New History of the Marathas v1.c18.69

v1.c18.69

Rājārām ordered Dhanāji to capture Santāji and bring him a prisoner before him. Santāji then fled away, being hotly pursued by Dhanāji from the Karnatak into Mahārāshtra. During the flight they fought an action near Bijapur in which Santāji sustained a severe defeat in March 1697, and to save his life he made his way into the hills of Mahadev east of Satara. He had only a few personal servants left with him in his solitary wanderings. Nāgoji Māne hung on his track. One hot noon in June 1697 as Santāji came to a spring and was having his bath, some armed men suddenly fell upon him, cut off his head and brought it to Nāgoji Māne, who immediately rode with it to the Emperor's camp at Brahmapuri and presented the head to him. In return Nagoji obtained the promised reward and a handsome jagir from the Emperor, who was highly pleased with this end of his mortal enemy.⁸ Santāji is now remembered as the past master of guerilla warfare, the highest and best instrument which enabled the Marathas to attain a rapid rise before the development of artillery warfare in India. The death of this unmatched hero was a severe blow to the Marathas fortunes.