Thread by @KuttajiBhosde

Abdali’s 1757 campaign and Marathas:

An objective chronological study, a thread:

https://twitter.com/sandman1306/status/1966126844291514614

Dec, 1756: Wazir Imad asks imperial Mughal service corp of Marathas under Antaji for help who was in Gawalior. (As per Ahadnama of 1752 conditions).

Antaji arrives in Delhi 3000 cavalry to protect Delhi from Durranis (Lol).

Jan 1757: Abdali Arrives in Delhi northern outskirts of Delhi.

- Wazir ask Antaji to stop people of Delhi from fleeing.

- Antaji stops it and extracts money and valuables from people in the name of protection.

-Jan 1757: Antaji had first encounter with Abdali’s vanguard in the north of Delhi.

- But Marathas are crushed between Durranis and Rohillas.

- Maratha falls back to Delhi and prepares to flee.

- First, all extracted booty in the name of protection is sent to Mathura.

- Rear guard of Antaji’s Marathas is attacked by Durranis and annihilated. (Feb 1757)

- Antaji further falls back near Palwal keeping safe distance, & not engage with Durranis.

- In Mathura also Marathas were camped under Trimbak Mukund. (with whom Antaji sent his booty first)

- So, end of Feb 1757, Durranis sack Mathura.

“Marathas, after sucking the Delhi-Agra & doab dry for 3 yrs, fled away. Not single Maratha bled in defence of the holiest of Vaishnav shrines; their pan-Indian suzerainty (Hindupad Padshahi) did not involve the duty to protect.”

- Antaji (Mathura), Naro Shankar-Shamsher Bahadur (Doab), Holkar-Raghunath (Indore), these Maratha bands were in North but not a single Maratha came forward to protect Mathura.

So what was Peshwa’s army doing in North?
Why didnt they defend Mathura?
Why Rajputs didn’t?👇

- Raghunath Rao arrived in Indore in Feb 1757.

-Naro Shankar, Bahadur, Antaji, Holkar were already in North.

-Raghu thought of marching towards Mathura from Indore.

But…

-When Bajirao died, his successor inherited vast lands but also crushing debt.

-Marathas never built a strong state or stable revenue.

-Their hired roaming bands lived on loot and ransom, draining regions like a plague wherever they passed.

- Now Raghu’s situation in Indore was dire. He didn’t hv enough money or grains to feed his own soldiers, let alone march Mathura & defend it.

- He was begging Peshwa for funds, which nvr arrived

- He was feeding himself by looting villages, his soldiers fasting alternate days.

-So after stalling his march against Abdali in North/Mathura, Raghu gathers his Marathas in March & invades Rajasthan.

-Durranis were plundering Gokul in March which Naga Sadhus were defending

-While Durranis slaughtered & desecrated temples unchecked, Maratha invaded Rajasthan

-Thereafter Durranis attacked Agra & Doab, took away its wealth.

-But Maratha were attacking Rajputs in Rajasthan & Peshwa & Sindhia were in Deccan, not even bothered a bit.

Now, Maratha letters of this interval:

-Antaji (imperial Mughal corp commander) & Bapu Hingne (Maratha Vaqil in Mughal court) who fled from Delhi, were writing letters with distant hearsay & empty boasting, which should be taken with “not a grain but ounce of salt”.

Fin.

Now we know Maratha 101 to kang: Flaunt Wazir’s letter seeking Maratha help vs Abdali (their duty per 1757 Ahadnama). Token help came from Gwalior under Antaji, extracted money from common people & fled.

Rest Marathas ignored Durranis in Delhi & Mathura even when camped nearby.

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