Battle of the Venna (Damaji Gaekwad’s revolt)

01Tarabai’s bid

After Shahu died in 1749 the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao held real power, and Tarabai, who had placed her grandson Ramaraja on the throne, turned against him. In late 1750 she confined Ramaraja in Satara fort and sent for Damaji Gaekwad, the strongest Maratha chief in Gujarat. Damaji came south with his army while the Peshwa was away on the Mughal frontier. At Nimb, north of Satara, he scattered the first force sent against him and was received by Tarabai.

02Defeat on the Venna

Trimbakrao Purandare gathered his scattered troops and on 15 March 1751 fell on Damaji’s camp on the banks of the Venna. This time the Gujarat army broke. Damaji fell back and was penned in a gorge of the Krishna valley. The Peshwa hurried back and joined Trimbakrao, and many of Damaji’s men deserted. Damaji agreed to talk; on 30 April the Peshwa’s men surprised his camp, and in May he was taken prisoner to Pune.

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 →