History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.262.1

v2.c41.262.1

After the death of Jānuji, Sābāji combined with Daryābāi and gave out that as he was a brother of Jānuji there was no necessity of adopting Raghuji. Mādhav Rāo I immediately gave the title of Senā Ṣāḥib Ṣūbah to Sābāji, which became hereditary in the family. When Sābāji came to Nagpur, the Peshwa sent an agent named Rāmāji Ballāl Guṇe with him. Mudhoji was in despair and both of them collected troops. Sābāji was favoured by the Niẓām-ul-mulk Niẓām 'Ali Khān who sent his generals Rūkn-ud-daulah and Nawāb 'Ibrāhim Beg Ẓābiṭ Jang alias Dhonsā to help him. Mudhoji allied himself with Isma'il Khān of Ellichpur. The Peshwa sent Bālāji Pālaṇḍe to help Sābāji. The first battle between the brothers took place at Kumbhārgāon near Bālāpur in January 1773 and Jijāji, a relation of the Bhonsles, was killed. The war stopped for a few days and negotiations commenced, and on the 28th of January a settlement was arrived at, according to which, the adoption of Raghujī by Daryābāī was decided. It was further decided that both Sābājī and Mudhojī were to be joint regents. Ten trusted men remained as guarantees of the joint administration and two men were sent to Poona to obtain the clothes of investiture for Raghujī II. Before the ink on the treaty was dry quarrels commenced, as Daryābāī came over to the side of Mudhojī, who took her to Chanda and released Devājī Pant, mentioned in English records as Divakar Pandit, from prison. Sābājī’s wife, who was at Nagpur, was plundered of her property.