The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c11.109

c11.109

The disagreement between the Maráthás and the Nizám for the time prevented any attack on Tipu, but the inevitable conflict was not long delayed. It has been noted above how the chief of Nargund became a tributary of Haidar and was allowed to retain his state on those terms. After Haidar’s death Tipu demanded an increased tribute, a demand with which Venkat Ráo, the Nargund chief, was unwilling to comply. As he was unable to resist unless supported, he first made overtures to the Bombay Government, and when these failed, to the court of Poona, where he had interest through the Patvardhans. The result of the latter application was that Nána Phadnávis interposed, and while acknowledging Tipu’s right to levy tribute from the Nargundkar denied his right to claim more than the amount previously paid. Tipu’s reply to this was the despatch of two bodies of troops to enforce his demands and if they were not complied with to besiege Nargund. A Marátha force despatched to the assistance of the Nargund chief found that, owing to want of water, the Mysor force had been obliged to raise the siege, but was still in the neighbourhood. Skirmishing ensued in which the Maráthás had the worst; and Tipu’s troops attacked and took the fort of Rámdurg, not far from Nargund, and then resumed the siege of the latter place. On the assurances of Tipu that only the former tribute would be exacted from the Nargund chief the Marátha force withdrew, after which the siege was pressed with redoubled vigour. Terms were promised to the unfortunate chief on the strength of which he capitulated; but no sooner had he evacuated his fort than, in violation of the agreement, he was seized and sent into captivity with his family, and his daughter was taken into Tipu’s harem (A.D. 1785). The fort of Kittur was seized at the same time and garrisoned by Mysor troops. Having thus secured his hold of the country, Tipu, to gratify his bigotry and insult the Hindus, forcibly circumcised large numbers of the inhabitants. In the following year the Maráthás and the Nizám formed an offensive alliance against the Mysor prince, and agreed to open operations by taking from him the country between the Krishna and Tungbhadra. Accordingly a force was sent against Tipu's general at Kittur, while the main body of the combined army advanced against Bádámi, which they besieged. The town was taken by assault and the garrison of the fort submitted.¹ The force sent to Kittur was less successful. It succeeded in driving the Mysor troops from the adjacent district, but failed in taking the fort. Holkar, who was in charge of the force, suddenly left Kittur and marched to Sávanur, where he was joined by the nawáb, who, though closely related by marriage to Tipu, had been so badly treated that he willingly espoused the cause of the Maráthás. The combined force repulsed an attack made by Tipu's general and were presently joined by Hari Pant, the Marátha commander-in-chief, who had taken the forts of Gajendragad and Bahádur Benda, and now came to Sávanur to find himself opposed by an army under Tipu in person. Hostilities went on languidly for some time with varying success. Hari Pant took the fortified town of Sirhatti, while the Mysor troops recovered Báliádur Benda. At last a treaty was made (A.D. 1787) by which Bádámi, Kittur, and Nárgund were ceded to the Maráthás, who agreed to restore to Tipu the other towns and districts taken by them; Tipu also agreed to pay a tribute and to restore to the nawáb of Sávanur such territory as the latter possessed prior to his son's marriage with Haidar's daughter. The nawáb, however, did not care to trust himself to the tender mercies of his relative by marriage, and accompanied the Maráthás to Poona.²