Battle of Dhodap

01Uncle and nephew

Raghunathrao had wanted to rule in his young nephew’s name since 1761, and had once already brought the Nizam in on his side, at Alegaon in 1762. Peace between them never lasted. In 1768 Raghoba gathered troops at Anandvalli near Nashik with support from Gaekwad and other sardars and claimed half the state. Madhavrao marched north to settle the matter.

02Under Dhodap

The armies met in June 1768 below Dhodap, the high fort of the Satmala range in Nashik district. Raghoba’s forces were beaten and he took refuge in the fort, then surrendered. Madhavrao treated his uncle with respect but would not trust him again. Raghunathrao was kept in Shaniwar Wada until Madhavrao’s death in 1772, and his ambition then led to the murder of Narayanrao and to the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Dynasty · 1713–1818 CEThe Peshwas of PuneThe Peshwas were the hereditary chief ministers of the Chhatrapatis, and from 1713 to 1818 they ran the Maratha state from Pune. Under Bajirao I and his son Nanasaheb the Marathas became the strongest power in India, until Panipat in 1761 and the British wars that ended the line in 1818.Read →