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 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