professed to be merely the ministers of the Satára Rájás, having on their seals a fictitious device testifying to their nominal subservience, although they were the 'de facto' rulers. For instance, Bálájí's seal bore the following inscription: – Srí Rájá Sáhú Narapati Rájá Sáhú, King of men, Harsha Nidhán i.e. Treasury of delight; Bálájí Bájí Ráo Bálájí Bájí Ráo, Mukhya Pradhán. Chief Minister.