User:Maniacal ! Paradoxical/sandbox
Maratha invasion of Ahemdabad also known as Siege of Ahmedabad was fought between Marathas under Umabai Dabhade and Mughal governor of Gujarat and the raja of Marwar Abhai Singh. In order to take revenge of the treacherous murder of Pilaji Rao Gaekwad, Umabai along with Damaji Rao Gaekwad and Kanthaji Kadam Bande invaded Ahemdabad and forced Abhai Singh to sign treaty and pay tribute of the entire Subah.
| Maratha invasion of Ahemdabad | |||||||
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| Part of Decline of the Mughal Empire | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Maratha Confederacy | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Umabai Dabhade Damaji Rao Gaekwad Kanthaji Kadam Bande |
 Abhai Singh  Bakht Singh Jivaraj Bhandari † Ratan Singh (WIA) Abhai Kam | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
Total 70,000 engaged |
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Background
[edit]In early 1732, Abhaisingh, having failed to apprehend Pilaji Gaekwad by pursuit, resorted to trickery. He sent Ida Lakhdir, Pancholi Ramanand, and Bhandari Ajabsingh to Dakor pretending to negotiate the payment of tributes. Their actual intent was to kill Pilaji, promising the guarantee of assistance by 2,000 Rathor cavalry after the deed was committed. Ida Lakhdir, belonging to a band reputed for contract murders, won the trust of Pilaji through frequent interviews.
On the night of 23 March 1732, during a private audience, Ida stabbed Pilaji and was immediately killed. Soon after, Rajput forces attacked, killing several of Pilaji’s men and around 500 Marathas. The survivors retreated to Baroda, carrying Pilaji’s body. He was cremated in the village of Savli, where a small shrine still exists.
Battle
[edit]Umabai Dabhade, widow of Khande Rao and mother of Trimbak Rao, was a fearless and competent leader who commanded troops in person. In 1733, in an attempt to avenge Pilaji Gaikwad's death, she allied with Danaji Gaikwad and Kanthaji Kadam Bande and marched towards Ahmedabad with a combined cavalry strength of 30,000 to 40,000. Although she had only a small force, Umabai surrounded the city from all directions, and Maratha troops plundered the outskirts.
Bakht Singh later came to help his brother Abhai Singh, who had mobilized the defense of the city. Heavy combat ensued and killed the Rajput commander Jivraj Bhandari and lost weapons and equipment to the Marathas. In Shahibag, there were heavy casualties among defenders. At night, Deccan men and Koli allies burned villages around it, tightening the noose around the besieged city.
Cut off from resources and losses accumulating, Abhai Singh initiated talks. He agreed to pay Rs. 80,000 in homage and relinquished the chauth and sardeshmukhi rights. Jawanmard Khan, who pledged the payment, channeled a portion of funds for himself. After the pact, Umabai withdrew.
Aftermath
[edit]Although favored by the emperor, Abhai Singh was unable to hold on to Gujarat. With Maratha advances and without Mughal backing, he fell back to Jodhpur with war supplies and riches, entrusting Ratansingh Bhandari to command 17,000 soldiers.