BARODA.
i6o
remarkable it is
for lightness
and
strength, as well as for the taste with which
coloured.
—
The name by which the rulers of the Baroda State are known is that of Gaekwar the family title is Sena Khas Khel
History generally
.
Shamsher Bahadur, and the title of Farzand-i-Khas, Daulat-i-Englishia, was conferred on the chief at the Delhi Darbar on ist January 1877. The Gaekwar of Baroda is entitled to a salute of 2 1 guns. The family first rose out of obscurity in 1720-21, when, at the battle of Balapur, Damaji Gaekwar so distinguished himself that Khandi Rao Dhabarai, who held the rank of Senapatf or commander-in-chief of the Maratha army, strongly recommended him to Raja Shahu of Satara, and procured his appointment as second in command, with the title of Shamsher Bahadur. Damaji dying soon after, was succeeded in this office by his nephew Pilaji Rao Gaekwar, who continued to be the lieutenant of Trimbak Rao Dhabarai, the son and successor of the Senapat: and the two forthwith commenced their career of marauding in the fertile plains of Guzerat. But in 1729 the Peshwa Baji Rao obtained from Sarbuland Khan, the Mughal governor of Guzerat, a cession of Jiauih and other dues of that Province, and among other conditions of the grant, engaged to prevent Maratha subjects from taking part with disaffected zaminddrs, or other disturbers of the peace. This clause was specially aimed at Pilaji Gdekwar, who, as deputy of the Senapati, and himself in possession of the stronghold of Songhar (1719), commanding the principal route from the Deccan into Guzerat, exercised a commanding influence over the Bhils and Kofi's of the country, and had for some years levied contributions in his annual incursions. Accordingly, Trimbak Rao Dhabarai and Pilaji banded together the disaffected Maratha chiefs to oppose the Peshwa, but in a battle fought near Baroda, on the ist of April 1731, the confederates were defeated and Trimbak Rao Dhabarai was killed. His infant son, Jaswant Rao, was, however, appointed to the office of Senapati, while Pilaji Gaekwar was confirmed in his former rank of lieutenant or Mutalik, with the additional title of Sena Khas Khel. It was further agreed that Jaswant Rao should have the entire management in Guzerat, paying half the contributions to the Peshwa, and accounting for all sums levied from countries not mentioned in the deed of cession given by Sarbuland Khan to the Peshwd. This deed, however, had been in the meantime disallowed by the Emperor of Delhi. Sarbuland Khan was removed from office, and superseded by Abhi Singh, Raja of Jodhpur (Jodhpore). On this Pilaji declared open war against the Imperial officers, defeated them in the field, and occupied many of the principal towns. Abhi Singh, finding that the personal qualities of Pilaji made him specially
formidable, procured his assassination under the pretext of a conference, in 1732.
