2. 1737, Mar: According to the Maratha records, preparation of the Maratha offensive on Portuguese started in the second half of March 1737. Chimaji Appa sent a team of commanders - Chimnaji Bhivrao, Ramchandra Hari Patwardhan - to Sashti Island
3. Two separate teams were made to launch offensive attacks on Sashti island & Vasai. First team was commanded by Shankaraji Keshav Phadke & the other by Khandoji Mankar.
Under the command headed by Chimaji Appa, a team headed by Khandoji Mankar w/ Honaji Balkawade entered Thane
4. 1737, Apr 5: On the nightfall, a Maratha contingent attacked Portuguese bastion called St Jeronimo. With the proficient use of gun fire & artillery, finally the Marathas won St Jeronimo bastion.
5. Chimaji Appa named St Jeronimo Bastion as 'Fatteh Buruj' (Bastion of Victory) as it was the first Bastion won by Marathas during this whole campaign.
Thane was under the Maratha control.
6. By conquering Sopara & Agashi, Marathas turned down Arnala fort. Shankaraji Keshav Phadke says "Arnala island is second Janjira."
7. 1737, Apr 6-7: Strategically, Arnala fort was very important for Marathas. Therefore, a Maratha force commanded by Shankaraji Phadke, Anjurkar, Bajirao Belose, Rayajirao Surve & 400 soldiers attacked Arnala fort.
Marathas took the Arnala island on the night of 6-7 April 1737
8. After that Marathas conquered small, but strategically important islands such as Parsik, Marol, Takmak fort, Santa Cruz, Tandulwadi, Saivan, Kaldurg fort, Kambe, Firangipada and Ghodbandar. This essentially further cut off the Portuguese support.
9. Capture of Kelwa Fort:-
Marathas found Kelwa fort difficult to conquer initially. Initially Chimaji Appa gave the command of this mission to conquer Kelve to Vitthal Vishwanath & Awaji Kawade. But the Marathas had to retreat due to strong Portuguese counter-attack.
10. After that to conquer Kelwa, Peshwa Bajirao changed the command to Ramchandra Hari Patwardhan.
He also had to retreat. This infuriated many Maratha Sardars, & even Peshwa Bajirao. Bajirao ordered Ramchandra to take strict action against the wrongdoers & deserters!
11. 1739, Jan 20: Marathas again attacked Kelwa. The Maratha attack was greatly resisted by Portuguese garrison.
Marathas burnt a gun-powder depot in the fort, which caused a huge blast, claiming many Portuguese lives. Thus, Marathas captured Kelwa.
12. Asheri Fort, another strategically important fort, is in Palghar district (Maharashtra).
Asheri was sieged by Maratha Commander Pantaji Moreshwar. But Portuguese held onto the fort because they were gaining enough supplies from Tarapur outpost.
13. Unless Tarapur was captured, Asheri was difficult to capture.
Marathas employed 30 cannons against the fort and made heavy bombardment on the fort resulting in damages to the fortification.
14. But, Portuguese continued their defence. The Marathas, seeing no sign of Portuguese surrender, decided to mine the fort.
Baji Bhivrao, Ramchandra Hari, Baloji Chandrao, *Malharrao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde*, Yashwantrao Pawar were the prominent Maratha Sardars in this action.
15. Finally the mines exploded resulting in destruction of fort & bastion, allowing Marathas to enter the Fort!
Baji Bhivrao Retrekar, a leading Maratha commander of Peshwa Bajirao I led the attack from the front, when a bullet struck in his mouth & he was killed.
16. Baji Bhivrao Retrekar was considered 'own brother' by Peshwa Bajirao in a letter.
1739, Feb 3: Marathas captured Tarapur fort. Congratulations poured on Chimaji Appa! Khandoji Mankar and other Maratha commanders and unit of artillery fired shots to celebrate the victory!
17. 1739, Feb 3: Therefore after the fall of Tarapur on 3 Feb 1739 Chimaji Appa immediately sent force of 4000 infantry & 5000 cavalry to capture Asheri under Haripant.
18. 1739, Feb 14: After the capture of Tarapur, the provisions to Portuguese were cut off, & the Portuguese force at Asheri surrendered without a fight. Asheri Fort was finally under Maratha Control.
19. After capture of the keypoints around Vasai in such a manner, Marathas now turned their attention to the Portuguese stronghold at the Vasai Fort.
The next part of the thread-series will delve into this decisive phase of the campaign. #Hindutva
2. We now take a look at the decisive phase of the campaign:- *Capture of Vasai*
1737, Jun 9: An attempt was made to capture Vasai Fort in the initial phase. a company of 4000 Maratha soldiers attempted to scale Vasai Fort with ladders.
3. Unfortunately Portuguese soldiers got to know movement of Marathas, & they opened fire on them.
Marathas persisted in their efforts to scale the fort but the heavy Portuguese gun fire made impossible for the Marathas to scale the fort.
1. #Thread on the Maratha campaigns against the Portuguese, which culminated in the Maratha Victory 282 years ago, on 16 May, 1739.
This thread will explore the reasons & background for the campaigns. (Chimaji Appa, prime mover of the campaigns ๐)
2. Marathas have lived the Shlok 2.37 of Bhagvad Geeta throughout the 2-year-long Campaign.
"O son of Kuntฤซ, either you will be killed on the battlefield & attain the heavenly planets,or you will conquer & enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, get up with determination & fight."
3. Religious atrocities of Portuguese:-
Religious persecution of Hindus in the western coast was one of the main reasons for the Vasai Campaign. Fanatical zeal of Portuguese rulers is well known.
2. Maratha & Mysore armies started modernising in the 1760s & 70s. British accounts state, that Marathas had rocket technology before Mysore's Tipu Sultan.
Maratha rockets 'annoyed' the British in the First Anglo-Maratha War (1775), whereas British faced Mysore rockets in 1792.
3. Modern manufacturing processes, training and logistics required a substantial financial cost.
In the 1780s, Mahadji Scindia consolidated his hold over north India. He hired Benoit de Boigne, a Frenchman, to reorganize his finances and training.