New History of the Marathas v3.c37.87

v3.c37.87

5. The Nagpur succession and the Prabhus.—The death of Janoji Bhosle in May 1772 gave rise to the usual succession disputes in that family and a civil war ensued between the two brothers Mudhoji and Sabaji. The former was supported by R'rao and Sakharam Bapu from Poona, and the latter by Narayanrao, Nana Phadnis and others, who all stuck to the policy of the late Peshwa. Sabaji in addition enlisted the sympathies of Nizam Ali and fought some indecisive actions with his brother in January 1773. This fratricidal war came to be temporarily composed through the mediation of some disinterested well-wishers and an agreement was arrived at, by which Mudhoji's son Raghuji was to be recognised as the ruler of Nagpur. In order to get this arrangement confirmed by the Peshwa, two agents, Vyankatrao Kashi Gupte of the Prabhu caste, and his brother Lakshman, were sent to Poona to obtain the robes of the Sena-Saheb Subah for Raghuji. When these two agents arrived in Poona in the summer of 1773, they discovered a severe tension growing between the Peshwa and his uncle and were secretly incited to make capital out of it by the well-known wire-puller and diplomat of Nagpur, Devajipant Chorghode, the same person whose pride had been humbled by the late Peshwa Madhavrao, and who had long exhibited open sympathies with R'rao and Sakharam Bapu. These Nagpur agents now started their mischievous game at Poona, by espousing the cause of R'rao against his nephew.