BARODA.
i6i
was succeeded by his son Damaji', during whose long and was wrested from the Mughals. Jaswant Rao, the Senapati, when he came of age, proved incompetent for his post, and the Dhabarai family now gave place to the G^ekwdrs. Possession of Baroda was obtained by Pilaji
active career of nearly forty years, the whole of Guzerat
Mahaji Gdekw^r, brother of Pilaji, in 1732, and the city has ever since been held by the Gdekwdrs as the capital of their dominions. Damaji Gaekwar supported Tard Bai in her effort to free her grandson, the
Raja of Satara, from the thraldom of the Peshwd Balaji Baji Rao ; but he was treacherously seized by the Peshwd, and was not released till he consented to pay 15 /akks of rupees on account of arrears of tribute in Guzerat,
and
and
also executed a
future conquests.
bond
to share equally all his possessions
In the following year, the Peshwa obtained a
Damaji Gaekwdr’s conquests in Kathiawar, and the Gaekwar agreed to assist the Peshwa with troops when necessary. Forthwith the armies of Domaji Gaekwar and of the Peshwa, under Raghuba, proceeded to the joint conquest of Guzerat. By 1755, the Mughal Government in Ahmadabad was entirely subverted. The revenue of Ahmadabad was divided between Damaji and the Peshwa ; but, with partition of
the exception of one gateway, the city was held
by the troops of the
latter.
In the historic battle of Panipat, fought on the 7th of January 1761, Damdji commanded his own contingent, and acquitted himself with credit. His horsemen supported the advance of the infantry of the Mar^tha army, under the command of Ibrahim Khan Gardi, which defeated the opposite wing of the Afghans and Damaji was one of the
few chiefs of the highest rank
from that
fatal field.
who
returned in safety to their
The remaining
years of his
enlarging and consolidating his territories. of
Jawan Mard Khan Babi of nearly
northern Guzerat, leaving
Sami.
He
taries,
made
it
all
He
life
homes
were spent in
dispossessed the family
the Districts
it
had retained
in
only the original jdgtr of Rddhanpur and
reduced the R^htor princes of Edar to the status of triburepeated progresses into Kathiawar, where he
made some
solid acquisitions besides exacting black-mail, and, in fine, established first class His connection with Raghuba, the Peshwa’s general, was unfortunate. He supported him in his rebellion against Madhu Rao, and furnished him with troops under his own son, Govind Rao. But in this war he was defeated, and Govind Rao himself was taken prisoner at Dhodap, and he was compelled to submit to the imposition of a tribute of Rs. 525,000, and to render annual service with 3000 horse during peace and 4000 during war. He also agreed to pay Rs. 254,000 for certain Districts which the Peshwa promised to restore to him, making his tribute in
himself as a sovereign power of the
all
Rs. 779,000. VOL. II.
L
