The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c11.99

c11.99

The rise of the Mysor "Mayor of the Palace," Haidar Ali, who was to play towards the rájás of that country the part which the Peshwa played towards the rája of Sátára, had been watched jealously by the Maráthás.¹ In A.D. 1759 his expulsion of their troops from some districts which had been pledged to Báláji Báji Ráo brought about a conflict between them in which the Maráthás had the worst of it and were obliged to conclude a treaty on terms not very favourable to themselves.² In 1761 Haidar got Basálat Khán to invest him with the title of Nawáb of Sira, a district to the south of the Túngbhadra which was in the possession of the Maráthás. The position of Sávanur rendered the alliance or subjection of that state a matter of importance; and as the nawáb Abdul Hakim Khán remained staunch to his engagements with the Maráthás, hostilities ensued. The nawáb was defeated in 1764 and had to submit to the terms imposed on him; and Haidar, having to return to the south, left an army under Fazl Ullah Khán to spread his conquests northward. As no preparations had been made for resistance the general had an easy task. Dhárwár was taken, and as a result of this conquest a large tract of country to the north of Dhárwár was occupied by Haidar's troops.³ Great preparations were made at Poona to repel this invasion, and an army marched under the Peshwa Máhádev Ráo towards the scene of action. Gopál Ráo Patvardhan was sent on in advance but was defeated by Fazl Ullah Khán. On the Peshwa's approach the latter had to fall back on Haidar's army, which had advanced to his support, leaving a strong garrison in Dhárwár. The two armies came face to face not far from Sávanur, but Máhádev Ráo declined a general action and occupied himself with driving out Haidar's garrisons from the town and villages north of the Varda. An attempt by Haidar to bring on a battle resulted in his discomfiture, and he had to retreat to his entrenched camp at Anavatti. The approach of the rains put a stop to further hostilities.