New History of the Marathas v2.c24.48

v2.c24.48

4. Rise of Balaji Vishvanath.—While thus engaged in his operations against his aunt, Shahu had not neglected his main object of securing the northern portions of his patrimony. He had deputed his Pratinidhi Gadadhar Pralhad and his Senapati Dhanaji Jadhav to Baglan and Khandesh with his trusted confidant Balaji Vishvanath. They vanquished the local Mughal officers like Karim Beg of Junnar and plundered that city of its accumulated riches. They were now recalled by Shahu for the monsoon. On the way to Panhala, Dhanaji was suddenly taken ill and died in June 1708 at Wadgaon on the Warna, thereby dealing a severe blow to Shahu’s cause. Although Shahu at once conferred the Senapati’s office upon Dhanaji’s son Chandrasen, he was already suspicious about the latter’s loyalty on account of his well-known leanings towards Tarabai’s party. As a safeguard against possible treachery by the new Senapati, Shahu appointed Balaji Vishvanath to the post of Senakarte (organizer of forces), a new office that encroached to some extent upon the province of the commander-in-chief. Chandrasen had never taken kindly to Balaji’s views and policy of supporting Shahu, and had possibly condemned his father for having deserted Tarabai’s cause on the field of Khed. Balaji on his part did his best at this crisis to carry out Shahu’s wishes by raising funds, enlisting men and bringing to obedience such elements in the kingdom as were hostile, so that he soon outstripped all the other ministers and helpmates of Shahu in efficiency and speed of execution. In a few years, Shahu conferred upon him the office of the Peshwa or Prime Minister, a consummation which soon changed the whole character of the Maratha administration and government, and in course of time caused the position of the Chhatrapati himself to be eclipsed. Subsequent history speaks of the Peshwa as the de facto ruler of the Marathas. In order to understand the significance of this change it is necessary to go back a little and review the antecedents which raised Balaji so high in Shahu’s estimation.