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.
4. Gunajirao Shinde, Khandoji Bagrao, Dadaji Naik Bhandari & many were killed in this failed attack.
1737, Sep 15: Second attack on Vasai Fort. But Portuguese got the intelligence of the possible Maratha attack. This attack of Marathas was also foiled by the Portuguese.
5. Conclusive attack on Vasai Fort:-
1739, Feb 17: Final attack on Vasai Fort didn't start until Chimaji Appa took over the ops. Chimaji Appa was frustrated due to 2 failed attacks on Vasai fort.
6. In his thrilling speech to his commanders he said: "If you can't capture the fort, behead me and throw my head inside the fort, atleast that would satisfy me or else capture the fort. HAR HAR MAHADEV!" ๐ฉ
7. This speech of Chimaji Appa inspired the Maratha commanders.
1739, May 10: Marathas mined the Vasai Fort at nearly 14 places to destroy the fortification. The first mine exploded on 13 May, causing great damage to fortification. St Sebastian bastion was opened up!!
8. Marathas rushed towards the fort, but another mine nearby blasted, killing many Maratha Sardars. Appa dispatched another group of soldiers inside the fort.
9. Chimaji Appa also mined the fort from northern side. 5 mines were planted by Ranoji Shinde, 2 mines were planted by Yashwantrao Pawar & Ranoji Bhosale, and 2 mines by Santaji Wagh and Malharrao Holkar.
An all out attack on the fort was ordered as soon as the mines explode.
10. 1739, May 15: Marathas started their final attack on fort. A group of Maratha soldiers moved cannon to
place it in the breach. Portuguese waved a white flag before the start of hostility!
11. The Maratha command halted their military action & a ceasefire was announced. Marathas won the fort.๐ฉ
1739, May 16: Treaty between Marathas and Portuguese.
1739, May 23: In the early morning, Portuguese handed over Vasai fort to Marathas after marching out from the place.
12. Soldiers in the final battle:
Muraraji Naik Anjurkar, Dattaji Bhandavalkar, Karjekar, Hansu Aadhav Punekar, Sakho Ganesh Sarnaik Purandkar, the Secretary of Durjansingh Mandavikar named Jasoji, a commander in the army of Peshwa Bajirao I named Kunwar Singh.
13. After capturing Vasai, there was a joyous environment all over the Maratha Empire. Many messages of congratulations poured on Chimaji Appa. ๐
14. Effects of the Campaign:-
- Portuguese reduced to a minor naval power & its 2-century-long dominance destroyed
- The English, alarmed by the Maratha strength, signed a friendly treaty with the Marathas, transferring important English trade-port of Chaul to Marathas.
15. Thus, the Maratha Campaign against Portuguese freed the Western Coast of Portuguese naval dominance, as well as re-established religious freedom for Hindus in the region.
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
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.