History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.267

v2.c41.267

The Peshwa Mādhav Rao II was born in the fort of Purandar on 18th April, 1774. The position of the Ministerial party at Poona was strengthened by his birth and the little baby was formally installed as the Peshwa on the 28th May, 1774. With the accession of Mādhav Rāo II Sābājī's position was strengthened but he was killed in a battle at Panchgaon, twelve miles from Nagpur on the road to Umrer. Mudhoji became undisputed master. During the struggle with Sābājī, Daryābāī deserted Mudhoji but she was seized with Raghuji II by the Niẓām's troops. With the help of Nawāb Isma'il Khān of Ellichpur and Muhammad Yusuf, one of the assassins of the Peshwa Nārāyaṇ Rāo, Mudhoji took the field once more after the monsoon of 1774 when the battle of Panchgoon was fought. Mudhoji gained power early in 1775 when Raghuji II was once more installed as Seṇā Ṣāhib Ṣūbah and Mudhoji became the regent for him. At this time Mudhoji's fourth brother Bimbājī was alive (died June 1787). The date of Sābājī's death is given by Sardesai as 26th January, 1775.¹