Maratha Conquest of Gwalior and Gohad
| Conquest of Gwalior and Gohad | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Maratha Resurrection | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Maratha Confederacy | Kingdom of Gohad | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Mahadaji Scindia Rane Khan Ambaji Ingale | Rana Chatrajit (POW) | ||||||||
The Maratha conquest of Gwalior and Gohad[1] is the military conflict between Maratha Confederacy and Kingdom of Gohad. Marathas led by Mahadaji Shinde besieges the fort of Gwalior which falls, after 5 months Gohad also falls to Marathas the Jat Raja is captured while his queens and other ladies commit Jauhar in the fort.[2][3]
Siege of Gwalior
[edit]In 1783, Gwalior Fort, an impenetrable fortress, was under the control of Chatrajit, the Rana of Gohad; hence Mahadaji Shinde was able to build upon an initial plan for the capture of the fort. Moving increasingly closer to Gwalior, he fortified his position with a division at Bawanburji and took over the township from the rulers of Gohad. On February 18, 1783, he laid siege to Gwalior Fort; this would last for a period of almost 5 months. With the siege going on for some years, Mahadji had captured it from Rana Chatrajit on July 21, 1783, and thereafter put it into the hands of Khanderao Haribhalerao to administer.[1]
Siege of Gohad
[edit]Gohad was now in the spotlight of Mahadaji Scindia after securing victory in Gwalior. To counter the advances of Mahadaji, the Rana of Gohad applied to the British for help. But while he is doing that, the Anglo-Maratha Wars has just come to an end, and these currents have filed their opposition in the minds of the British against engaging in further warfare with the Marathas. Chhatra Jit, the ruler of Gohad, had been besieged by Mahadaji Scindia, when he had the supply lines of the fortress cut off from the outside world. On February 23, 1784, he succeeded in capturing the Gohad fort. Chhatra Jit fought and fled but was apprehended by Mahadaji Scindia and imprisoned in Gwalior.[1]
Aftermath
[edit]English people looked for Mahadaji's intervention on behalf of the Rana of Gohad, but with limited success. Seeing his defeat as unavoidable, Maharani performed Jauhar on 27 February 1783, leading to Maratha control of the fort. The place is still known as Jauhar Kund within Gwalior Fort.[4]
He further consolidated his dominance by swiftly conquering Gwalior and Gohad. Once he had acquired these territories, he then turned his attention to political affairs in Delhi.[1]
Reference
[edit]- ^ a b c d Rathod, N. G. (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. Sarup & Sons. pp. 30–33. ISBN 978-81-85431-52-9.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India. Anmol Publications. 1996. p. 81. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.
- ^ Chaurasia, R. S. (2004). History of the Marathas. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 176. ISBN 978-81-269-0394-8.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India. Anmol Publications. 1996. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.