The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c21.121

v4.c21.121

The Marāthā armies marched from victory to victory. Dost ‘Alī was defeated and killed (31 May, 1740) at the Damalcherry pass and in the following August Raghūjī patched up a truce with his son Safdar ‘Alī, and proceeded to Sātārā to dispute the Peshwāship. Not succeeding, he returned to the Carnatic, and in December laid siege to Chanda Sāhib, Dost ‘Alī’s son-in-law, in Trichinopoly, which fell in March, 1741. Chanda Sāhib was sent to Sātārā as a state prisoner, and remained there for eight years. Trichinopoly was handed over to the charge of Murārī Rāo Ghorpare of Gooty. Raghūjī next proceeded to threaten Pondicherry, the headquarters of Chanda Sāhib’s French allies: but the Marāthās were no match for European troops behind ramparts, and prudently retired. This expedition, which was warmly supported by the party in court and advocated expansion in the south rather than conquests in Hindūstān, was completely successful.