New History of the Marathas v2.c24.s1.65

v2.c24.s1.65

One important secret transaction effected by the new Peshwa at this time deserves mention. He had realized the necessity of uniting the two branches of the Maratha State, Satara and Kolhapur, into one. Shahu had no longer any prospect of a son being born to him and the question of succession had begun to press itself upon the attention of the Peshwa. The only surviving male member of the great Shivaji’s family was Sambhaji of Kolhapur, who happened to pay a visit to Shahu at Satara and stayed there from 2nd June 1740 to 30th March 1741. There was not much love lost between the two cousins; and Shahu would never consent to Sambhaji succeeding him. But the new Peshwa formed a secret compact with Sambhaji for his succeeding Shahu at Satara on the latter’s death. Although for various reasons beyond the Peshwa’s control the arrangement proved futile, it none the less discloses a very desirous stroke of policy on the part of the young Peshwa and his advisers, who thus tried although eventually in vain to close the rift which for long marred the unity of the Maratha nation.³ At his death Shahu left a definite order that Sambhaji should not succeed him and that Ramraja should be made the Chhatrapati.