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 CHAPTER VII

The Maráthás again attack Mysore

In 1766 Rájá Chikka Krishnaráj died. Haidar ordered the Rájá's eldest son Nanjráj to be installed as his nominal successor; but finding on his return to the capital in 1767 that the young chief was inclined to assert his own authority, Haidar confiscated his personal estates, plundered the palace, and assumed entire control over all his household affairs. He could not however but be aware that, by thus virtually declaring himself the ruler of Mysore, he would draw down upon himself active opposition from the Maráthás who had crushed him in 1765; nor was Madhu Ráo tardy in taking steps to overthrow the usurper. A Maráthá coalition was formed with the Nizám for the purpose of invading Mysore, and although Haidar vainly endeavoured to arrest the progress of the Maráthás by despatching Máhfúz Khán, the elder brother of Muhammad Alí, Nawáb of Arcot, to negotiate terms, the Peshwá at the head of his army advanced steadily forward. Haidar resorted to the device of breaking down the embankments of the reservoirs, poisoning the wells, and driving away the miserable peasantry,